2017 Guide to Entering the United States for Immigrants. As everyone knows, one must comply with the entry regulations of each country when entering, otherwise there is a risk of being deported or taken to the 'small dark room' (secondary inspection). Today, let us learn how new immigrants can enter the United States.
Prepare Entry Documents in Advance
When entering the country, the documents you need to submit to customs officers include: passport + visa, I-20 (essential for international students; students under 18, please remember to have your parents sign the guardian section at the bottom of the first page of the I-20 before going abroad), and the customs declaration form (distributed by flight attendants on the plane; remember to prepare a pen before boarding).
Other documents used during the visa interview are usually not required upon entry, but we suggest being fully prepared by keeping all documents together, with the four items mentioned above placed in the most easily accessible location.
Fill Out the Customs Declaration Form Truthfully
There are many items strictly prohibited from being brought into the United States, such as fresh food, meat products, and plants.
If you happen to be carrying such items, we suggest declaring them honestly on the form; do not take any chances. In addition to customs officers randomly checking luggage after passengers enter, customs drug-sniffing dogs also constantly inspect every piece of luggage. Based on our experience, the more luggage you carry, the higher the chance of being selected for inspection. If you are unfortunately taken to the 'small dark room' and found to be carrying prohibited items, confiscation is a minor issue, but leaving a bad record may result in your luggage being checked every time you enter the United States in the future. Therefore, remember to refuse to carry the aforementioned items. If you happen to have them, surrender them voluntarily and explain that you are visiting the U.S. for the first time and brought them by mistake. If you add an innocent and sincere look, the customs officer might forgive you.
Carry as Little Cash as Possible
U.S. Customs regulations state that passengers may not carry more than $10,000 in cash, while Chinese Customs regulations state that departing passengers may not carry more than $5,000. Therefore, we suggest that students and parents should ideally not carry more than $5,000 USD when going abroad. Although it may be more convenient to use cash in China, using a card for all transactions is more common in the United States. We suggest applying for a dual-currency card in China, which is simple and convenient. Alternatively, you can carry a small amount of cash upon entry, and then open a bank account at a local U.S. bank before having your parents wire money over. After all, being in an unfamiliar place, carrying large amounts of cash is relatively dangerous.
Be Mindful of Your Words on Social Apps
There have been news reports previously that customs officers may check social media chat logs, and they will judge your purpose for visiting the U.S. based on your chat content. We have to sigh that with the development of the times and technological progress, even customs have learned to apply it... Although this should be a rare occurrence, we still suggest that everyone be mindful of their daily speech and behavior; it is better to be safe than sorry.