IN most cases, in order for a person to adjust status (obtain a green card) in the U.S., the person must prove he or she was “inspected and admitted” by an immigration officer at the airport or border (port of entry). This means that the person presented himself to an immigration officer who reviewed his or her visa or other documentation and was allowed to enter the U.S.
Even if a person is married to a U.S. citizen, the person must ordinarily prove that he or she was inspected (unless, for example, they were “grandfathered” under section 245(i) or have an immediate relative who served in the military). Consequently, people who entered the U.S. without inspection (EWI), or snuck across the border, may not be able to prove they were “inspected,” and may not be eligible to adjust status in the US.
However, in some cases, a person may be able to prove they were “inspected” if they were the border and “waved through” by the immigration officer. For example, the person was sitting in the back seat of a car and was driven across the border from Canada (or Mexico) into the U.S. The car comes to an immigration\border checkpoint, and the immigration officer looks inside, perhaps asks the driver a few questions, and says “passo.” That could constitute being “inspected and admitted” for adjustment purposes, as long as the person presented themselves for questioning, and did not claim to be a citizen, even if the officer never asked them any questions.
In a case published by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), a person approached the border as a passenger in a car being driven by her U.S. citizen friend. The immigration inspector asked the friend whether he was a U.S. citizen, but did not ask the passenger anything. The officer then waved the car through the port of entry. Eventually, the person married a U.S. citizen, and the issue was whether being waved through the border constituted “inspection.” The BIA ruled that being waved through the border constituted “inspection and admission” to the U.S.
Please note that if a person claims he or she was waved through the border, the USCIS will require detailed and extensive information on how you crossed the border, such as the make and model of the car you drove in, who was driving, who was in the car, how long did you wait in line at the border, the color of clothing the officers were wearing, what time of day did you enter the U.S., what was the weather like, how did you get to Canada or Mexico, and where is your Canadian or Mexican visa?
If this situation applies to you, you may want to consult with an immigration attorney to prove your eligibility to adjust status, and possibly avoid having to go back to Manila or immigrant visa processing. Please bear in mind that you must have truly been waved across the border vs. saying you were. If you claimed to be a U.S. citizen, or you entered the U.S. with an assumed name (or altered) passport and visa, or in the trunk of a car, this rule would not apply to you.
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Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.
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