Don't know how airport customs work with green card and citizens
Aug 5, 2015, 3:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Don't know how airport customs work with green card and citizens
I will be traveling back to U.S. via JFK airport with my husband who is a citizen. I am a permanent resident. Our son is also a citizen. I heard that nowadays the customs paper is filled out whoever is residing at the same address (it's been so long since I have traveled). Do we all stand together in the citizens line when we get back? Or is there a separate line for green card holders? Any help would be appreciated.
Aug 5, 2015, 4:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,503
I will be traveling back to U.S. via JFK airport with my husband who is a citizen. I am a permanent resident. Our son is also a citizen. I heard that nowadays the customs paper is filled out whoever is residing at the same address (it's been so long since I have traveled). Do we all stand together in the citizens line when we get back? Or is there a separate line for green card holders? Any help would be appreciated.
Yes, a family may fill out one declaration card for the entire family.
Yes, permanent residents use the same line as citizens. You will all use the same line and approach the officer together.
enjoy your trip!
Aug 5, 2015, 4:08 pm
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,921
Citizens and permanent residents go through together and I believe JFK has the APC machines which read the lead traveler's passport and replace the paper form. There may not be too much of a line for immigration, customs is another matter. If you are a green card holder and have been out of the US for more than six months I believe that you should have been getting permission from CIS every six months. I have no experience of this however.
This is not official but it may be helpful: http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-greencard.html
This is not official but it may be helpful: http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-greencard.html
Last edited by MADPhil; Aug 5, 2015 at 4:14 pm Reason: added link
Aug 5, 2015, 4:37 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
first I did this when my american husband and I was told 2 different lines. We did that.
Got yelled at customers since we were married and I had the customs form.
So my advice do the same. Customs dont want family mebers in 2 different lines. And a family can only (what I have been told) only have 1.
Got yelled at customers since we were married and I had the customs form.
So my advice do the same. Customs dont want family mebers in 2 different lines. And a family can only (what I have been told) only have 1.
Last edited by tanja; Aug 5, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Aug 6, 2015, 10:03 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: The lower of the two Carolinas
Programs: Former AA Gold, SkyMiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 387
My husband has traveled in and out of the US on his green card several times. Even when I'm not with him, he goes through the US line with his green card and his British passport. When we fly together, we go through the US line together with one declaration.
Aug 7, 2015, 4:47 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PDX
Posts: 908
Whether a permanent resident can use the line for US citizens depends on an airport. Most airports indeed allocate the same lines for US citizens and permanent residents, but in any case, there will always be a sign directing people which line to use.
Aug 7, 2015, 5:21 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
yes. But if they are married/family that will cause problems. Cause customs wants 1 form for familly. Kind of hard to do if you are in 2 different lines. Believe I have done. With customs really angry.
Last edited by tanja; Aug 7, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Aug 7, 2015, 10:59 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Catania, Sicily/South Jersey (PHL)/Houston, Texas/Red Stick/airborne in-between
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All of the computer systems set up in the main booths can process either types of immigrants, citizens or visitors.
There are various reasons they prefer families together including but not limited to cash structuring and FINCEN105 rules, dec limits, child trafficking, etc.
Aug 13, 2015, 1:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: The lower of the two Carolinas
Programs: Former AA Gold, SkyMiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 387
Ah - good point. We usually go through the same airports every time (so far), so our experience would definitely be limited.
Aug 13, 2015, 2:58 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
And as he said it depends on the airport, and sometimes the agents on duty. Some airports send greencards through the foreign line. Some allow Canadians to use the US lines with Greencard holders. It depends and often changes.
All of the computer systems set up in the main booths can process either types of immigrants, citizens or visitors.
There are various reasons they prefer families together including but not limited to cash structuring and FINCEN105 rules, dec limits, child trafficking, etc.
All of the computer systems set up in the main booths can process either types of immigrants, citizens or visitors.
There are various reasons they prefer families together including but not limited to cash structuring and FINCEN105 rules, dec limits, child trafficking, etc.
Guess what. His US citizent "officer" got in a bad mood. She asked where was his customscard. He told her with his wife. She aggreed that only 1 form per family. She wanted him to have it. But in the same time I should have it.
Finally she gave up and they called me into the US citizent line.
Aug 13, 2015, 11:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
If you both walk up to the booth together, the officer will probably yell at you.
If one of you walk ups to the booth while the other waits in line, the officer will probably yell at you.
If one of you walk ups to the booth while the other waits in line, the officer will probably yell at you.
Aug 14, 2015, 3:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: California. USA
Posts: 1,404
I have dealt with immigraton/customs workers at the same airport not aggreing.
In the end they solved it. Not easy.
I was even once told that my then 5 year old son (we had different last names) that he needed his own customs papers signed by HIM.?
He did not even know how to read or write.
So it all depends who is working.Sorry to say.
Aug 25, 2015, 10:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Beware of IAH
Arrived at IAH on ANA from NRT last month. Immi would not allow Green Card Holders in U.S. Citizen line. I argued since Mrs. EX is my wife with the GC and I am holding U.S. Passport that we go together thru the Citizen line, That was denied. So I lined up with her at the visitor line which of course was much more crowded. Has never happened to us at any other U.S. POE. Will definitely avoid IAH in the future and hope this does not spread.
Aug 26, 2015, 11:34 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,503
Arrived at IAH on ANA from NRT last month. Immi would not allow Green Card Holders in U.S. Citizen line. I argued since Mrs. EX is my wife with the GC and I am holding U.S. Passport that we go together thru the Citizen line, That was denied. So I lined up with her at the visitor line which of course was much more crowded. Has never happened to us at any other U.S. POE. Will definitely avoid IAH in the future and hope this does not spread.
