Entering the U.S. - Inspections

When you enter the United States, whether by airplane, seaport, or land post, you will need to be “inspected.” Customs & Border Protection (“CBP”) inspectors will check your passport and visa and ask you questions relating to your stay. Your answers must be consistent with your visa, i.e., if you have a visitor’s visa, you cannot indicate an intent to marry someone here or intent to work.

On some occasions, when you have a problem with your visa, or the inspector believes that you are likely to overstay your visa, the inspector will deny entry. At the same time, on occasion, you will be given the opportunity to withdraw your request to enter, which will permit you to attempt another entry after correcting whatever problem you may have had. If, however, you are denied entry, called “summarily excluded”, you will be prohibited from entry for five (5) years.