Usual US Port of Entry Questions - Tourist

[irische]

^Might be OT already, but my point is, why be anxious/nervous/apprehensive when you're there to spend money, help the economy, see the sights, etc. Good luck to everyone travelling and I hope everyone's entry/journey will be uneventful (in the good way, heehee)...

For my part, I'll be stopping in Vancouver first for an hour before heading to Las Vegas. I hope my two kids won't be restless! I've a 5yo and a 7yo with me so I'm readying my gadgets n snacks for the long haul. Kinda worried too about the seating since it's by twos only from MNL. Hope there won't be too many passengers (wishful thinking since we're leaving on Holy Week!)

I haven't backread much but any comments on entering via LAS? I'll be staying in Nellis AFB so we're entering through LAS, but exiting via SFO. 9 hour road trip!!!

Nako sis! Grabeh yong mga pasahero for holy week...2x I went to US 2x rin bad experience ko for my long haul flights...parating fully booked and I always get squeezed in between..cramps tuloy.  When I came back last September fully book rin via Korean Air.  Hopefully in your case hindi kasi may mga bata!  DS lang yon sis or PSP and videos...tapos na yan besides may cartoons naman inflight. 


Sis sa airline ka pa nag work? Baka I can book through you..anong airline mo sasakyan mo sis?  Di ba masmahal if yong entry and exit mo hindi pareho?  I want kasi to enter via LAS but exit SFO din lol..K air pa rin yong airline na iniisip ko.  Alam mo if may mas mura pa?  And I usually book my flights 1 month plus before departure?  Okay ba if I purchase on March?  Anong tips mo?  Usually kasi may promo when I fly on March pero its my first time flying on Mid year na for US.

That's the problem because even if legit na tourist tayo they will still suspect na may ill motives tayo as compared to other people from other countries masmahigpit talaga sila sa atin because of some people from our country who naman is just seeking better lives outside sa Pinas.  Though I don't agree sa means I understand naman why they do it.

[xtine]

Try southwest.com the best budget airline in the world for
me. Even better than delta in terms of domestic. I got our LAS to SFO for $40 all in. Kaso Halloween promo Nila. They have drinks and peanuts on board And 2 check in free.. Sorry for OT.  I stayed in LAS for 3 weeks before heading to SFO and SAN via southwest

[theflygirl]

@irische-I hope I get lucky this year. Last summer, I tried getting on a regular day's flight, jampacked talaga...I was able to leave Memorial Day naman, kung kelan holiday...bummer. KE's still good IMO for transpacific flights. Ever loyal ako. Heehee. Great terminal at ICN, nice planes. Good food. Some people lang kasi prefer a nonstop flight out of MNL that's why they take PR. My kids are good naman, sanay na din sa travelling although pag LAX/SFO kasi night time dept out of MNL so they just sleep the entire time. Pag LAS kasi afternoon dept sa PR. I think OT to in this thread. I'll PM you instead re the other stuff.

[irische]

Try southwest.com the best budget airline in the world for
me. Even better than delta in terms of domestic. I got our LAS to SFO for $40 all in. Kaso Halloween promo Nila. They have drinks and peanuts on board And 2 check in free.. Sorry for OT.  I stayed in LAS for 3 weeks before heading to SFO and SAN via southwest

Tried southwest and jetblue sis both great prices for domestic.  But was thinking for transpacific.  WOW 3 weeks in LAS what were you doing there? what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? lol kaw sis ha..

[irische]

@irische-I hope I get lucky this year. Last summer, I tried getting on a regular day's flight, jampacked talaga...I was able to leave Memorial Day naman, kung kelan holiday...bummer. KE's still good IMO for transpacific flights. Ever loyal ako. Heehee. Great terminal at ICN, nice planes. Good food. Some people lang kasi prefer a nonstop flight out of MNL that's why they take PR. My kids are good naman, sanay na din sa travelling although pag LAX/SFO kasi night time dept out of MNL so they just sleep the entire time. Pag LAS kasi afternoon dept sa PR. I think OT to in this thread. I'll PM you instead re the other stuff.

