Travelling within the US with an expired visa

[Natmon 0]

With the heightened emphasis on immigration because of the Arizona law, I was wondering if it's still possible to travel within the US without any hassle. It's not as if you have to go through customs so I don't think it should be a problem, however you never know. Can one still travel safely without hassle or fear of being deported at the airport? I think all you would need is a valid passport or ID. Thanks for any information anyone cam provide.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

The visa is a permission to visit. It's like Disneyland: you pay, you get in. Once in, nobody will bother you unless you want to get on some special ride. For inland flights all you need is some form of ID, not a visa.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

With the heightened emphasis on immigration because of the Arizona law, I was wondering if it's still possible to travel within the US without any hassle. It's not as if you have to go through customs so I don't think it should be a problem, however you never know. Can one still travel safely without hassle or fear of being deported at the airport? I think all you would need is a valid passport or ID. Thanks for any information anyone cam provide.

Basically, because of 287g among other laws, you should keep proof of your status on you at all times. If you have an expired visa but currently have status with USCIS, keep a copy of your last notice of action.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Basically, because of 287g among other laws, you should keep proof of your status on you at all times. If you have an expired visa but currently have status with USCIS, keep a copy of your last notice of action.

This is wise and prudent. Also, avoid traveling anywhere within at least a 50-mile radius of either U.S. border (especially with Mexico), and avoid ALL Federal agents!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

This is wise and prudent. Also, avoid traveling anywhere within at least a 50-mile radius of either U.S. border (especially with Mexico), and avoid ALL Federal agents!

Then that would rule out domestic travel by air, since it's pretty much impossible to do without encountering TSA agents. Frankly, I think this is prudent advice. If it were me, I'd stay away from any airports in the US. TSA ain't CBP, but if it's an international airport then there are CBP agents on the premises. One phone call from a TSA screener, and the traveler could find themselves in a small room for a long time.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

When entering an airport, when buying a ticket for a domestic flight, when boarding a plane, nobody asks for a passport or a Green Card. They ask for an ID, which ideally would be a State driver license. If a passport is shown as ID, it should suffice. I've never read, nor heard, about a traveler on a domestic flight being hassled, unless he looked like somebody who would pose a potential thread.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Sorry to disagree here, Bob: Jim knows what he's talking about on this one, si man.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Eric Balderas the 19 year old Harvard student / illegal alien was caught in this way actually.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

Let's just agree that we disagree on this one.

Edited July 16, 2010 by Just Bob

[K and L 27]

This is wise and prudent. Also, avoid traveling anywhere within at least a 50-mile radius of either U.S. border (especially with Mexico), and avoid ALL Federal agents!

In my experience, it is more like 75 miles. I've been stopped by CBP and pulled in under suspicion of being an illegal immigrant my share of times (which has always struck me as being hilarious as I speak no foreign language fluently and glow in the dark the way only those of pale #### northern European descent can).

[TBoneTX 43,058]

In my experience, it is more like 75 miles.

Probably more like 100, as the ACLU & others suggest (the "Constitution-free zone" or whatever they call it), si man.

I've been stopped by CBP and pulled in under suspicion of being an illegal immigrant my share of times.

Please elaborate on this, si man.

[K and L 27]

Not much to tell. AZ and NM (and I'm assuming TX and CA) have mandatory random border checks off of interstates and highways (and I wouldn't be surprised if they were in other areas too). I pull into it, answer their questions, they ask me to pull over and come in so they can run my ID. They run it, I go on my way. Either I'm consistently a random stop, or they just don't like my story.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

AZ and NM (and I'm assuming TX and CA) have mandatory random border checks off of interstates and highways (and I wouldn't be surprised if they were in other areas too). I pull into it, answer their questions, they ask me to pull over and come in so they can run my ID. They run it, I go on my way. Either I'm consistently a random stop, or they just don't like my story.

Aha, si man. What are they asking? Please read (this goes for everyone) this OUTSTANDING article, and provide your reaction:

http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/_archives/2007/7/20/3132966.html

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Aha, si man. What are they asking? Please read (this goes for everyone) this OUTSTANDING article, and provide your reaction:

http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/_archives/2007/7/20/3132966.html

I don't know if you've seen it, but a pastor traveled through one of these checkpoints and he just sort of snapped. He refused to have his car searched or get out of the car. The CBP then got a regular cop, who asked him out of the car which he again refused. They ended up smashing his window and tasing him until he was unconscious.

[K and L 27]

Aha, si man. What are they asking? Please read (this goes for everyone) this OUTSTANDING article, and provide your reaction:

http://www.bigbendgazette.com/blog/_archives/2007/7/20/3132966.html

The short ones usually it goes like this:

*handing over passport*

1. Where I am going.

2. Why was I going there, and if not where I live, how long will I be there and what will I do there (and with whom).

3. Where I have been,

4. Why was I there, and if not where I live, how long was I there and what did I do there (and with whom).

5. Where I live.

6. How long I have lived there. (Relevant for the driving ones, given my out of state license/license plate.)

7. Did I make any side trips to Mexico? (Answer: always no -- not a fan of the Mexican border towns.)

8. Please pull to the side and step into our office.

It usually involves me being alone, on a trip with interstate travel (NM / AZ or NM/TX or AZ/CA), for a short thing.

CBP up by Canada is much nicer.

But my point with all of this was that I have been stopped outside of 60 miles but as far out as 75. Never in the 75-100 mi range, but there's always a first time for that. And because they don't like me / my old passport / my old car / my trip, I get to use their potty while they run me.

I stopped getting bent out of shape about it years ago, they're just doing their jobs. But to say that they're safe within 60 miles isn't at all accurate, as most of my stops have been in the 60-75 mi range.

It's also probably why I'm utterly unsympathetic towards people who are afraid that the big bad sherrif Arpaio is going to make them show proof of citizenship. Get over it, CBP already makes you do that if they don't believe you, and they never believe me .. and I bet with AZ's RealID licenses, Arpaio's deputies running your license from their computer to check that it's legit will take FAR less time than me sitting in the CBP office, calling my lawyer on my cell phone when they left me alone, after they wouldn't let me call him on their phones, because I really wanted to go home.