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Foreword: Homeland
Security Immigration officials are looking to send home a
'quota' of victims who have the least 'credentials'. This is a
number of people with the LEAST evidence to remain in the USA.
If immigration does NOT fulfil their quota, they are at risk
of losing their jobs. Here are the traps they use ...
Do you own property in your home
country?
Never say you are just a lodger.
a renter or a traveller. These are weak qualifiers. If you
admit that you rent property, then you will have to strengthen
your application by other factors.
What is your job?
Being unemployed, on disability
or some other State income will severely discriminate against
you. Being employed or running a business with premises in
your own country will be very helpful to your application.
Do you have any family in the
USA?
Be careful with this one. If you
have family in the USA and weak links to your home country,
immigration will assume you have come to live with them
permanently.
Where will you be living in the
USA?
You only have to give your first
address. If you have a single address for your hotel (such as
in a package holiday) this is helpful. Otherwise, you only
have to volunteer your first address. But, if you only spend
your first night in a hotel, then this will influence other
factors.
Do you have an intention of
remaining or living in the USA?
Say NO. Doesn't matter if you
have a desire to return to live there one day. If you admit as
much you will automatically be assumed as having an intention
of not returning to your home country.
Do you have sufficient funds for
your visit?
Having money in the bank is no
use if you cannot provide a bank statement to prove as much -
even if you arrive 1st class! If you leave your funds in your
bank for security and rely upon a debit or credit card to pay
your way in the USA, be SURE to provide an up-to-date bank
statement to prove as much. Otherwise, you will be in trouble.
Do you have any other links to
your home country?
Think carefully about your links
to your home country. The more you can prove you have to
return, the more likely you will avoid the 'Send Back Quota'
("SBQ").
How long will you be staying in
the USA?
This is a tricky one. If you are
only coming for a weekend, then it will have to be through a
weekend shopping trip (for example) or business. Nobody goes
for just a few days holiday and this will raise suspicions.
Also avoid long periods of time
as immigration will suspect you are in the country to make
money to support your trip. This brings me onto the next trap
...
Do you have an intention of
working in the USA?
Obviously, if you come as a
tourist, then the answer is NO. But if you arrive for a
lengthy period of stay, then this will be treated with
suspicion. Similar reasons apply if you are a young person and
a student in your home country. No young person is going to
survive a lengthy spell in the USA without having to resort to
casual labour.
Your immigration declaration ...
Before arriving in the USA, you
will be handed two cards. One is a customs form and the other
is for your Visa or Visa Waiver entry. Be careful how you
complete these. So ...
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