How is point of entry for non-English speakers?

[mastercard 3]

My wife will soon be arriving as an immigrant to IAH along with me and our newborn daughter.

 

My wife speaks very little English so I'm wondering how the process will go for her.

 

What kind of questions do they ask? Will they let someone translate? Will they let her take our daughter with her?

 

I'm going to give her a paper with our address and other vital info.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Hi! I found this thread from December 2016 asking the same question: 

 

 

Don't think she'll have any issues so long her papers are in order

 

As for the baby, I doubt they'd make her leave the baby alone or behind while she goes through the line.

 

Congratulations to you and your wife!! 

[Dashinka 23,234]

So are you traveling with her through the POE?  I know in Detroit I have witnessed multiple times officers coming into the waiting area asking for people.  My assumption was that this was for interpreting.  CBP will accommodate her, and I agree, I don't think they will separate her from your daughter, but if you are with them then I imagine you will have to watch her.

 

Good Luck!

[TBoneTX 43,043]

IAH deals with cases like this all the time.

If you're entering with her, you can explain the language factor and request a translator, if they won't let you translate for her.

[mastercard 3]

Thanks. Another question: does the immigrant have to sign anything?

 

I know during the travel ban mess they were forcing some people to sign away their green cards. I don't want my wife signing anything she doesn't understand.

 

I want to be able to tell my wife not to sign anything and just give her documents, fingerprints, answer any questions and leave with her stamped passport.

Edited April 2, 2017 by mastercard

[amsid_usa 12]

On 4/2/2017 at 2:46 AM, mastercard said:

Thanks. Another question: does the immigrant have to sign anything?

 

I know during the travel ban mess they were forcing some people to sign away their green cards. I don't want my wife signing anything she doesn't understand.

 

I want to be able to tell my wife not to sign anything and just give her documents, fingerprints, answer any questions and leave with her stamped passport.

Yes, I believe the immigrant will need to sign.  Here is what I found via my research

 

" You enter the U.S. with your immigrant visa, passport, your medical X-ray report, the sealed envelope provided by the consulate after the immigrant visa interview. At the port of entry, you will be taken to a special room (or there may be a separatesection for new immigrants, depending upon the airport) and the immigrant visa in your passport will be printed with an I-551 stamp which is a temporary green card, valid for one year. It indicates the date and port of entry for admission as a lawful permanent resident of the United States. You will get the actual plastic green card (which looks just like a driver's license in the U.S.) in the mail within few months. At port-of-entry, you will also be fingerprinted which just takes a couple of minutes. When asked to sign, remember to sign in black pen."

[bcking 3,157]

Others can correct me, but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to follow her through the whole way. You aren't forced to go through the US Citizen line at POE. You can always go with her in whatever line she is put into.

 

When I've arrived in the US with my wife I've always waited in line with her, even though it would have been quicker for me to go around. She used to do that with me in the UK until I became a Registered Traveller and then I could join her instead.

[Abby&Mario 100]

On 3/26/2017 at 2:21 AM, mastercard said:

My wife will soon be arriving as an immigrant to IAH along with me and our newborn daughter.

 

My wife speaks very little English so I'm wondering how the process will go for her.

 

What kind of questions do they ask? Will they let someone translate? Will they let her take our daughter with her?

 

I'm going to give her a paper with our address and other vital info.

My husband and I entered at IAH a couple years ago. It was his entry on the CR-1 visa. I was allowed to stay with him the entire time, except at the very end. They had to take him in a small room after his passport was stamped (normal procedure) to do something I can't remember. They told me there were just too many people in the room, otherwise I would be allowed in. So I sat at the top of the elevator to baggage claim 10 feet from the door to where he was, quietly freaking out. But he spoke enough English to be by himself, and everything was fine. The agents were actually very nice and reassured me that nothing was wrong.  That's just my experience.