Hey my beloved people,
I finally made it to the US, and I would like to share my experience at the POE in JFK, now that I have a computer as typing with my phone I lost my message three times.

Well I was totally unprepared, first time visiting the US. I flew from Lagos via Istanbul to JFK and landed midday'ish, travelling solo.
After a long queue, I get to the CBP officer to whom I hand my passport.

CBP Officer: Purpose of your visit?
Me: Tourism.
CBP Officer: Tooooouriiiiiism. (He says that prolonging the name as if I have made a mistake in my pronunciation). He finger prints me and stamps a date on the passport (six months).

By this time the little light indicators on his station had turned from green to red, and another officer standing nearby came and picked my passport and I was ushered in secondary.

Inside I saw many people especially asians and I was asked to take a seat. Across the room was a counter with CBP officers grilling at travellers. One guy was been asked to state the exact time he had spend in his previous visit to which he wasn't sure whether it was 2 years or 18 months.

Another lady was denied entry but permitted to make a phone call whilst an asian guy seated close to me had his phone taken and placed inside a folder together with his passport because he was using it. I quickly switched off my phone. (discreetly as I usually receive numerous calls)

Later on a lady without CBP uniform but with a badge around her neck came and picked my passport and disappeared inside. I thought they were running a background check as it took close to 30 min when she came back and asked me to follow her. We went inside a room and she asked me to take a seat.

Officer: What are your names and date of birth?
Me: I stated my names and place of birth.
Officer: Where are you going to stay?
Me: I gave her my hotel name and address. I didn't remember it so she allowed me to use my phone which luckily I had to connect to the CBP WiFi as I couldn't use my Nigerian sim card.
Officer: Are any of your relatives in the United States?
Me: No
Officer: Can I get the names of your brothers and sisters and their phone numbers?
Me: I gave her the numbers and full names. All this time she scribbled on an A4 white paper all over the place randomly.
Officer: Do you use FB or any other social media?
Me: Yes, FB.
Officer: What about Whatsapp?
Me: Yes.
Officer: What is the name of your FB account?
Me: Bla bla bla.
Me: Officer, Am I been detained?
Officer: It's a normal procedure for the customs and border protection.
Officer: Do you only have one phone number with only one whatsapp application?
Me. Yes
Officer: Have you ever been to North Africa?
Me: No.
Officer: What about Libya?
Me: No! (I was wondering is Libya not part of North Africa. )
Officer: So you have never been to Libya?
Me: No
Officer: What other countries have you been to?
Me: Ghana, Cameroon, Togo and Spain.
Officer: Your current passport has a stamp that you've had a previous passport. Have you travelled with that passport?
Me: Yes
Officer: Do you have it with you?
Me: No.
Officer: Can I get the address of your home back in Nigeria.
Me: Gave her the address.
Officer: What are your parents occupation?
Me: Bla bla bla
Officer: Can I see your return ticket?
Me: Gives her my return ticket.
Officer: Where will you visit have you made any plans?
Me: Told her the Statue of Liberty, Rockerfeller Center, FinancialDistrict, Ellies Island, etc etc
Officer: How much money do you have with you?
Me: 2000 dollars
Officer: What made you visit NY and not other parts of US?
Me: It's famous and I have seen it in many movies, etc etc
Officer: You said you visited Spain right?
Me: Yes
Officer: How long did you stay in Spain?
Me: 2 months.
Officer: While in Spain did you see immigrants who were trafficked there illegally and what were their stories?
Me: I saw many people including foreigners and I wouldn't know if they were trafficked, living there illegally or legally.
Officer: Stamps my passport and says 'Welcome to the United States'.
Me: Thank you and have a nice day.

The kind of grilling I underwent was so intensive and next time I will surely travel with my expired passport as well if this is what people undergo in secondary inspection.

Firstly, when I asked her is I was been detained she dodged the question, only to hear from some friends that that is been detained. She even asked about my facebook and whatapp and I did not even hand her my phone. Why would they ask for whatsapp if they cannot access my phone?

Does it mean that the info I supplied will be kept in my record and they can track my facebook activity? Not that I post anything wrong there but it feels uncomfortable to know you are been tracked.

The lady who interrogated me never had CBP uniform but wore casual clothes with a badge worn over her neck. Was this some CIA or FBI officer? Why not dress in CBP uniform?

Another thing I would like to know is, in my future visa applications should I say YES to the question that they ask if I have ever been detained in any port of entry?

Fast forward to today, when I spoke with my relatives, nobody received a phone call from CBP. Why then take their phone numbers?

Thanks a lot and God bless.

skdfu747:
Sometimes I wonder where people get these strange information.
C.B.P which stands for U.S. Customs and Border Protection only operate on the U.S soil.
When approaching the U.S air space the airline will issue you a declaration card so make sure you fill it correctly as it is a legal document.
You will met the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the official U.S port of entry (Airport) and they will take your finger print, capture your face on the camera then input your i94 record on their data base. Very simple

Thank you so much. As the days get closer, I'm becoming anxious but it will all go well. Sorry for my lack of information, next time I will research some more.

I will update you how my trip is getting and possibly share photos.

Ada

Hey guys,

I got my B2 visa finally and I have been preparing my visit to the US. I fly from Lagos to New York (JFK) next week Wednesday. I saw in some threads that there are US customs border agents in Istanbul. (I will be flying with Turkish). If at all I get screened in Turkey, does it mean they stamp your passport there and no need to be stamped in US?

Sorry it's my first time visiting the US but I have never had issues travelling within Africa and Spain.

God bless.