EternalForeigner

They haven’t been able to apply yet we’ve had more than a few circumstances that prevent us from doing that but hopefully they will this summer. As for recurring visits the lawyers we consult with have said that her having medical appointments and stuff regularly makes for a good case for annual visits. And as I’d mentioned in previous posts there’s no option for her not to come to the U.S. so we’ll see what happens.

I feel like even if I was there I’d want to give the letter to the officer mostly because I don’t know what line of questioning they’d give me and I might not have the presence of mind to say everything that needs to be said. Plus they might ask a couple of questions, refer us to secondary then ask the rest there, which would make me feel like I should’ve given the primary officer the letter instead of trying to just go over their questioning verbally. So in a case like that, the FAQ letter would answer everything they might need to know without me needing to say everything unless they require further clarification.

Thank you. Part of me is wondering whether to give such a letter to the primary officer from the start or wait to see if they’d actually let us through quickly (which id a long shot, I know). But I guess I’m trying to do this but still assessing the best risks in doing so (like weather to immediately give it to the officer and say you’ll find answers to all your questions here or to wait until the officer starts to scrutinize things a bit more). Plus there’s always the chance I feel that such a letter could also get us sent to secondary if the primary officer isn’t satisfied or doesn’t know what to do based on this letter especially if they’re inexperienced or new.

I forgot to mention that in summer of 2025 when they came in through DEN they were sent to secondary because they all have different statuses but they didn’t scrutinize them as much at what happened in YYZ in 2024. I wasn’t with them this time but they said it was mostly waiting their turn and a couple of cursory questions then the officer in secondary asked for her return ticket and they gave the officer the flight itinerary and she was satisfied. She didn’t ask them about if they’re going to leave with her or if she lives with them or how their maintain their residency etc like the officer in 2024 did. We did not attempt to drive into Canada during the PNW road trip. This upcoming summer the saga continues where this will be their third year of needing to deal with this. They were considering trying to go through preclearance in Abu Dhabi but now things are very tense between Saudi and the UAE and they’re not comfortable trying to book a ticket via AUH just yet. Their other alternatives is going through Dublin or even Canada again (could be (Montreal or Toronto). We’ll be doing the same thing of booking a bunch of trips throughout the U.S. and medical appointments. We’ve consisted the possibility that I can try to fly with her since I’m a citizen in case there’s any scrutiny of how she’s going to leave since she’s disabled and can’t leave the U.S. on her own and I’d tell her I’d leave with her. The problem is that being a U.S. citizen and going to a booth with someone on a tourist visit might also immediately trigger a visit to secondary. And now since green card holders can’t use citizen lines anymore my parents would be in the same line with her and my presence with them might actually scrutinize them more. I know there’s no right way to do this and everything is so unpredictable. But there is something I’d like to ask people’s thoughts on especially since some here have experiences with immigration officer management and such: I’m considering writing out a letter that has a summary of an FAQ for any questions they might have about her visit/entry/stay (e.g. the date she’s leaving, the activities and trips and medical appointments but not in great detail, that she’s disabled which is why I’m with her in the same line despite being a citizen, saying that I’ll make sure she leaves the country and not overstay etc.). I know the conventional wisdom is usually not to volunteer this stuff until outright asked about it but I keep thinking of having such a letter and outright giving it to the primary officer if he starts to not like our initial answers (which I’m sure will be how are you all related how long is she staying why is she staying for six months that’s too long). Would that be a good idea or a terrible one? Bear in mind the risk of being sent to secondary is high regardless of anything. And this would be a letter that either I would have or one that my folks would have if I’m not with them. They’d also have all other proofs of reservations and appointments with them and they have a letter from her physician stating her disabilities and that she is incapable of comprehending things tested to immigration procedures but they haven’t needed to use it just yet.

Will there even be a lottery? No update on the website.

