Hello,
I had shared my first time international travel after receiving the GC here:
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=284392
Thought, I'd share my second time travel too as this time it was a slightly different experience when entering the US. This would be my first time after the US-VISIT was fully implemented.
Arrived at the airport and was glad to see that the line for US Citizens also included PRs. At the immigration booth, was politely greeted by a caucasian officer. He scanned my fingers and asked a few brief questions about my trip and then mentioned that I needed to go to Secondary Inspection to which my smiling response was "Again?". He smiled back and said yes, but should be quick, he probably knew that I was quite familiar with that area now. There I was greeted by another officer (hispanic origin) who interviewed me about my trip. Questions included where I had been to in Pakistan, if I was contacted by any (suspicious) organizations, where I lived, what other countries I had been to in my life, where my education was from, if I had any military experience, if military training was a federal educational requirement in Pakistan, how I felt about the US in general. He also asked about how I received my GC to which I mentioned EB sponsorship. He asked if I was still working at the same company and what my role was there, I ended up showing him my business card. He asked if I was ever contacted by any suspiscious authorities, would I come forward voluntarily and report it to the US to which the my answer was obvious. All this time, he wrote my answers on a blank piece of paper, the entire process took no more than 20 minutes. He then stamped my passport and went to see his supervisor for a minute, came back, returned the passport, GC and customs form to me and said all was well and I was okay to go.
Just on the way out of secondary inspection, I asked him if this would happen everytime I come to the US from a trip abroad to which he said it shouldn't and this time I was randomly picked for questioning. He then apologized for the inconvenience and shook my hand. I of course thanked him (for his politeness) and that I completely understood that this was part of their job routine.
So overall, again not a bad experience. I just wonder if there ever will be a day again when I can come back to US (my home) and not be sent to Secondary Inspection. Fingers are crossed, just have to get over the jet lag now!
Stoned!
I had shared my first time international travel after receiving the GC here:
http://forums.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=284392
Thought, I'd share my second time travel too as this time it was a slightly different experience when entering the US. This would be my first time after the US-VISIT was fully implemented.
Arrived at the airport and was glad to see that the line for US Citizens also included PRs. At the immigration booth, was politely greeted by a caucasian officer. He scanned my fingers and asked a few brief questions about my trip and then mentioned that I needed to go to Secondary Inspection to which my smiling response was "Again?". He smiled back and said yes, but should be quick, he probably knew that I was quite familiar with that area now. There I was greeted by another officer (hispanic origin) who interviewed me about my trip. Questions included where I had been to in Pakistan, if I was contacted by any (suspicious) organizations, where I lived, what other countries I had been to in my life, where my education was from, if I had any military experience, if military training was a federal educational requirement in Pakistan, how I felt about the US in general. He also asked about how I received my GC to which I mentioned EB sponsorship. He asked if I was still working at the same company and what my role was there, I ended up showing him my business card. He asked if I was ever contacted by any suspiscious authorities, would I come forward voluntarily and report it to the US to which the my answer was obvious. All this time, he wrote my answers on a blank piece of paper, the entire process took no more than 20 minutes. He then stamped my passport and went to see his supervisor for a minute, came back, returned the passport, GC and customs form to me and said all was well and I was okay to go.
Just on the way out of secondary inspection, I asked him if this would happen everytime I come to the US from a trip abroad to which he said it shouldn't and this time I was randomly picked for questioning. He then apologized for the inconvenience and shook my hand. I of course thanked him (for his politeness) and that I completely understood that this was part of their job routine.
So overall, again not a bad experience. I just wonder if there ever will be a day again when I can come back to US (my home) and not be sent to Secondary Inspection. Fingers are crossed, just have to get over the jet lag now!
Stoned!
