Usual US Port of Entry Questions - Tourist

[xtine]

Sis when yong last time mong pumunta sa US? and how long ka nagstay dati? kasi same tayo if okay ang lahat 3rd time ko rin next year eh..any tips and advise?

Sis, ang big tip ko ay pumorma ka pagpunta dito, hindi yung jacket lang na ordinary.  Try wearing coat with let's say, turtleneck and don't use backpack.  No offense to other travellers pero yung tourists before me, japanese, russian, chinese, ang tagal nila sa questioning kaya kinabahan ako.  Ang napansin ko lang, mga simple lang ang suot nila as if nasa bahay lang.  Unlike me na naka boots pero nakamaong at naka coat.  Pansin ko rin na tinitignan nila mula ulo hanggang paa. 

Lagi nyo pakita na meron kayo pera and your main purpose is to spend money in US. 

[irische]

^sis, what do you mean by form of payment? The required info being gathered for the APIS are the following:

1.) Full Name
2.) Date of Birth
3.) Nationality
4.) Country of Residence
5.) Travel Document Type (normally passport)
6.) Travel Document number (expiry date and country of issue of ppt)
7.) Address of the first night spent in the US

Since everything is electronically stored, all your entries are also stored. I also have at least three entries spaced from 4 months to 6 months apart. So far, I haven't encountered any problems naman.

This is what happened kasi sis...I didn't get to rebooked my 3 month valid ticket on time so when I returned before my I-94 expired which was close to 6 months stay ko na, i had to buy a new ticket since the travel agency would not accept foreign/philippine issued credit card i had to use the credit card of my cousins partner. nanyari ngayon is tinatakot ako sa mga tao na ma airport to airport raw ako kasi i will raise a red flagf kasi daw the airline will send how i paid for my ticket sa whoever and then makita daw yon sa record ko and baka daw magisip ang POE officer na bf ko yon di naman talaga and wala naman akong ginawa na illegal don.

So was wondering kong ano yong mga info na sinisend sa airline to the USCIS or officer.  Or ano yong makitang info nila.  Ewan ko ba parang stress na stress tong 3rd trip ko  just because nag 6 months ako.

Sis saan POE mo? okay ba sa LAS pa rin ako mag enter? how long ka usually nag stay?

[irische]

^^Form of payment? You mean, how you paid for the ticket? They don't ask for that info sa APIS.

It's ok if your visa expires July and you plan to enter the US by June. The visa validity is different from the length of stay the arrival IO gives you.

I, myself, am travelling back to the US this coming April (around 14ish) and my visa expires on the 23rd...POE last time was SFO, this time LAX but I am also travelling to LAS and PDX, exit ako ng SFO mid-May.

Yes sis that what I mean how I paid my ticket, kasi yong nangyari i had to use my cousins partner (guy) na credit card to pay for my return ticket kasi yong travel agency hindi nagaccept nang forgein/philippine issued credit card ko. and ewan ko ba marami kasing nagsasabi kasi sa akin na red flag daw yon kasi makita daw yon sa computer sa USCIS upon my next entry to the US and they will think na may special someone ako don..stress na stress na ako sa next trip ko because of peoples comments just because nag 6 months ako. 

saan masmaluwag na POE for someone na kaka 6 months like me?
Last time POE ko was LAS? - 8 months ko na pala when i go back this may or 9 if june. okay lang kaya?

[irische]

2002, 2006.  First to third time using my 10 year B2 US visa.  Hindi pa ako nakakapagrenew since I got one.

Malayo yong spacing mo sis wala kang problema hehe advise ko wag kang mag 6 months ma stress ka lang like me. kaso baka ako lang napaparanoid.

[irische]

Sis, first time pumunta sa US this year. Went there nung May, sa Chicago POE ko

Saan ka pumunta sis?  Gusto mo ba yong Chicago?  Windy sobra pagpunta ko nagsnosnow pa

[irische]

Sis, ang big tip ko ay pumorma ka pagpunta dito, hindi yung jacket lang na ordinary.  Try wearing coat with let's say, turtleneck and don't use backpack.  No offense to other travellers pero yung tourists before me, japanese, russian, chinese, ang tagal nila sa questioning kaya kinabahan ako.  Ang napansin ko lang, mga simple lang ang suot nila as if nasa bahay lang.  Unlike me na naka boots pero nakamaong at naka coat.  Pansin ko rin na tinitignan nila mula ulo hanggang paa. 

