Next steps and precautions for US Tourist Visa Holder (merged)

[SalishSea 16,862]

24 minutes ago, xkomunikado said:

Yes. She has a return ticker. I was wondering if there is any other documents she can prepare for herself upon departure? Or to present to the port of entry. 

The return ticket and evidence of ties to home (does she have a job?  Employer letters detailing expected return date for work can help) are your best bets.  
 

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by SalishSea

[Kanja 201]

If she is a senior citizen, honestly the return ticket should be fine. Just make sure she has a notebook/piece of paper  with your contact information (and maybe one other person in the states), your address and maybe your job name and your title. Don’t depend on phones as they can die, lose power. 
 

You haven’t said the country you are from and I don’t know if she speaks English but if she doesn’t you could always tell the airline in advance that she may need assistance. This is what I used to do when my grandmother travelled. 
 

Having the contact info/address  handy is important. 

[mam521 1,780]

2 hours ago, Kanja said:

If she is a senior citizen, honestly the return ticket should be fine.

Health insurance, especially for an 11 week visit.  

[Kanja 201]

Just now, mam521 said:

Health insurance, especially for an 11 week visit.  

This is a new one for me.

 

I don’t know anyone that secured health insurance for a tourist visa. I’ll definitely put that in my toolbox and advise folks to secure that. 

[kiwibean 42]

Definitely health insurance/travel insurance.  They're generally bundled together for a trip like this, and fairly cost effective.  I don't think anyone should come on a visit to the US without health insurance.  No matter how young or healthy you are, you never know what accidents might occur.

Edited April 10, 2023 by kiwibean

[JeanneAdil 6,244]

its always good to have a 2nd photo ID like a National ID card if country has this

 

but other documents?   no , it could look like the person intends to stay and adjust status which is fraud if planned

[8130093Bo 5]

Health insurance is not necessary for border patrol. this seems to be financial advice and not relevant to the OPs concerns. Return tickets, ties to home (property deed), paystubs if applicable, proof of ties to home. 

[Boiler 43,710]

Visitors buy Travel Insurance, Medical Expenses is part of the cover, arguably the most important section.

 

I am assuming she has a 10 year multi entry visa bit not all are issued that way. I have seen them issued with a trip time restriction, but that is advisory to the PoE.

[Mike E 11,726]

17 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Based on CBP officer's discretion not a specific policy, which is exactly what I said in my initial post. 

 

The length of both the visa and stay are defined case by case, not per country. 

 

6 hours ago, Boiler said:

Visitors buy Travel Insurance, Medical Expenses is part of the cover, arguably the most important section.

 

I am assuming she has a 10 year multi entry visa bit not all are issued that way. I have seen them issued with a trip time restriction, but that is advisory to the PoE.

It would require a tedious survey of the reciprocity schedule, but it is not hard to find countries where State says will issue only single entry short validity visas. For example:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Bhutan.html

 

Visa Classification	Fee	Number of Entries	Validity Period
B-1	None	One	3 Months
B-2	None	One	3 Months
B-1/B-2	None	One	3 Months

 

Perhaps the visa validity is 3 months and OP is mis-interpreting that as the authorized stay

 

[Calicolom 265]

17 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

That's not an official source. Is there a policy that states so? 

You will get a stamp, in your passport, this tells you how long you can stay. Overstay, no more visa. Seems some people never travelled.

[MaxP22 167]

1 hour ago, Calicolom said:

You will get a stamp, in your passport, this tells you how long you can stay. Overstay, no more visa. Seems some people never travelled.

The stamp can be wrong, always go by the online i94, not the stamp.

[Mike E 11,726]

13 hours ago, MaxP22 said:

The stamp can be wrong, always go by the online i94, not the stamp.

Always go by the soonest of:

 

* when you told CBP you would leave

* what the stamp says

* what I-94 says

Edited April 11, 2023 by Mike E

[MaxP22 167]

30 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Always go by the soonest of:

 

* when you told CBP you would leave

* what the stamp says

* what I-94 says

Err no, the i94 is what matters.

 

Not what you told CBP, or what the stamp says.

 

You can say whatever you want to CBP then change your plans, means nothing. Stamp can be wrong. I've personally had the wrong date stamped by CBP due to human error.

 

Best to not give advice about things you have no experience with.

[Mike E 11,726]

29 minutes ago, MaxP22 said:

Err no, the i94 is what matters.

I-94 is rope one can use to hang oneself.

 

Just because I-94 authorizes you to stay  90 days, 180 days or 6 months or (even 12 months as the FAM authorizes, and at least one CBPO claims to have done so), does not mean you should. There are no shortage of posts here that talk about B visa holders who spend too much time in U.S. and get a warning, asked to withdraw their application, canceled visa  or expedited removal plus a  ban.

 

 

29 minutes ago, MaxP22 said:

 

Not what you told CBP,

What you told CBP can be recorded in notes in your online record. Then the next time when you apply at the port of entry to enter the U.S., the CBPO can compare what you said with what you did.  If the CBPO believes you fibbed then that is enough to deny entry. 
 

29 minutes ago, MaxP22 said:

or what the stamp says.

The stamp represents the decision of CBPO and it is recorded on the passport. The next CBPO on the next trip can note that the visitor willfully ignored the stamp and take appropriate action.

29 minutes ago, MaxP22 said:

 

You can say whatever you want to CBP then change your plans, means nothing. Stamp can be wrong. I've personally had the wrong date stamped by CBP due to human error.

You’ve been fortunate. Coming from you, with  a previous comment like,

 

your comments are surprising.

 

 

29 minutes ago, MaxP22 said:

 

Best to not give advice about things you have no experience with.

1. On this site, it is best to not tell people to not comment 

 

2. I am curious what you think you know about my experience.

 

As this thread has degraded to a personal attack, I am out.  

 

 

 

 

[SalishSea 16,862]

18 hours ago, Mike E said:

 

It would require a tedious survey of the reciprocity schedule, but it is not hard to find countries where State says will issue only single entry short validity visas. For example:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Bhutan.html

 

Visa Classification	Fee	Number of Entries	Validity Period
B-1	None	One	3 Months
B-2	None	One	3 Months
B-1/B-2	None	One	3 Months

 

Perhaps the visa validity is 3 months and OP is mis-interpreting that as the authorized stay

 

@Allaboutwaiting, this is what I was trying to explain to you about the policy for B validity/duration of stay and reciprocity.