(Secondary Inspection) Travelling after I751

[daijia 1]

Hi,

 

I have just submitted my I751 package.

I understand I am allowed to travel outside of US. However, I have heard of that some people are subject to secondary inspection upon the return to US, even though they have presented expired GC and Letter of Extension.

 

So, has anybody had real experiences with secondary inspection in US airport when they return?

 

What will they usually do ? I hope it is not the kind where they will be checking ur phone and stuff

 

Thanks!

Fernando

Edited November 18, 2019 by daijia

[HRQX 4,145]

20 minutes ago, daijia said:

What will they usually do ?

They verify your status. It's normal.

[daijia 1]

1 minute ago, HRQX said:

They verify your status. It's normal.

Okay thanks!

 

I was worried that they are suspicious of me, and that is the reason people are called in for the secondary😅

[Dashinka 23,242]

My wife traveled multiple times with her expired GC and extension letter, and was never pulled into secondary.  A few times Customs conducted a baggage search, but we think that was more random.  One other suggestion, when you get your extension letter, make a few copies of it and keep the watermarked original safe.  One time at check in the airline wanted to keep a copy of my wife’s letter, luckily she had some as you need to present the original at CBP.

 

Good Luck!

[daijia 1]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

My wife traveled multiple times with her expired GC and extension letter, and was never pulled into secondary.  A few times Customs conducted a baggage search, but we think that was more random.  One other suggestion, when you get your extension letter, make a few copies of it and keep the watermarked original safe.  One time at check in the airline wanted to keep a copy of my wife’s letter, luckily she had some as you need to present the original at CBP.

 

Good Luck!

Ah. You guys are so lucky that never get pulled into secondary!

 

And sure, I will surely do that when I receive my NOA which I expect to receive it soon in my mail! Thanks for the advice!

[Dashinka 23,242]

1 minute ago, daijia said:

Ah. You guys are so lucky that never get pulled into secondary!

 

And sure, I will surely do that when I receive my NOA which I expect to receive it soon in my mail! Thanks for the advice!

I am not sure anyone knows what would drive CBP to pull someone into secondary traveling with an extension letter.  One thing is that when traveling on a letter, one cannot use the kiosks, so maybe if it is busy, the CBP officer at the first window finds it easier to shuttle the traveler off to secondary.  Another possible reason would be if the traveler does not present the original letter.

 

Anyway, it is all speculation, and completely up to the CBP officer one meets upon re-entry.

[daijia 1]

4 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

I am not sure anyone knows what would drive CBP to pull someone into secondary traveling with an extension letter.  One thing is that when traveling on a letter, one cannot use the kiosks, so maybe if it is busy, the CBP officer at the first window finds it easier to shuttle the traveler off to secondary.  Another possible reason would be if the traveler does not present the original letter.

 

Anyway, it is all speculation, and completely up to the CBP officer one meets upon re-entry.

Oh right, about the kiosk. I applied for NEXUS card and it is approved using my soon-to-be expiree GC.

 

So do you know if I am still able to use the priority lane? ( I Read that I don't have to use the Global Entry/NEXUS kiosk, I can choose to present myself directly to an officer that is in charge of the priority line). Just now sure if I am eligible to even enter the line

 

And yes CBP sometimes is acting really out of nowhere, i guess just act normal should be fine. I was just worried previously that they would check me like a tourist, with my phones, laptops and interrogating me😂

Edited November 18, 2019 by daijia

[Dashinka 23,242]

4 minutes ago, daijia said:

Oh right, about the kiosk. I applied for NEXUS card and it is approved using my soon-to-be expiree GC.

 

So do you know if I am still able to use the priority lane? ( I Read that I don't have to use the Global Entry/NEXUS kiosk, I can choose to present myself directly to an officer that is in charge of the priority line). Just now sure if I am eligible to even enter the line

 

And yes CBP sometimes is acting really out of nowhere, i guess just act normal should be fine. I was just worried previously that they would check me like a tourist, with my phones, laptops and interrogating me😂

I am not sure if you can still use the GE/NEXUS lanes as we did not have that back then (we only got it after my wife naturalized).  Usually, there is a CBP agent that will direct you, but more than likely you will still have to go through the visitor lanes even if traveling with your spouse.

[daijia 1]

7 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

I am not sure if you can still use the GE/NEXUS lanes as we did not have that back then (we only got it after my wife naturalized).  Usually, there is a CBP agent that will direct you, but more than likely you will still have to go through the visitor lanes even if traveling with your spouse.

Okay sure! Thanks!

 

Does your wife usually travel alone? Because I love to travel but my wife is always busy with her work, so I usually travel by myself. We only get to travel together domestically during special occasions like her birthday, but still not very often

 

Not sure if keep doing this while my case is pending would be a problem? I mean would it be shown as suspicious or not a good faith of a bona fide marriage? 🤔

Edited November 18, 2019 by daijia

[Dashinka 23,242]

2 hours ago, daijia said:

Okay sure! Thanks!

 

Does your wife usually travel alone? Because I love to travel but my wife is always busy with her work, so I usually travel by myself. We only get to travel together domestically during special occasions like her birthday, but still not very often

 

Not sure if keep doing this while my case is pending would be a problem? I mean would it be shown as suspicious or not a good faith of a bona fide marriage? 🤔

Sometimes she travels by herself, and sometimes we travel together.  Unless you are spending more time out of the US than inside, I don't think it will be an issue, but certainly keep track of your international travels as if you ever decide to naturalize, you will need to detail your travels outside the US.

 

Good Luck!

[geowrian 22,335]

Not sure about NEXUS, but if you had Global Entry (GE), then you could still use the GE lane. As noted, the automated kiosks won't recognize it, but you can go through the shorter/express line still.

Edited November 18, 2019 by geowrian

[daijia 1]

5 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

Sometimes she travels by herself, and sometimes we travel together.  Unless you are spending more time out of the US than inside, I don't think it will be an issue, but certainly keep track of your international travels as if you ever decide to naturalize, you will need to detail your travels outside the US.

 

Good Luck!

Sure thank for your information. They are very useful to me!

3 hours ago, geowrian said:

Not sure about NEXUS, but if you had Global Entry (GE), then you could still use the GE lane. As noted, the automated kiosks won't recognize it, but you can go through the shorter/express line still.

Thanks! I will try just present myself directly to the agent in charge of GE line then!

[implife 318]

9 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

you will still have to go through the visitor lanes even if traveling with your spouse.

This was our experience this spring at JFK. We were stuck in the general visitor line for over an hour.  Being used to a "fast lane" for US citizens, I was getting antsy, and had to work hard to hold off my feelings about the passport check-in process (the worst I've seen compared to other countries I visited).

[daijia 1]

1 minute ago, implife said:

This was our experience this spring at JFK. We were stuck in the general visitor line for over an hour.  Being used to a "fast lane" for US citizens, I was getting antsy, and had to work hard to hold off my feelings about the passport check-in process (the worst I've seen compared to other countries I visited).

Oh sorry to hear that😬. I think they say if you want to use fast lane, every person that is trvaleling with you has to be eligible I think🤔

[daijia 1]

10 minutes ago, daijia said:

Oh sorry to hear that😬. I think they say if you want to use fast lane, every person that is trvaleling with you has to be eligible I think🤔

Does anyone has link of Carrier Guide from Canadian Border Agency, the one that says having expired GC and NOA are eligible to board?

 

I saw it yesterday but I forgot to save, and I can't it on Google.

 

Thanks!

Edited November 18, 2019 by daijia