Recently my mother(B1/B2) and I(H1B) traveled from India. This is my mother's first time to USA. I lost my Dad last year so I thought I'll bring her for change of mind for sometime. But, at the end of questionnaire I was left with so much anger and disappointment on the behavior of the officer. Officer: how long is your mom staying in US? Me: until July Officer: why is she maxing out 6 months stay? Me: it's 4.5 months not really 6 months. Officer: yes, why? Are you having a baby? Me: no. Actually, my dad passed away last year so I thought it will be a good change for her to stay with me sometime. Officer: don't you have siblings to take care of her? Me: yes. But, this would be a good change I think. Officer: does she have her own house? Me: yes, she does. Officer: is she planning on visiting again to US? Me: I don't think so. ( There are several personal reasons that popped in my end emotionally and said this) Officer: I hope not. Now, when I say I don't think so. I have several reasons on my end. But, deep inside I want her to visit me and roam around few times within limits of B1/B2. What officer didn't have business or humanity to say is "I hope not". I felt like I'm a modern slave. No one is forcing me to work here. I work for US company, pay taxes for social security even though I might not get benefits of it I contribute to US economy by spendings and bringing in tourism. Benefit I'm getting is better pay and better opportunity. Now knowing all above and knowing that my stay in US is expendable and substitutable, officer provoked with that last statement and I didn't have an answer and even though I had so much anger I couldn't ask for clarification to officer on what exactly she mentioned even though my mother has tourism VISA. All I wanted to here was "welcome, enjoy your stay" knowing all the conversations above. I feel that would have been the answer if I were European nationality entering. Should I report officer for excessive use of authority and abusive? Or should I just consider this is how I will be treated until I'm highly of importance?
CBP officers wield a lot of power without any accountability since your admission into USA is literally on their mood. May be she was having her bad day or just plain racist. Nothing you can do about it. After your complaint is received may be her supervisor will joke about it in breakroom On your next trip to India buy a Aghori voodoo doll if your near a kalshakti pith. These days you can also order online within India only with UPI and adhar kyc. People who’ve been mean to me in the past have a lot of other problem to deal with after that
No way I just read that
That reminds me the workday app has been very mean to me. It does t autosave feedback for peers, self assessment, goals. its super eager on logging me out for "my security" and as combination of these two I end up losing a lot of text that I painstakingly typed. Please resolve my pain by next yearly review cycle. I'm going to visit india after that , I will have some space in my luggage for a doll
Hi OP, don’t take it personal, immigrant officers talk to all sorts of people continuously and they might not completely understand your emotionally and feel empathy.
Move on. Once for unknown reason I was taken for secondary inspection and allowed me to enter USA just after my connecting flight departure. Forget about it and have great time with your mom.
It doesn’t hurt to report, but this is definitely standard maga border thug behavior.
"maga" lmfao
I typically have worse experience in democratic states
Sorry for your loss, OP. I know how it feels. 😡😣 We are, indeed, modern day slaves. The illegals at the southern border are welcomed and given a debit card while we , the educated and high tax paying individuals, are treated like $hit. When I came back from a 4 week trip during Covid lockdown (visited India as I lost one of my parents), I was taken to a secondary room and made to wait for more than a couple of hours. Every single person in the room was an Indian. It is the sad story of a H1B life here. Your agent was definitely rude. I hope you get your GC/citizenship soon. Trust me, their entire demeanor changes when that happens. Only then, you get your “welcome home” 😞😞😞
Nightcretr, was every single person in the room an Indian because you were returning from there and on a US visa? In that case CBP, was doing its job. In the case of the OP, the agent was rude and unprofessional.
What do you mean they were doing their job? There were people from different countries yet almost everyone who were in the secondary screening were Indian H1B holders. They (officer in the secondary screening room) just asked me why I stayed longer (3.5 weeks ) and I said my parent passed away and that was it. That question could have been asked by the agent outside. No need to make me sit for 2 hours in a secondary screening room. I understand genuine cases where people returned after months or not carry their original 797 but I didn’t fit into any of that. So yah, it was racist or at the very minimum meant to humiliate H1B immigrants.
Hi OP, all the best wishes to you. I have heard while you are allowed to enter USA on B1/B2 multiple times. It’s best not to exceed 6 months max in a year. If it happens so, Immigration officer would consider person to be living in USA, rather than VISITING USA. And that might have repercussions for any future visit. That’s why might be officer would have informed you to keep it to single visit. 4.5-5 month a year should be fine as such. You might find answers to questions like how much time my parents can stay on B1/B2 in USA, on Quora.
This makes a lof of sense !
Not excessive at all, they can tell you whatever they want. You're free to not visit the US next time if you feel disrespected. They ask citizens the same questions.
He’s probably a high school dropout making 60k/yr. Only place he can power trip is his small cubicle. Ignore him and feel better
60k a year is generous actually, probably less
the cbp officers are often high school educated punks, who are not employable anywhere else or atmost for flipping burgers. The best way to deal with these undereducated idiots is not to take their baits. Answer the questions, don’t get provoked and move on like you talked with a pos street idiot.
Very good response. Don't take the bait.
Not only CBP officers. Even cops are the same.
I am sorry to hear about your father OP. This must be a tough time for you, and I am sure this interaction was jarring. I am sending all the best wishes your way.
As for reporting. You certainly can. Now, whether this makes anything happen is a different question. Ask yourself if having to re-explain and relive the interaction to potentially be put down is worth it for the possibility of some acknowledgment or action being taken? If knowing that you are trying to make it better for others helps you, then by all means report. If just moving on and focusing on other things helps more, then I don't see a point in reporting. Choose what best supports you during these tough times.