One of the biggest myths international students, who are entering US for the first time, have is that if they get F1 visa stamped in their home country, they are all set to enter to USA and study…unfortunately, that is not true…recent instance of deportation of F1 students , who failed to convince the CBP officer at Port of Entry (PoE) is just an example. Our goal in this article is to give a very high level overview on the process, what to expect at PoE and list Port of Entry questions that are very common for F1 visa students entering US to pursue higher education.


Before we get started, let’s familiarize ourselves with some basics.


Does Having a Visa Guarantee Admission to USA ?
Not always. In fact, US Visa will only let you travel to port of entry and then seek permission of CBP officer to allow you to enter US. What US Visa will indicate is that a consular officer at US embassy or consulate in other country has determined that you are eligible for entry, that’s it. The final decision vests with CBP officer.


What is Port of Entry in USA ?
Port of Entry ( PoE) is nothing but the international airport, seaport or the border check point where you would enter America from international border. Sometimes students flying to smaller cities, arrive at a major city airport and then take a domestic flight. In this case, the first major city airport that you land is called the Port of Entry. If you drive from nearby countries like Mexico or Canada, the border check point would be the port of entry…



Who is CBP Officer ? What is their role ?
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer is the officer at port of entry, who will check your documents, ask you some questions and ensure that you are properly authorized to enter in US. Their role is to ensure physical and economic security of United States. They have a guiding manual on what to do for the best interests of United States. For students, they would typically check your I-20, school info, etc and make sure you are having all correct documents
Documents Check list at Port of Entry for F1 Students

Valid Passport with enough validity for study in US

I-20 Signed by DSO

Admission/ Acceptance letters from school.
I-901 SEVIS Fee Payment receipt

Documents proof for your financial support to cover your education.

Originals of Your Undergrad and other Education Certificates

Copy of your past transcripts that were sent to school.

Name and Contact info of DSO at your school

Address of where you will stay in US

Contact info of seniors or anyone, whom you interacted ( Optional)

Any other documents like GRE, TOEFL score reports ( Optional )

That’s about it folks. It is very important as an international student to be aware of the entry procedure at Port of Entry in US to avoid issues. You do NOT have to be in panic, if you are taken for secondary inspection, just stay calm and always tell the truth. It is your job to be fully aware of your school, your program, and other details of your education in US.

Nice info Bro.

What if you do not have one of these documents will dat make them deport you