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Meganmaroni

10 year green card and secondary inspection

By Meganmaroni in Working & Traveling During US Immigration

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Meganmaroni Newbie

Meganmaroni   1

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Hi all, been years since I’ve been here.

i have my ten year green card, no criminal record and previously adjusted from a Canadian tourist visa to green card. The first time I came back to the us, my car was flagged for secondary. Agent asked me how I originally came in and let me through. This was 2019.

It is now 2025 and I get a lot of anxiety about traveling. Going back to see family and will be traveling through Pearson precleaarance. I was wondering if I got secondary once, if I will get it every time. It was very nerve wracking for me because they obviously made me get out the car, had my dog in a cage, etc while they verified for ten minutes and only asked me that one question.

 

i also read online that if you overstayed your first visa (technically I didn’t, I applied to adjust before the 6 month visa was over, does that count?) that you will be flagged for secondary every time. Is that true?

 

just wondering what the truth is, so much fear mongering in the media these days. I don’t believe most of it but you never know. 

Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   47,936

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
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I do not know why you were flagged but would not be for adjusting.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   47,941

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Welcome to the forum!

1 hour ago, Meganmaroni said:

my car was flagged for secondary

The way you put this is interesting and also gets to the probable heart of the matter.  CBP can have any criterion whatsoever for sending vehicles and pedestrians to Secondary:  "every 6th car," "every out-of-state license plate," "every vehicle with a W in the license plate," and the like.  At one Texas-Mexico port, I (a born USC) was sent to Secondary as part of a CBP training exercise.  This took far longer than your 10 minutes.

1 hour ago, Meganmaroni said:

I was wondering if I got secondary once, if I will get it every time.

Unless they've flagged you for something, nope.  In fact, your visa probably wouldn't have been renewed if you'd had something serious in your records.

1 hour ago, Meganmaroni said:

It was very nerve wracking for me

It certainly can be, but avoid taking it personally.  The CBP agents have their own criteria, which vary daily, and they're typically stressed out most of the time (they have a tough job).  If you think that you're truly being abused or distinctly treated rudely, a good response is a calm "Sir/ma'am, I'd feel more comfortable if your Shift Supervisor joined us at this point, please."

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

Meganmaroni Newbie

Meganmaroni   1

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1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I do not know why you were flagged but would not be for adjusting.

Thank you. That’s what I thought I remembered, reading people here saying they overstayed but don’t get flagged.

 

4 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Welcome to the forum!

The way you put this is interesting and also gets to the probable heart of the matter.  CBP can have any criterion whatsoever for sending vehicles and pedestrians to Secondary:  "every 6th car," "every out-of-state license plate," "every vehicle with a W in the license plate," and the like.  At one Texas-Mexico port, I (a born USC) was sent to Secondary as part of a CBP training exercise.  This took far longer than your 10 minutes.

Unless they've flagged you for something, nope.  In fact, your visa probably wouldn't have been renewed if you'd had something serious in your records.

It certainly can be, but avoid taking it personally.  The CBP agents have their own criteria, which vary daily, and they're typically stressed out most of the time (they have a tough job).  If you think that you're truly being abused or distinctly treated rudely, a good response is a calm "Sir/ma'am, I'd feel more comfortable if your Shift Supervisor joined us at this point, please."

 

 

thanks so much. I think you’ve figured it out. Honestly I had a car full of stuff along with my dog and license plates from California, even though I was crossing in Detroit and coming back from Toronto. 
 

thank you again for your knowledge. I feel better about my trip next month.

TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   47,941

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted
17 minutes ago, Meganmaroni said:

thank you again for your knowledge. I feel better about my trip next month.

You're welcome.  Enjoy your trip, and return here to report your experience with CBP.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

 
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