Got in through Detroit! Had a small bump to overcome...

[britishdakota 18]

I am so sorry to hear that.....but Congrats you made it to America!

Let me share my experience with you..... This past May I came home from spending a month in Tunisia with my fiance. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so my POE was Detroit, then final destination Grand Rapids. When I arrived at Detroit airport and had gone through customs, I was asked to follow the blue line. Two immigration officers stopped me and grilled me for about 15-20 minutes. I was asked over and over the reason of my visit to Tunisia, I repeatedly told them I had gone there to vacation with my fiance. I was asked for my fiance's full name, date of birth and nationality. They emptied both my of my luggage's, searched in my purse, wallet, opened my laptop, etc. One of the officers took my passport ( I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN), the officer made a phone call while looking at my passport. The younger officer questioned me about my relationship with my fiance and asked me if he had paid me to marry him so he could enter the US. Then he asked if I had paid him to marry him and how much? I answered very calmly, he proceeded to ask more personal questions like " do you know what color underwear does your fiance wears?" I felt violated and humiliated, so I reacted and asked him the reason for all the personal questions. He simply said " I am an immigration officer and can ask whatever I want", so he continued to ask questions like, where and how did you meet your fiance, why are you engaged to a foreign man from Algeria, again.. why out of all the countries in the world I chose to got to Tunisia? I became very upset and told him I have had enough, I have done nothing and I feel like I am being miss-treated , I am no TERRORIST, I hold an American passport and I want to go home, I am an American citizen. At that point another officer showed up and said don't worry Ma'am, everything is okay, the officers are just doing their job. You are okay to go now...The one officer approached me and handed back my passport and said you can put your stuff back in your luggage... I said " Thanks'!

This is how I was welcome back home by my own people.... Sad but true.

My fiance is coming home the first week of October and I will NOT have him fly to Detroit, instead I will have him come to Chicago O'Hare. What a horrific experience! I can't imagine how our loved ones will feel if treated the way I was treated by officers like these ones.

File a complaint! I regret not doing it. Never got the name of these two officers.

Welcome to America!

Don't take my word for it but I'm sure I read somewhere USC do not have to answer questions to immigration. They can ask and hold you as long as needed to make any checks and searches though....

[Cathi 5,629]

So is there some new time span on visa entries? I have always read and been told that you have 6 months to enter the USA after a visa is issued and 3 months from the entry point to marry.... or maybe it's 6 months from the time you get the visa until you get married. Either way, it's NOT 30-60 days like these posts are saying. Has anyone heard of any updated time table?

So sorry you experienced this.

yes 6 months to enter, or until your medical expires, unless you want to do a new medical. My husband had his medical in June of 2012, interview in July, AP until visa was approved October 1. He was told he had until December to enter unless he wanted to repeat the medical.

[fantonledzepp 159]

CBP rarely hires people for their intelligence.

There are idiot doctors, idiot lawyers, idiot politicians, idiot law enforcement officers, and surprise surprise, idiot CBP officers. Doesn't mean that they are all idiots. Don't generalize. These people keep our borders safe. Do you keep our borders safe?

OP, it sucks that you were treated like that. But you know what, when I travel abroad, I keep my pride down and answer questions respectfully to the immigration officer. Keep doing what you did in the future.

[lierre 224]

Awww, that's got to be scary.

I suggest complain about it. They obviously didn't know anything. poor new immigrants who will come after you!

Edited September 16, 2013 by ivyanddan

[Hank_ 9,173]

I arrived on Friday the 13th at the Detroit International Airport. Let me tell you the little bump I had to overcome.

So, I was at the immigration counter and the officer looks at my paper. Asks me a few questions. Looks at the paper and then calls on his walkie talkie: Supervisor needed for K1 at counter 38.

Supervisor: Do you know that he can send you back to the Philippines right now? You were supposed to be here in August.

Me: calm blank look while praying...

Supervisor: Where were you?

Me: I was in Singapore, working.

Supervisor: You were supposed to be here in August.

Me: Well, look. (Pointing to my passport) My visa was issued in July and I have until next week to be here.

Supervisor: No, look (pointing to the I-129F). This (Feb approval stamp) means you can get married. This one (passport) says you gotta get here. Now, you have to get married within 3 months or else you have to go home.

Me: Yes, I'm getting married on the 4th of Oct. Thank you.

Lesson learned: Be calm. Explain your side. And I really don't think that the approved I-129F means your K1 visa is approved.

Sound like they hired that CBP supervisor from "Idiots R Us" ... what a maroon! The validity date for the visa is printed right on it, you can entry any time before that date... jeez!!

OK, I ranted for you... Glad you were calm, cool and collected.

Welcome to America!

[jens_prodigy 13]

I'm sorry you had that experience but at least you made it past without them retaining you unneccesarily. I've learned that the trick is to stay calm and keep stating your case with confidence. Those Detroit officers sound intense. They sound like the CBP here in Nassau. They give me a hard time every time I travel. I am convinced that "jerk" and "mean" are part of their job description. Congrats and good luck! I can't wait until I'm at the point where you are!

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Welcome to US!