Travelling outside the US with the Conditional Green Card

[Paola Phillips 6]

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

 

I got my Conditional Green Card In September 2018 and in less than a month I'm going back to Italy to visit my family. I know I can travel outside the US with the Green Card for a period of time, but I 'm a little bit nervous about it... I guess because this is the first time for me. Has anyone ever had a bad experience at the POE? and also I wanted to know If I need to bring other documents with my Passport and my Green Card.

 

Thank you so much!

Edited January 1, 2019 by Paola Phillips

[Crazy Cat 39,370]

You need only your passport and GC.......You have absolutely no reason to worry..........Enjoy your trip..........

[payxibka 10,044]

14 minutes ago, Paola Phillips said:

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

 

I got my Conditional Green Card In September 2018 and in less than a month I'm going back to Italy to visit my family. I know I can travel outside the US with the Green Card for a period of time, but I 'm a little bit nervous about it... I guess because this is the first time for me. Has anyone ever had a bad experience at the POE? and also I wanted to know If I need to bring other documents with my Passport and my Green Card.

 

Thank you so much!

Millions of green card holders travel each year

[ttjewell 42]

17 minutes ago, Paola Phillips said:

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

 

I got my Conditional Green Card In September 2018 and in less than a month I'm going back to Italy to visit my family. I know I can travel outside the US with the Green Card for a period of time, but I 'm a little bit nervous about it... I guess because this is the first time for me. Has anyone ever had a bad experience at the POE? and also I wanted to know If I need to bring other documents with my Passport and my Green Card.

 

Thank you so much!

 

If your passport is in your maiden name and your green card is in your married name take your marriage license as proof of name change. 

[payxibka 10,044]

8 minutes ago, ttjewell said:

 

If your passport is in your maiden name and your green card is in your married name take your marriage license as proof of name change. 

And book your ticket in your passport name

[JFH 12,189]

I travelled back to the UK for 10 days in November with my green card. No issues whatsoever upon re-entry. She even said “welcome back”. 

[Paola Phillips 6]

Thank you so much guys!!! I appreciate it. I feel more relaxed now! My passport and my green card are both in my maiden name so I should be fine but I'll will have a copy of my marriage certificate with me just in case. Thank you!

[Just Paul 4,591]

No issue on the GC.  We even travel 5 days after entry with just the passport stamp. It was hard to read because it was first stamped with the wrong date.  Got sent to secondary and it only to 5 minutes to verify everything was ok.  Traveled a month later with GC and came back in with no issues at all.  

[little immigrant 800]

Hi there I like to link a post from me from 4 years ago when I traveled. Nothing to worry about but a preventable mistake perhaps. By the way, I did wait until I received citizenship to travel again lol

 

 

Edited January 1, 2019 by little immigrant

[Mike E 11,723]

Legally the only document you need to return to the USA is your green card. 

 

When I held a green card, I would test this legal theory. 

 

At check in  to an international airport for a return flight to the USA, I would  just present my green card.  Out of dozens of flights this worked just once. BLR on LH, and YEG on UA. 

 

At POE it works about 75 percent of the time. At preclearance facilities like Canada and Dublin, it works about 50 percent of the time.  

 

With global entry, 90 percent of the time I did not have to present my passport. 

 

To reduce angst, you should sign up for global entry. There is debate on visajourney whether conditional green card holders can get GE. Some have had success some have not. CBP often doesn’t follow its own rules.  Whatever they are. 

 

At POE, sometimes CBP demands to see other forms of ID such  as state drivers licenses. It’s never happened to me, but I’ve read about it happening to others. 

[blooms 63]

I traveled abroad with the conditional GC before, and it went fine. I brought my valid passport, a state ID, and a certified copy of my marriage certificate just in case.  But nobody asked for such document. They just want to see the GC and valid passport.

safe travels!

Edited January 2, 2019 by blooms

[Scandi 3,972]

As a greencard holder, coming into LAX, I have actually never had to show my passport. All they ever asked for is my greencard and that little receipt paper you get when you "log in" in the machines at the airport (even that machine never wanted my passport, only greencard. Obviously since it's the citizen/greencard line, they don't deal with foreign passports there).

 

But obviously you always bring your passport for international travel anyway, no matter what. 

[janet3 1,170]

Just to add to what everyone else here said.....it will be fine.

My husband received his green card (conditional) on November 5, 2018. His mother died two weeks later......He returned to Algeria to spend time with his family......no issues leaving or coming back.