Just HOW strict are immigration officers at POE?

[chilegringa 0]

Thanks you everyone for the useful responses.. Our POE is Atlanta and we will go through immigration together as we should - we aren't trying to hide anything and I am sure they will see that..

What is excessive luggage? I have a lot of clothes! I moved to Chile a few years ago with 4 suitcases - and now have accumulated more and like I have already mentioned I would like to start moving some of my stuff back if possible - Is 2 suitcases each person excessive (for a months trip) ? Or I was thinking of bringing 2 for myself (since I am a woman and we tend to over pack) and just have my husband bring his one..

I just want things to go smoothly and would rather not be questioned for having too much baggage or anything - I can always bring it on the next trip if need be..

[JohnR! 5,495]

Thanks you everyone for the useful responses.. Our POE is Atlanta and we will go through immigration together as we should - we aren't trying to hide anything and I am sure they will see that..

What is excessive luggage? I have a lot of clothes! I moved to Chile a few years ago with 4 suitcases - and now have accumulated more and like I have already mentioned I would like to start moving some of my stuff back if possible - Is 2 suitcases each person excessive (for a months trip) ? Or I was thinking of bringing 2 for myself (since I am a woman and we tend to over pack) and just have my husband bring his one..

I just want things to go smoothly and would rather not be questioned for having too much baggage or anything - I can always bring it on the next trip if need be..

Two suitcases each is not bad at all and considered within the norm. When i used the term 'excessive' luggage I was referring to a 'tourist' entering the US in July, for two-week vacation in Orlando, carrying five suitcases full of winter gear. (A true real life story, might I add...)

I have done much worse through customs, trying to maintain closets in different countries... It is the ultimate art of international juggling! LOL.

[Boiler 45,517]

And a cat.

[JohnR! 5,495]

And a cat.

Close. I did all that with a Golden Retriever in tow!

[stew.mason 0]

Hello all. First of all, I send all my well wishes to those in this forum. I am in a similar situation. My Chilean wife (who is a student at Santo Tomas University in Santiago and employee for Reckitt Benckiser) and I (U.S. citizen with Permanent Residency in Chile) wish to visit the U.S. for 15 days over the Christmas holidays. We are a bit weary of both the interview and the POE because one hears horror stories of denial and turning aways at POEs. What type of documents should we bring to prove that we both wish to return to Chile after our Christmas vacation? Kindest regards in advance.

Stew

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hello all. First of all, I send all my well wishes to those in this forum. I am in a similar situation. My Chilean wife (who is a student at Santo Tomas University in Santiago and employee for Reckitt Benckiser) and I (U.S. citizen with Permanent Residency in Chile) wish to visit the U.S. for 15 days over the Christmas holidays. We are a bit weary of both the interview and the POE because one hears horror stories of denial and turning aways at POEs. What type of documents should we bring to prove that we both wish to return to Chile after our Christmas vacation? Kindest regards in advance.

Stew

Bring your CIE - Cedula Identidad Esttranjeros - and have a couple of business cards handy. That should provide evidence that you are allowed to return to Chile, and have a job there. Make sure you have a copy of your return ticket. Although you dont need it, your wife may be asked to show her return ticket to the officer upon arrival. That is really all they should need to establish that she will not stay in the US beyond her stay. Just in case, it would not hurt for her to have her student ID card in case she doesnt work currently. All in all, chances are you will have in your possession incidental items that corroborate your statements. Make sure you go through immigration together as a family.

You should be just fine.

[Mrs Green 6]

I hope everything will go well. Pls give us a follow-up after your trip

[X Factor 1,112]

I hope everything will go well. Pls give us a follow-up after your trip

[jaycali 415]

When I was interviewing with DHS/USCIS for my I-130, the officer very explicitly told me that being married to a USC cancels my husband's tourist visa. Assuming this is true, I don't think your husband will be let through, but I've heard stories saying the opposite.

I entered the immigration line with my USC wife entering on the VWP, and had no problems what so ever. The officer just asked how we're related, if I had valid ESTA and when I planned to leave. No further questions asked. There is no law against being a tourist with a USC spouse.

[chilegringa 0]

Something else I just thought of ( and have began to obsess about )

My husband had his tourist visa interview before we were married, so on his forms he put that he was single and at the interview he referred to me as his fiance - he was not questioned about when or where we would be getting married, which was actually 2 days after the interview.. This wasn't planned - he actually had an interview about two months before our wedding but because of work and university we had to keep pushing it back..

