Dealing with CBP at customs when entering on an immigrant/IR1 visa

[Evan757 37]

When talking to CBP at the airport on an IR1 visa before they let us through customs, do they ask a lot of questions or scrutinize much? I'm curious so I can prepare my wife for it. We'll be entering the US together (and I'll be going in the foreign passport line with her). 

[Caro1 78]

I entered at Detroit airport, together with my us citizen wife, to activate IR1 visa. 
The officers were super friendly. They did send us to a second room to wait while they did their paper work, instead of doing everything in that booth after the passport line. 
The officers had no questions in that sense at all. He just confirmed a phone number and the address the green card was going to be sent to. 
There was nothing to worry about at all. 

[Evan757 37]

How long's the paperwork? We have a two and a half hour layover at DFW. I guess I wasn't expecting that (naively, after all the ####### we've had to go through to get this visa).

[Crazy Cat 39,295]

1 hour ago, Evan757 said:

How long's the paperwork? We have a two and a half hour layover at DFW. I guess I wasn't expecting that (naively, after all the ####### we've had to go through to get this visa).

Depends.  It took my wife 90 minutes at DFW when she arrived a few years ago.  Expect to go to secondary as a formality.  This is not another formal interview.  It is not an interrogation of any kind.   Since you have been married more than 2 years, remind the officer that this is an IR-1 entry.  Congratulations and good luck.  

[Evan757 37]

So we may have to do yet another interview? Ugh. if I had known this, I would've booked something with a longer layover. I hope I can be there with her if it happens. 

Thanks.

[Mike E 11,723]

4 minutes ago, Evan757 said:

So we may have to do yet another interview? Ugh. if I had known this, I would've booked something with a longer layover. I hope I can be there with her if it happens. 

Thanks.

How long is her layover?

[Crazy Cat 39,295]

5 minutes ago, Evan757 said:

So we may have to do yet another interview? Ugh. if I had known this, I would've booked something with a longer layover. I hope I can be there with her if it happens. 

Thanks.

It will not be another interview.  In my wife's case, they took the seal envelope, counted her money, and said "welcome to the US".  I think 2 and a half hours is sufficient to process in and make your connection.  DFW is a pretty "connection friendly", imo. 

[Evan757 37]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

How long is her layover?

Two and a half hours. I thought this was fine for a domestic layover, but I forgot the DHS variable 

[Crazy Cat 39,295]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

How long is her layover?

2.5 hours

[Mike E 11,723]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

2.5 hours

The connection will likely be missed.

[Evan757 37]

I don't suppose American airlines has a solid rebooking policy if we end up missing the flight due to CBP?

[Mike E 11,723]

8 minutes ago, Evan757 said:

I don't suppose American airlines has a solid rebooking policy if we end up missing the flight due to CBP?

IME the 4 majors will rebook a pax who misses a connection due to CBP. The pax will be booked on the next available flight. Summer travel in the U.S. is worst time for a pax with no status on an airline: the next available flight can sometimes be days later. I know both AA and UA are struggling this summer due to weather based cancelations. 

 

The international arrivals  hall at DFW is at times a zoo. At times it is a ghost town. It just depends on how many international flights have arrived. A single barbie jet arriving from Mexico vs 5 777s arriving at the same time are different scenes.

 

The reasons 2.5 hours are not likely to be enough time:

 

* It can take hours for a someone who is neither citizen nor LPR just to get to the head of line. This depends on where the pax is sitting on the plane, how many jetways are connected, and how many other flights arrive at the same time. 

 

* If the CBP officer decides to send the visa holder to secondary, that is another queue.

The actual CBP interview will be under 5  minutes most times. I know of just one case where entry was denied.

 

 

[Evan757 37]

That's good to know... Guess I'm emotionally prepared for it now 

[powerpuff 5,907]

~~ Topic moved from CR1/IR1 forum to Moving to America forum where CBP and POE questions are discussed ~~

[Sarah&Facundo 576]

They didn't really interview us. They just asked "Do you plan on marrying within 90 days?"

We were able to stay together.

 

That part in it of itself wasn't long. But between waiting about 45 minutes on line, going to secondary and waiting there again, and getting/rechecking our bags, plus having to be at the next flight for the boarding time.....

2.5 hours would not have been enough for us. But it all depends on the flight, the lines, and how many others are waiting in line/processing.