International Travel right after receiving Greencard

[Mixel96 15]

Hi, I just gor my greencard last monday and now want to visit my home country as soon as possible. I just suffered a loss of a family member and I am planning to go over there for around 6 weeks. After that I am hoping to start a job here in the U.S. (already applying atm). 

Traveling abroad should not be an issue, right? For returning back to the U.S. I was gonna bring my marriage cert, my greencard and the approval letter and maybe a few more USCIS docs I received throughout the last months. 

The only thing that worries me a bit is that my passport still is in my "old name" while my greencard has my new name (we hyphenated our last names). However, that should be covered by having the marriage cert. as proof of legal name change, is that correct? 

I was going to book my flight tickets in the name that my passport shows (= old name). 

 

Some confirmation or anything else I may need to worry about would be very much appreciated here. thank you!

[Crazy Cat 45,265]

Passport

Green Card

Marriage certificate which connects the old and new names

 

You should be fine.  Enjoy your trip.

 

[OldUser 10,395]

Is spouse travelling with you?

[Mixel96 15]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

Is spouse travelling with you?

she is coming with me but will have to travel back a bit earlier due to her new job starting. why do you ask?:)

[Cw1977 219]

2 hours ago, Mixel96 said:

Hi, I just gor my greencard last monday and now want to visit my home country as soon as possible. I just suffered a loss of a family member and I am planning to go over there for around 6 weeks. After that I am hoping to start a job here in the U.S. (already applying atm). 

Traveling abroad should not be an issue, right? For returning back to the U.S. I was gonna bring my marriage cert, my greencard and the approval letter and maybe a few more USCIS docs I received throughout the last months. 

The only thing that worries me a bit is that my passport still is in my "old name" while my greencard has my new name (we hyphenated our last names). However, that should be covered by having the marriage cert. as proof of legal name change, is that correct? 

I was going to book my flight tickets in the name that my passport shows (= old name). 

 

Some confirmation or anything else I may need to worry about would be very much appreciated here. thank you!

Always book tickets in same name as passport. Anything else can cause trouble at check in 

[OldUser 10,395]

Just now, Mixel96 said:

she is coming with me but will have to travel back a bit earlier due to her new job starting. why do you ask?:)

CBP asked me when I was a green card holder whether I travel internationally with the spouse.

 

If you were to travel alone, it could trigger a bit more scrutiny. There's pattern some CBP agents are concerned about... Which is somebody getting GC and travelling to their home country shortly after without US citizen spouse.

[S2N 424]

2 hours ago, OldUser said:

CBP asked me when I was a green card holder whether I travel internationally with the spouse.

 

If you were to travel alone, it could trigger a bit more scrutiny. There's pattern some CBP agents are concerned about... Which is somebody getting GC and travelling to their home country shortly after without US citizen spouse.

Another reason to plug global entry to any immigrant who qualifies. All LPRs can get it and if they are lucky enough to get a conditional approval some airports have walk-in interview on departure these days in addition to arrival.

[OldUser 10,395]

29 minutes ago, S2N said:

Another reason to plug global entry to any immigrant who qualifies. All LPRs can get it and if they are lucky enough to get a conditional approval some airports have walk-in interview on departure these days in addition to arrival.

I had GE and used GE lane when I got this question about travelling together. If CBP needs to stop somebody and ask questions, GE won't help

Edited August 19 by OldUser

[WeekendPizzaiolo 138]

 

3 hours ago, OldUser said:

CBP asked me when I was a green card holder whether I travel internationally with the spouse.

 

If you were to travel alone, it could trigger a bit more scrutiny. There's pattern some CBP agents are concerned about... Which is somebody getting GC and travelling to their home country shortly after without US citizen spouse.

 

Yes, depending on the officer. Multiple trips where two spouses are apart for a long period (weeks or months) is more likely to arouse suspicion, but one cannot be reasonably expected to have a perfectly aligned travel schedule where both spouses are physically together all the time. Work imposes constraints. Officers ask a multitude of questions to see where the answers lead and whether the person's pattern of travel behavior is reasonable.

 

I, for one, like to shop a little bit before returning home so I am a habitual declarer at customs. When they occasionally probe deeper, I answer everything they want to know, and then I continue on my way with my carpet and Turkish delights.

 

 

 

 

[S2N 424]

33 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I had GE and used GE lane when I got this question about travelling together. If CBP needs to stop somebody and ask questions, GE won't help

Definitely true. It’s not a prevention against questions or secondary if you’re flagged on the pre-arrival screening list. It has less of a chance of either because of the pre-vetting and automation, so it’s still beneficial, imo, but if one of the pre-arrival people flags you the CBP officer in the GE line will ask the questions.

[OldUser 10,395]

40 minutes ago, WeekendPizzaiolo said:

 

 

Yes, depending on the officer. Multiple trips where two spouses are apart for a long period (weeks or months) is more likely to arouse suspicion, but one cannot be reasonably expected to have a perfectly aligned travel schedule where both spouses are physically together all the time. Work imposes constraints. Officers ask a multitude of questions to see where the answers lead and whether the person's pattern of travel behavior is reasonable.

 

I, for one, like to shop a little bit before returning home so I am a habitual declarer at customs. When they occasionally probe deeper, I answer everything they want to know, and then I continue on my way with my carpet and Turkish delights.

 

 

 

 

I mean, we all know the USCIS / CBP / DOS perfect world where both spouses merge all of their finances, travel together and have joint house ownership etc etc. Any deviation may cause questions, especially in scenario when new GC holder travels solo. It's not OP's case so they should be OK, though entering the US together is subjectively better than leaving the US together 

Edited August 19 by OldUser

[Mixel96 15]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

I mean, we all know the USCIS / CBP / DOS perfect world where both spouses merge all of their finances, travel together and have joint house ownership etc etc. Any deviation may cause questions, especially in scenario when new GC holder travels solo. It's not OP's case so they should be OK, though entering the US together is subjectively better than leaving the US together 

but i mean in all reality, if its for good reasons? what is there even to be doubtful about. The whole purpose of a greencard is to become a lawful permanent resident, that doesnt mean you have to travel together ALL the time right?

[Dashinka 26,115]

2 hours ago, Mixel96 said:

but i mean in all reality, if its for good reasons? what is there even to be doubtful about. The whole purpose of a greencard is to become a lawful permanent resident, that doesnt mean you have to travel together ALL the time right?

Nope, not at all.  My wife and I were in the same boat for 3-4 years after she got her GC.  The GC was in her married name, and her passport was in her maiden name.  Also, we often traveled in a similar manner, where we would go visit family in Russia arriving together, and then I would leave two weeks later to get back to work, and my wife would stay for a few more weeks (sometimes the opposite as well where I would come two weeks after my wife, and we would return together).  We never had any issues, my wife always carried a copy of our marriage certificate with her (no one ever asked to see it), and we always booked the tickets in the name on her Russian passport until she naturalized.  You may face different questions by a CBP officer, but I would not worry to much about it, just answer truthfully, don't be extraneous in your answers, and you will be fine.

 

Good Luck!

[Dashinka 26,115]

8 hours ago, OldUser said:

I had GE and used GE lane when I got this question about travelling together. If CBP needs to stop somebody and ask questions, GE won't help

You needed to use the GE App.  Not a single question by CBP.

[Mixel96 15]

36 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

You needed to use the GE App.  Not a single question by CBP.

Takes around 2 weeks to get all that Right ?