According to US lawâŚ
Entering and Departing the United States
A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States , but allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry (generally an airport or land border) and request permission to enter the United States.
Having visited and travelled through the US a large number of times, never violating immigration laws, my mother and I were detained once in Miami. A confused official though I was an illegal worker because I had a business in California (peddling Venezuelan software in Silicon Valley). We were detained for quite some time. Some Central American visitors were treated quite rudely. We were not but it was a long stay for my 90 year old mother. Finally I said to the official, âPlease make up your mind, either let us in or send us back, my old mother cannot continue sitting in a wheel chair.â We were handed off to a higher official. After explaining my situation, showing her my motherâs first class ticket, and the two checks that would cover the expenses of our stay, we were let in. It was the only time I had problems with US immigration authorities. At all other times they were either pleasant or business like.
Once (1950s) I got a letter saying that there was no record of my leaving the US.
The Captain
And the UK. Again, official statements are very carefully worded.
Steve
Is this new policy? Or has it always been like this? And maybe new intensity with immigration concerns.
I recall attending a convention in Canada where our company had a booth. Whereas employees had no trouble one of our consultants got hassled because he was âworking.â. Visitors welcome but workers get extra attention.
People with green cards or permanent residency can not leave the country without an extreme risk of being denied reentry. That is new.
It was the law in 1990 when my mom visited family in California. I had a check for six months° for the retirement home, a check to fund my business, and return tickets to Caracas, all required.
The Captain
° Mom wanted to stay longer. The B1-B2 visa is valid for five years but is good for only six months each entry. The way to extend the stay legally is to ask for an extension. Even if denied you get three months extra. I stayed five years but went home every six months for a couple of weeks.
Letâs liken it to driving 5-10 MPH over the speed limit. Before you might have gotten a warning or small fine, now youâre looking at having your license revoked and spending some time in jail.
Speed limit didnât change, just the heavy handed enforcement.
I will also add that this is quite the norm for most countries. Your visa allows for a limited stay and then you must exit the country and reenter. Often you must be able to document a return flight (even one you can cancel) before you are allowed entry.
Recently, Costa Rica (a place I am considering for retirement) is considering tightening their visa policy that allows people to do a day trip to Nicaragua (a âvisa runâ) and then reset their visa and effectively stay indefinitely.
"I will also add that this is quite the norm for most countries. "
On YouTube, A lady posted a travel blog called Itchy Boots. The season I watched, she went from the tip of S.America to Alaska, on an enduro motorcycle. She recorded and showed her entries into all of the Countryâs. If memory serves, ALL of the Countryâs had strict border entry requirements. I am 100% in favor of having a secure and orderly border. But I think there are things going on behind the scene, there are flag-waving American âPatriotsâ who shout to the Heavens their displeasure about the illegals, and at the same time are looking to hire them for their construction work, landscaping work, meatpacking work,âŚetc.
Itâs gonna get real in the Agriculture sector pretty soon. To quote the character in Good Will Hunting, weâll see How They Like Them Apples !!, lol
A former roommate bought van and drove from Alaska to southern tip of S America and then home in central Brazil. The van was stolen there (after he got home).