What to expect at POE?

[RocketElephant 7]

Hello All:

My wife was just granted a B2 visa, and we are awaiting her passport in the mail. I'm looking ahead to the travel date and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what to expect at the POE.

I know that the CBP officer has the discretion to deny her at the POE. Will they ask her additional questions, if so, what should we expect. Is there a list somewhere?

Secondly, I've read online about an I-94 form, but at CBP's website, they say that the I-94 and I-94w are no longer in use. The website doesn't make it clear if this is for only VWP entrants or everyone (if there's a difference). If the I-94(w) is needed, will that come with her passport in the mail? Or, will she be given this form on the plane?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[az2014 381]

There is no physical i94, it is done electronically. She will receive a stamp in her passport showing her allowed length of stay. You can check this online too.

At the POE they will usually ask why she is visiting, how long she is planning to stay, does she have return ticket, who is she staying with, what relationship are they, how they know each other etc, what job she does in her home country, does she have enough funds, anything really.

Depends on the CBP person you get..they may just ask 2 questions and thats it.

Good idea to bring print out of return ticket, as well as any documents she took to the interview, with her, at least for the first time entry.

[HFM181818 750]

CBP can also access the notes made during her interview when she applied for her B2 visa....if there are some glaring differences between what was said then and now, that might result in her being sent home....did she state that she was (a)married to you and (b)planning to visit you or was it some cousin instead? Did she say she was planning to visit for a month, but now shows up with 9 suitcases?

[Paul&Oxana 4]

CBP officers are really nice at POE. my parents had great experience travelling to the USA this summer. they weren't issued I-94 forms, got just stamps at their passports. the only issue can be the fact that she will be travelling as a tourist having a husband in the USA. I saw a young woman denied at the border in June 2013 (i was entering on CR-1 visa . my husband was with me. we were waiting in the line) . she had a husband but she was using her B2 visa. that is just my opinion. i am sure everything will be perfect!

[Boiler 45,949]

CBP can also access the notes made during her interview when she applied for her B2 visa....if there are some glaring differences between what was said then and now, that might result in her being sent home....did she state that she was (a)married to you and (b)planning to visit you or was it some cousin instead? Did she say she was planning to visit for a month, but now shows up with 9 suitcases?

Spouse would be on the application.

[HFM181818 750]

...maybe...sometimes, people 'forget' to mention such things....and sometimes, if disclosed, an annotation will be made on that person's visa, along the lines of 'visiting USC husband for X weeks'.....just in case the story changes while waiting at the luggage carousel....

[RocketElephant 7]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I don't think she'll get denied entry, and since she told the truth during her visa application, we don't have anything to worry about. What some people seem to be missing, is that she is not coming to visit me in the US. Her and I both reside in Vietnam, and we are traveling together to meet my family. If I remember correctly, at the POE there will be several different lines for either US passport holders or VISA entrants. Will I be able to go through the same line with her at the POE?

[az2014 381]

Go together to whichever line is smaller.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I don't think she'll get denied entry, and since she told the truth during her visa application, we don't have anything to worry about. What some people seem to be missing, is that she is not coming to visit me in the US. Her and I both reside in Vietnam, and we are traveling together to meet my family. If I remember correctly, at the POE there will be several different lines for either US passport holders or VISA entrants. Will I be able to go through the same line with her at the POE?

People are probably missing it because you never mentioned it.

[Boiler 45,949]

People are probably missing it because you never mentioned it.

Well apart from that, I missed it.

[Mollie09 1,543]

You can go through either line together, unless the US citizen line is one of those scanny passport ones. Then you need to go with her to the visitor line if you want to stay together.

[FoundMy#1 9]

You can go through either line together, unless the US citizen line is one of those scanny passport ones. Then you need to go with her to the visitor line if you want to stay together.

just to everyone here:

I came thru 10/28 (scant type) at Los Angeles airport and was told I could go to the "foreigner" to stay with my wife when I do bring her over.

[BlueSteel 3]

At airport POEs the I-94s are electronic and the $6 fee is included in your plane ticket. At the land border POE, they still use the paper I-94s. The purpose is that travelers return those on the way out of the country so they can track the traveler's record of leaving the country. Airports do not need the physical paper because airline would have your departure recorded electronically.

Edited November 10, 2015 by BlueSteel