civilservant

Has anyone ever been throught the above? What were your experiances? Just cuiosity really - I like many others have seen UK Border Force and what happens on 2nd inspections in the UK and wondered if it was the same in the US.

SultanOfSwing

I went through secondary when I entered on my K1. It was really rather boring, for me anyway, all I did was sit there until they got a package of stuff (among which was an application form for the EAD) for me and called me up to hand it to me.

While I was there, there was a Chinese bloke in the process of being denied entry, poor bugger. Lots of people sitting around and waiting. I didn't even know it was called 'secondary' then and I didn't expect to have to do it but it was a giant non-event and helped to kill a bit of time of my four hour connection ...

Steve_

I've been through secondary inspection in the US dozens of times, what exactly do you want to know?

Basically it's usually so they can deal with something they can't sort out at primary inspection.

If they're suspicious about whether you have non-immigrant intent, that can land you in secondary inspection, had that happen a few times. Then they just quiz you.

Nowadays I haven't got the time for it so I carry a portfolio with me that has plenty of evidence, utility bills, pay slips, property paperwork, etc.

The key point is that the law (for visitors) requires you to have a home abroad and be able to demonstrate that you are a visitor for business or pleasure. So for example, proof of funds (credit card doesn't really cut it, I carry a bank statement, although you don't really need to go that far), return ticket etc.

A lot of people get excessively hung up on the number of days they plan on staying. CBP isn't so much interested in that, they're looking for non-immigrant intent. Duration of stay is only one determining factor.

Pombat

I had to go once in San Francisco. At the time my husband was on an L1 visa and the kids and I were on L2 visas. We were returning from a trip to the UK without hubby. Apparently the computer at immigration couldn't recognise my L2 status for some reason, so we got sent to secondary questioning where the computer was 'better'. 10 minutes waiting, 2 minutes at the desk and we were cleared. There was a woman in front of us who was a green card holder and had been out of the country for just over 1 year - they denied her entry and were talking about sending her back minus her green card......scary stuff.

kimilseung

Did it like nearly everyone else when entering on the visa.

Also went through secondary when I entered when visiting my wife (then she was a girlfriend) and I did not have a flight ticket out.
I was getting a Korean work visa (kill two birds, get the visa and do a visit), and the employer was going to sort out my flight back, It took an hour and a half or so of telling the same story to a few different people, lots of siting around. But all the visa and job documentation I had, made them happy and they let me in.

Getting the visa in America also caused a slight problem, because the Korean consulate in America expected a four year degree, and there was a fair bit of phone calls back and forth before it went through.

Ash UK/US

I went through secondary inspection at Detroit when I entered on my K1, It was not the most pleasant experience but it had to be done.

civilservant

Anyone done it while travelling in the VWP?

kimilseung

May I refer you to my previous reply.

markwm

Yes, every time for the last few years. It's time consuming and boring - they ask you questions to verify whatever it is they need verified and then send you on your way. They've always been polite and business like with me and it's no more than a minor inconvenience. Note that is me: I have no idea what it would be like for others.

If you keep getting pulled in for the same reason you can try this site:

http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1169676919316.shtm

No idea if it works. Good luck.

civilservant

Oh no, never been pulled. Entering the US in October to see my wife while our I-130 application is progressing and was curious to know what secondary may entail if I do get pulled.

SultanOfSwing

They won't necessarily know the I-130 is in progress. Unless asked directly, you don't need to bring it up either. Provided you've had more days out than you had in (or close to it) on your last visit and meet all the other standard VWP requirements, chances are you'll be waved on in as normal.

If you are, it'll just be for more detailed questioning to ensure you're not intending to overstay. One would think, having just forked out all that money for the I-130, you'd not waste it by getting yourself banned from the US, but logic and common sense aren't job requirements for immigration control.

RICH

I did K1 via Detroit, and did not get secondary. I handed over the mystery envelope, and tried to give the guy my X-ray, which he declined. That was pretty much it

Egon

I came through JFK on a K1.

It was all rather simple really. The initial check was a guy who opened my envelope of documents and muddled his way through the process (by his admission he'd not done one before but it seemed pretty straightforward).

Then he showed me where to go and wait which I did. I handed in some documents and waited some more. This was around 4pm. No one else was waiting so after a short while I was called up. I expected more questions but he handed me my passport and I was good to go.

It happened far quicker than I was expecting.

Steve_

They can find it in their system if they put enough effort into it but it doesn't pop up automatically in your entry record, is my understanding. I asked that question on here myself, no-one seemed to know so I asked specifically at the POE and that was what CBP told me. They have access to all kinds of databases in order to check up on people, for example if they've lost their passport.

Immigrant petition filings such as an I-130 or I-140 do not show immigrant intent, because it is being filed by another person and technically you do not have control over it, unless you are filing an I-140 on your own behalf under EB-1.

It's when the petition is approved and you apply for an immigrant visa or AOS that immigrant intent is shown, usually.

scrubbedexpat099

UK Border Force going by the TV series are a bunch of wussies.