Viscon

This is what happened to me twice at POE.
I have multiple entry B1/B2
visa in my passport.
Last year I came to US asking for 3 month admission
(February), left on time, waited one month in my country and re-entered
US for another 3 month.
While re-entering the immigration sent me to, as
he called it, "information room" where the other immigration asked me
few questions like "is it your passport?", "is it you on this picture?"
etc.. Eventually I got an admission for 3 months.

The reasons for
visiting were strictly "artistic" - as a visual artist I came to make an
exhibition and talk about my future art project with people working in
art like critics, curators, galleriests...

Now this year I came again
for 3 months. Same reason: exhibition and to continue talking about my
projects for future.
And this time same happened again, I was sent to
"information room" where the other immigration stamped my passport and
gave admission for 3 months.
They also asked me why do I need 3 months.

I said I would also like to spend some holidays in the countryside with
my fellow artists.

I had all documents needed to prove my reasons are
right, but they never asked about them.

In both cases I was given B1
visas.

My question is why did they send me to that "information room"?

It didn't look like they didn't want to give me admission, rahter as a
standard procedure of some sort. Still it made me a bit nervous.
And
what on earth is that place anyway? (I mean "info room").

Thanks for
any advise.

Manc1976

Originally posted by Viscon
    > This is what happened to me
twice at POE.
    > I have multiple entry B1/B2 visa in my passport.
    > Last
year I came to US asking for 3 month admission (February), left on time,
waited one month in my country and re-entered US for another 3 month.
While re-entering the immigration sent me to, as he called it,
"information room" where the other immigration asked me few questions
like "is it your passport?", "is it you on this picture?" etc..
Eventually I got an admission for 3 months.
    >
    > The reasons for
visiting were strictly "artistic" - as a visual artist I came to make an
exhibition and talk about my future art project with people working in
art like critics, curators, galleriests...
    >
    > Now this year I came
again for 3 months. Same reason: exhibition and to continue talking
about my projects for future.
    > And this time same happened again, I was
sent to "information room" where the other immigration stamped my
passport and gave admission for 3 months.
    > They also asked me why do I
need 3 months.
    > I said I would also like to spend some holidays in the
countryside with my fellow artists.
    >
    > I had all documents needed to
prove my reasons are right, but they never asked about them.
    >
    > In
both cases I was given B1 visas.
    >
    > My question is why did they send
me to that "information room"?
    > It didn't look like they didn't want to
give me admission, rahter as a standard procedure of some sort. Still it
made me a bit nervous.
    > And what on earth is that place anyway? (I mean
"info room").
    >
    > Thanks for any advise.
The original
immegration officer at your POE has about 1 minute to ask you questions
and whether or not he believes you or not, or whether he thinks
somethings amiss.
the officer probably decided that someone else double
checked your story and make sure everything you stated was correct.


It's no biggy really and don't take it personally.

Viscon

Originally posted by manc1976
    > The original immegration
officer at your POE has about 1 minute to ask you questions and whether
or not he believes you or not, or whether he thinks somethings amiss.
the officer probably decided that someone else double checked your story
and make sure everything you stated was correct.
    >
    > It's no biggy
really and don't take it personally.


Thanks for quick reply.

It made me calm down considering the fact that I plan to come over to
US again next year.

And it looks like the "informatin room" is not the
same as that infamous and scary one known as "second room", isn't it?

Manc1976

Originally posted by Viscon
    > Thanks for quick reply.
It made me calm down considering the fact that I plan to come over to US
again next year.
    >
    > And it looks like the "informatin room" is not the
same as that infamous and scary one known as "second room", isn't it?

I think information room is a polite word for "secondary
inspection"

but like you say, if you have nothing to hide, and have
shown good behaviour whilst on previous B1's then whats' the worry?

Ray6

Originally posted by manc1976
    > I think information room
is a polite word for "secondary inspection"
    > but like you say, if you
have nothing to hide, and have shown good behaviour whilst on previous
B1's then whats' the worry?
Only worry if the guy starts
putting on latex gloves...

Ingo Pakleppa - see web site for email

On Thu, 13 May 2004 19:09:09 +0000, Viscon wrote:


    > Originally posted by manc1976
    >> The original immegration
    > officer at your POE has about 1 minute to ask you questions and whether
    > or not he believes you or not, or whether he thinks somethings amiss.
    > the officer probably decided that someone else double checked your story
    > and make sure everything you stated was correct.
    >>
    >> It's no biggy
    > really and don't take it personally.
    >
    >
    > Thanks for quick reply.
    >
    > It made me calm down considering the fact that I plan to come over to US
    > again next year.
    >
    > And it looks like the "informatin room" is not the same as that infamous
    > and scary one known as "second room", isn't it?

This apparently was indeed secondary inspection.

One factor was likely that you seem to have spent quite a lot of time in
the USA. This is always suspicious, and I'd actually recommend you stay
outside the USA for a much longer time between your trips (rule of thumb:
only use the three months once in a 12 month period).