Have you been denied entry to the USA? You’re not alone. Since 9/11, more and more people are being turned away at the border. Below, we’re going to explore what you can do if you’ve been denied entry to the United States and the various options that are open to you.
Reasons Why You Could Be Denied Entry to the USA
There are many reasons why an individual might be denied entry into the United States. They include the following:
- You have previously worked illegally in the USA
- You’re suspected of being an intended immigrant (and plan on staying past the terms of your admission)
- You have a criminal record
- You have ties to a terrorist or criminal organization
- You overstayed a previous trip to the USA
Other less common reasons to be denied entry to the USA include being suspected of having an infectious disease, or not proving that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the country, as finding employment would violate the terms of your tourist visa.
According to the US Customs and Borders Protection: “If the visitor does not appear to have the means to support themselves while here, any alternative arrangements – such as a sponsor who will be paying all expenses – should be clearly identified and substantiated by the CBP Officer.”
What to Do If You’ve Been Denied Entry
If you’ve been denied entry to the USA for any reason, it’s important not to panic – the first thing you need to do is contact us. Our trained and qualified immigration professionals can provide you with professional advice.
Worried about being denied entry due to a previous criminal conviction? The Globe and Mail has some advice: “Even in the event you’re turned away that day, there’s still hope. You may be able to apply for a Nonimmigrant Waiver of Inadmissibility to the United States. Or you may have to come back with court records demonstrating that the inadmissibility provisions of the US Immigration and Nationality Act don’t apply in your case.”
Even if you don’t technically count as inadmissible, you may still need an advance assessment by the US Customs and Border Protection Admissibility Review Office.
What Not to Do
If you’ve been denied entry to the USA, the absolute worst course of action would be to try gaining entry at a different border crossing with the idea that you’ll have a better chance with a different immigration officer – it doesn’t work that way, and will be incredibly detrimental to your case.
This is because immigration data (including denied admissions) is updated and accessed within a centralized database. In fact, if you take this extremely foolish course of action, you could run the risk of never being accepted into the United States again in your life. Is it worth it? We think not.
If you’ve been denied entry to the USA or think that you may have an inadmissibility problem, contact our team of immigration professional today by filling out a free assessment!
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
