When you land, you meet an officer from CBP (US Customs and Border Protection). A visa lets you travel to the US, but the CBP officer decides if you may enter and for how long. This first check is called primary inspection. It is usually short.
Before you reach the booth
Keep your passport and visa documents in your hand, not in a bag.
Students: have your I-20 or DS-2019 ready. Workers: your I-797 approval and offer letter. New immigrants: your immigrant visa packet, unopened.
Turn off phone calls. Many airports do not allow phone use in the inspection hall.
Give your passport and documents to the officer.
The officer takes your photo and often your fingerprints. Many airports now use a quick face photo to match you to your passport.
The officer asks a few questions. Common ones: "What is the purpose of your trip?", "Where will you study or work?", "How long will you stay?", "Where will you live?"
Answer briefly and truthfully. If you do not understand, say: "Sorry, could you repeat that slowly?" You may ask for an interpreter.
The officer returns your passport. For air and sea arrivals, there is usually no paper I-94; it is electronic.
Sometimes the officer sends you to another room for secondary inspection. This happens to many people for simple reasons, like a name match or a missing system record. It can take from minutes to a few hours.
Stay calm, polite and truthful.
If you have a school, employer or family contact, have their phone number on paper.
Never sign a paper you do not understand. Ask what it is.
Can they search my phone?
Yes. CBP may look at phones, laptops and other devices at the border, even with no warrant. Searches are rare, but they happen. Most are a manual look through the device. If your device is locked, CBP can keep it for a while, and you may be delayed.
Travel with only the data you need, and know that chats and social media on your phone may be seen.
After the booth, collect your bags and go through customs. Declare food, plants, medicines, and cash over $10,000.
After you leave the airport: check your I-94
Your I-94 is your official record of entry and your permitted stay. Check it within a day or two.
Tap Get Most Recent I-94.
Type your name, birth date and passport number exactly as in your passport.
Check the class of admission (like F1, H1B, H4) and the Admit Until date.
Save a PDF and print a copy.
Students and exchange visitors: the Admit Until field usually says "D/S" (duration of status), not a date. A 2026 rule to replace D/S with fixed dates is on hold in court. If you see a date, check that it matches your I-20 or DS-2019 dates plus the departure period.
If anything is wrong, contact CBP quickly. Fixing it early is much easier.
Joking with the officer, or giving long, unclear answers.
Packing your I-20 or I-797 in checked luggage.
Never checking the I-94 until a problem appears months later.