CBP

Customs and Border Protection. This agency was spun off from old INS. CBP is responsible for inspecting people when they land at airports, docks and land borders.

How long can a green card holder stay outside the US?

Question details

I received a Green card (GC) last year (Dec 2021). I travelled to India in January 2022 for vacation and have been staying here in India for last 4 months. While on vacation, I have been working for a US employer from India. This is the same employer who sponsored my GC. I am planning to go back to USA in June 2022. This will be the first time I will be travelling back to USA using my GC. Kindly see my questions below.

1) If I mention that I was in India for four months on vacation, would this answer cause any issue with the CBP officer at POE?  

2)Is four months of vacation in my home country acceptable for a GC holder?

3) What typical questions could we face at the Port of Entry for someone who spent four months of vacation in their home country?

4) Is working for a US employer from India allowed for a GC holder?

5) Do I need to expect a secondary inspection for additional scrutiny by CBP officers due to my four-month vacation?
 

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

1. No, first of all, always be truthful.
2. If the period is less than six months, there should be no problem.
3. Typically, a green card holder who returns in less than six months is not subject to lengthy questions.
4. You can work from anywhere.
5. If it is less than six months, there is generally no secondary inspection.
 

---------------------------------------
Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.

Documents needed by and anticipated questions for green card holders at the port of entry

Question details

 I am a G.C. holder and will travel next month and plan to return to the U.S. in December. What documents do I need to carry and show at the port of entry when I return to the U.S.? What questions does a CBP officer usually ask a green card holder at the port of entry? Do I need to carry tax returns, pay stubs, W-2, and previous H-1B documents ( I was in H-1B before I got G.C.)?

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

If it is less than six months, all you need to carry is your green card and passport. If you have any evidence of continued employment, for instance, a couple of W-2's, scan them and put them on the cloud. You can show them to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers if asked. Usually, for exits of less than six months duration, the scope of the CBP inquiry is limited. I doubt you will be asked any questions.

 

Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.

Reentering the U.S. on Visitor Visa

Question details

My parents have been here on visitor's visas since the beginning of August. If they are here for the entire six months, can they come back again within six months of leaving the U.S.?

Video URL
FAQ Transcript

The CBP (Customs and Border Protection) may find this pattern an unacceptable use of the visitor's visa. Generalizing for the sake of making a point, if in any twelve months your parents have spent more than six months in the United States, the CBP can hold that it appears your parents are living in the United States and visiting their home country instead of the other way around. More...

 

 

Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.

Rajiv's Article - Will your B-1 B-2 visas get canceled at the airport?

Published by: The Economic Times - Date: May 10, 2021 

Synopsis

To protect yourselves, carry evidence that your extension application was timely filed and you left because you had an urgent need to do so. Also, take a screenshot or printout of the FAQ on the CBP website: “How can I extend my stay while in the United States?

For more on this article please see the attachment below.

U.S., Canada Begin Phase II of Entry/Exit Project

Under Phase II, DHS and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will expand the exchange of biographic entry data collected on third-country nationals (those who are neither citizens of Canada nor of the United States), permanent residents of Canada who are not U.S. citizens, and lawful permanent residents of the United States who are not Canadian citizens, to all automated land ports of entry at the common border, including all major land border crossings.

CBP Publishes Final Rule on the Extension of Border Zone in the State of New Mexico

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35103-35108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13946]

Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

CBP Urges Travelers to Prepare for Holiday Traffic

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Blue Water Bridge want to remind the traveling public to have proper travel documents, and plan for a possible increase in traffic over the Victoria Day (May 17-20) and Memorial Day (May 24-27) weekends.

 

“During the holiday weekends, we will continually monitor traffic and wait times and adjust staffing accordingly to help with traffic flow while upholding our border security mission” said Port Director David Dusellier.

 

CBP Begins Implementation of Form I-94 Automation

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) started implementing the automated version of Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, at air and sea ports of entry and will by week’s end include Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, Orlando International Airport in Florida, McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Miami International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Implementation will continue across the nation through May 21, to include air and sea ports of entry that support international arrivals.

CBP Announces Rollout of Automated Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that the automation of Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record is now effective which will streamline the admissions process for individuals lawfully visiting the United States. Form I-94 provides international visitors evidence they have been lawfully admitted to the U.S. which is necessary to verify alien registration, immigration status, and employment authorization.

CBP Announces Summer Hours for Churubusco and Cannons Corners Border Crossing

Champlain, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announces a change in the summer operating hours for the Churubusco and Cannons Corners border crossing locations.

Effective May 1, the new hours of operation will be from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. These new hours will remain in effect until October 31, 2013. Please contact the Trout River Port of Entry at (518) 483-0821 or the Port of Champlain at (518) 298-8346 for additional information.