USA Guide
Arriving in the US involves passport control, an interview with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, baggage claim and a customs check. Knowing the sequence in advance makes the process much less stressful.
After landing, you will proceed to passport control, where a CBP officer reviews your passport and visa, asks about your purpose of travel, and may ask follow-up questions similar to the visa interview. This is a standard part of entry, not a sign of a problem. Answer calmly, keep documents ready, and avoid volunteering information not asked for.
After passport control, collect your checked baggage and proceed through customs, where you submit your declaration and your bags may be screened. If you are connecting to another domestic flight, you will typically need to collect your bag, clear customs, and recheck it at a connections desk, so build extra time into tight layovers.
Common questions include your purpose of visit, how long you plan to stay, where you will be staying, and who is sponsoring or hosting you if relevant. For students and workers, officers may also ask about your school or employer. Being able to state these details clearly and matching what is on your documents helps the process move quickly.
Common questions
Ask the officer politely to repeat or rephrase the question. It is better to ask for clarification than to guess and give an inconsistent answer.
A visa allows you to travel to a US port of entry and request admission, but the CBP officer makes the final decision on entry. Denials are uncommon when documents are in order and answers are consistent, but they can happen if the officer suspects the visa is being used outside its intended purpose.
Because you must clear immigration, collect baggage, pass through customs and recheck bags before a domestic connection, many travelers allow at least three hours between an international arrival and a connecting domestic flight, more during busy travel periods.
