Today's column is a continuation of what I shared with you here last Sunday. Granting your tourist visa application was approved, what are the things you must do in order to maintain it? Here are some pointers you may want to know:
1. Check the entries in your passport where the visa is stamped. Make sure the dates, spellings, and other details are accurate. Notify the US consulate immediately for any errors so that the necessary changes can be made.
2. Again, remember that you applied for and was granted a tourist visa. This is a temporary and non immigrant visa which means that you have specific purpose of going to the USA. The visa stamped in your passport is not a guarantee that you can get inside the US. Once you reach your port of entry, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent will still ask you some questions pertaining to your travel to the US. If they find out that you are not admissible, or if they suspect that you are committing fraud or have other immigrant intent in entering the US, they will ask you for more documents evidencing your ties to the Philippines and whether these ties are sufficient for you to go back to the Philippines after your US trip. So make sure these documents are ready. And for your sake, if these documents do not have anything to do with your trip, please do not bring any resume', transcripts of records, diploma, letters of recommendation or anything that would make the ICE agent suspect that you are just using a tourist visa in order to find employment here in the US.
3. Know the names and addresses of the people and places you wish to visit in the US. Needless to say, you must know where you are going. You must have the names and contact information of the family or friends you will be staying with. You must have an itinerary of places you want to go and people you would like to meet.
4. Be wary of bringing other people's gifts. If you can avoid it, do not act as a courier for someone else. You do not know what is inside that envelope or box. Or even if you know what's inside it, you may not know if it was stolen or a " hot item ". Know what you are bringing. Do not bring in any counterfeit goods such as fake bags, burnt CDs and photocopied books.
5. Always check what food items are allowed or not. One time I was brought to a secondary inspection and had my luggage opened and inspected because the x-ray machine showed some ring-formed substance which turned out to be just galletas and rosquillos from Titay's. I personally know some people who brought lechon and salted eggs ( maalat ) only to have those thrown out to the garbage. And fermented fish or ginamos? Good luck with that.
6. Give yourself enough time in between flights. The lines and wait times at the immigration counter and at the customs could be very long and could potentially cause you to miss your next flight. Two to three hours of lay over is enough time for you to consider.
7. Do not stay in the US longer than what is authorized. Do not be an overstaying house guest. However, if there are certain reasons that require you to stay longer than what is allowed, make sure you file a timely extension. And equally important, you must have a valid reason for the extension such as attending to a sick family member, medical emergency of yourself and family, continuing visit to friends and family members, unfinished business meetings and the like. You must also demonstrate that you would really go back to the Philippines within the extended period being requested.
8. Before you travel, make sure you attend to any medical needs you may have. Healthcare is very expensive in the US especially if you do not have health insurance. If you are regularly taking prescribed medicines, make sure you have enough supply to last for the entire duration of your stay. If you are taking narcotic drugs or highly regulated drugs, you must have a prescription and a doctor's certificate stating why it is prescribed for you. It is helpful if you get a thorough medical check up before you travel to the US just to make sure you are physically fit.
9. Make sure you are financially prepared for your US trip. You must be able to demonstrate that you have the financial capacity to support yourself and your family. As a tourist, you are expected that you have the financial means to pay for a US vacation. Talk to your bank how you can withdraw money while in the US and bring enough dollar bills, small and large .
10. Of course, this goes without saying that once you are inside the US, make sure you do not violate its laws. It is very different here in the US. People strictly follow and obey the law. Even simple ones such as traffic laws. And tourists are expected to do the same. Unlike in the Philippines, where we may be able to get away with some minor offenses, US law enforcement officials are very serious with their job in implementing the law.