During this holiday season when travel increases, it’s important to remember what the process is for international travelers when you’re inspected at the airport or on land by Customs and Border Protection(CBP) officers.  They have posted a very informative list of FAQ’s which we link to.

The most important thing to remember if you are a non-citizen is the CBP Officer must determine why you are coming to the United States, what documents you may require, if you have those documents, and how long you should be allowed to initially stay in the United States. These determinations usually take less than one minute to make. If you are allowed to proceed, the officer will stamp your passport and customs declaration form and issue a completed Form I-94 to you. A completed form I-94 will show what immigration classification you were given and how long you are allowed to stay.

Note that completion of the paper Form I-94W remains a requirement at the port of entry for Visa Waiver Travelers even if a travel authorization has been obtained via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.  For more information on ESTA visit the Electronic System for Travel Authorization page.

Should you have any questions about business or tourist visas, please contact our office.