Articles Posted in Secondary Inspections

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Green card holders returning to the U.S. are facing increased scrutiny in 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining more travelers with past legal issues or extended absences, and there’s a growing expectation to carry proof of ties to the U.S., like tax returns or lease agreements. New biometric systems track travel more closely, and frequent or long trips raise red flags about abandoning residency.

Green card holders are required to maintain continuous residence in the U.S. and extended or frequent trips abroad—especially those lasting over 180 days—can trigger a presumption of abandonment of permanent resident status.

Here are four key trends green card holders should be aware of when returning to the United States after temporary foreign travel.

Trend #1: Have Proof of Ties to the United States

Green card holders may be questioned by CBP about their ties and continuous residency in the United States. To help prevent complications—especially for those who have been outside the United States for 180 days or more—it may be wise for such individuals to present strong evidence of continued residence in the U.S., such as recent tax returns, employment verification, valid driver’s license, mortgage or lease agreements, and utility bills, to demonstrate that you have not abandoned your residency.

Even trips as short as three months can raise questions about your ties to the U.S.

Trend #2: CBP Officers Are Tracking Travel History

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are closely reviewing the travel history of green card holders, with a close eye toward frequent or extended trips abroad. Long absences from the United States (6 months or longer) can lead to questioning or increased scrutiny at the border.

CBP officers have questioned travelers wanting to know the purpose for their trip abroad, the length of their absence, and whether their primary residence is in the U.S. or another country.

Be prepared to clearly explain your answers to these questions.

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You have just learned that your work visa petition has been approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Now you are ready to attend your Consular visa interview bringing you one step closer to achieving your dream of working in the United States.

Unfortunately, receiving a USCIS approval notice does not guarantee the successful issuance of a visa by the U.S. Consulate. In fact, for some unlucky few that fail to pass their visa interview, the U.S. government can still revoke or cancel a petition that was previously approved by USCIS.

What can you do in this situation? Is this the end of the road? Learn everything you need to know about this important subject in this video.

Overview

Can the State Department revoke a work visa petition that was previously approved by USCIS?

Unfortunately, yes. After receiving an approval notice from USCIS, work visa applicants must still attend an in-person Consular interview to demonstrate their eligibility for the visa classification they are seeking. A Consular officer will question the applicant further to ensure they qualify for the visa and may request further evidence.

When a Consular visa interview goes south, not only can the visa application be denied, but the Consulate can also direct USCIS to revoke the underlying petition that was previously approved by the agency.

The petition revocation process begins when the State Department returns the application to USCIS along with the results of any investigation they have conducted.

Once USCIS has received the returned petition and the results of the investigation, they will issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke (NOIR) to the petitioner of the previously approved petition. The NOIR will include details about USCIS’ plans to revoke the underlying petition, as well as the discovery of new, derogatory information leading to the visa denial. A statement of facts underlying the revocation will be provided along with any evidence supporting the revocation.

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Have you ever wondered what to do if you are detained at a U.S. airport or port of entry while traveling as a green card holder?

In this video, you will learn about your rights as a green card holder and under what circumstances you can be detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when re-entering from a trip overseas.

For more information, please continue watching this video.

Overview

What happens when a Green Card holder is detained at an airport or U.S. port of entry after returning from a trip overseas?

In recent months, green card holders have reported being detained at U.S. ports of entry after returning from overseas travel. Viral social media posts have told cautionary tales of individuals being taken to secondary inspection when passing through customs.

All travelers arriving at U.S. ports of entry are subject to inspection by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to ensure compliance with immigration laws and regulations.

Unlike tourists and temporary visa holders, permanent residents (green card holders) are entitled to certain rights that others do not have. This includes the right to:

  • Live permanently in the United States provided you do not commit any actions that would make you removable under immigration law
  • Be protected by all laws of the United States, your state of residence and local jurisdictions

When being questioned or detained by a CBP officer, permanent residents may:

  • Report the incident to their embassy or consulate
  • Request to speak with an attorney to discuss the legal consequences of detainment and/or green card revocation

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