How To Successfully Cross The United States Border As An Immigrant

One of the most disconcerting experiences you can have is to be blocked from entering the United States at the border. Some inadequately prepared travellers have been known to be detained for many hours, questioned—sometimes by multiple U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) officers covering the same areas pf concern—had their suitcases and electronic equipment opened and ransacked, and even physically searched. Anyone who has ever endured such an experience will remember it for a long time. So what can you do to best prepare for your entry inspection, whether it is through a USCBP preclearance facility abroad, at a land or sea border crossing, or on arrival at an airport in the United States at a port of entry?

Preparing For Your USCBP Entry

The first thing to do is to try to better understand your rights and responsibilities when seeking to enter the United States. Visiting the United States is not a right, it is a privilege. The presumption at the border is that every applicant is an intending immigrant. In a sense you are guilty until proven innocent. Therefore, to succeed, applicants must prove their non-immigrant intent. They can do this by showing that the purpose of their trip is to enter temporarily for business or pleasure, that they plan to remain for a specific, limited period, that they have a residence outside the country, and that they intend to return abroad at the conclusion of the visit. Each applicant must keep in mind that the interview will focus on his or her credibility and not just the documents presented. Dressing appropriately and maintaining a positive demeanor is therefore helpful.

Essential Immigration Documents

Each person travelling should have their original passport, or other legitimate travel document. Spouses should also carry original marriage certificates. Children should have birth certificates. If a spouse is travelling with young children, but without the other spouse, a notarized letter or document evidencing the agreement of the absent spouse to allow the children to travel should be provided, or a court order granting exclusive custody must be produced. If the traveller is carrying a new passport and the traveller’s U.S. visa is in an old cancelled passport, the traveller should carry both passports to establish eligibility to enter.

Supporting U.S. Immigrant Documents

To prove your non-immigrant intent, you should provide documents supporting your contention you will return home after your temporary stay. A cover letter outlining the nature of the visit, reason for travel, and setting out your plans as concretely as possible would be helpful. In such a letter you can include such things as: proof you are working or financially independent, evidence you own property, copies of bank statements showing financial holdings, and proof of family ties at home including pictures where possible. The more supporting documents you include, the better it is for you.

Family visitors should present a letter from a U.S. citizen or resident confirming the details of the visit and that the traveller is welcome to come. Confirmation that the sponsoring family member is legally in the U.S., has a residence where the traveller can stay and is willing to support and pay expenses for the visitor is helpful. Family pictures are always useful.

•Business visitors, where appropriate, should provide a letter from their employer describing their job and outlining what they will be doing during their U.S. trip. The letter should explain that the traveller will be paid only from sources outside the U.S. and state when they will be expected to return home. If they are attending a trade show or similar business event, they should bring promotional materials, flyers, and proof that they are registered for the event.

If you have travelled to the U.S. before, proof of earlier travel can be helpful. Passport stamps are perhaps the best way to show this.

Air Tickets For Travel To The USA

It is always best to have arrangements to travel to and from the United States and proof of those arrangements in written confirmation form.

Visitor Medical Insurance

It is not mandatory to get visitors insurance before entering the United States. But it is wise to get travel insurance.

Young People Travelling

It is generally more difficult for young people to present strong ties to their home. In such cases, the officers may consider the applicant’s education status, his or her grades, long-range plans, parents’ status, prospects in their home country, and previous travel to other countries, etc.

Potential Border Questions for Visitors to the United States

When entering the United States, you should expect to be asked questions about your trip. The following list of questions are some of the most asked at the border.

1.             Where are you headed?

2.             What is the purpose of your trip?

3.             Where will you be staying?

4.             How long will you be there?

5.             Where do you live?

6.             What do you do?

7.             How much money are you bringing with you?

8.             Have you ever been denied entry to our country?

9.             Why are you going for this visit?

10.          Will you be going anywhere else?

11.          Will you be visiting anywhere else?

12.          What is your citizenship?

13.          Have you ever been arrested?

14.          Are you bringing any alcohol or tobacco with you?

15.       Are you carrying any large amounts of currency with you?

Rehearsing Your Border Entry

In dealing with border officials the best practice is to prepare for your interview well, answer all the questions asked as best you can, be respectful, cooperative and truthful. Rehearsing answers to the questions above will prepare you for your trip. You should not be carrying more than $ 10,000 U.S. on you when coming to America.

If you run into trouble, brutal honesty is the best policy. Hopefully these suggestions will help you avoid nasty encounters with U.S. border officials. If you need more guidance, you can also view some other articles on this theme here and here.