Hi all;
Last night my family and I came back to US from London, Heathrow, I would like to share my observations with this wonderful community.
We all had three copies of AP (original), first at the heathrow, the guy who I think was the immigration specialist of British airways looked at our documents and told me that he needs to keep a copy of AP (original one) I was not happy and asked why? He said this is the new regulation! I complied
When we arrived in detroit, the first thing I noticed was a massive line, new regulations of finger printing is creating havoc. Most of the passengers were British and hence were using visa waiver form, (green forms), however about 30 percent were not visa waivers and one could tell by their white forms (I94), these people went through fingerprinting which was fairly quick, but not very quick, about 3-4 minute per person.
At last we came to the booth and the officer looked at our AP and asked us to follow him to the back office. We went along and there I also observed another couple which I will tell as a side-story later. Anyhow, the officer was polite and asked my what I do and why did I left US which I told him and looked at our AP and checked on his PC and told me everything is fine and took another copy of our advanced parole (original one), then stamped the last copy of our AP and I94 forms (but did not stamp our passports, he said it is not necessary!?) and told me good luck for my green card! I asked him, could you please check my status of I485 on your computer, he said that they don't have access to the detailed information, all it says is pending I485 and that is good enough for him!!??
Then we went to cutom, that was tough! every baggage has to go through Xray again and rather serious questioning. What do you have? food? meat, etc? The answer to all should be no ofcourse.
Hey guys, DO NOT bring any food, it will be trouble. Then again another officer asked me what do I do here and why did I leave the country, etc. I showed him stamped advanced parol etc. but he said he does not need to see that!!?? Anyhow, eventually he told us "You are all set!", that was good to hear and we left the airport (after about 3 hours after arrival)
Now, the side story, during the whole process I was not worried about my situation at all, there was no reason for me to worry, all our paper works were fine and in order, however what really made me sad and hurt my heart was the way the people treated.
In the back room I saw a couple, clearly grandma and grandpa, the man had white hair (not grey, white) the lady was fragile and had grey hair, they were around 70 years old. I think there were from Lebonan or some middle east countries, I could not read their passport but clearly could read the arabic script on their passports. They both had their green cards! The officer (the good one) was questioning them and another officer (the bad one) was also pointing them their mistakes and was telling them to to be truthful. What was the problem, classic! they were grandma and grandpa that had their green card but left the country last year and told them the truth (they should not!) and the officer was telling them that they can not be out of the country more than 6 months. Anyhow,eventually, the good officer stamped their passport and let them go (although I don't know why, I thought the green card holders will not get a stamp!?) my wife could hear them better, I was busy with my officer and my AP. My wife told me that later the bad officer told the good officer that he should have given a "waiver", I guess that means that cancel their green card! I can not belive that the whole life of some people could be changed so easily, I wanted to tell them, for god's sake just look at their age and color of their hair. Why are you torturing these people?
Anyhow, I was thinking about these old people the whole night. At the custom, I saw them again, all their luggage was opened and 2 or 3 officers were going through their belongings. I was just about to cry! What the hell is going on! My wife dragged me along and we came out.
And guess what, we saw their children and grandchildren all waiting out side. I talked to the son and told them not to worry they are on their way out but please tell them what to tell and what NOT to tell!
He was very worried about them and I comforted him a bit! Then I went to get our car and told my wife and children to wait for me.
By the time I came back, those 2 old granparents have been out, later my wife told me that they managed to come out from the other side of the lounge (how, we don't know) and could not see their children and grandchildren and were just about the leave the airport!
(They were clearly shaken and disturbed). Eventually my wife who was observing everything, told them that your family are on the other side of the lounge and directed them to their beloved and they all hugged and kissed each other. (Happy ending!)
And by this time I came with the car and took my family home. Funny enough, during our short journey, both of us were thinking and talking about those 2 grandparents and guess what, we DO have parents that are the grandparents of our children and we could see that they are going to go through the same torment. Is this the country that we want to live? Did we choose the right place to immigrate to? We keep asking ourselves the same question all the time! Any answer?