Thanks. She’s no working and she’s here with my family (she’s disabled and can’t work) and yes I know how it all looks to CBP I don’t need for all of it to be rehashed and I know it’s something that can be brought up all the time. Though throughout the times they’ve been here (which were many) her work stuff was never asked about. Usually it’s a clash of her being on a tourist visa, disabled, needing to be with my parents who have green cards and thus needing to come and go all the time (which a lawyer said is the only thing we can say) and it seems like they were assuaged re:parents when we told them we’d apply for entry permits. I know a day trip into Canada and then coming back in can slay’s raise these potential questions again. During their U.S. entry they were taken to secondary but were only asked to show her return ticket after my parents told them she’s here for trips and medical appointments (which they didn’t ask for proof of). Their entry this time though was easier compared to the experience at YYZ last year in terms of scrutiny. either way it doesn’t seem like we’ll be going for Canada this time around.

June to December. Meanwhile the possible detour, to reiterate, is in August just for a day trip into Vancouver during a trip in the PNW.

I know this is a couple of months late but how do I go about querying the U.S. PoE before driving up to Canada? And if anyone else was wondering my sister was granted a 6-month stay after my family came into the U.S. They were sent into secondary but only asked to see proof of outward travel for my sister and they didn’t ask for anything else. Nothing was mentioned at all or asked that made reference to my family’s precious entry at YYZ nor were they asked any info that was said at that entry. It doesn’t seem like we’ll be crossing into Canada at least not this time around and I know things have been less than encouraging. But I wanted to ask to make sure we have all our bases covered in terms of possible red flags. It hasn’t been all that helpful seeing the news from back in March-May about the added scrutiny at the two borders between WA and BC. This trip to the PNW is in August meanwhile her US stay is authorized until late December for what it’s worth. We’re very painfully aware about the need for her to not overstay and wouldn’t do anything like trying to take a detour close to her time being up. That’s why I wondered if a quick detour in August and then driving back in (while all our luggage and stuff is still at our hotel in Seattle/Bellingham) and her having a stamp until December and sainting she isn’t trying to get a new U.S. entry would be more assuaging to officers possibly. I know anything could happen (for better or worse) but thought this would be the best possibly presentation if we ever elect to go for it. That plus a litany of things we could show in case they ask again about what she’s doing for the rest of her stay (medical appointments, ticketed events, her flight itinerary, etc.).

Do standbys see a selected status then?

How do you know she's flagged? The stuff the officer said is generic it wasn't particular to her specific case and he didn't write any notes. That's what I've gathered too even from my own experiences even as a US citizen with NEXUS/Global Entry.

She does have a visa to Canada and we already went there in summer 2024. The story where we were scrutinized happened at US pre-clearance at the airport in Toronto. This time though they're flying into the US directly and doing US immigration there (I won't be with them though). Like I said, we're not entertaining going into Canada as part of the road trip because of how scary the situation is right now. But I thought to ask for insight given that if we elect to do that she would already have a six-month stamp for the US. So I know it's possible to do that and that officers have all kinds of discretion, but wondered if things would be mitigated at least a little given the six-month stamp she'd have. I know they might ask again for proof she'd be leaving the US later or how her situation will be with my parents being green card holders and such. At the airport in Canada when parents got admitted through their IR-5 status, the officer was only assuaged when I told him they're planning to apply for a re-entry permit. He said to make sure my sister leaves before the six months are up and that if she tries to come in again in like 2-3 months she'd get her visa canceled. We were already aware of all that even before he said that and we never planned on flouting any rules. But it sucks that there's so much scrutiny to where these little trips into Canda are even cause for concern.

I’ve mentioned before it’ll be six months. She’ll have a bunch of medical appointments and we have a few hotel reservations spread out for trips throughout the span of six months including a road trip.

