The entry interview with the CBP immigration officer takes place at the first airport in the USA where you land. It is mandatory for all foreigners, regardless of whether they have entered the country through the Visa Waiver Program using ESTA, or are holders of an American visa. The length of the immigration interview usually does not exceed 5 minutes, and its goal is to prevent entry into the country by individuals who may, for example, pose a security risk or wish to work illegally in the country. In this article, you will learn how the interview is conducted and what questions the CBP officer typically asks.
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Table of Contents
How the Immigration Interview Takes Place in the USA
✈️ Interview at the Airport Before Departing to the USA
You may have your first unofficial interview at the airport from which you will board your flight to the USA. This is conducted by security agency employees hired by certain airlines. The reason for this is that if you are denied entry into the USA, you will be sent back to your departure destination at the airline’s expense.
This preliminary interview is not part of the official immigration interview for entry to the USA.
📋 Where Will the Interview Take Place?
The official immigration (or entry) interview takes place at the first airport in the United States where you land. The interview is conducted by an officer from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
For example, if you’re flying from London to New York and then to Dallas, you will go through several steps after arriving in the USA. In New York, you will first go through the immigration interview. Based on the interview, the immigration officer will decide whether you will be allowed into the country or if you will be sent back home on the next available flight.
After a successful interview, you will collect your checked luggage and proceed through customs control. Afterward, you can board your flight to Dallas.
❓ Why Do I Need to Have an Interview?
The goal of the immigration interview is to prevent entry into the country by individuals who are undesirable in the USA. Most often, this includes individuals who want to work illegally, commit criminal acts, or have overstayed their permitted length of stay in the past.
The main rule during the immigration interview is: “Always tell the truth.”
👮 How to Approach the Officer
You may spend several minutes waiting in line for the immigration interview after your arrival. Current waiting times at various airports and terminals can be found on the Customs and Border Protection website. To speed up your process, I recommend requesting a seat in the front part of the plane.
At some airports, you can choose the officer conducting your interview, while at others, one will be assigned to you. Approach the officer with a smile and be friendly. Nervousness is unnecessary and may raise suspicion that you have malicious intentions in the country.
If you have previously traveled to the USA on ESTA, you may be able to use the self-check-in kiosk at certain airports.
From the experiences of myself, friends, and readers in discussions, the interview usually takes place in a relaxed atmosphere. Once, for example, an officer with a serious face asked me if I planned to hunt Pokémon during my stay in the USA.
📚 What Documents to Present as Supporting Materials
You always present your passport to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.
You may also voluntarily present supporting documents that convince the officer that you do not have any malicious intentions in the country. This might include a return ticket, hotel reservation, travel itinerary, purchased tickets, or even a rental car reservation. You may also present an invitation letter to the USA, although in most cases, it will not be necessary.
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What Does the Immigration Officer Ask in the USA?
The role of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is to detect and prevent entry by individuals who want to work illegally, immigrate, or commit criminal activities in the country. This is not an interrogation; the officer just needs to determine the purpose of your visit. The questions are generally the same for most travelers. Respond to them in English and truthfully.
1️⃣ What is the purpose of your trip?
Are you a tourist visiting the United States to explore the country, are you attending a business meeting, or are you just transiting through the airport? How long do you plan to stay in the USA?
2️⃣ Where will you stay in the USA?
Answer where you plan to stay during your visit. If you only have a hotel reservation for the first night and will arrange accommodation depending on where you end up during your road trip, be sure to mention that.
3️⃣ Do you know anyone in the USA? Do you have any relatives here?
Answer whether you have relatives, friends, or acquaintances in the USA. If you do, be prepared to answer further questions about them.
4️⃣ What is your occupation?
If you are employed, explain where you work and what you do. If you are self-employed, explain your field of business. Similarly, answer if you are a student, a retiree, or unemployed. If you are unemployed, be prepared for the officer to ask additional questions.
5️⃣ When will you return home? Do you have a return flight ticket?
Answer when you plan to return home and whether you have a return ticket. If you have only purchased a one-way ticket to the USA, the officer will likely inquire about the reasons.
6️⃣ How much money are you bringing with you? Do you have a credit card?
Answer how much cash you are carrying and whether you have a credit card. The purpose of this question is to identify travelers who do not have sufficient financial resources for their stay or intend to work illegally in the country.
7️⃣ Is this your first time in the USA?
If you have been to the USA before, tell the officer when and where you visited.
8️⃣ What are your plans in the USA?
Briefly tell the officer what you plan to do during your stay. For example, you can mention a road trip to San Francisco or a visit to the national parks.
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What Happens After the Entry Interview in the USA
Once you answer all the questions the officer considers important, they will take your photo and scan your fingerprints.
If everything is in order, they will stamp your passport with the entry stamp, and you can proceed to collect your luggage. Suspicious individuals will either undergo a more thorough interview (known as “Secondary Inspection”) or will be sent straight back home.
You can also watch a video of the entry process, or read reader experiences with the immigration interview.
When traveling to the USA through the Visa Waiver Program, don’t forget to complete your ESTA travel registration on time.
