Immigration Attorney Boston MA
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Meet our Team
  • Legal Services
    • Non-Immigrant Visas >
      • Filing H-1B Petitions 2021
      • H-1B
      • L-1
      • O-1
      • E-1-2
      • R-1
      • TN
      • J-1&H-3
      • H-2B
      • B-1
      • B-2
      • Student-Visas
      • Family-Visas
    • Immigration Visas >
      • Employment Green Card
      • Family Green Card
      • Green Card Renewals
      • Marriage Based Green Card
    • Citizenship & Naturalization
    • I-9 Compliance / Employer Sanctions
    • Removal Deportation
    • Inspections, Admissions and Exams
    • Motions to Re-Open and Reconsider
    • Appeals to BIA
    • Other Legal Information >
      • Federal Court Immigration Litigation
      • Passport Renewals
      • Special Programs
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Immigration News and Updates

INSPECTIONS, ADMISSIONS AND EXAMS


The Law Office of Brian T. O’Neill can assist you if you have complications with the Inspection and Admission process to the USA

What is the Inspection process?

All persons arriving at a port of entry to the USA are subject to inspection by a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. CBP officers will conduct the immigration, customs and agriculture components of the inspection process.

What does the Law Say?

The legal foundation that requires the inspection of all persons arriving in the USA comes from the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA), section 235. The rules are incorporated into the Code of federal Regulations (CFR) at 8 CFR section 235

What can happen at the port of Entry?

AIRPORT

When arriving at the airport, the airline will give all travelers some documents to complete while still en route to the USA. All travelers are required to complete a Customs Declaration form 6059B. Those travelers who are no-US citizens and are requesting admission to the USA with a visa will be given Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record to complete. Upon arrival the airline personnel will show you the inspection area and you will enter an inspection line to speak with a CBP officer. If you are a US citizen, special lines are available and the officer will request a passport and Customs Declaration form, verify citizenship and welcome you to the USA.. If NOT a US Citizen, lanes are marked for non-citizens, the officer must determine the purpose of travel to the USA, the documents you require, and the duration of your intended stay in the USA. The determination will be make within a minute or two or you will be asked to proceed to secondary screening point for further questioning. If allowed to proceed, the officer
will stamp the passport and customs declaration form and issue a completed Form I-94 to you to show what immigration classification you were given and how long you are allowed to stay.

The officers may decide that you should not be permitted to enter the USA. There are many reasons why this could occur and you will either be placed in detention or temporarily held until a return flight arrangement can be made. If you have a visa, it could be cancelled. In certain cases, the Officer may not be able to decide if you should be allowed into the USA and thus the inspection process would be ‘deferred’ (postponed) and you will be instructed to go to another office for further processing.

LAND

At a land border port of entry you will undergo the same general process. One officer will conduct the primary inspection of the vehicle lane. That officer may send you for further review or issuance of needed papers to a secondary inspection area. Once a determination is made to allow entry to the USA, you may be sent for further Customs Inspection or immediately allowed to proceed with your trip.

SEA

The inspection process at a sea port is similar to the airport process. Otherwise passengers will be instructed of where to report for inspection on board the vessel.

What Documents Must You Present?

A foreign national entering the USA is required to present a passport and valid visa issued by a US Consulate Official unless the person is a citizen of a country which is eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, a lawful permanent resident of the USA, a citizen of Canada.

Exceptions
  • Members of the US armed forced on official travel, traveling with a valid US military identification card and travel orders
  • US Citizen merchant mariners traveling in conjunction with maritime business Canadian citizens presenting a NEXUS card
  • US Lawful permanent Residents who are required to present a Permanent Resident Alien Card or other evidence of permanent resident status

The Law offices of Brian T O’Neill Experienced staff can assist you through the Secondary, Deferred inspection and Admission process to the USA. Contact us at 617-722-4000 or online.


    How Can We Help?

Submit
COLUMN WITH BACKGROUND COLOR

Locations

 What Our Clients Say

"I am counsel for a rapid growth software company that was recently acquired by Google. During periods of high employee growth, my company hired multiple foreign nationals and I needed a firm that was able to process visa & green card applications with very short notice. I retained Brian O'Neill, Jr. in 2001 based on a recommendation from a colleague. I was immediately impressed with how the firm handled my matters and since 2001 I have exclusively used them for immigration matters. Brian has processed countless visa and green card applications with a 100% success rate. I have since referred friends and colleagues to Brian O'Neill, Jr. and Brian O'Neill, Sr. and I have no hesitation in providing a testimonial as they are experts in immigration related matters."
Craig Stelmach, Business Manager at ITA Software, Inc. Cambridge MA

Contact Us

Boston Office
​50 Congress Street, Suite 236
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: 617-722-4000
Fax: 617-523-7837
Email: 
​
btoneill@btolaw.com

North Easton Office
201 Main Street
2nd Floor
North Easton, MA 02356
Phone: 508-297-0876
Fax: 617-523-7837
​Email: 
​boneill@btolawpc.com

Hours
Monday-Friday 
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 


THE BOSTON IMMIGRATION LAW OFFICES OF BRIAN T. O'NEILL, PC (C) 2019
  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Meet our Team
  • Legal Services
    • Non-Immigrant Visas >
      • Filing H-1B Petitions 2021
      • H-1B
      • L-1
      • O-1
      • E-1-2
      • R-1
      • TN
      • J-1&H-3
      • H-2B
      • B-1
      • B-2
      • Student-Visas
      • Family-Visas
    • Immigration Visas >
      • Employment Green Card
      • Family Green Card
      • Green Card Renewals
      • Marriage Based Green Card
    • Citizenship & Naturalization
    • I-9 Compliance / Employer Sanctions
    • Removal Deportation
    • Inspections, Admissions and Exams
    • Motions to Re-Open and Reconsider
    • Appeals to BIA
    • Other Legal Information >
      • Federal Court Immigration Litigation
      • Passport Renewals
      • Special Programs
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Immigration News and Updates