brittanyc

Can I go in line with my NON US Citizen husband because he doesn't know much english and gets nervous easily?


Hello

I am an American Citizen but my husband is not he is a French citizen. I will be going back to USA in a week or two and I was wondering if I could pass in the NON Citizen line with him to speak to the immigration officer for him, because he does not speak very good english and gets nervous when he doesn't know what they're saying. We recently got married and were planning to surprise my parents for the holidays with the news. My concern is that I dont want the US immigration officers to not let him in because they might think he will stay. But we won't stay in US we live in France and he has a business and goes to school in France. I just want to explain everything to the officer correctly so he won't detain us for not comprehending correctly. So please help us with any advice or if you have the same story.

Thanks!

nytraveler

I have never heard of this. I would check the state department website and see what it says.

To make sure he has no problems he should be able to produce a return ticket to France and proof that he has a business and is enrolled in school there.

Frankly, I think trying to get on line with him might just draw extra attention to both of you and make it more likely you will be pulled aside for a more in-depth interview.

Thousands of foreign visitor speaking little or no English come to the US every day - it's really not a big deal.

brittanyc

okay thanks for your help and advice its greatly appreciated!

BigRuss

If you're a resident and he's moving to the US, didn't you have to get some paperwork in France? A friend who married a Japanese national had to go through various hoops in Japan.

Dukey1

I am not certain this person needs to produce a return ticket. Is that written somewhere? Does he have a valid French passport? I assume he does. Where does it say he has to prove he has a job or anything else in his native country? the guy is here on a visit, not trying to remain.

obxgirl

If you're a resident and he's moving to the US, didn't you have to get some paperwork in France?

He's not moving to the US.

brittanyc

@ BigRuss: We will not be staying in USA we just come to visit my family for the holidays and tell them about our wedding then we will be going back to France because he doesn't speak much english and he has his business and schooling in France.

nytraveler

Immigration can ask about anything they want.

For a young couple just married with the ex-US partner coming to the US they may suspect he intends to stay and ask him to produce evidence that he isn't. No rule that they have to but nothing stopping them from doing it either. They can ask visiting foreign nationals anything they think appropriate.

Dukey1

They can ask but unless it is stated somewhere that something is REQUIRED then they can ask until they are blue in the face.

J62

I see no issues with you standing in the same non-citizens line together. I don't get how a husband and wife waiting together sets off alarms.

RoamsAround

Oh, that's right Dukey, advise a foreign national to get belligerent with the immigration official(s) by not responding to their questions just because the requested information might not be REQUIRED. That's a real good way for the person requesting entry to the US to get a lot of hassle. It's always better to be friendly and cooperative when dealing with anybody who has more control over the outcome of a particular situation than you do.

To answer OP's original question "can she accompany her husband" on the non-USA Citizen line, the answer is yes. The only reason they have separate lines for US citizens and non-US Citizens is to allow faster process for citizens. The immigration officials will have no difficulty accessing and processing OP's passport information. All she has to do is explain to the immigration officer that her husband speaks little english and she will be glad to help interpret for him.

nytraveler

Sorry - but the Immigration official gets to decide who is admittd to the US. Foreign nationals do not hve the RIGHT to entry. They need to get a visa and then be interviewed by immigration. Usually this is a question or two - but if they think the person is a potential illegal (immigrant or for other reasons) they can simply turn them away. Or make them answer a whole lot of questions before letting them in.

It's like when a cop stops you to give you a speeding ticket. You can say sorry officer and take it. or you can cause a huge fuss - and potentially end up with more tickets or even arrested - just for making yourself a big enough PIA. (Have you never seen COPS? I saw one show in which a woman was handcuffed and hauled away - just due to a speeding ticket. Of course - in her frenzy she did smash the cop with her car door - and then nearly hit him when she tried to drive away.)

november_moon

Yes, the OP can accompany her husband in the non-citizen line - no problem at all.

As for the concerns about the immigration officer thinking that he is planning to stay - definitely bring evidence of a return ticket. You might also have him bring his enrollment information for school and something to demonstrate that he has a business in France. You might bring evidence of your return ticket (probably on the same booking as your husband) and something to show your ties to France - if you have a legal job or are in school, for example. THEN, should the immigration officer have any suspicions and ask questions, you will be able to show that you both intend to return to France and have ties in France.

When you get to the immigration officer, I would give a short explanation about why you are in the non-citizen line with your husband, and then just answer the immigration officer's questions - produce documentation of your return ticket, etc. if he or she asks, but otherwise, just answer the questions. Chances are good that the officer won't have many questions for you - illegal immigration from France isn't a big thing.

jamie99

If the OP's husband is traveling on the Visa Waiver Program (good for up to 90 days) then yes they need a return ticket, if traveling on a B1/B2 visa they do not.

longhorn55

November Moon's comments are spot on. That that advice.

vincenzo32951

Agree re November Moon.

I am a citizen and once got in the wrong (non-citizen) line. It's no problem. Also it's quite common for spouses to check in together at Immigration.

Answer the questions. If your husband has difficulty answering because of language, explain that to the Immigration officer. They can be strict, but they're generally not unreasonable ogres.

hetismij2

We were once in the non US queue at Phoenix. The couple in front were one US citizen, one non US. They stood in the line with the rest of us for nearly an hour. Then the woman checking we'd all filled in our forms correctly said they could have both gone to the US line.
It may be worth asking if you can do the same. There are normally a couple of people on crowd control and form checking before you get to the immigration desk. It could save you a long wait.

Ackislander

What november_moon says. Until an alien is admitted to the US, they are still on foreign soil ( or limbo) and can be refused entry on pretty much any grounds.

BigRuss

>

This is getting too complicated. Go to the same line, if the ICE agent asks questions, answer them and be honest. Beyond that, don't start prattling. Seems like you're covering for something. The ICE agent will know what concerns him/her.

november_moon

"This is getting too complicated. Go to the same line, if the ICE agent asks questions, answer them and be honest. Beyond that, don't start prattling. Seems like you're covering for something. The ICE agent will know what concerns him/her."

How is this complicated and who said anything about prattling on? I said short explanation - as in: My husband is a French citizen who doesn't speak English very well, so I joined him in this line to translate if he needs it.