Entry and Entry Inspection Procedures for Studying in the United States

I will introduce to you the entry-exit inspection procedures for studying in the United States. I hope it will be helpful to students studying abroad. If you want to know more about studying abroad, I will give you detailed answers.

Entry-exit inspection procedures for studying in the United States. After landing in the United States, you need to take all important documents with you. Do not put these documents in your luggage, and do not lend or give them to anyone unless that person can show proof of identity that he or she is authorized to receive them.

Immigration and Border Inspection

1. Please check your passport and visa carefully before boarding to ensure their validity. Please pay special attention to whether the passport is valid for no less than six months, the validity of the visa, the number of entries and the length of stay allow for travel.

2. Please check and confirm that you have brought the basic materials for visa application and other materials that the United States requires to present when entering the country (passport, I-20 form and I-94 (entry and exit card)).

3. Before entering the country, please follow the guidance of the flight attendants and fill in the I-94 entry card, customs declaration form and other documents carefully and truthfully in English. Do not make any omissions or take chances. If you have difficulty filling it out in English, you can ask the flight attendant to help you fill it out.

4. Please choose a more convenient channel to handle immigration procedures. When waiting in line, please try not to look around or change the queue multiple times to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings to US immigration officials. When it's almost your turn, have your passport, I-20 form, and I-94 (arrival card) ready for immigration officials to inspect.

5. At the port of entry, the immigration officer will check the documents and valid visas held by the immigrants, scan the immigrants' fingerprints and take photos. When entering the country, please present necessary documents and cooperate with the inspection according to the requirements of the US border inspection officials. You will most likely be asked about the purpose of entering the United States and your final destination. For students, the appropriate answer is "I go to a certain school in a certain city in a certain state."

If you have language difficulties, you can prepare simple English notes in advance: ?I only speak Chinese.Please help me with an interpreter. ?Major airports in New York generally provide Mandarin and Cantonese translation services.

6. If you are detained by the border inspection department for investigation, you can immediately inform the US officials and request to contact the consular officials. According to the provisions of the consular treaty between China and the United States, you have the right to seek help from consular officials in your home country. Contacting a consular officer as early as possible will better help you resolve your issue and avoid missing out.

7. When accepting inquiries from the border inspection department, please confirm that the translation provided by the other party can truthfully and completely convey the meaning of both parties. If you have any questions, you can directly challenge the immigration officer and ask for a replacement translator.

8. After accepting inquiries from the border inspection department, be sure to confirm that all questions and answers are truthfully recorded in the transcripts and other documents that you are asked to sign before signing. If in doubt, corrections should be made immediately.

9. If you encounter discriminatory practices or your request to contact the Consulate General is refused, please write down the other party’s name or job number in case you make a complaint later.

10. When entering the country, U.S. customs officers will stamp the I-94 immigration card you filled out and place it in your passport. Please keep the card properly.

Exiting the country

Persons leaving the country must take fingerprints and photos again, and return the lower half of the I-94 card to the port immigration officer. If you leave the country without submitting your I-94 card, you may be deemed to have overstayed your visa, and you may encounter difficulties when applying for a visa or re-entering the country. If your I-94 card is lost or damaged while in the United States, you must promptly report it to the nearby immigration bureau and apply for a reissue.