Immigration och tullfrågor? Fråga en gränspolis.

Hej alla!

Jag arbetar som CBP officer (gränspolis) på JFK flygplats i New York.

Jag läser här och ser att många har frågor för sin resa till USA, ofta när det kommer till ESTA/Visa, saker de får ta med eller inte och generellt förberedelser.

Så: om ni undrar något, känn er fri att fråga då jag gärna svarar på det mesta om immigration och tull.

Ursäkta min svenska, inte den bästa men jag förstår (gick på gymnasiet i Sverige)

I'll ask in English, since I live in the US, and my brain works better in English these days - and I assume you're American.

How is the best way to approach the immigration point if one doesn't speak more English than "Thank you", "Yes", and "No"?

I would like for my Swedish mom to come visit me, but she doesn't speak English, and the main reason she doesn't come is because of the immigration point.

Could she just present a note which tells her purpose of the trip, and where she will be staying, and maybe even my cell phone number for other questions?

Is your mother arriving on the VWP (good for up to 90 days) or a B2 visa? If VWP, she must obtain an ESTA in advance, which can be applied for in Swedish as well https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/applic...ml?language=sv Contrary to popular belief, everything's stored electronically so no need to print out the approval confirmation

Much depends on the officer, but to Play it safe, I would personally recommend:

1. a flight confirmation stating dates of arrival and departure:

2. Birth certificate in stating your relationship. I strongly recommend getting an American one and a Swedish Personbevis issued in English.

3. Notarized letter from you clearly stating her purpose for visiting, plans during the visit, as well as agreeing to support her financially (unless she can prove sufficient funds of her own). The letter must contain your contact info - essential given that she does not speak English.

Tell your mother to have, upon approaching one of us, number 1 and 3 as well as her ESTA-approved or visa-stamped passport right in hand and to show them immediately.

The officer will then most likely ask something like "Why are you coming today?" or "What is your purpose of your trip?". If possible, she should respond "visiting my son".

If there is any other question, or her understanding peters out, she should say "I speak no English" and Point to your telephone number which needs to be in the notarized letter. Showing the birth certificate(s) at this point can be done either at this point or if asked to through you on the phone.

She will most likely be taken to a room for the purpose of clearing things up properly, after which she should be let in.

Show up at the airport in time for her arrival with your passport and (if applicable) I-551 a.k.a. Green Card in case anything goes out of the ordinary.

In any case though, as one of the more careful/"strict" officers at JFK (which, I've been told by tourists, is among the "tougher" US airports) I can safely say that with the above mentioned documentation, she should be let in rather painlessly. Who knows, she just might get me, so I'll keep this case in mind.

In short, do not, absolutely do not, let this pose an obstacle for a visit by any means. Good luck!

P.S. Out of curiosity, where will she be landing?

Thanks for your input, it's very much appreciated. She would actually not fly into JFK, but Boston, but anyways...

Seems like it would be easier if she'd just fly with someone who speaks English, but it's good to know what to expect just in case she would wanna come on her own, and visit her daughter (not son ).

We are well aware of the ESTA, and how that works. She's been here several times before, but never on her own.

Thank you for your reply, I will copy it and file it with useful info.

Bringing a third person may raise the question of relationship to that person, which, if having to do with a grumpy official, could be turned against you (we have to deal with human trafficking quite often)

Anyhow, BOS is slightly "easier" than JFK, and I consider the officers I know there more relaxed in general than many of my own colleagues. So be prepared, but don't stress.

Shame really that our Automated passport control kiosks lack Swedish or else it'd be much easier (any Swedish citizen with an ESTA who's entered at least once since 2008 can use them).

If she happens to speak German or French (which i know some older Swedes do), she can use the automated kiosks in These languages. http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizen...rt-control-apc

Btw, if obtaining a Personbevis from Skatteverket, specifically ask to be issued a stamped and signed personbevis 120

Hi! Is it true that you carry weapons on you? Has there ever been a situation at your border checkpoint where you have been forced to raise it? Has any of your colleagues drawn their weapons at any time? What sort of education do you need to be CBP officer? What sort of "powers" do you have while on duty?

And last, do you like your work =)?

1. In short: yes, we are most definitely armed when on duty. It's part of our uniform, with the majority (including me) even taking their pistols home after work. Many of those leaving their guns at work have to for Special reasons, often pending criminal cases against them.

2. Having worked for the CBP for 4 years, I myself have not yet had to resort to armed violence. On one occasion, however, I did face physical violence from what I found out to be a Pakistani drug smuggler with a forged British passport. Me and a colleague had to handcuff him for a couple of hours before sending him back.

3. I have not yet witnessed them do so, but some have told me of cases occurring when I was off-duty.

4. Alright, in short:
After applying for the Job, you take a written test in logic and another in Spanish (if you don't pass the latter, you will have to take a language course as part of the education).

Then, after clearing a bunch of tests (drugs, polygraph, physical etc.) you're taken to the Border Patrol Academy in New Mexico to undergo the Basic education which mainly consists of courses in policing and immigration law. It lasts for a couple of weeks and Ends with a Spanish proficiency exam.

You're then put on "probational" duty involving further education in law and Spanish. Passing both and maintaining good work means you're finally assigned to regular duty.

5. Regarding who can enter the Country, we generally have the final say. It does not matter whether your ESTA or Student/work/Immigrant visa was granted: if we at immigration say you cannot come in (such as if we find that you've lied on an ESTA), you can't. Theoretically speaking, if you tried to enter on a visa (as opposed to an ESTA) you have the right to demand that your case be reviewed by an Immigration judge: however, in my experience, more often then not trying this is merely a waste of time.

6. Lastly, I love what I do for sure. Granted, it is mentally strenuous, but what can you expect when it's about securing our country's borders from the wolves and distinguishing them from the sheep?

Är ni "hårdare" mot människor med vissa nationaliteter eller etniska ursprung än andra? Om ni är det, vilka är ni "hårdare" mot och vilka är ni "snällare" mot?

Jag undrar varför man måste gå igenom den här säkerhetskontrollen där de tar fingeravtryck och bild av ögat när man kommer dit varje gång. Menar första gången man reser dit ok men sparas inte de uppgifterna så man slipper göra det skitet gång på gång?
Mvh

Hur många turister som inte pratar engelska eller spanska besöker dagligen USA?

I mina öron låter det närmast absurt att dessa skulle skaffa en bibba med intyg och "bevis" för att komma in i landet. Min gissning är att en kontrollant som får en hög papper under näsan utan att ha bett om dem snarare blir misstänksam att personen framför honom försöker dölja något.

Uppgifter som kontaktperson i USA och adress under vistelsen finns alla i ESTA-ansökan, vid tvivel kan förmodligen gränskontrollen kontakta dessa....

Har aldrig någonsin under alla år hört något liknande, eller att någon nekats inträde för att de inte kan språket :-)

De ser ju att det är samma person varje gång du lämnar dem, de kan jämföra med datan som även finns lagrad i ditt pass.

Ja, det verkar lite konstigt ärligt talat. Jag tror nog min mamma hellre skulle stå där och inte fatta ett ord, än att slänga upp en bunt med intyg av olika slag.