I finally got to use my green card!

M

mdh3000

Registered Users (C)
I just returned from a trip I took back home and used my green card for the first time entering the US.

I had a very pleasent experience! No questions about "Are you still working for the same company?" or "Where do you currently live?". Just a swipe of the green card and a "Thank you."!

I also noticed that you don't need to give the customs agent your passport, just your green card. However, you'll obviously need your passport to enter your home country, so you need to bring it anyways.

NN
 
First, congrats on the green card Jackolantern! I noticed your post in the Retrogression forum.

My trip was to Canada and I was "pre-cleared" through US customs in Canada, so there was no citizens line.

From the last trip I took out of the country, I can't remember if GC holders use the citizens line or not?

NN
 
So when flying from Canada you landed in a section of the US airport that was just like taking domestic flight, i.e. it didn't have customs and immigration?
 
Jackolantern said:
So when flying from Canada you landed in a section of the US airport that was just like taking domestic flight, i.e. it didn't have customs and immigration?
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Yeah! It's kinda weird. There are US Customs agents in the airports in Canada that clear you before you board the flight to the US. They have the whole setup there, secondary inspections, DHS agents, etc. Beyond the customs agents are a whole section of gates that are dedicated to US bound flights.

When you fly into the US, your flight arrives as if you had taken a domestic flight.

mdh
 
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Interesting. But I think it's better that way. If they're going to deny entry to somebody, it's better for the person and better for the US to deny them before they get on the plane, rather than after they've already taken the flight.
 
hi mdh 3000

when you landed at canada airport did they ask for your passport or was it just gc, and also did they stamp your passport in canada

thanks for your reply, i am planning a road trip , though


godblessusallandusa
 
I'm a Canadian citizen, so I had to show my passport when I entered Canada. Well, actually, you don't have to show your Canadian passport, a driver's license and birth certificate is OK too.

I don't think Canadian immigration would ever request to see your green card unless they wanted some form of picture ID and that was all you had.

mdh
 
thanks...mdh3000

Thanks, but need a little more clarification.

I am an Indian PP holder w/ gc.

So when I drive to immigration post at canadian border, will they ask for both my plastic card and passport and stamp passport or just ask to see gc and wave us through.

Likewise with us immigration while returning, they only see gc right? no need to show passport for entry stamp.

In any case I will carry both, just curious to Know

Thanks for all your help,

Godblesstheusa
 
Since you hold a passport (Indian) that normally needs a Canadian visa, you have to present your GC. It is your GC that exempts you from the visa requirement.
 
mdh3000 said:
Yeah! It's kinda weird. There are US Customs agents in the airports in Canada that clear you before you board the flight to the US.
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I recall reading that the reason for this is that are much fewer airports in Canada with originating international flights to the USA than there are destinations they fly to in the USA. For example, you can fly to Milwaukee from Toronto (as well as LOTS of other US destinations), and it is more efficient to just staff a handful of Canadian airports than ALL of the possible smaller US destinations with USCIS personnel. I think the same applies when traveling from Mexico, no? (I've never traveled from Mexico, but being Canadian, I have traveled extensively from Canada!)
 
wik said:
I think the same applies when traveling from Mexico, no? (I've never traveled from Mexico, but being Canadian, I have traveled extensively from Canada!)
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No. The only pre-clearance facilities other than Canada are in Dublin, Shannon, Bermuda, Nassau (Bahamas) and Aruba. There may be one or two more that I've missed in the Carribbean.
 
Jackolantern said:
Cool! Did you use the citizens line at the airport?
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jacko,

i recollect when i used newark airport in NJ, the immigration line for US citizens & GC holders is the same. People with non-immigrant visas have seperate line. I know that since I used NIV queue during my last trip abroad. Now, I have my GC & next trip it should be the US citizens/perm residents line.

GC recd- June 07
 
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