Lagi nyo pakita na meron kayo pera and your main purpose is to spend money in US.

Yon nga yog balak ko sis lol pero natawa ako sa backpack kasi the last time backpack yong dala ko oh palagi naman akong nakabackpack so check sis di ako magdala this time.

Anong mga questions sayo sis?  Sis anong mas-solid na answer if ask nila balik i stayed for 6 months? kasi I was hoping from state to state kasi 2 months each just visting and sight seeing?

[somethingreal]

^ I love Chicago! Miss ko na nga yung place. I will go back there next year. My sister lives there kasi. Mga 30 mins yung place niya from downtown.

[mama squeak!]

@irische - sis, it doesn't matter sa US immig officer on how you paid for your tickets. They wouldn't know unless you tell them.

I always enter thru LAX or SFO, dun kasi route ng airines namin.

 

[wild_berries]

I'd be entering thru LA but I'd be booking a separate flight to Oregon.  How long gap time should I alot for port of entry?  then id be getting my luggage pa to transfer domestic flight. Ugh.

[xtine]

Yon nga yog balak ko sis lol pero natawa ako sa backpack kasi the last time backpack yong dala ko oh palagi naman akong nakabackpack so check sis di ako magdala this time.

Anong mga questions sayo sis?  Sis anong mas-solid na answer if ask nila balik i stayed for 6 months? kasi I was hoping from state to state kasi 2 months each just visting and sight seeing?

Sis, when I got to the immigration officer, he just scanned my passport and visa, asked for the purpose of my visit (which i answered "to go shopping" at hindi pleasure and he smiled he he he).  Then he took my fingerprints then asked if I'll be staying here till new Year, which I said "Yes".  Tapos, before handing me my passport, he asked for my work, I said "IT consultant" then he handed my passport and replied "Enjoy the holidays".

According here in US, they will know if you paid using credit card of by Cash.  For instance, through delta, they will have access to your Itinerary.

Here's a good read why its not a good idea to tell the immigration that you are staying for more than a month (or 3 months of more, I guess).  But in case you cannot avoid telling the immigration na 6 months ka dito, You have to be prepared to show proof of self sustenance (show money).

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/64489/discrimination-in-detroit

Atsaka sis, ni reread ko rin yung backpack. He he he pwede naman backpack basta matino sya at hindi gusgusin.  Sosyal kumbaga basta you need to show na marami ka pera.  :p

[irische]

^ I love Chicago! Miss ko na nga yung place. I will go back there next year. My sister lives there kasi. Mga 30 mins yung place niya from downtown.

really? hindi ba too malamig for you? sa akin it was toooooo cold and windy lol nasa parang bundok kasi ako.

[irische]

@irische - sis, it doesn't matter sa US immig officer on how you paid for your tickets. They wouldn't know unless you tell them.

I always enter thru LAX or SFO, dun kasi route ng airines namin.

 

Sure ka sis?  Kasi note sa sabi ni xtine:
xtine: According here in US, they will know if you paid using credit card of by Cash.  For instance, through delta, they will have access to your Itinerary.

Korean Air yong carrier ko same kaya sila nang system sa airline nyo? sana naman oo.

[mama squeak!]

I'd be entering thru LA but I'd be booking a separate flight to Oregon.  How long gap time should I alot for port of entry?  then id be getting my luggage pa to transfer domestic flight. Ugh.

I'd allot about 3 to 4 hours transit time para di ka nagmamadali. Depends on the day and time of your international arrival it usually takes less than an hour and a half to clear immig and get your bags. Another hour or two to check-in for your domestic flight and security check. Ang nakakainis is yung security check ng TSA. Kahaba ng pila! Kaya as much as possible I leave via secondary airports.

[irische]

Sis, when I got to the immigration officer, he just scanned my passport and visa, asked for the purpose of my visit (which i answered "to go shopping" at hindi pleasure and he smiled he he he).  Then he took my fingerprints then asked if I'll be staying here till new Year, which I said "Yes".  Tapos, before handing me my passport, he asked for my work, I said "IT consultant" then he handed my passport and replied "Enjoy the holidays".

