CBP at TSA Airport Checkpoints: Why They're There & How Best to Handle

[TBoneTX 43,019]

People here often post questions about flying domestically when they're at various beginning stages of the immigration process. Answers vary from "carry your complete current documentation with you" to "you will have no problems."

 

Customs & Border Protection agents sometimes hang out at the TSA airport checkpoints. In August 2015, I flew out of a border-area airport in south Texas and took the opportunity to query the CBP agents at the TSA checkpoint.

 

T-B.: When you hang out at the TSA checkpoints, are you checking that

foreign travelers are in status?

CBP: Exactly.

T-B.: For example, what if a K-1 entrant's I-94 is expired?

CBP: We have all kinds of ways of checking their status.

T-B.: Would it help if they have their marriage certificate with them?

CBP: Absolutely.

T-B.: If they've applied for AOS and have their I-797 or at least a copy of their

cover-letter for their I-485, does it help?

CBP: Absolutely anything that they can provide will help a lot, and will speed things up.

T-B.: Why are you at some airports and not others?

CBP: We're at border airports and others that are ports of entry. We're not at all of them.

T-B.: But it still makes sense for legal immigrants to carry their current documentation?

CBP: Absolutely. It helps them and it helps us. It speeds things up a lot.

T-B.: I'll pass this along. Thank you.

 

This confirms that it makes sense to carry your most recent documentation with you until you have your green card.

 

I first had Mrs. T-B. carry her marriage certificate (MC) and passport with valid I-94.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and copy of her cover-letter for AOS/EAD/AP.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and her NOA1 (I-797) for AOS.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and AP.

Then, she carried her first green card (= the law).

Then, she carried that green card and her cover-letter for ROC.

Then, she carried that green card and her NOA1 for ROC.

Then, she carried her 10-year green card until she became a naturalized citizen (= the law).

 

These documents came in handy at various stages, including at a Texas/Mexico land-crossing POE, a couple of airports, and especially inland CBP checkpoints while driving. At these last, the CBP agents are typically in poor humor and are looking to nail someone. For example, if you're not carrying your green card, they'll detain you for as long as it takes to verify that you're who you say you are.

 

The above is presented in hopes that it will help others.

Edited June 25, 2017 by TBoneTX
add line-spacing

[Beth & Achraf 328]

^{I'm so glad you posted this, it answers my question, my husband can jump on a flight with me to Vegas while AOS is pending... filed AOS after marriage, he overstayed his visitors visa.}

[KierenHby 897]

While overstaying any visa is wrong.. wrong.., an AOS-pending applicant can travel domestically within the US.

[Dashinka 23,199]

T-Bone, thanks for the information. I see this question all the time. This is another thread that should be pinned in this forum.

[Beth & Achraf 328]

While overstaying any visa is wrong.. wrong.., an AOS-pending applicant can travel domestically within the US.

Yes I agree. Leave it at that

People here often post questions about flying domestically when they're at various beginning stages of the immigration process. Answers vary from "carry your complete current documentation with you" to "you will have no problems."

Customs & Border Protection agents sometimes hang out at the TSA airport checkpoints. In August 2015, I flew out of a border-area airport in south Texas and took the opportunity to query the CBP agents at the TSA checkpoint.

T-B.: When you hang out at the TSA checkpoints, are you checking that

foreign travelers are in status?

CBP: Exactly.

T-B.: For example, what if a K-1 entrant's I-94 is expired?

CBP: We have all kinds of ways of checking their status.

T-B.: Would it help if they have their marriage certificate with them?

CBP: Absolutely.

T-B.: If they've applied for AOS and have their I-797 or at least a copy of their

cover-letter for their I-485, does it help?

CBP: Absolutely anything that they can provide will help a lot, and will speed things up.

T-B.: Why are you at some airports and not others?

CBP: We're at border airports and others that are ports of entry. We're not at all of them.

T-B.: But it still makes sense for legal immigrants to carry their current documentation?

CBP: Absolutely. It helps them and it helps us. It speeds things up a lot.

T-B.: I'll pass this along. Thank you.

This confirms that it makes sense to carry your most recent documentation with you until you have your green card.

I first had Mrs. T-B. carry her marriage certificate (MC) and passport with valid I-94.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and copy of her cover-letter for AOS/EAD/AP.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and her NOA1 (I-797) for AOS.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and AP.

Then, she carried her first green card (= the law).

Then, she carried that green card and her cover-letter for ROC.

Then, she carried that green card and her NOA1 for ROC.

Then, she carried her 10-year green card until she became a naturalized citizen (= the law).

These documents came in handy at various stages, including at a Texas/Mexico land-crossing POE, a couple of airports, and especially inland CBP checkpoints while driving. At these last, the CBP agents are typically in poor humor and are looking to nail someone. For example, if you're not carrying your green card, they'll detain you for as long as it takes to verify that you're who you say you are.

