US Visa questions
 

like most other US citizens, I don't have the slightest idea of how a US Visa works and what the procedures are for non-citizens at US Port of Entries. My question center around this situation I have coming up in 5 weeks:

My 80 year old grandmother from China managed to obtain a US Visa and will be traveling with my Dad (a UA 1K) in late August on UA Flight 888 PEK-SFO. They'll be traveling in Business Class on the upper deck of the 747 (first plane ride for her and she'll be in the upper deck of the 747, stairs are no issue for her).

I read up a bit on the US Embassy website that a US Visa is valid ONLY for travel to the US Port of Entry (in this case, SFO), and she'll have to petition for entrance there at immigration. What are the chances the officer would turn her back? Since she's on a non-immigrant visa, is she only entitled to one entry into the USA? I so far only have booked her a one way award ticket as I have no clue as to how long she'll be allowed to stay (we're hoping for 6 months).

Another question, since she doesn't speak any english and also doesn't read chinese at all, she'd have to follow my dad closely. My dad is a US Citizen though, so should they both stand at the non-citizen line or is she entitled to go with him into the citizen line?

Thanks for any advice.

First of all, you have to book her a return ticket. If not, there is a high chance that she would not be let in the country.

One of the first things an immigration officer wants to know from a tourist is when do they plan to leave. You cannot give an arbitrary answer. You have to show evidence in the form of a confirmed ticket.

I would suggest, buy a refundable ticket about 6 months past her arrival date.
Most tourists cannot stay past 6 months in the USA. If they need to stay beyond that period, you will have to petition with the USCIS.

She can stand in the citizen line with your dad. Your dad can tell them she doesnt speak English....so he had to take care of her and such.

Most tourist visas are multiple entry valid for a certain period of time. You have to call up your family in China and ask them what is the validity of her visa.

The one-way might actually be an issue. She may be required to show proof of onward (or return) travel. She may also not (I never have.) She'll need to be able to show that she can support herself and has a place to stay. She will be required to enter that last bit on the I-94 form when entering the country.

In terms of how likely it is she'll be denied entry, I'd say not very. This is mostly an issue for those people where the immigration officer is not sure the immigrant is not coming to the US to work. For an 80 year-old woman, I'd say chances are slim.

I believe he can accompany her to the non-citizen line. They can equally process citizens, it will just take longer. Note, though, that with the forms filled out correctly in advance, the immigration officer can usually be passed with just a 'hello', 'pleasure' (or business) and 'goodbye'. Not much speech is required.

good call on the return ticket, I guess I'll just go and book a random one way award ticket back to china for her out of my dad's 1K account (free cancellations! I knew I pushed him on 1K for a reason last year!)

I would book for a date you think you might use. Having free changes is certainly nice.

For older folks, the visas I've seen are valid for 10 years. If they're not of employment age, then they usually don't hassle them at all.

I think she can go to either the Citizen or Visitor line with your dad.

i certainly hope so, though they did deny her on her first visa application last january, even though she was eligible for an immigrant visa with NO quota restrictions. Some of the things our govt does, just doesn't make sense at all...

The chance of them sending her back is almost zero. It's just a legal safety valve in case someone becomes especially suspicious between visa issuance and arrival in the US.

Your grandmother should join your father in the US Citizen line. They have the full fingerprinting/photographing apparatus there, too, although I'm not sure they'll even do that to her considering how old she is.

B-2 visa for chinese is normally valid one year for multiple entry. the legal principle is every visitor is assumed to be a immigrant. visitor has to prove that she has no immigration intent . she already convince the consular officer that she do not have immigration intent and get visa but legally immigration office in airport has authority to assess immigration intent independently again. if you face normal officer, she should be asked for her purpose of trip and length of stay, and she will get 6 month stay. but across us border is crap shoot, she might face some a$$, her immigration intent might be assessed again. Thus she should take her all document for his visa application and a return ticket in case of problem.