An immigration attorney will work diligently to assist you with applying for the appropriate immigrant status and acquiring necessary documentation. Not understanding your status upon entry into the U.S., however,, can prove very costly.
Border Patrol Inspectors
Whether you enter the country through an international airport, train station, or border crossing, border patrol inspectors will want to know that you are entering legally. It is important to keep in mind that immigration status is particularly scrutinized in the post-9/11 world. An immigrant who is trying to enter, then, and cannot specifically explain his status is in danger of being excluded.
When you apply to enter the U.S., your immigration attorney should thoroughly explain your status, including its limitations. The Immigration and Nationality Act gives border patrol inspectors broad powers to prevent entry to individuals under certain circumstances, including:
- The person requesting entry does not have the proper documentation for the status applied for.
- The inspector believes, based upon inconsistencies in the immigrant’s answers or understanding, that the person is lying.
- Details in the documents are falsified, or the inspector believes they are.
How Expedited Removal Affects an Applicant’s Entrance
If an inspector refuses admission under Expedited Removal, the applicant cannot gain admission for five years. In some cases it is possible to obtain a waiver, but don’t count on it.
Should an inspector refuse admission to you, your best option is to ask him to withdraw your application. This will keep your record clean and help you avoid the five-year exclusion. That said, the best option of all is to be very clear about your status prior to being questioned by the inspector.
Immigration Attorneys Can Help
For assistance with immigration matters, call an immigration attorney at Ionson Law: (781) 674-2562.