The above is presented in hopes that it will help others.

CBP agents in poor humor, Got that right, I work with them every day for the past 23 years.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

On 6/25/2017 at 1:14 AM, TBoneTX said:

Bump, for cause.

Didn't see this when first posted - seeing how much this question is asked I again propose it to be pinned. Also, so you don't have to bump it everytime @TBoneTX

[DanielPlainview 368]

Yeah, thanks for directing me here.   We will be doing some domestic travel, so important info to have.  Many thanks again.

[TBoneTX 43,019]

You're most welcome.

[jeanieCZ 228]

Do you think they'd accept an electronic copy of MC? 

[TBoneTX 43,019]

You can try.  Best way to find out is to call ahead to your planned port of entry and ask.

[retheem 553]

On 8/25/2015 at 12:18 AM, TBoneTX said:

People here often post questions about flying domestically when they're at various beginning stages of the immigration process. Answers vary from "carry your complete current documentation with you" to "you will have no problems."

 

Customs & Border Protection agents sometimes hang out at the TSA airport checkpoints. In August 2015, I flew out of a border-area airport in south Texas and took the opportunity to query the CBP agents at the TSA checkpoint.

 

T-B.: When you hang out at the TSA checkpoints, are you checking that

foreign travelers are in status?

CBP: Exactly.

T-B.: For example, what if a K-1 entrant's I-94 is expired?

CBP: We have all kinds of ways of checking their status.

T-B.: Would it help if they have their marriage certificate with them?

CBP: Absolutely.

T-B.: If they've applied for AOS and have their I-797 or at least a copy of their

cover-letter for their I-485, does it help?

CBP: Absolutely anything that they can provide will help a lot, and will speed things up.

T-B.: Why are you at some airports and not others?

CBP: We're at border airports and others that are ports of entry. We're not at all of them.

T-B.: But it still makes sense for legal immigrants to carry their current documentation?

CBP: Absolutely. It helps them and it helps us. It speeds things up a lot.

T-B.: I'll pass this along. Thank you.

 

This confirms that it makes sense to carry your most recent documentation with you until you have your green card.

 

I first had Mrs. T-B. carry her marriage certificate (MC) and passport with valid I-94.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and copy of her cover-letter for AOS/EAD/AP.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and her NOA1 (I-797) for AOS.

Then, she carried her MC, passport, and AP.

Then, she carried her first green card (= the law).

Then, she carried that green card and her cover-letter for ROC.

Then, she carried that green card and her NOA1 for ROC.

Then, she carried her 10-year green card until she became a naturalized citizen (= the law).

 

These documents came in handy at various stages, including at a Texas/Mexico land-crossing POE, a couple of airports, and especially inland CBP checkpoints while driving. At these last, the CBP agents are typically in poor humor and are looking to nail someone. For example, if you're not carrying your green card, they'll detain you for as long as it takes to verify that you're who you say you are.

 

The above is presented in hopes that it will help others.

Wueeeh and you have guts😅. Most people would pass without even asking just because no one wants to bring attention to themselves.

[Palawan 130]

I have seen CBP on International flights out of LAX leaving the USA.  We were flying Philippine Airlines headed to Manila, they were inside the ramp before you enter the plane after you show your final boarding pass.

 

I personally thought it was dirty, we told them these people are leaving the USA, they are not entering, why mess with them.

 

 

[TBoneTX 43,019]

On 8/1/2022 at 6:40 AM, Palawan said:

I have seen CBP [...] inside the ramp before you enter the plane after you show your final boarding pass.

This happened to me before a flight to Ecu.  The agent asked how much money I was taking with me.  I thought, and hesitantly began, "One thousand, six hundred..." and he cut me off, saying, "That's fine."

 

Perhaps they're looking for drug-dealers or something, but I can't speculate.

[Emilian 3]

On 8/25/2015 at 1:18 AM, TBoneTX said:

People here often post questions about flying domestically when they're at various beginning stages of the immigration process. Answers vary from "carry your complete current documentation with you" to "you will have no problems."

[...]

This is good information! I noticed that at the beginning of the paragraph it says "flying domestically". What about for those who are thinking about flying internationally? I'm waiting for my GC after a K1. I have my EAD approved which works as a combo card (at the bottom it says "serves as I-512 AP"). Can it be a problem if I want travel outside of the US and re-enter?

[Lil bear 3,831]

8 minutes ago, Emilian said:

This is good information! I noticed that at the beginning of the paragraph it says "flying domestically". What about for those who are thinking about flying internationally? I'm waiting for my GC after a K1. I have my EAD approved which works as a combo card (at the bottom it says "serves as I-512 AP"). Can it be a problem if I want travel outside of the US and re-enter?

Not if its current. Thats what its for!