Good luck
Last night my family and I came back to US from London, Heathrow, I would like to share my observations with this wonderful community.
We all had three copies of AP (original), first at the heathrow, the guy who I think was the immigration specialist of British airways looked at our documents and told me that he needs to keep a copy of AP (original one) I was not happy and asked why? He said this is the new regulation! I complied
When we arrived in detroit, the first thing I noticed was a massive line, new regulations of finger printing is creating havoc. Most of the passengers were British and hence were using visa waiver form, (green forms), however about 30 percent were not visa waivers and one could tell by their white forms (I94), these people went through fingerprinting which was fairly quick, but not very quick, about 3-4 minute per person.
At last we came to the booth and the officer looked at our AP and asked us to follow him to the back office. We went along and there I also observed another couple which I will tell as a side-story later. Anyhow, the officer was polite and asked my what I do and why did I left US which I told him and looked at our AP and checked on his PC and told me everything is fine and took another copy of our advanced parole (original one), then stamped the last copy of our AP and I94 forms (but did not stamp our passports, he said it is not necessary!?) and told me good luck for my green card! I asked him, could you please check my status of I485 on your computer, he said that they don't have access to the detailed information, all it says is pending I485 and that is good enough for him!!??
Then we went to cutom, that was tough! every baggage has to go through Xray again and rather serious questioning. What do you have? food? meat, etc? The answer to all should be no ofcourse.
Hey guys, DO NOT bring any food, it will be trouble. Then again another officer asked me what do I do here and why did I leave the country, etc. I showed him stamped advanced parol etc. but he said he does not need to see that!!?? Anyhow, eventually he told us "You are all set!", that was good to hear and we left the airport (after about 3 hours after arrival)
Now, the side story, during the whole process I was not worried about my situation at all, there was no reason for me to worry, all our paper works were fine and in order, however what really made me sad and hurt my heart was the way the people treated.
In the back room I saw a couple, clearly grandma and grandpa, the man had white hair (not grey, white) the lady was fragile and had grey hair, they were around 70 years old. I think there were from Lebonan or some middle east countries, I could not read their passport but clearly could read the arabic script on their passports. They both had their green cards! The officer (the good one) was questioning them and another officer (the bad one) was also pointing them their mistakes and was telling them to to be truthful. What was the problem, classic! they were grandma and grandpa that had their green card but left the country last year and told them the truth (they should not!) and the officer was telling them that they can not be out of the country more than 6 months. Anyhow,eventually, the good officer stamped their passport and let them go (although I don't know why, I thought the green card holders will not get a stamp!?) my wife could hear them better, I was busy with my officer and my AP. My wife told me that later the bad officer told the good officer that he should have given a "waiver", I guess that means that cancel their green card! I can not belive that the whole life of some people could be changed so easily, I wanted to tell them, for god's sake just look at their age and color of their hair. Why are you torturing these people?
Anyhow, I was thinking about these old people the whole night. At the custom, I saw them again, all their luggage was opened and 2 or 3 officers were going through their belongings. I was just about to cry! What the hell is going on! My wife dragged me along and we came out.
And guess what, we saw their children and grandchildren all waiting out side. I talked to the son and told them not to worry they are on their way out but please tell them what to tell and what NOT to tell!
He was very worried about them and I comforted him a bit! Then I went to get our car and told my wife and children to wait for me.
By the time I came back, those 2 old granparents have been out, later my wife told me that they managed to come out from the other side of the lounge (how, we don't know) and could not see their children and grandchildren and were just about the leave the airport!
(They were clearly shaken and disturbed). Eventually my wife who was observing everything, told them that your family are on the other side of the lounge and directed them to their beloved and they all hugged and kissed each other. (Happy ending!)
And by this time I came with the car and took my family home. Funny enough, during our short journey, both of us were thinking and talking about those 2 grandparents and guess what, we DO have parents that are the grandparents of our children and we could see that they are going to go through the same torment. Is this the country that we want to live? Did we choose the right place to immigrate to? We keep asking ourselves the same question all the time! Any answer?
Good luck