I took PR for both my first and second trip except for my return I got the change to take KE and fell in love with KE great food and the leg room is a little bigger sa economy. So I don't know if this time around mag PR ako my mind is set on KE but if may promo ang PR then maybe I will go for it since both have entry in LAS.

[xtine]

Tried southwest and jetblue sis both great prices for domestic.  But was thinking for transpacific.  WOW 3 weeks in LAS what were you doing there? what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? lol kaw sis ha..

ha ha ha.  I have an aunt there and another in Hawaii.  Kaya side trip for four days Lang yung SFO and SAN.  Aside from plane, try nyo rin mag Amtrak. Very nice experience lalo't magaganda ang sights.

[mama squeak!]

Talking of Amtrak, our vacation in July we'll be taking the train from LA to San Jose. According to my sister who's an avid fan of train rides, the train will pass through one of the most scenic routes along the Pacific coast. It's a 10 hour ride so at least something to look forward to.

 

[xtine]

Hi guys.  Just a quick question.  I left US two weeks ago.  But nobody took my I-94 departure card.  Its still stapled on my passport.  Will there be a problem?  Might I be charged with overstaying? 

I will be renewing my US visa on feb and I'm just worried it might create problems. 

Also sis, just to share my experience.  When I tried to do express checkin in the airport (via delta ako), my sister lost her itinerary.  The lady then asked for her credit card.  Sabi ko, yung credit card ko nalang kasi I paid her airfare using my CC.  Pero insist pa rin yung delta rep to get my sister's credit card.  So when I finally gave her my sis' CC and swiped it.  Nag appear yung Itinerary ng sister ko.  Ergo, parang national ID pala sila which means all important documentations like credit card, passport, US visa, magkakaconnect.  I was just in awe kasi you can get flight itinerary via those documentations.  Kaya siguro pag nag apply for US visa, they already have a clear background check on you.  All your credentials, credit card information, US visit in just one click. 

[theflygirl]

^You have to submit it ASAP!!!...it's good you asked about it...if you've noticed flying out of the US, they don't have immigrations clearance or no one stamps your passport unlike when one arrives there, so the I-94 is their basis for your departure from their country.

Let me quote from the official US Embassy MNL website. My sugg. are at the bottom:

"Travelers' failure to turn in their U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-94 when they leave the United States can create a serious problem for them on their next visit to the United States. Without this record of the departure, they will be identified in U.S. records as "overstay." Being identified as an overstay means that a person will be denied re-entry into the United States.

If travelers discover that they still have their Form I-94 when they return home, they should send it to the DHS as quickly as possible, along with documentation proving that they left the United States. Documentation to prove departure from the United States could include the boarding pass from the departing flight, evidence of arrival in another country (i.e. copy of a passport stamp), or other evidence. If they exited the country by a land border, it is much harder to verify that they did, in fact, leave the country on the date they claim.

Travelers' Form I-94 and accompanying evidence of departure should be sent to:

ACS Inc.
1084 South Laurel Rd.
London, Kentucky 40744

If the above office does not have any supporting documents to substantiate their claim to have left the United States on a certain date, there is no guarantee that they will be entered into the record as having done so.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to keep a copy of what they send to ACS Inc. and to carry it with them the next time they come to the United States in case the United States Customs and Border Protection officer has any questions about their eligibility to enter. If they wish to confirm that the Form I-94 departure was recorded, four months after submitting documents to ACS, travelers can write to the following address with their name, date of birth, passport number, date of departure, and request to confirm whether or not their departure was recorded:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Air Sea Passenger Operations
Room 5.4D
1300 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20229

If they turned in the Form I-94 or I-94W when they left the United States as required, please do NOT request confirmation that it is on file. This process is only for people who did not turn in the Form I-94 or I-94W when they exited the United States."

===>You can also ask for a certification from the airline you boarded attached with a copy of the manifest as additional proof, too...aside from your boarding pass and MNL arrival stamp copies, if you want.

[lakwatsa]

^ano ba sis yun tamang procedure pag exit? san dapat iiwan yun I-94 na card? hassle tuloy kay sis xtine yun nangyari.

