Grilled on tourist visa

[Slushie 0]

I have been visiting USA with my parents (parents on green card) for a few years now. I am on visit visa. My travel is to Australia, USA, Saudi. I visit but never go beyond the law, never over stay. 
I came after 6months with my parents to Austin immigration. They took me to the side in a room without telling my parents who were on wheelchair. My parents were not questioned much just told that why do they not stay here on GC while they can. My dad told them he is winding up slowly as he has a business in home country, he has bought a house in Austin n in a year or so will settle here. Then parents were out on wheelchair.
They took me in the room n officer questioned why I am here I said visiting family. Then they took my phone n left. Then 5 officers came n sat infront of me n started grilling me. They asked me so many questions like go how long will you stay. Show us your tickets back. Why are you here. Do you work. I told them I work back home and I showed them my payslips. I freelance online so moving n working  is easy. Then they asked me things about my family here in USA n also kept listening n seeing my phone msgs. They harassed me mentally I was about to cry, i was inside for 2 to 3 hours n my family was outside. My mom was crying. They were sooo rude, ruthless, n then they gave me a one month stay here while I was supposed to go back by end Jan. Well within my visa time. 
 

Now I want to know what is the best way going fwd. what are my options I do not want to stop visiting my family. I don’t want to go so soon also I want to go by end Jan my flight time. Can officers take my phone. Look into my personal things. Harass me with just me in the room. Being a girl what if they touched me. I come from a conservative background we do not meet males like this by ourselves. My dad/mom could have asked to let me be with them while questioning

 

its a lot going on in my mind. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking of all this. Plz, no harshness I need help. I come from a decent family. Clean background, educated, all my family is on legal straight papers no drama

[Boiler 45,433]

If you want to being able to visit go back within a month and give it time before trying to visit again

 

you can’t work in the US as a tourist

[appleblossom 2,423]

What do you mean ‘what if they touched me’, did they?

 

I assume you’re over 18? So of course they can interview you alone, you’re an adult. And yes, they can search your phone. 
 

As @Boiler said, it sounds like you’ve been working when you shouldn’t have been. You can’t do freelance work on a tourist visa, no matter where your clients are. 
 

All you can do now is leave well before your period of authorised stay, and then stay out a longer time before trying to return. And don’t do any work whilst you’re there! 
 

And you say your Dad isn’t planning on settling in the US for ‘a year or so’. Does he have a re-entry permit? If not he should get one, his own status is at risk by staying outside of the US for so long, and now that will be on his record too so he should expect more scrutiny if he leaves again. When did they get their green cards? 

Edited October 29 by appleblossom

[randomstairs 300]

Not much you can do, really. Give it some time before the next visit. I believe if they search you physically, first, they can do that only with your permission, of course, and, second, a female officer would perform the search. 

 

Hopefully now, that you have been already scrutinized thoroughly, they won't repeat the procedure. However, the fact that you were only permitted to stay for one month probably means that they see you as an immigration risk (having a close family member in the US is always gonna create that).   

[powerpuff 6,668]

Just because you don’t go beyond the 6 months usually given for visitors when entering the US and your family are legal immigrants, doesn’t mean that you can come and go frequently. This is seen as abusing the tourist visa and using it to essentially live in the US. If you have been visiting too often with too little time between visits and are also suspected of working (which is a fair assumption- if you have work then you can’t take off that much and working online in the US on a tourist visa isn’t allowed), this questioning isn’t surprising and was bound to happen. 
 

Yes, they can absolutely confiscate your phone, laptop, go through your belongings, etc. Asking tough questions is not harassment. Suggesting they could have touched you is extreme. Everything is recorded and there are other officers around. 
 

Sorry but you don’t have options here. You’re not a US citizen where you are guaranteed entry and can continue coming back and forth. Even US citizens and permanent residents get pulled into secondary and questioned. My husband who is a US citizen was questioned extensively after a long overseas visit (he spent 2 hours in there). Visiting is a privilege and you’re treating it as a right. It isn’t unfortunately. You’re fortunate they didn’t revoke your visa on the spot and send you back on the next flight out. I strongly advise you to leave when they told you to leave and not visit the US for a long time if you want to keep the privilege of possessing a tourist visa. 

Edited October 30 by powerpuff

[ineedadisplayname 496]

Looks like you are staying way too long in the US.

 

Usually how often do you come? Beside staying for months? I think somebody said that you should spend double the time outside of the US than the time inside.

