&w=3840&q=100)
US visa doesn't guarantee entry: Minor red flags can led to deportation
According to the US Department of State, a visa simply allows a foreign national to travel to a US port of entry and request permission to enter the country. The final decision rests with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) offifcers at that entry point.
'They can deny entry even with a valid visa if they suspect the traveller is attempting to enter for unauthorised purposes, such as working without authorisation or staying longer than permitted,' the US government says.
What the officer might check
Once you land, CBP officers can ask about your travel plans, your visa category, and even check your digital footprint, including your social media activity.
Abhisha Parikh, a US-based immigration lawyer, shared a post on social media explaining how minor digital traces can trigger suspicion. 'Let's say you said you're coming for vacation. But you've been browsing jobs on LinkedIn, or following US recruiters. That could raise red flags about your true intentions,' she said.
If they suspect something's off
According to Parikh, things can escalate quickly if the CBP officer isn't convinced by your responses.
'If the officer suspects you plan to:
– Stay longer than allowed
– Work without permission
They can deny you entry — even with a valid visa,' Parikh said.
She added that this situation is not rare. 'This happens. Often. People are turned away at the airport every day. It's stressful, frustrating — and sometimes permanent, depending on how the denial is handled.'
Tips to avoid being sent back
Parikh advises that travellers make sure their personal narrative aligns with the type of visa they've been issued.
Her advice:
< Know your visa type
< Be consistent in your responses
< Avoid sending mixed signals (especially online)
'Your visa is your ticket to try — but not your guarantee to enter,' she said.
What the US government says
The US government has also addressed these concerns in a publicly available FAQ. If you're unsure whether you might be admissible, they recommend getting professional help.
'Before you travel, if you have any concerns about your admissibility, you should seek legal counsel. CBP cannot provide legal advice to members of the public,' the US government says.
What if you're denied entry?
If found inadmissible at the port of entry, several outcomes are possible. One is being placed into removal proceedings. In some cases, the officer might allow you to withdraw your application for admission voluntarily.
A finding of inadmissibility can also affect future entries—and might even lead to your visa being cancelled.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
‘GAY' code for Gaya airport can't be altered: Aviation min
1 2 Gaya: Virtually ruling out the demand to change the three-letter code for Gaya International Airport from 'GAY' to a more neutral alternative, minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that little can be done once a code is assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Reacting to a BJP member's request to change the code, the minister said such codes are not generally altered unless they pose a risk to aviation safety. "Once the code is issued, it is not usually changed and any exception to it can only be made if the code offers any threat to air safety," he said. In a written reply, the minister said the methodology for assigning airport codes typically involves using the first three letters of the airport's location name. Hence, 'GAY' was allotted to Gaya. The code has been in use since Sept 30, 2011, when the first regular commercial Air India flight began operating on the Gaya-Varanasi-Delhi route. Currently, along with domestic airlines, international flights from cities such as Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Bangkok and Thimphu operate FROM Gaya airport during the tourist season, which runs from Oct to March. Several chartered flights from countries like Japan and South Korea also use the airport. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now All these flights list 'GAY' as the code for Gaya. Starting next month, Air India is scheduled to resume operations on the Gaya-Delhi route. Commenting on the etymology of the name "Gaya", P C Roy, a scholar of ancient Indian and Asian studies, said it originated from 'Gyan' (enlightenment), in reference to Buddha's spiritual awakening. Over time, the pronunciation is thought to have evolved into 'Gaya'. While the airport code is based on geographic logic, the overlap with this usage has led to some unease. Gaya-based fiction writer Sanjay Sahay said, "I always felt embarrassed while booking air tickets for my hometown."
