British Expatriate Network

Hi all,

I am a US Conditional Permanenet Resident living here in the US, married to a US Citizen. I have my "Green Card" (I-551), and everything's going well.

I wanted to check up with y'all on here about travelling internationally. My husband and I are going to visit my family in Scotland for the first time this coming September. I have not travelled internationally since being admitted to the US for immigration purposes.

Does anybody have any more tips for me on travelling internationally as a US Permanenet Resident?? I have my British Passport and it is in my married name (just got it changed over a few months ago - still have my old one which I will also carry with me just in case). I will obviously be taking my I-551 "Green Card" with me in my wallet, too.

Any tips/hints/problems with travelling to other countries? Any problems or cautions when coming back into the US??? Any immigration issues? Anything I should carry with me that I may not have heard about??

I'd appreciate any replies!!!

Karen R.

Seems to me you got it all covered.
Why do you carry your old passport with you too?

Just go have fun and remember when you come back you come through the US citizen line.

Well, don't forget your green card, but keep it safe until you arrive on US soil, you won't need it anywhere. Unless someone wants a 2nd picture ID.

My wife and I travelled outside the country for the first time since I got my card last January, and had no problems at all coming back into the country. Post-9/11 it was much easier than I had expected. I don't remember anything about a citizen or non-citizen line, I think it was all the same, just a load of booths and a single line serving all of them. Very efficient, which is amazing considering the mess of an airport it's in (Chicago O'Hare).

I made the mistake of going through the non-citizen line once. It was the security persons fault she was misdirecting all green card holders to non citizen line.
Got 20 questions and hubby got told off for bringing my then 2 yr old over because she was crying.

Hi Wendl,

Well - I actually am going off of advice received from the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. I asked them via email what I should do with my old Passport once I had a new one issued to me in my married name - and they said carry it with you when you travel just to be safe.

I guess it's because it's got all my stamps in it from when I previously came over to visit the U.S., and also because it has my temporary green card admittance stamp in it, too - from when I first got approved to stay and apply for immigration/Permanenet Residence/Citizenship.

So - obviously being a paranoid - I will carry EVERYTHING plus the kitchen sink with me - just so I don't ever get any nasty surprises.

Now.......all I need to know now is how to get over my flying phobia.

Karen