 

Quote

all my family is on legal straight papers no drama

This is true for your family, but you are not on the same papers and having family in the US usually makes it even harder since it is significantly harder to prove that you will leave.

 

If you spend this much time in the US can your parents sponsor you for a green card?

 

If you keep this up sooner or later they will revoke your visa...

 

It is understandable that you had a dramatic experience, due to culture shock. During immigration you can't really hide behind your parents unless you are minor (which i doubt). You are your own person and while you are culturally unaccustomed to deal with male on your own (and especially the ones that are there to interrogate you) I would recommend trying to get used to the idea since immigration won't care about your customs.

Edited October 30 by ineedadisplayname

[Crazy Cat 41,769]

1 hour ago, Slushie said:

Can officers take my phone. Look into my personal things.

Yes they can.  You don't have many options here since you are now on their radar screen.  You are in serious danger of losing your visa.  I would exit the US, then remain outside for an extended period of time. 

Edited October 30 by Crazy Cat

[top_secret 2,394]

I am sympathetic because I know it awful to be confronted like that.  But, if they were really out to get you, they could have and would have revoked your visa and sent you back.  They didn't.  Instead, they still let you in and let you keep your visa.  You could look at it as a not really subtitle and not polite warning that you have been visiting to much and need to space out your visits a bit more.  You could be thankful that they chose the rude warning approach vs more serious actions that they could have taken.

[SalishSea 17,791]

OP, you are not permitted to work remotely while visiting.  It appears you have been using the B visa to try and live in the US.  Don't do that, it isn't allowed.

 

Your parents need to petition you for an immigrant visa if you want to be able to work and live in the US.  

[Slushie 0]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

you can’t work in the US as a tourist

I have never worked in the US and I will never do anything that’s illegal. My job is back home in Dubai and I work for that job remotely while I am in US. 

[Slushie 0]

5 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

As @Boiler said, it sounds like you’ve been working when you shouldn’t have been. You can’t do freelance work on a tourist visa, no matter where your clients are.  

I have not done any freelance work while visiting US. 
My freelance work requires me to be present physically back in Dubai. 
I have not worked a single day while in US. 

[Pinkrlion 2,715]

58 minutes ago, Slushie said:

I have never worked in the US and I will never do anything that’s illegal. My job is back home in Dubai and I work for that job remotely while I am in US. 

You cannot work remotely in the US. That is considered working. Immigration can issue you anytime they see fit. Be thankful they did not void your visa due to you working. I have seen them give visitors two weeks. You will need to leave in your one month time. Stay at home or ask your parents to file for you. 

[Wavez24 20]

1 hour ago, Slushie said:

I have never worked in the US and I will never do anything that’s illegal. My job is back home in Dubai and I work for that job remotely while I am in US. 

You say you won't ever do anything illegal then admit to working remotely in the US whilst on a B2 visa, which is not allowed.

 

A tourist visa is for tourists - clue is in the name. Tourists visit on holiday, they don't go abroad to work remotely.

 

You should have been denied entry, hopefully next time you will.

[EmilyW 1,430]

Unfortunately, OP, I'm guessing the pattern of trips with your parents, over an extended period, has finally triggered border interest. While you maintain that you've done nothing wrong, I would beg to differ.  You admitted to working remotely while in the US.  As others have said, I'm surprised they didn't turn you back around and void your visa.  In terms of them interviewing you without your parents, while that might not be the norm in your country, in America, once you turn 18 (female or male), you are an adult and will be treated as such.  If that is unsettling to you, perhaps visiting the US is not for you.  My advice is to abide by the date given, leave before that date, tell your employer in Dubai that you are on vacation for the next four weeks (i.e. abide by the terms of your visa), and be thankful the border folk didn't revoke your visa.

 

As for your parents, they are also now on the radar. I would advise them to move sooner rather than later.  It doesn't take YEARS to wrap up a business.  They are using the GC as a tourist visa themselves, and trying the old trick of 'visiting every so often' thinking their status is good.  It may not be and they might find themselves in a tricky spot in the future.

 

Overall, it's important that you and them understand the terms and conditions of yours and theirs' visas / status.  It seems like you guys are skirting around the boundaries of those terms and conditions and, indeed, even breaking a couple of them.  If being in the US is important to you all, please refamiliarize yourselves so you don't have a repeat.

 

[Boiler 45,433]

The whole thing begs what the plan is.

 

Your parents are moving to the US and even if they sponsored you today it would be many many years before you could.