What do international students need to do to enter the United States?

Immigration inspection procedures

1.

Passengers are guided to the immigration office and wait in line for inspection according to their entry visas. As an international student, if you hold a non-immigrant visa (F1), you must remember to queue in the nonresidents (non-immigrant) queue. If you are a green card holder or a U.S. citizen, you must queue in the citizens/residents (residents) queue (the homepage bacteria used to be in When I entered the country for the first time, I was very excited to go to the citizens/residents line because there were very few people... As a result, I realized halfway through the line that I had made the wrong decision...).

2. When it is your turn to be inspected, submit your passport, I-20

(student visa) or IAP-66 (H1B visa) and customs declaration form to the immigration officer. Check. Please note that holding a passport and visa does not guarantee entry. Because the visa only gives the holder the right to request entry, whether he is allowed to enter or not is up to the immigration officer. The immigration officer will check the "blacklist" to see if the foreigner is on the list. If he has a bad record with the immigration bureau in the past, such as being deported, he will be in trouble when entering the country.

3. As usual, immigration officials will ask you some questions. The most important of these questions is to determine the university where you will study in the United States, your residential address after coming to the United States, and the purpose of coming to the United States

(Studying, of course), the amount of cash you can carry and the value of the items you bring, etc. Don't be nervous, just answer calmly.

4. After the immigration officer asks the questions, you will be asked to put your ten fingerprints one by one on the fingerprints.

They will then sign the I-20 or IAP-66 and I-94. The stamp indicates the date of entry, and the signature indicates the visa status and legal re-entry period.

If you hold an (F-1) visa, the United States will allow you to stay in the United States for the necessary number of years to complete your studies.

If you hold an exchange scholar (J-1) visa, the United States only allows you to stay for a specific period of time, and you must take the courses specified on IAP-66 to maintain your exchange scholar status.

Whether you hold an F-1 or J-1 visa, you must note that the validity period of your passport when entering the United States must always be at least six months longer than the intended period of stay in the United States.

5.

The immigration officer will return the third page of I-20 or IAP-66 to you. (You must immediately confirm that the information you added is correct, and if there are any errors, ask for corrections immediately. Going back to ask questions after leaving the counter will only cause more trouble).

Special reminder: According to U.S. Customs and Border Inspection regulations, the I-94 forms required for entry have been replaced by paperless electronic versions. The I-94 card is an entry/departure record card usually issued by the U.S. Customs and Excise Department (CBP) to foreigners entering the United States by air and sea.

a. After foreigners enter the United States, they should go to www.cbp.gov/I94 as soon as possible to print out the I-94 record and keep a copy. Carefully check the information on I-94.

b. If key information (such as name, date of birth, entry or expiration date does not match the stamp on the passport) is incorrect, contact CBP’s Deferred Inspection Office as soon as possible

Offices) correction. The CBP Deferred Review Office can help you correct the error. The detailed address and contact information can be obtained on the CPB website.

c. If the I-94 card received by the passenger is incorrect, the passenger can also log in to www.cbp.gov/forms to fill out the I-102 form and apply for the correct I-94 card.

Collect your baggage, submit customs declaration form and go through customs inspection

1. Follow the instructions on the aisle and walk to the Terminal baggage claim area (it is usually OK to follow the flow of people) and follow the computer Find the baggage claim counter for your flight (the flight is on the Boarding

card) on the screen or notice.

2.

Take your luggage off the carousel and carefully check the luggage number, because many suitcases look exactly the same (the luggage tags will not be checked here in the United States like in China) and name, so you can put some markings on the box).

3. There are trolleys at the airport, and some airport trolleys are free.

4.

The international airport is very large, and it is often easy to find the wrong carousel when collecting luggage, and sometimes airlines are negligent in their work. Don't be nervous if you can't find your luggage. Use the luggage registration stub on your boarding pass to check with the airline. If you still can't find it, you must fill out a lost report and write down the name and phone number of the airport service staff for future inquiries. (For double insurance, you can pick up a note that can be hung on your suitcase at the check-in desk before taking off domestically, with your addresses in the United States and China written on it).

5.

When queuing for customs inspection, you may wish to choose the shortest line to queue for inspection. Don't look around, hesitate, and don't change lines temporarily because of another line's rapid customs clearance, which may lead to suspicious behavior and subject to careful interrogation. Smile, be sincere, and answer all questions, but don't talk too much to avoid asking for trouble.

6.

When checking your luggage, you must present your documents. If the customs requires you to open the box for inspection, open it immediately for inspection without hesitation. If the customs officer signals that you have passed, don’t be suspicious and immediately take your luggage and leave. According to U.S. law, customs officers have no right to open your luggage without permission, but if they ask you to open it and you refuse, they have the right to open your luggage.

7.

If any prohibited items are found in your luggage, they will be confiscated on the spot. The originally packed luggage will become a mess and you will have to spend some effort. Put things in their place. But sometimes you are lucky and can pass the level quickly. Watch your own luggage, neither too little nor too much, and don't carry anyone else's luggage through customs. Be careful of others using you to bring drugs.

8. Always pay attention to your luggage documents and never leave them to prevent them from being stolen by others.

9. If the amount brought into the country exceeds US$10,000, you should proactively declare it to the customs and fill in Form 4790.

If there is a connecting flight

If you have to transfer after entering the country, you have to estimate the time and check in at the airport counter of the airline you want to change as early as possible. Of course, your luggage still needs to be checked in again. . If the airport is large, to avoid taking the wrong route, go to the information and ask the staff. After the plane change procedures are completed and the confirmed plane door is found, you may have a period of rest. At this time, you might as well walk around, stretch your muscles or go to the toilet