Questions at Port Of Entry

[omsmgr]

Hi all,
My father is coming to US.I want him to stay for 6 months.At port of entry if they ask how many months is it OK to tell 6 months.I saw some post where people say 5 months. Does it make difference ?
Thanks
Oms

[txh1b]

Depends on lot of factors like, Is this the first entry? How long has it been since their last entry?

[omsmgr]

Thanks txh1b for your response.This is his second visit .Last time hie visited us on August 2006 and left on Jan 2007.Its about 11/2 years back.Is it OK to travel after this time period.He recently visited UK for 5 months

Thanks
Oms

[txh1b]

He will be fine. It is okay to say 6 months.

[ramabalaji]

It is perfectly OK to say 6 months. I had the same experience. On 12.12.2007, at POE the IO asked me the purpose of visit. I said to stay with my son/daughter-in-law and tourism. The next question he asked how many months. I said 6 months and I was granted 6 months stay upto 11.06.2008and now I am back in Delhi.
This was my 2nd visit after my first visit in May 2005.

[omsmgr]

Thanks ramabalaji and txh1b.He is travelling tomorrow.I will update what happens.I'm planning to ask him say 6 months
Thanks
Oms

[literate]

It is perfectly OK to say 6 months. I had the same experience. On 12.12.2007, at POE the IO asked me the purpose of visit. I said to stay with my son/daughter-in-law and tourism. The next question he asked how many months. I said 6 months and I was granted 6 months stay upto 11.06.2008and now I am back in Delhi.
This was my 2nd visit after my first visit in May 2005.

What is the best time duration of stay that can be asked at POE for first time B2 entrants? Does it have to match the DS156 duration exactly?

Literate

[DMX17]

What is the best time duration of stay that can be asked at POE for first time B2 entrants? Does it have to match the DS156 duration exactly?

Literate

Usually, the first time visitors get 6 months.

[ramabalaji]

For a first time visitor simple questions like what is the purpose of your visit, with whom you will stay etc. So one should know the purpose and address with whom will stay. Then stay for 6 months will be granted. It had happened to me for the first time visit.

[sangeethad]

Hello,

What about second time visitors within a span of three months and six months? What should they state the length of their visit when asked at the POE?

Please advice! Thanks for your help!

[omsmgr]

I came here to report back that he got 6 months.Thanks for all the people who took time to respond.

Thanks
oms

[ramabalaji]

Hi Omsmgr,
Any question asked at POE? Please post.

[sangeethad]

Hello,

Please help answer the following questions:

What about second time visitors within a span of three months and six months?
What should they state the length of their visit when asked at the POE?

Thanks for your help!

[literate]

For a first time visitor simple questions like what is the purpose of your visit, with whom you will stay etc. So one should know the purpose and address with whom will stay. Then stay for 6 months will be granted. It had happened to me for the first time visit.

Did you get 6 months without the IO asking you how much time you want to stay? I thought they generally ask about the period of stay for visitor visas (B2).

Do immigration officers have access to the DS156 forms that we submit during visa appointment? This gives them a chance to compare what the visitor originally requested and what is being asked when entering the country.

Any ideas?

Literate

[ramabalaji]

As I had written earlier during my first time visit in 2nd May 2005 at POE I was asked about the purpose of visit and with whom I will be staying. The IO himself gave me 6 months stay in I94 but I left USA after 1 month stay.
In my 2nd visit on 12.12.2007 at POE, I was asked about the purpose of visit and how long I would like to stay. I said 6 months and I was granted 6 months in I94.