[theflygirl]

Should be surrendered upon checking in...responsibility ng check in agent to get it but you should check your docs na lang din to confirm that they got it talaga kasi that's the basis of DHS na you left their country talaga. Di naman kasi gaya dito sa atin na may departure immigration stamp pa...ang may stamp lang tayo sa passport is the one we get upon arriving in the US. So we all have to be in the lookout.

[xtine]

Should be surrendered upon checking in...responsibility ng check in agent to get it but you should check your docs na lang din to confirm that they got it talaga kasi that's the basis of DHS na you left their country talaga. Di naman kasi gaya dito sa atin na may departure immigration stamp pa...ang may stamp lang tayo sa passport is the one we get upon arriving in the US. So we all have to be in the lookout.

That's right.  Siguro, its just difficult especially if we are expecting an immigration officer before going to the terminal.  Too bad for me, I was expecting an IO kaya ok lang sa akin na hindi kinuha ng airline rep.  When they printed my boarding pass, they swiped my passport so I thought that was it (departure).   Sa US lang din kasi walang IO.  Hongkong and other countries kasi merong IO. 

Too bad lang I learned it the hard way.  Ngayon hassle, I called in absent just to go to US embassy to return it.  Then kanina ko lang nalaman na from 8-12Noon lang ang Window 35 where you're suppose to return it and its already 12:30!  Hay! sayang ang absent.  Hassle talaga.

[theflygirl]

^Awww, that's sooo inconvenient. What a hassle!

Ya, since the normal procedure for departure would be check in-immigration-boarding gate...if something's amiss, di na natin napapansin agad kasi we head straight for the planes. Good luck! Update mo kami sa case mo ha.

[irische]

sis xtine na okay ba yong problema mo?  sis be sure to keep your reciept sa courier and follow up if natanggap just dont know how...and also read na keep your boarding pass daw from your flight back home para you can present it sa immigration officer when you go back as proof or when you apply to get for another visa.  hopefully na solve na yung problem mo.

keep us posted ha...we are here for you

[xtine]

^Sis, that's the prob.  I can't task someone to return the I-94 dep card for me.  I have to be there just in case I have to prove that I have indeed returned home.  I am also collecting everything such as boarding passes just to prove na I already left US.  Hay hassle, I now have to go back sometime next week (another absent) kasi I have to renew my US visa in two weeks.  US visa is like our security blanket.  We need it for Japanese visa and schenzen.  Also, for emergency purposes, if we need to fly to my aunt immediately, makakaalis kami. 

Will keep you posted once everything is ironed out.  Just keep in mind girls to ALWAYS RETURN THE I-94 DEPARTURE CARD WHEN LEAVING US. 

[irische]

please sis keep us posted.  really? hopefully ma ironed out sis..did you call the embassy anong sabi nila? why dont you make a long distance call sa USCIS or homeland baka they can run you through what you should do..kasi sis hirap yan if hindi maasikaso agad.

[theflygirl]

^I already posted the steps on what to do from the official website embassy and our fellow gtalker, xtine, started doing so na. Unfortunately, she went there beyond the times the window was open. That's why she said she'll try again next week.

[irische]

^I already posted the steps on what to do from the official website embassy and our fellow gtalker, xtine, started doing so na. Unfortunately, she went there beyond the times the window was open. That's why she said she'll try again next week.

sis what will happen if hindi ma turn in dito? may deadline ba yan?

[sofibanofi]

^Sis, super big hassle for your next US trip. If your departure was not properly recorded, the US Customs and Border Protection may conclude you remained in the US beyond your authorized stay. If this happens, your visa may be subject to cancellation or you may be returned immediately to your foreign point of origin.
To quote our sis:

Without this record of the departure, they will be identified in U.S. records as "overstay." Being identified as an overstay means that a person will be denied re-entry into the United States.

Deadline? I guess wala naman. But the earlier you do it, the easier it is to prove that you did not overstay.

[theflygirl]

^^No deadline but should be done ASAP to avoid having more problems.