According here in US, they will know if you paid using credit card of by Cash.  For instance, through delta, they will have access to your Itinerary.

Here's a good read why its not a good idea to tell the immigration that you are staying for more than a month (or 3 months of more, I guess).  But in case you cannot avoid telling the immigration na 6 months ka dito, You have to be prepared to show proof of self sustenance (show money).

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/64489/discrimination-in-detroit

Atsaka sis, ni reread ko rin yung backpack. He he he pwede naman backpack basta matino sya at hindi gusgusin.  Sosyal kumbaga basta you need to show na marami ka pera.  :p

Sis that is what happened din to me sa 2nd time ko hehe earlt this year hopefully ganun din na walang hassle yong pagpunta ko dyan this time around noh?

Sis natatakot nanaman ako huhuhu  makita sa delta? hindi naman delta ginamit ko Korean Air yong return ticket ko...yon lang din yong di ko nabayaran using my credit card kasi lahat naman prepaid dito sa pinas pa.

1.5 months lang ako this time sis mag attend lang nang show then pasyal sa l.a kasi di pa ako nakapagpasyal don or seattle uli if yong pamankin ko matutuloy sa paglilipat nya don.



sa kakatravel yong backpack ko medyo gusgusin na rin lol time to bili a new one na

[mama squeak!]

Sure ka sis?  Kasi note sa sabi ni xtine:
xtine: According here in US, they will know if you paid using credit card of by Cash.  For instance, through delta, they will have access to your Itinerary.

Korean Air yong carrier ko same kaya sila nang system sa airline nyo? sana naman oo.

They might have access to your itinerary but not the mode of payment. Magkaiba namang bagay yun.

Don't get yourself worked up for nothing. Lalo ka lang matataranta sa pagsagot nyan. Basta wala ka naman nilabag na batas nila, di ba?

 

 

[xtine]

Sis,  I meant, they will know if you paid using credit card or cash, pero the cardholder name is not shown.  Atsaka regardless kung kaninong credit card yan, wala na sila pakialam doon.  I'm sorry kung naconfuse kita.

I tried posting an image of my delta itinerary.  I guess you're safe kasi the immigration officer need not to know kung kanino nakapangalan yung credit card na ginamit na pambayad.

[honeyblue]

i think delta kasi is a us company and they have those kiosks in the airport for express check-in. i tried it and, yes, it knows if you paid using a credit card. i think it's only important for checking-in.

don't be too nervous. just look like a tourist because you are one. nothing to be afraid of. =)

[theflygirl]

I've worked for KE until a few years ago (and still keep in touch with my colleagues, even had a Christmas get together a week ago ) but this is the first time I've heard about IOs in the US checking the cc info. If ever, random, I guess. Or maybe it's because DL is an american carrier, like honeyblue suggested? But FYI, KE and DL are skyteam partners. Anyway, in case I am not updated, better not get yourself too worked up about it if you do not have anything to hide. Simple as that.

[irische]

They might have access to your itinerary but not the mode of payment. Magkaiba namang bagay yun.

Don't get yourself worked up for nothing. Lalo ka lang matataranta sa pagsagot nyan. Basta wala ka naman nilabag na batas nila, di ba?

 
 

Thank you talaga sa comfort mo hehe i am trying talaga to calm down..sa totoo wala naman akong cares before until yong mga tao may comments and suggestions left and right when they knew na i'm going back for a show less than a year sa pagpunta ko..so ngayon parang paranoid ako pero dati confident naman talaga ako...good intentions naman siguro sa kanila na overdone lang sa pagtakot na a to a...wala sis..walang labag sa batas

[irische]

Sis,  I meant, they will know if you paid using credit card or cash, pero the cardholder name is not shown.  Atsaka regardless kung kaninong credit card yan, wala na sila pakialam doon.  I'm sorry kung naconfuse kita.

I tried posting an image of my delta itinerary.  I guess you're safe kasi the immigration officer need not to know kung kanino nakapangalan yung credit card na ginamit na pambayad.

oy sis okay lang yon noh...confuse lang talaga ako from the start so that is why hindi ko na gets.  salamat nga sa tulong and advise mo eh.  comforted naman ako.