Didn't Show Green Card when leaving US

T

ToughItOut

Registered Users (C)
Guys,

I just came from an overseas trip after getting my GC a couple months ago. But one thing bothers that nobody ever asked me about the green card when I left and at port of entry, immigration didn't ask me about when I left either.

A friend of mine told me that I should have shown my GC to the airlines and they would swipe it on a machine.

Now I realized that I might have a problem explaining that to Immigration when I file for naturalization.

Advice please!!!

Thanks
 
ToughItOut said:
I just came from an overseas trip after getting my GC a couple months ago. But one thing bothers that nobody ever asked me about the green card when I left and at port of entry, immigration didn't ask me about when I left either.
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The US doesn't track exits in a systematic way.

A friend of mine told me that I should have shown my GC to the airlines and they would swipe it on a machine.
Click to expand...

There is no need to do so; they already sent your name to USCIS when you boarded an international flight.

Now I realized that I might have a problem explaining that to Immigration when I file for naturalization.
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Since the US has no exit controls, there is nothing to explain. Just record the dates for your N400.
 
Thanks a lot!

It makes a lot of sense.

This guy also told me that one can sneak in and out of the Canadian border with a US driver's license, so INS doesn't know you are out of the country.

But this sounds very .... fishy! I mean, really?
 
ToughItOut said:
It makes a lot of sense.

This guy also told me that one can sneak in and out of the Canadian border with a US driver's license, so INS doesn't know you are out of the country.

But this sounds very .... fishy! I mean, really?
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As a side note:
After 9/11, US and Canada do share air passenger list for security purpose. So, even if you are not flying from USA but from Canada, it's very likely that DHS has your travel information with them.
 
What kind of info is shared between US and Canada border

What kind of information is shared between Canada and US borders. What information US is getting? Visa/passport numbers?

Specific to my case:
I plan to fly from US or drive into Canada using Canada Immigration Visa (perm resident visa, first "landing" to become Canada PR). The Visa is machine readable (as well as my passport) and probably will be scanned in by Canada.
Within a week I will be returning to US using my Green Card and do not want any problems at US border.

Question: After scanning my GC, would US POE know that I entered Canada using Canadian immigrant visa (and not my GC)?

It is fine if they have my name/birthdate/whatever and date of entry into Canada.
Do they have information of visa/passport/documents used to enter Canada?

Just do not want questioning at US border about Canada visa and newly aquired Canada PR status.

Any recondation of air/rental car combination to avoid problems in my case?
 
bob94102 said:
Do they have information of visa/passport/documents used to enter Canada?
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They might, and if they look at your passport and see the Canadian immigrant visa then they can legitimately claim that you have abandoned your PR status by taking up permanent residence in Canada.
 
TheRealCanadian said:
They might, and if they look at your passport and see the Canadian immigrant visa then they can legitimately claim that you have abandoned your PR status by taking up permanent residence in Canada.
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Even though I did not move there?
I am returning back to US in a week and showing strong US ties (home, job, taxes, car, return ticket purchased beforehand).

If I show GC at US land border - do they have authority to request to see my passport? Not according to the law and INA :) well, I know, law is just a law, not real life with moody officer at the border :)

FYI: A Canadian landed immigrant can reside in US (or anywhere) for 3 years out of 5 with no ties to Canada, and still maintain Canada PR with no "abandonment" issue.
That's what I like: exact law, measurable in exact numbers of days that everyone can apply and get staright Yes or No answer for their situation, without subjective discussion of "itent", etc.

I wish US had similar straight-forward (6-month) laws like this, and not to leave everything to discretion of POE officer's mood at the moment.
 
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