Traveling with a green card?

[saied 20]

Hi,

I had a question in regards to my wife. My wife and I entered the US on IR-1 Visa in December 2024. A few months later she got her green card. Now she needs to travel back to her own country(Iran) because her dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.

We are worried that she would get in trouble when she comes back from Iran even tho she has a green card. How scared should we be?

I did some research on some other sites and it seems like this is a non issue but would like to get more answers from here.

Thanks

[Crazy Cat 43,786]

***Moved to Working and Traveling During US Immigration*****

 

I have seen no cases on Visa Journey which indicate you should have any worries.  There are a LOT of cases where people have reported no issues at all....within the last month or so.  I am sorry for your wife's need to travel.  I hope she has a safe trip. 

[EatBulaga 465]

On 5/4/2025 at 9:30 AM, saied said:

Hi,

I had a question in regards to my wife. My wife and I entered the US on IR-1 Visa in December 2024. A few months later she got her green card. Now she needs to travel back to her own country(Iran) because her dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer.

We are worried that she would get in trouble when she comes back from Iran even tho she has a green card. How scared should we be?

I did some research on some other sites and it seems like this is a non issue but would like to get more answers from here.

Thanks

 

Iran is on the red list of US travel ban countries, whatever that means.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html

 

Given the current political climate, I would do a few of things before she travels to prepare for her US entry:

 

1. Get her Global Entry. Yes, green card holders are eligible for Global Entry.

https://ttp.dhs.gov/

Pay the 120. Getting the interview is the biggest challenge. Consider Global Entry as a US entry pre-check or pre-scrutinization in hopes of lessening any hassles at the CBP entry. You can read our experience getting Global Entry at

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/799684-global-entry-with-conditional-green-card/

 

2. Get an immigration attorney handy in case you need to call them if she does get pulled into secondary inspection, even with Global Entry.

 

3. Make sure she has all the right documentation for US entry, like the green card, marriage certificate, immigration attorney's number, passport, REAL ID, etc.

 

As @Crazy Cat said, lots of cases with no issues. But you can do the 3 things if you want to pay a little more for peace of mind, given the current political climate.

Edited Sunday at 12:49 AM by EatBulaga

[OldUser 9,188]

1 hour ago, EatBulaga said:

 

Iran is on the red list of US travel ban countries, whatever that means.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/us/politics/trump-travel-ban.html

 

Given the current political climate, I would do a few of things before she travels to prepare for her US entry:

 

1. Get her Global Entry. Yes, green card holders are eligible for Global Entry.

https://ttp.dhs.gov/

Pay the 120. Getting the interview is the biggest challenge. Consider Global Entry as a US entry pre-check or pre-scrutinization in hopes of lessening any hassles at the CBP entry. You can read our experience getting Global Entry at

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/799684-global-entry-with-conditional-green-card/

 

2. Get an immigration attorney handy in case you need to call them if she does get pulled into secondary inspection, even with Global Entry.

 

3. Make sure she has all the right documentation for US entry, like the green card, marriage certificate, immigration attorney's number, passport, REAL ID, etc.

 

As @Crazy Cat said, lots of cases with no issues. But you can do the 3 things if you want to pay a little more for peace of mind, given the current political climate.

The only thing is, immigration attorneys have next to 0 helpfulness when it comes to crossing the border. The attorneys I talked to said CBP hang up on them. 

 

The only risk I see for OP is if ban is implemented for Iranian citizens. It was the case before, and even LPRs were denied entry AFAIK, but it didn't last that long due to courts overturning it. It would be fair to say OP's wife may get pulled into secondary and questioned upon entry because of nationality.

Edited Sunday at 02:15 AM by OldUser

[EatBulaga 465]

9 hours ago, OldUser said:

The only thing is, immigration attorneys have next to 0 helpfulness when it comes to crossing the border. The attorneys I talked to said CBP hang up on them. 

 

The only risk I see for OP is if ban is implemented for Iranian citizens. It was the case before, and even LPRs were denied entry AFAIK, but it didn't last that long due to courts overturning it. It would be fair to say OP's wife may get pulled into secondary and questioned upon entry because of nationality.

@saied I would think having an attorney in case is better than not? At least she can request to the CBP to speak to an attorney if needed.

 

The Trump travel ban list doesn't really have any specific restrictions at this time. But that does not mean, it may not in the near future 

 

I know of a US citizen recently travel to South Sudan (Orange list) and back with no issue, and a green card holder travel to Pakistan (Orange list) and back with no issue. They were able to book the flights with no restrictions and clear CBP at US entry.

Edited Sunday at 11:47 AM by EatBulaga

[OldUser 9,188]

3 hours ago, EatBulaga said:

@saied I would think having an attorney in case is better than not? At least she can request to the CBP to speak to an attorney if needed.

As I mentioned, most of the times CBP won't speak to attorney. Constitutional rights are significantly reduced and power is skewed towards CBP when it comes to crossing border.