Frequently Asked Questions - CBP

Customs and Border Protection. This agency was spun off from old INS. CBP is responsible for inspecting people when they land at airports, docks and land borders.

  1. H-1 Concurrent Employment
  2. I-94 Corrections
  3. K-1 Visa Automatic Visa Revalidation
  4. Job titles approved for TN classification
  5. Applicant seeking admission as a NAFTA professional
  6. Procedure to seek supervisory review for a citizen of Mexico
  7. Mexican citizen with valid TN visa confirming employment period
  8. Mexican citizen with a valid TN visa
  9. Supervisory CBP Officer initiated to have the cancellation reviewed
  10. CBP requirements for a B-2 visitor
  11. CBP and 180-day admission period for B-2 visitor
  12. B-1 Visa removed and cancelled by CBP
  13. Unlawful Presence
  14. The Impact of the NTA Memo
  15. Traveling on a TN or L-1 Visa From Canada?
H-1 Concurrent Employment
If I am applying for concurrent employment on H-1, can I extend my status based on my new employment, or can it only be for the time I am already approved for?

You can extend your time, assuming that you would be otherwise eligible for an extension of status.

I-94 Corrections
Whom should we contact in the case of an erroneously issued I-94 cards, i.e., incorrect expiration date such as when the expiration date matches the visa expiration and not the I-797 approval notice? How do we reach this person? Which Ports-of-Entry (POE) may correct such a card?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, if an I-94 has an error, any POE can correct. If I-94 expiration date is based on the limitation of the travel document (i.e. passport expiration date), then this is not an error that will be corrected.

K-1 Visa Automatic Visa Revalidation
K-1 visa holders are limited to a single entry. May a K-1 visa holder nevertheless take advantage of automatic visa revalidation?

Yes. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that there is no law or regulation that precludes K-1 visa holders from benefiting from the automatic revalidation provision, provided all entry requirements and criteria are met, and their K-1 status has not changed since their initial K-1 admission.

Job titles approved for TN classification
Would an engineer with the job title of sales engineer or engineering manager be approved for TN classification if the job duties will require the application of engineering principles in support and promotion of technical products?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, due to the fact that Sales Engineer or engineering manager is not among the professions listed in Appendix 1603.D.1, such an individual would not be approved for the TN classification.

Applicant seeking admission as a NAFTA professional
Isn't it true that, in determining whether the offered job comes within a NAFTA covered occupation, CBP Officers must evaluate the job duties as described in the employer’s statement supporting the application for admission and that the job title alone does control the determination?
Procedure to seek supervisory review for a citizen of Mexico
For a CBP port of entry, what is the procedure available to seek supervisory review of an officer’s refusal to admit a citizen of Mexico to the U.S. for the period of offered employment up to three years?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, in instances in which an officer refuses to admit a TN applicant for the period of employment up to three years, the applicant can ask to speak to the Supervisory CBP Officer who is assigned to the area in which the inspection took place. If this does not occur, an inquiry with the Special Cases Office could be initiated in order to have the admission reviewed.

Mexican citizen with valid TN visa confirming employment period
Assuming that the Mexican citizen holds a passport that is valid for at least three years and that the alien is otherwise admissible, isn't it true that an employer’s letter or statement confirming that the employer intends to employ the alien for a temporary period of up to three years is sufficient to support admission for the requested period of time.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that this is true. A Mexican citizen TN nonimmigrant applicant for admission whose passport is valid for the requested admission period, and who is in possession of an employment letter confirming the employment period of up to 3 years, should be admitted for a 3-year admission period.

Mexican citizen with a valid TN visa
Isn't it true that a Mexican citizen with a valid TN visa may be admitted to the United States in TN status for up to three years, provided that the individual’s passport will remain valid throughout this period and the individual is otherwise admissible?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that a Mexican citizen with a valid TN visa, if otherwise admissible, may be admitted as a TN for up to three years, if applicable, provided that the applicant’s passport remains valid during the duration of that period of time.

Supervisory CBP Officer initiated to have the cancellation reviewed
For a CBP port of entry, what is the procedure available to seek supervisory review of an officer’s refusal to admit a visitor due to the period of time he or she was previously present in the U.S.?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, in instances in which an officer refuses to admit a visitor due to the period of time he/she was previously present in the U.S., the applicant can ask to speak to the Supervisory CBP Officer who is assigned to the area in which the inspection took place.

CBP requirements for a B-2 visitor
While previous presence in the U.S. is a relevant factor in determining whether an alien maintains a residence abroad that he or she has no intention of abandoning, isn't it true that inspecting CBP officers should not focus solely on the amount of time an individual has previously spent in the United States to determine eligibility for admission as a visitor?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that all nonimmigrant applicants seeking admission as B-2 visitors are required to satisfy the inspecting CBP Officer that they are entitled to the admission and classification that they seek, including proving that they maintain a foreign residence abroad that they have no intention of abandoning.

CBP and 180-day admission period for B-2 visitor
1. If an alien is otherwise admissible as a B-2 visitor for pleasure, isn't it true that a CBP officer should not limit the admission of that alien to 180 days in a twelve-month period? 2. Assuming an individual is otherwise eligible for admission, isn't it true that eligibility for admission as a visitor is determined by the nature and expected duration of the intended activity in the U.S.? 3. What is the training that is given to CBP officers to reinforce that B-2 visitors may lawfully be admitted for an aggregate period in excess of 180 days in a twelve-month period?

1. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that, if an alien applicant is otherwise admissible as a B-2 visitor, and passport validity requirements are met, the applicant can be issued more than one 180-day admission period in a 12-month period.  

B-1 Visa removed and cancelled by CBP
If a Mexican B-1 truck driver has his/her B-1 Visa removed and cancelled by CBP for a Point-to-Point violation and wants to challenge that determination, whom should that person contact at CBP?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that a Mexican truck driver whose B-1 visa has been cancelled by CBP for a point-to-point violation will need to discuss the issue of the cancellation with the U.S. Consulate in Mexico.

Unlawful Presence
If a Canadian does not have a Form I-94, does he not accrue unlawful presence until there is a finding that he violated the terms of his nonimmigrant alien status? Is the burden is on CBP to establish such a violation occurred?

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) indicates that the mere fact that there is no I-94 does not determine whether or not an individual overstays. Moreover, an individual who is admitted as a B, but does not receive an I-94 either on the southern or northern border is in a legally materially different status than an individual who is admitted as duration of status.

The Impact of the NTA Memo
Under new deportation and denial policy 2018, I have following questions if I want to renew green card after 10 years. Can green card renewal I 90 be denied because of some common errors like forgot to submit copy of old green card, or any court document ( removal proceedings canceled without prejudice). Will I get deported if GC is denied due to minor administrative error?

Watch the Video on this FAQ: The impact of the NTA memo

Video Script

Traveling on a TN or L-1 Visa From Canada?
1. What are TN and L nonimmigrant classifications? 2. How can Canadian citizens obtain TN and L-1 classifications? 3. I am a first time TN and L-1 applicant – am I required to go to a designated port of entry? 4. Which ports of entry are designated for optimized processing?

1. The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level. The L-1 nonimmigrant classification - Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager – enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States.  This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the U.S.