I am just worried that this is going to be a red flag - might look like we got married after he got his tourist visa just so he can get into the US and adjust status - which we are NOT going to do, we are going on vacation and will be petition for an immigrant visa in 2-3 months while we wait it out in Chile, where we both live..

Any opinion on this??

I know I have become kind of obsessive about these little, probably unimportant things and we will probably get through immigration just fine and enjoy our summer vacation.. But just the idea that it is possible for them to send him back home is really stressing me out and I want to prepared for anything and everything just in case!

Thanks for all the useful information and opinions !

[JohnR! 5,495]

Something else I just thought of ( and have began to obsess about )

My husband had his tourist visa interview before we were married, so on his forms he put that he was single and at the interview he referred to me as his fiance - he was not questioned about when or where we would be getting married, which was actually 2 days after the interview.. This wasn't planned - he actually had an interview about two months before our wedding but because of work and university we had to keep pushing it back..

I am just worried that this is going to be a red flag - might look like we got married after he got his tourist visa just so he can get into the US and adjust status - which we are NOT going to do, we are going on vacation and will be petition for an immigrant visa in 2-3 months while we wait it out in Chile, where we both live..

Any opinion on this??

I know I have become kind of obsessive about these little, probably unimportant things and we will probably get through immigration just fine and enjoy our summer vacation.. But just the idea that it is possible for them to send him back home is really stressing me out and I want to prepared for anything and everything just in case!

Thanks for all the useful information and opinions !

Your husband was truthful during his interview. He was single and you were fiance at the time of the interview. He was under no obligation to disclose any wedding plans voluntarily. If anything, the very fact he was given a tourist visa while admittedly being engaged to a US citizen should put your mind at ease. He did not misrepresent his situation at his interview so his request for a visa was granted based on actual facts and full disclosure.

One of the things you need to keep in mind is that Chile is the exception in Latin America. It is nor a third world country, it is not plagued by the same political and economical woes as its neighbors, it has a low incidence of illegal emmigration and as such does not fall into the 'risk' category. I am surprised it has not made the VWP list yet. Also it is very important to remember that the truth is the most compelling argument there is. Despite what others may think or suspect, the very fact you speak truthfully to any officer at the POE is compelling enough to make your story believable.

You hear many stories about people being turned back at the POE and in most cases the immigration officer was right on the money by refusing them entry, because their story somehow just did not jive or because something was out of place.

[chilegringa 0]

Thanks for much Gegel! You have been very helpful

[chilegringa 0]

We made it to the US without any problems at immigration!!

I was told by a flight attendant that since we don't have the same last name that it might be easier to fill out two customs forms - and at Atlanta they told me he would have to go through as a foreigner and I would go alone as a USC.

My husband said they asked him very simple questions, where he was going, where he was staying.. etc.. He told them he was visiting his wifes family, they asked if I was a USC and if I live here to which is responded "No, we live in Chile together" And that was it.. super easy and I was super stressed about everything .. he didn't even have to show any papers, which was a good thing since I had them all in my backpack and forgot to give them to him when we split up... Although his line did take a lot longer and when I passed by I saw he was 2nd in line and then it took him FOREVER to get to the baggage claim - I was pretty worried at that point and was waiting for them to call my name over the intercom or something..haha!

Thanks for all the great advice once again

[JohnR! 5,495]

We made it to the US without any problems at immigration!!

I was told by a flight attendant that since we don't have the same last name that it might be easier to fill out two customs forms - and at Atlanta they told me he would have to go through as a foreigner and I would go alone as a USC.

My husband said they asked him very simple questions, where he was going, where he was staying.. etc.. He told them he was visiting his wifes family, they asked if I was a USC and if I live here to which is responded "No, we live in Chile together" And that was it.. super easy and I was super stressed about everything .. he didn't even have to show any papers, which was a good thing since I had them all in my backpack and forgot to give them to him when we split up... Although his line did take a lot longer and when I passed by I saw he was 2nd in line and then it took him FOREVER to get to the baggage claim - I was pretty worried at that point and was waiting for them to call my name over the intercom or something..haha!

Thanks for all the great advice once again

Thank you for the update!

Glad all went smooth at the POE!!

Enjoy your visit!!!!