What does US immigration ask when you arrive?

At a US airport, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers check your passport and visa, take fingerprints and a photo, and ask short questions such as why you are visiting, where you will stay, for how long and whether you hold a return ticket. Answer truthfully and briefly, and keep your documents easy to open on your phone.

What happens at CBP primary inspection?

1. 1Join the visitors lineFollow signs and airport staff at JFK, LAX, SFO, HNL or your arrival airport, with your passport in hand.
2. 2Meet the CBP officerHand over your passport and visa; the officer takes fingerprints and a photo.
3. 3Answer a few questionsAnswer truthfully without long explanations.
4. 4Collect bags and clear customsHand in your customs declaration or show the app receipt before leaving the arrivals hall.

The permitted stay is decided by the officer at the port of entry, however many years the visa is valid. Your plan should match your return ticket, and visitor visas do not allow working in the USA. For the application itself, see the separate visa guide.

What are the typical questions?

Most travellers need few papers at the booth, but keep these in your cabin bag or on your phone so you never dig through checked luggage at the booth:

• Passport with the visa
• Hotel booking or your host's address
• Return or onward ticket
• A contact number for your host or hotel

What is the I-94 and how do you check it?

The I-94 is your arrival record, and for air arrivals it is electronic. According to CBP, travellers can view and print it on the CBP I-94 website or in the CBP One app. Check the admit-until date after every entry and keep a screenshot, because the date can differ from your visa expiry.

After immigration you collect your bags and pass a CBP customs point that is separate from the passport check. Keep your form or app receipt in hand until you leave the arrivals hall. Declaring an item you are unsure about is far safer than giving false information.

How do you declare at customs, and what can't you bring?

Some flights hand out the paper CBP Form 6059B, and CBP offers the free Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app for eligible travellers to submit passport and customs details early. Check whether MPC is available for your entry and airport. Declare all food, plants and animal products, and large amounts of cash.

• Fresh meat, many fruits, soil and plants are often banned or restricted; check CBP's Know Before You Visit page.
• Thai packaged food containing meat should be declared or left at home.
• Undeclared agricultural items can lead to fines; check the official site for details.

What is secondary inspection?

Secondary inspection is a further check in a separate area where officers ask more detailed questions or examine your bags. It can happen for many reasons, including random selection, and does not mean you did something wrong. Stay calm, answer truthfully and wait for the process to finish. Do not argue or change your story.

During a further check, officers may ask to examine your belongings or devices, which falls within CBP's legal authority. Follow instructions politely, ask if you do not understand, and keep your answers consistent, because consistency matters most.

If you connect onward within the USA, for example to New York or Hawaii, immigration is usually done at the first US airport you land in, and you then recheck bags as your airline instructs. Allow generous connection time and watch your next gate and departure time in the airline app while you queue.

How does the internet help at immigration?

Keep your hotel booking, return ticket and your host's address on your phone in an offline form and print a spare copy, since airport Wi-Fi can be slow or unreliable. Have your eSIM working as soon as you land so you can contact a host, a driver or family. The guide “Preparing for Your First USA Trip and Choosing Internet: eSIM or Another SIM” covers the options.

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