CarlM

Im sure this topic has come up 1000 times but here goes my turn!

Just received my I-551 stamp following AOS through marriage. Is it ok to travel back to Blighty and expect to actually get back in US now? Also, do i have to stand in line with all the other Brits or can i use the red carpet US Citz & Perm Residents??

fatbrit

You can usually use the USC line. If you ain't got the card yet, you'll probably end up in secondary, though you can end up there for any reason anyway...

Last time I ended up in secondary it was because there was an arrest warrant out in my name. :scared: Now my name ain't exactly John Smith, but it must be up there in the top 10 most common. In fact, it would be bloody suspicious if there wasn't somebody in the US with an arrest warrant out in my name. Stupid people! 30 minutes of I-need-a-smoke time wasted before catching my connecting flight.

Duncan Roberts

You are a permanent resident so you can leave and enter the country freely. My guess is you will get your card an a couple of weeks anyway so this may be a non issue.
Last time I went through Newark the lines were "US citizens and permanent residents" and "Other"

Thydney

Yeah right! Just got mine after nine months, still waiting on my daughters.

AdobePinon

Three and a half weeks here.

Thydney

Mine was issued after a few weeks but some silly twat sent it to the INS office address rather than mine

Pharrya

Ha! got mine in 17 days

CarlM

LOL - ok folks.. thank you kindly. I should expect my card in the next 2 - 60 weeks then!

looselips

As fatbrit said ..... you end up in secondary, they take your passport, you sit for a bit, they do some checks, then off you go. Yeh 2 - 60 weeks is about right !

CarlM

3 1/2 weeks so some excellent guesses there folks!!

ScotsmanInTexas

Same thing happened to me actually while leaving Houston! Very freaky, I've been very uncomfortable about flying BA ever since I was delayed at check in by their over zealous staff and left standing for 40 minutes under the beadies of a guy with something nasty in his holster. Eventually the Manager arrived and said no you're obviously not him and left me running for the gate which was about to close! What made it particularly freaky is she had not informed me that anything was wrong - it was just wait there and motioned me to stand aside. I hate to think what might have happened if I'd began suspiciously raking in my carry on? Very nasty and very paranoic staff at the BA desk in Houston. I have thought seriously on never flying them again.

fatbrit

Had BA dodos once insist I filled out an I94 after getting off the flight, even though I told them I knew I didn't need one! It was a flight that stops at Phoenix, then some passengers continue to San Diego but all must clear POE at Phoenix. The were so bloody insistent I must fill one out if I wasn't a USC, I completed it for them to keep them happy (I couldn't argue as all I was dreaming of was a cig), showed them I'd done it, then snuck it out of my passport into my pocket when they weren't looking so as not to confuse the poor POE officer. BA are hard work sometimes...

AdobePinon

I win!

scrubbedexpat099

I was told this morning that they no longer stamp, too easily forged by our friends south of the Border was the reason.

CarlM

Spot on adobe! Ill raise a glass in your honour/honor..