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Hello All,
Sharing my experience of Travelling back from India on I-551 (Green Card) Stamp on Indian Passport, December 2018.
My 2 year conditional green card expired, the receipt did not come in the mail due to the ongoing delays so I had to get the I-551 stamp on my Passport from a USCIS Office. As per current rules, one cannot retain the expired green card after getting the passport stamp so the expired green card had to be surrendered. They assured me that there will be no problem travelling on it.
But here's what happened:
Reached Delhi Airport and proceeded to United Airlines counter to check in. While I was in the line, the female employee from United wanted to pre-check my documents and asked to see Visa/Green Card. I showed her my passport and pointed towards the I-551 stamp page. Then she asked for my plastic card. I told her that as per the process one cannot have both. As it is a standard process, she should have known it instead of asking for it. She nodded "Oh Ok", "I see", sounded like she was in a "learning mode", and not like she understood what the process was.
The same thing happened while checking in my bags, but they were checked in. They kept running their fingers on the embossed portion of the stamp and wondering if it is real or not.
Reached the immigration check counter just before security checking. They asked for my expired green card, I again explained the process to these people as well. They refused to accept it as a valid proof of authorization to travel and argued, "Ishtamp nahi chalega. Expired Plastic card ke peeche hologram sticker lagta hai usko renew karne ke liye" (Translation: The Stamp wouldn't work, USCIS puts a hologram sticker on the back of expired green cards to renew them for a year). He asked his partner for advice, he said the same thing.
With not much time left to board the flight, I was in trouble. I told them that they haven't been to the US in their lives, so they have no idea how the process works. The embossed stamp has been put on there by USCIS itself, and I'm a permanent resident. Don't waste my time! I also said, "bina jaankaari ke yahaan kya kar rahe ho, kisi aur ke liye kursi khaali karo jisko malum ho kucch". "They said "Humhein apna kaam karne do". After arguing with them for a few minutes, they agreed to consult their superior. I said talk to whoever you want I don't care, I know what the process it. One out of the two disappeared with my passport. I waited for about 15 minutes after which he re-emerged, face down, and started doing the thing on computer before putting the departure stamp on my passport. I said Now What? They replied that the policies change all the time, and their "computer" doesn't provide them with real time information (use Google *******s).
Reached Newark Airport. They verified my fingerprints, then sent me for Secondary Inspection for no reason. Waited in the secondary inspection for 25 minutes, the officer was yelling at others and threatening to deport them. Then my name was called, and he just said "here you go" and handed back my passport. I then proceeded for my connecting flight to Ohio.
Sharing my experience of Travelling back from India on I-551 (Green Card) Stamp on Indian Passport, December 2018.
My 2 year conditional green card expired, the receipt did not come in the mail due to the ongoing delays so I had to get the I-551 stamp on my Passport from a USCIS Office. As per current rules, one cannot retain the expired green card after getting the passport stamp so the expired green card had to be surrendered. They assured me that there will be no problem travelling on it.
But here's what happened:
Reached Delhi Airport and proceeded to United Airlines counter to check in. While I was in the line, the female employee from United wanted to pre-check my documents and asked to see Visa/Green Card. I showed her my passport and pointed towards the I-551 stamp page. Then she asked for my plastic card. I told her that as per the process one cannot have both. As it is a standard process, she should have known it instead of asking for it. She nodded "Oh Ok", "I see", sounded like she was in a "learning mode", and not like she understood what the process was.
The same thing happened while checking in my bags, but they were checked in. They kept running their fingers on the embossed portion of the stamp and wondering if it is real or not.
Reached the immigration check counter just before security checking. They asked for my expired green card, I again explained the process to these people as well. They refused to accept it as a valid proof of authorization to travel and argued, "Ishtamp nahi chalega. Expired Plastic card ke peeche hologram sticker lagta hai usko renew karne ke liye" (Translation: The Stamp wouldn't work, USCIS puts a hologram sticker on the back of expired green cards to renew them for a year). He asked his partner for advice, he said the same thing.
With not much time left to board the flight, I was in trouble. I told them that they haven't been to the US in their lives, so they have no idea how the process works. The embossed stamp has been put on there by USCIS itself, and I'm a permanent resident. Don't waste my time! I also said, "bina jaankaari ke yahaan kya kar rahe ho, kisi aur ke liye kursi khaali karo jisko malum ho kucch". "They said "Humhein apna kaam karne do". After arguing with them for a few minutes, they agreed to consult their superior. I said talk to whoever you want I don't care, I know what the process it. One out of the two disappeared with my passport. I waited for about 15 minutes after which he re-emerged, face down, and started doing the thing on computer before putting the departure stamp on my passport. I said Now What? They replied that the policies change all the time, and their "computer" doesn't provide them with real time information (use Google *******s).
Reached Newark Airport. They verified my fingerprints, then sent me for Secondary Inspection for no reason. Waited in the secondary inspection for 25 minutes, the officer was yelling at others and threatening to deport them. Then my name was called, and he just said "here you go" and handed back my passport. I then proceeded for my connecting flight to Ohio.
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