(DALLAS, TEXAS) For many travelers, the hardest part of a trip on a B-1/B-2 visa isn’t the flight or the jet lag. It’s the first face-to-face talk with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the Port of Entry. Parents visiting adult children, older travelers, and first-time visitors often worry that one wrong sentence will end their tourism visit before it starts.
The good news is that most entries go smoothly when your story is simple, true, and matches what a visitor visa allows: a temporary stay for tourism or a short family visit, with a real plan to leave.
Before you fly: build a simple, consistent “trip story”
CBP officers are trained to check three things fast: why you’re coming, how long you’ll stay, and whether you plan to return home. Your answers should stay consistent with your plans and with what you already put in your visa application.
A “trip story” doesn’t mean a speech. It’s a short set of facts you can repeat without changing details:
- Purpose: tourism and/or visiting family
- Length: a clear time window (days, weeks, or months)
- Where you’ll stay: one main address you can say and show
- Return plan: a return ticket or a clear departure plan
Safe examples that stay within B-1/B-2 visitor rules:
– “I am visiting for tourism and to spend time with my family.”
– “Around three months. I have a return ticket.”
– “At my son’s home in Dallas, Texas.”
Packing the right papers (and leaving the wrong ones at home)
CBP may not ask for documents, but you should be ready to show them quickly if asked. Keep a small folder in your carry-on so you can reach it while standing in line.
Bring documents that support a normal visit:
– Return ticket or onward ticket
– Printed address where you’ll stay and a phone number for your host
– An invitation letter if you have one (helpful, not required)
– Medical insurance (recommended, especially for parents and seniors)
– Optional: a copy of your child’s valid U.S. immigration document (visa, work authorization, or green card), if that’s part of your visit story
Leave behind items that can look like you’re coming to work:
– Resumes
– Job search letters
– Work samples or business plans meant for U.S. employment
– Anything that suggests you’re moving, not visiting
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, many entry problems start when a visitor arrives with “visitor” answers but “worker” documents.
Arrival steps at the Port of Entry: what usually happens and how long it takes
After you land, follow signs for passport control. The wait time can be short or long depending on the airport, staffing, and the number of arriving flights.
Most travelers go through this sequence:
- Primary inspection (often a few minutes): the officer checks your passport, visa, and asks basic questions.
- Possible document check: the officer may ask for an address, a return ticket, or your host’s contact details.
- Admission decision: if admitted, you enter the United States 🇺🇸 as a visitor under B-1/B-2 terms.
Sometimes there’s an added step:
- Secondary inspection (timing varies): extra questions or extra checks. This does not automatically mean denial. It often means the officer wants to verify details.
The questions CBP officers ask — and how to answer without creating confusion
CBP officers usually don’t want long stories. They want clear, short answers. The best approach is calm, polite, and honest, with no extra details unless asked.
Common questions and safe ways to answer:
– “Why are you visiting the U.S.?”
“Tourism and visiting family.”
– “How long will you stay?”
“Around three months. I have a return ticket.”
– “Where will you stay?”
“At my son’s home in Dallas, Texas.”
– “Who are you visiting?”
“My son/daughter who works in the U.S.”
A good rule: answer the exact question, then stop. If the officer needs more, they will ask.
Limited English is not a reason to deny entry — here’s how to handle it
Many visitors, especially parents and elderly travelers, don’t speak much English. The source guidance is clear: lack of English is not a ground for denial of entry. CBP officers deal with non-English speakers every day.
If your English is limited:
– Speak slowly and use basic words. Broken English is fine.
– Carry printed details (address, phone number, return ticket).
– If you don’t understand, do not guess.
A simple line that works:
– “My English is limited. I will try.”
Officers may rephrase the question, use simpler words, or arrange an interpreter if needed. What you should not do is nod “yes” to something you didn’t understand, because that can create a mismatch between your answer and your real plan.
Parents visiting children in the U.S.: what is normal to say, and what to avoid
It is common and acceptable for parents to visit children who live in the United States 🇺🇸, including children who are working on H-1B, L-1, OPT, or who have green cards. The key is to keep the visit framed as temporary tourism or a short family stay, with no work.
Good answers:
– “I am visiting my son/daughter who works in the U.S.”
– “I will stay at their home.”
– “No. I am only visiting. I will not work.”
Statements that can raise concerns about immigrant intent include:
– “I will help with their business.”
– “I will take care of grandchildren full-time.”
– “I may extend if they sponsor me.”
Those answers can sound like you are planning a longer-term role in the household or planning a path to stay, even if you didn’t mean it that way.
When your children live in two states: keep it factual and simple
Many families are spread across the country. CBP officers see this often. You do not need a complicated schedule.
A clear, truthful answer sounds like this:
– “Yes, my son and daughter both live in the U.S.”
– “I will stay with my son in California and may visit my daughter briefly.”
This approach avoids confusion because it gives one main base, with a short side visit. The focus remains on a temporary trip and a return plan.
How long can you stay: the I-94 record controls the date
Visitors often think the visa stamp decides the stay length. At the Port of Entry, the CBP officer decides how long you are allowed to stay, and the authorized stay is recorded on your I-94.
Parents commonly ask if they can stay for 6 months; the source material says yes, but it is still the officer’s call and it will be shown on the I-94.
After admission, you can check and save your I-94 record through the official CBP site: I-94 Official Website (CBP).
Extensions: possible, but not automatic
The source material says parents can apply for an extension, but extensions must be justified, filed properly, and approval is not automatic. If you think you may need extra time, plan early and file before your I-94 expires.
The extension application is Form I-539, and it should be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (USCIS).
Even with a properly filed extension, expect questions in the future if your travel pattern starts to look like you are living in the United States 🇺🇸 on back-to-back visitor entries.
Secondary inspection and tough tones: how to stay steady
Some travelers get rattled because a CBP officer sounds blunt or impatient. The guidance in the source is direct: do not argue, do not panic, and do not try to “talk your way” into entry with extra details.
If you are sent to secondary inspection, answer the same way: short, truthful, and consistent.
The source also warns that lying or giving inconsistent answers can lead to denial of entry, secondary inspection, or even a 5-year re-entry bar. That’s why it’s safer to say “I don’t know” than to guess, and safer to ask for clarification than to pretend you understood.
Key takeaway: stay calm, be honest, and keep your answers brief and consistent. That is the clearest path to a normal B-1/B-2 visit.
A visitor’s checklist you can review while waiting in line
Right before you meet the officer, do a quick mental reset. Your goal is to show you fit a normal B-1/B-2 visitor pattern.
Golden rules:
– Always be truthful
– Keep answers short
– Show clear intent to return
– Do not argue with officers
– Do not carry resumes or job-related documents
– Never say you plan to work or stay permanently
Visitors on B-1/B-2 visas should present a concise, truthful trip story covering purpose, length, lodging, and return plan. Carry supporting documents—return ticket, host address, invitation letter—and avoid job-related papers. CBP officers check identity, intent, and authorized stay, which is recorded on the I-94. Extensions require Form I-539 filed before I-94 expiration. Keep answers short, consistent, and calm to minimize secondary inspection or denial risks.
