Experience Travel Overseas

C

carlos777

Registered Users (C)
Hi,
I recently came back from my first travel ovearseas and I entered through Miami.
I was sent to a "soft screen", the IO on the visitor line call it, when he realized I was an asylee with RTD.
After waiting for 40 minutes, I was called by an IO, who asking the following question:
IO: What is your country of origin?
Me: XXX
IO: Where were you?
Me: I was in YYY (a neighbor country of COP)
IO: Why you were there?
Me: I work for a Exporting Company, and I have to visit some customers.
IO: but, the Visa you got said it's for tourism.
Me: Well, this is the law in that country, less than 2 weeks you do not need a business visa.
This is the most interesting part....
IO: Show me your NP
Me: Excuse me..
IO: Could you show me your NP?
Me: Sorry, but I can not get one...
IO: you can..
Me: Sorry, but literally I can not get one, and also my Immigration Lawyer adviced me that it is better do not try to get one.
IO: well, that is different stuff... this is what your lawyer says, but you can...
so, do you have any document to prove that your are from XXX.
Me: Well, I have this National ID...
IO:...(Check it and say OK)
IO: What is your father and mother first name?
Me: I answered the question...
IO: OK....and he proceed to stampped my RTD and he add an I-94 with the same stamp..
Me: (I asked him) Two questions: 1) Do I really need my NP? ...He said yes, it would be better even it is expired...2) I need to travel again shortly, Do I need to give to the counter this I-94 before I departure? he said yes.
In my opinion, all the stuff around my NP were tricky questions....anyway please, I need your opinion on those questions.
Thanks a lot...
 
I think the IO asked you for your NP to maybe see if you crossed the border and entered your COP with it. Most of the times your COP will not let you in with a RTD.

The first time I entered the country with a RTD I was asked the same questions about my NP. I told them that it was expired and I am unable to get one. The officer said ok.
 
when reading your post i just remembered I was also always asked my father's and mother's names (who have never even been to US). I always kept forgeting to ask someone about it as it's not really a big deal, but I was always curious why it was important to them to ask. Do they check our identity to insure it's really us or there is anything else behind that?
 
I think that asylees can renew our NP. I went to my local INS to ask them about that. Twice I was told by two different IO that I can renew my NP because I am no longer an asylee but rather a GC holder. They said" if my country assumes that I remain eligible to have my NP then I should get it."
 
freedoms12 said:
I think that asylees can renew our NP. I went to my local INS to ask them about that. Twice I was told by two different IO that I can renew my NP because I am no longer an asylee but rather a GC holder. They said" if my country assumes that I remain eligible to have my NP then I should get it."
Click to expand...


That is correct...I was told the same thing by the local IO.
 
freedoms12 said:
I think that asylees can renew our NP. I went to my local INS to ask them about that. Twice I was told by two different IO that I can renew my NP because I am no longer an asylee but rather a GC holder. They said" if my country assumes that I remain eligible to have my NP then I should get it."
Click to expand...


that's may be a catch to find out who from asylees is not scared to renew the passport. All immigration officers probably was instructed to provide that answer. It's even more suspicious that few different officers provide exactly the same answer.
 
ayyubov,

I always respect your posts but have to comment on this. The governing system of this country (I would say more then most other countries) widely relies on fear(s). It is easier to control masses when you invoke paranoia in population minds. See... all these so-called terror threats are to justify certain policies.

I guess that everything/everyone can be suspicious but on the other hand, nothing could be. It is the matter of the 'point of view'.
 
samird said:
ayyubov,

I always respect your posts but have to comment on this. The governing system of this country (I would say more then most other countries) widely relies on fear(s). It is easier to control masses when you invoke paranoia in population minds. See... all these so-called terror threats are to justify certain policies.

I guess that everything/everyone can be suspicious but on the other hand, nothing could be. It is the matter of the 'point of view'.
Click to expand...


Samird i was just trying to point out that we can't really trust IO's because we are not really sure if they care or not about the whole asylee traveling to COP issue. We all talk about possibilities here. My point of view is that every asylee and asylee GC holder have to be carefull when making that choice. As far as invoking the paranoia it was not the intention. This is a discussion forum and we all share our points of view. From my experience with IO's at the points of entry I can say that they always asked me the same questions: if I ever renewed the passport or traveled back to COP (last time happened at JFK this may and I had a GC on hand) and that is not matching with the responses of IO's at the USCIS support centers advising people that it's ok to renew the national passports.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top