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Frequent Questions About the Immigration Interview in the USA
I’m Traveling to the USA With My Family (Friends), Can We Go to the Immigration Interview Together?
Ask the officer if they can take you all together as a group for the interview. In most cases, this is not a problem.At Which Airport Does the Immigration Interview to the USA Take Place?
You will always undergo the entry interview at the first airport within the United States. If you’re flying from London to New York to Dallas, the interview will take place in New York.Do I Have to Undergo the Entry Interview in the USA if I’m Just Transiting Through the Airport?
Yes. The immigration interview is mandatory for all travelers, whether you plan to stay in the USA or are just transiting through the airport.I Don’t Speak English, How Can I Go Through the Immigration Interview to the USA?
First of all, don’t worry—there are still plenty of people in the same situation. There are a few options: you can use a translation app on your phone, or prepare answers to the most common questions in advance. If you’re not confident in English or are concerned, simply tell the officer, or ask them to speak slowly.The officer handles such a volume of people daily that it will not seem unusual to them.
What Is the Minimum Layover Time Required in the USA, and When Do I Still Need to Go to the Immigration Interview?
The minimum required time depends on several factors, such as the size of the airport, the need to transfer between terminals, or the length of the line for the immigration interview. The following times are approximate. The minimum on a smaller airport is about 45 minutes, while at a larger airport, you may need at least an hour and a half. If you’re traveling with checked baggage, add an extra 30 minutes to these times.On one flight from Chile, I had to transfer in Houston to catch a flight to New York. I was only traveling with carry-on luggage, but my friends had a suitcase and the original flight had a small delay, so we missed our connection in Houston. I hadn’t even gone through security yet, and they were already announcing my name on the intercom to come pick up my replacement flight ticket.
If I’m Denied Entry to the USA, Who Pays for My Return Flight?
The airline you flew to the USA with is responsible for the return ticket. Some companies pay for a security agency at certain airports to conduct the primary interview. I encountered this practice, for example, in Amsterdam.If you’re not allowed into the USA, you are not entitled to a refund for your unused ticket, accommodation, or any other costs.
Do I Need to Show the Approved ESTA Registration During the Immigration Interview?
No. The immigration officer can see your travel registration in the system; however, some airlines require the approved ESTA. I recommend taking a screenshot of the registration number, emailing it to yourself, and saving it on your phone.I Don’t Have a Return Ticket From the USA Back Home. Will This Be a Problem During the Immigration Interview?
If you only have a one-way ticket to the USA, it does not automatically mean denial of entry. However, be prepared for additional questions about when and how you plan to return home.
Discussion (6)
Hi, Peter,
first of all, thank you very much for all your answers! I’ll be studying in Washington for six months and I’m planning a layover in NY (JFK, 8 hour wait). Do you know where immigration control takes place? Already in NY or when in Washington and possibly how long it takes. I will have a student visa.
I have a second layover option with a 3 hour wait, I would choose that if I can’t leave the airport, but I’m thinking at least a peek at NY would be great.
I’ve never been to the USA so I don’t know how it works. Thanks!
Hey, John,
The interview takes place as you leave the airport to enter U.S. soil. If you want to go to New York for eight hours (not much, but at least something), be prepared that the checkpoint itself will take about 5-10 minutes. The other issue is the line for it, which is impossible to estimate.
Once you enter the US for the first time, you’ll get a permit and then you’re free to move around (i.e. even into Washington).
Hey, Peter and everybody,
my cousin and I would like to go to the USA for at least half a year, maximum a year, to learn the language, to work there (to do almost any job), to travel and most importantly to experience a good time and something new, to gain experience… Unfortunately, we are no longer students, so we can’t do it through Work & Travel. Do you have any experience with a work visa? We don’t want to go cheap and we know we won’t just get it… (I know, you’re telling yourself that we can experience adventure everywhere else that doesn’t require a visa, but if you’ve been there, I think you get the idea:) Or don’t know how else to get there legally?
Thank you in advance for your reply and have a nice day :)
Nicole
Hey, Nicole,
there are quite a few programs for non-students offered by various student organizations. Try looking into it and maybe you’ll find one – the advantage is that they do most of the formalities for you.
I wish it works out for you! :)
Hi, I’m flying to Los Angeles from Vienna on September 1 and will be connecting at Heathrow from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5. Does anyone have any experience on how far it is and how to get there, I only have 2,5 hours to transfer.
Thank you in advance for any advice…….Thank you
@Szôlösi Gazsi: In an hour, you’ll be up, but if it doesn’t work, you’ll be on the next flight. They’re usually within an hour or two, so don’t worry.
The rebooking fee is a lot more. It depends on the airline and the type of ticket, but you’d have to have an open ticket, those are a lot more expensive than normal tickets.
Take a laptop, everyone has one and not everyone gets into it. They don’t want to clear personal luggage on the way back usually unless they suspect. It would have to be in a box and unpacked.
If you have an ESTA, it probably won’t be too much of a problem for those friends, be sure to write down the main things on paper so you don’t forget anything in the stress at the counter when they ask you questions.