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Tripadvisor Holder Palliser Urges Strategy Review, Possible Sale
(Bloomberg) -- Palliser Capital is urging Tripadvisor Inc. to explore a potential sale, heaping pressure on the travel booking and review site that's already facing another high-profile shareholder activist. London-based Palliser is concerned that the legacy business is weighing on performance and eroding shareholder value, according to a letter sent to the company's board in July that has been reviewed by Bloomberg News. The firm wants Tripadvisor to form a strategic committee to explore a range of issues, including how to unleash value from high-growth brands like Viator and TheFork. It's also calling for a review of the group's employee incentive program and capital allocation strategy. 'The company is caught between two fundamentally different strategic identities,' Palliser Chief Investment Officer James Smith wrote in the letter. 'This internal conflict is holding back its most promising venture – Viator, stifling growth and innovation, weakening its competitive edge and costing it the investor attention and valuation it should command.' Shares in Tripadvisor are up around 4% over the last 12 months, compared with a gain of 30% in the Nasdaq Composite Index. The Needham, Massachusetts-based company has a market value of about $2.1 billion. Palliser, which holds roughly 1.1% of Tripadvisor's Class A shares, is seeking a meeting with the board to discuss its unease. 'We value constructive engagement with all of our shareholders and appreciate their feedback,' a spokesperson for Tripadvisor said. 'The Tripadvisor board of directors and management team are committed to driving long-term value for our shareholders.' Tripadvisor's core business remains under pressure from factors including increased competition and weaker travel demand. That has already attracted the attention of another activist firm, Starboard Value LP, which has built a 9% stake and also wants to work with management to unlock value. For Palliser, a lot of any potential upside would come from a focus on Viator, a marketplace for connecting travelers with providers of tours, activities and experiences around the globe. The investor believes Viator could be valued at $2 billion to $2.5 billion on a standalone basis. 'It represents a high-potential business that is well placed to capitalize on the underpenetrated travel experience booking opportunity,' Smith wrote of Viator. The strength of that business, as well as the healthy performance of restaurant reservation service TheFork, mean Tripadvisor's market capitalization should be closer to $3.7 billion, according to Smith. 'It is attempting to operate simultaneously as a value business and a growth business — and succeeding at neither,' he wrote. In February 2024, Tripadvisor announced it was forming a special committee to evaluate any potential takeover proposals after its board authorized talks on a possible acquisition. The following month, Bloomberg News reported that Apollo Global Management Inc. had expressed interest in exploring a bid for the company. Palliser, led by Elliott Investment Management alumnus Smith, last year appointed another former Elliott investor, Steve Kasoff, as chairman for the US market. More stories like this are available on
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Saudi Arabia's Tourism Shift From Skyscrapers To Mountain Villages
Tucked between misty mountains in the Saudi Arabian Highlands is a vertiginous village built between verdant, 10,000-foot peaks. A century-old outpost of the local Tihama Asir tribes, its clay and stone buildings have bright shutters and white-trimmed windows. Nobody lives here anymore, but every day the tribesmen and women-identifiable by their floral crowns and traditional mountain garb-come to sell wares like local honey made by the clans of the ridgelines. This is Rijal Almaa, one of hundreds of archaeological villages dotting the little-touristed province of Aseer, an area almost the size of Austria in Saudi's southwestern corner. The region, which boasts a rich cultural heritage, has dramatically sited mud palaces with mountaintop views, desert plains and unspoiled beaches-plus historical sites and outdoor adventure activities that are unrivaled throughout the country. Best of all for Saudis, who are accustomed in the summer months to blistering heat that regularly tops 113F (45C), the weather seldom exceeds 90 degrees, even in the middle of July. It's a combination that's moved global developers and Saudi officials to dream up a new future for Aseer-one that makes it the linchpin in Saudi Arabia's $1 trillion bet on tourism. While there's no luxury establishment to speak of just yet, both Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, called the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and private investors are working on master plans costing billions of dollars for projects that can be enjoyed year-round. And unlike the mirrored skyscrapers planned for Neom or ultra-luxe glampsites in AlUla, the strategy for Aseer at heart is a simple