Arriving in US
Jan 18th 2016, 8:05 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 7
Arriving in US
Hi All,
I was hoping someone would be able to answer a few questions.
We were granted our E2 Visa in November, we will arrive in LA beginning Feb. I think I know the answer to my first question: do we need to apply for an esta? I assume it's a no as we are coming on a visa anyway. My second question is (and sorry if these are silly, I just want to know what to do when we get there, rather than looking clueless) - do we go to the visitor que or is there a specific line we need to go to? Will I need any of the documentation regarding the visa? We already have the visas in the passport. Lastly I'm rather confused about the whole entry times etc, our visa was issued for the full 5 years, however I've been reading that when you enter the country they only let you stay for 2/3 years etc, will this mean that we have to leave the country, then come back? As our visa was granted until 2020?
Sorry for the long post, and thank you in advance.
Kind regards
Ben
I was hoping someone would be able to answer a few questions.
We were granted our E2 Visa in November, we will arrive in LA beginning Feb. I think I know the answer to my first question: do we need to apply for an esta? I assume it's a no as we are coming on a visa anyway. My second question is (and sorry if these are silly, I just want to know what to do when we get there, rather than looking clueless) - do we go to the visitor que or is there a specific line we need to go to? Will I need any of the documentation regarding the visa? We already have the visas in the passport. Lastly I'm rather confused about the whole entry times etc, our visa was issued for the full 5 years, however I've been reading that when you enter the country they only let you stay for 2/3 years etc, will this mean that we have to leave the country, then come back? As our visa was granted until 2020?
Sorry for the long post, and thank you in advance.
Kind regards
Ben
Jan 18th 2016, 11:43 am
#2
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: Arriving in US
1. No ESTA.
2. Usually there is a USC line and non-USC line. You'll join the non-USC line.
Not sure about your last question.
Rene
2. Usually there is a USC line and non-USC line. You'll join the non-USC line.
Not sure about your last question.
Rene
Jan 18th 2016, 12:28 pm
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Arriving in US
No.
Yes, because until you're processed, that's what you are.
Hard to say for sure. You never know what the CBP officer will want while you're being processed, so if you have it with you it can't hurt at all. Better to have it and not need it than the reverse!
A visa is a travel document, nothing more or less than that. On its own, it doesn't confer any special privileges - which means you are free to use the visa to travel for the full 5 years of its validity period. However, when you enter the US, you are usually given 2 or 3 years worth of status and an I-94 will be issued. It's the status that's important... not the visa. The I-94 determines how long you are allowed to remain in the US. Before the I-94 expires, you must leave and re-enter the US. When you return, you will receive a new I-94. You don't have to move back home... just exit and re-enter the US. A day trip to Canada or Mexico will suffice for that.
Ian
... do we go to the visitor que...
Will I need any of the documentation regarding the visa?
I'm rather confused about the whole entry times etc, our visa was issued for the full 5 years, however I've been reading that when you enter the country they only let you stay for 2/3 years etc, will this mean that we have to leave the country, then come back? As our visa was granted until 2020?
Ian
Jan 18th 2016, 4:43 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 7
Re: Arriving in US
Great, thank you for all your help.
Ben
Ben