I’ve wanted to expand more on it but was already a pretty long post as it is. After coming back to the U.S. the parents will have been away for less than 6 months. And I know our specific circumstances draw more scrutiny and there was scrutiny the last time they entered because of the different statuses. During that entry parents were entering on their IR-5 visas for the first time which added to the scrutiny. But now they have green cards and they plan on applying for re-entry permits. But assuming they enter the U.S. via airport and sister is given a 6 months stay, and if we elect to drive into Canada for a couple of days and then re-enter as part of our road trip, does the fact that she already has a 6-month stay add to the scrutiny during re-entry or lessen it? If she already has a 6-months stay they won’t give her a new admission in a case like this and we’d have paperwork showing she’d be leaving. Parents are also planning to apply to re-entry permits. It’s not likely that we’d be entering Canada during a road trip given the risks but I wanted to ask about whether the 6-month stamp would give less (or more) scrutiny during re-entry. Like if it’s clear to an officer that this is just a road trip where part of it is just going into Canada for a couple of days and coming back and counting to comply with the 6-month stay, would that be less scrutinizing or more scrutinizing? And I know one’s mileage may vary with the officers and circumstances.

Hello, There are some specific circumstances at play here but I wanted some insight if anyone had any. Family is coming to visit. Both parents have green cards and sister has a tourist visa (she’s an adult but disabled and dependent o parents). We’d like to road trip and part of the road trip would be in Canada but would be short maybe 3 days max then back to US. Assuming sister is given a 6 months stay after arriving into the U.S., would that make her re-entry into the US from Canada by land easier or more difficult? I know that those with tourist visas and go to Canada or Mexico for less than a month and then come back to the U.S. wouldn’t be given a new 6-months entry and it wouldn’t count as a new entry to the U.S., which isn’t something that we’re seeking (not trying to do a visa run or anything that would be a stupid thing to attempt). But I’m asking if she already has a 6-month stamp and we go into Canada for a couple of days and corn back, does her having that stamp make her entry possibly scrutinized or more or less by officers at the border? Sourly nowadays with things being super strict at borders especially on land. looking forward to your insights

There’s little official clarity in this but if an applicant’s number isn’t selected in May, there are some who advise checking again each month or so after because it could be selected if some other selectees falter or something to that effect. Is it actually a thing that other unselected numbers may be chosen later? Or if a number isn’t selected then that’s it it’s done for the year?

We didn’t get anything yet. A lawyer we consult with claims we should be getting the green cards in the mail around a month after arriving in the U.S. It’s only been a couple of weeks so still kind of early. Just following the tracking numbers.

It’s not about her possible port of entry though. It’s asking where my parents entered as IR5 visa holders for the first time.

I’m helping my parents apply to sponsor my sister and their port of entry was the U.S. preclearance facility at a Canadian airport. But on the application it only shows US states, armed forces locations and unknown. Is it fine if I just left the state part empty and wrote Toronto Airport US peclearance in the city part?

I already did and it said 16 months like I’d mentioned in my initial post. That’s why I was wondering if there’s a thread here where people talked about their timelines for it.

We’re planning to get a new card issued but I was wondering if the status changes automatically after entering the U.S. even before going in to the office to request a new card with the written restriction removed. When we used e verify it seemed to suggest no restrictions but I know the only way to know for certain is to go to the office.

Is this for all I-131 applications or just AP? I’m particularly interested in re-entry permit applications though I know they’re all under the same banner.

One of my parents already had a restricted SSN from when they were on F1 and just entered on IR5 for the first time. Does their immigration status get updated automatically or do they need to go to the office to get it updated? And the other parent never had one and we’re still waiting on the card delivery but can they go to the SS office and be told their number assuming it was already issued?

I was wondering if there’s a thread here for timeline for I-131 travel document applications. On USCIS it says the processing time is 16 months for 80% of applicants. But is that accurate at all?

Thank you I’ll try to look those numbers up.

Hello, My parents entered the U.S. on immigrant visas and were given the IR-5 endorsement stamp. I know it takes anywhere between 1-3 months to receive the physical green card in the mail, but I was wondering if there was any way to track it on the USCIS website or if we just have to wait for it blindly.