one: nature. "You can stay on a mountain, snorkel in the Red Sea, drive to the desert all in a few hours," says Luis Gallotti, a Miami-based investor developing an ultra-luxury mountain resort in the Saudi province. "It's something different from the rest of the world." As it stands, Aseer draws fewer than 100,000 international travelers each year-a low number that Saudi officials believe has lots of potential to grow. Visitor growth there will help the country more than double its current annual foreign arrivals, to 70 million by 2030. "Nobody knows yet that there are these landscapes in Saudi Arabia, that it's not hot in the summer," says Cecilia Pueyo, French entrepreneur and chief executive officer of travel firm Bonjour Saudi. She first visited Aseer in 2023 and in April hosted her first wellness retreat there, drawing mostly locals to a mountain village for hiking and yoga. Pueyo has since been fielding questions from foreigners who are curious about visiting. She's organising three-day trips to Aseer geared toward both locals and non-Saudis. Rijal Almaa is one of the key stops. For those unfamiliar with Saudi Arabia, safety worries can be an issue, given that Aseer shares a short border with conflict-stricken Yemen. But Pueyo says she has always felt safe in the region and welcomed by locals. The bigger challenge, she says, is the absence of clear information to help would-be visitors feel confident in making their plans, along with reservations among foreigners about visiting and traveling around conservative Saudi Arabia-especially one of its more traditional corners. "There's huge work in tourism to do," she explains. The hotel projects being developed now will address another issue: a shortage of quality hotels. Not one of the current stock is even remotely close to prized sites such as the suspended sandstone houses of Al Habala. Touch down at the Abha International Airport, and you'll find most accommodation is concentrated in the main city of Abha, in tired buildings with dated rooms. What's lacking is made up for by the charm and culture of the city itself, which has a population of 300,000. Souks, clay-built villages and art districts are set among steep hills like those of San Francisco and Lisbon. But the main appeal of Aseer is the diverse terrain that's more far-flung and unspoiled: golden sands sprawling between black rocky ridges, grassy plateaus with few signs of development and quiet beaches along the Red Sea coastline. For now, getting around requires a rental car and a healthy dose of bravery-reaching Rijal Almaa calls for driving down a treacherous, sharply curving narrow road into the valley. As an alternative, you can arrange a day trip with Viator for about $300 a person. The view of the heritage village, which looks like a series of life-size gingerbread houses, makes it well worth braving the unknown. Helping travellers navigate the region-and offering them a sumptuous place to rest their heads at the end of the day-is top of mind for Miami-based Luis Gallotti of Amek Group. In 2026 he plans to break ground on a high-end mountain resort in Aseer featuring more than 80 hotel rooms, 30 private villas and a grass skiing experience-where skis are fused with wheels to tackle green pistes that stretch for some 3,000 feet. When it opens in 2029, Gallotti plans to make the resort a part of Amek's nascent Seven Legends brand, whose mission is to to have a hotel in just seven destinations with jaw-dropping landscapes. The first will open in Argentine Patagonia; Aseer is expected to be the second. "When we came to Aseer, it was love at first sight," he says. Seven Legends isn't alone: Saudi Arabia's $1 trillion PIF is backing a project called Soudah Peaks, which will bring luxury hotels, residences, and shopping districts to the kingdom's tallest mountain. The plan is to leave most of the land around Soudah available for hiking and mountain biking; its budget will also include the preservation and restoration of heritage sites such as Rijal Almaa-which sits near the foot of Soudah and dozens of other towering mountains. The PIF, which is chaired by Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman, has also begun projects to build new residential communities in Abha and has started Aseer Investment Co. with the goal of turning the province into a global tourism destination. It's still early days. Tendering for infrastructure construction such as electricity for Soudah Peaks is expected to start this year-when several of the kingdom's other mega projects, like the high-profile Neom megacity, are facing significant budgetary hurdles. But Aseer is a time-sensitive project, because it's set to host at least some matches during the 2034 FIFA World Cup, for which the Saudis can't afford delays. For now, anyway, Hashim Al-Dabbagh, a Saudi national who leads the Aseer Development Authority, sees the region as something of a hidden gem, both in the kingdom and abroad. When he takes his weekend hikes, he's greeted only by fresh air and packs of wild baboons. "This is like National Geographic level stuff, and I get to enjoy it like a king," he says.
