Q: Can I safely leave and re-enter the US as a British Citizen green card holder despite my birthplace being Iran?
I was born in Iran, moved to the UK as a baby and lived there for 17 years, becoming a British citizen. 3 years ago, my family moved to California on my dad’s work visa and we now all received our green cards. Is it safe for me to travel to the UK/Canada/Mexico for vacation? (Not Iran) or will there be any issues with me returning home to California because of the birthplace on my British passport?
A:
Thank you for your question.
Given the information provided, it appears you are able to travel on a valid British passport.
As a practical matter you may be pulled into what is called a secondary inspection for questioning. They may do this inspection and hold you for a period of time for this questioning. They legally have the right to do this. It is best to be prepared and acknowledge that it is a possibility.
Make sure all of your documents, including your British passport, are current. Also, keep this in mind for flights where you may have a connection.
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