Traveling as Green Card Holder

[orzxela 0]

Hello Everyone,

My wife has been a green card holder since March 2024 when we entered on CR1 (consulate processing). 

 

We have filed for I-751 and have received a 48 month extension letter.

 

Since obtaining and immigrating to the US we have been traveling quite often - mostly for work.

 

We attend a twice a year trade show for work (work together under my LLC) in Asia. Once in the spring and once in the fall. 

 

So we are out of the country for two months in the spring and two months in the fall as we visit and stay with her family in South Korea while we are in Asia. 

 

Usually we travel to a couple more countries while we are in Asia as we enjoy traveling as one of our hobbies.

 

Would this raise an issue with CPB if we are out of the country 4 months out of the year in this pattern? We do get a bit nervous everytime we return home to the US and are in line for immigration even though we know we should be able to pass through without much problems.

 

We currently do not have Global Entry so we are looking into applying if it makes things easier. Will also be filing for N400 later on in the year.

 

Any advice or insight would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Crazy Cat 46,473]

1 hour ago, orzxela said:

Would this raise an issue with CPB if we are out of the country 4 months out of the year in this pattern?

No.  Since you are not spending more than a year outside the US on any given trip, I see no issue.  Since you have no trips of 6 months lor longer, I see no issues.....

Just keep track of ALL your entry and return dates.....you will need them for the N-400.

Edited 19 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[EatBulaga 521]

3 hours ago, orzxela said:

We currently do not have Global Entry so we are looking into applying if it makes things easier. Will also be filing for N400 later on in the year.

 

Any advice or insight would be appreciated! Thank you!

I highly recommend prioritizing paying the 120 for Global Entry.

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

If anything, the extra background check may facilitate USCIS processing, since GE, TSA, CBP, USCIS, etc. are all under DHS information sharing along with the airport benefits of TSA and GE.

 

However, with GE, there is also the extra responsibility of self-enforcement of customs. For example, you complete the self-declaration form on arrival and breeze through the GE kiosk with no checks. You may have forgotten you brought in some restricted items like fruits, but your luggage CBP x-rays already recorded the fruits. Don't be surprised if your GE gets revoked with no warning, and your USCIS processing or any DHS-dependent processes get more scrutinized with no clear explanations. This is just an example of some posts I've been reading.

Edited 16 hours ago by EatBulaga

[wildbug100420 445]

5 hours ago, orzxela said:

Hello Everyone,

My wife has been a green card holder since March 2024 when we entered on CR1 (consulate processing). 

 

We have filed for I-751 and have received a 48 month extension letter.

 

Since obtaining and immigrating to the US we have been traveling quite often - mostly for work.

 

We attend a twice a year trade show for work (work together under my LLC) in Asia. Once in the spring and once in the fall. 

 

So we are out of the country for two months in the spring and two months in the fall as we visit and stay with her family in South Korea while we are in Asia. 

 

Usually we travel to a couple more countries while we are in Asia as we enjoy traveling as one of our hobbies.

 

Would this raise an issue with CPB if we are out of the country 4 months out of the year in this pattern? We do get a bit nervous everytime we return home to the US and are in line for immigration even though we know we should be able to pass through without much problems.

 

We currently do not have Global Entry so we are looking into applying if it makes things easier. Will also be filing for N400 later on in the year.

 

Any advice or insight would be appreciated! Thank you!

Please complete your timelines they are blank. Ask your self this, no trips more than 6 months, more than half the time in the U.S. Living together up until naturalization. Good grasp of history, civics and English language  

[Gabriel5454 44]

I would echo other commenters here.  Global entry is absolutely worth the money and will lead to less questions when you return each time.  Also it is not so much the length of the trips that is important (although it is important) but also the intention.  E.g., you are maintaining a continuous residence in the US and returning to it every time and staying outside the US less than 6 months in a year then you should be fine.

[TBoneTX 49,619]

Global Entry takes a while to get, but it's worth it.

 

When you're approved for an interview, you can interview anywhere that CBP offers appointments.

 

I found no appointments in Houston for many months, so I did mine in Brownsville when I was down there on other business.  The G.E. card was in my hands by mail in less than a week -- amazing.

[orzxela 0]

Thank you for the replies. Also just came across some information that we may be unable to apply for Global Entry while waiting for ROC. Don't know how true this information is but I'll look more into it. Thank you all again.