Upon arrival at the U.S. border, all individuals must pass through Customs and Immigration inspection. During this inspection, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officers determine whether or not an individual will be admitted into the U.S. in the status sought.

Upon arrival at a U.S. Port of Entry in 2026, you will undergo a multi-stage inspection process by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). First, you will proceed to an immigration officer who will verify your travel documents (passport and visa or ESTA). You will have your photograph taken and, in many cases, your fingerprints scanned. The officer will ask a series of standard questions regarding the purpose of your visit, where you intend to stay, and when you plan to leave. If everything is in order, they will "admit" you and record your I-94 arrival record electronically. After passing immigration, you collect your checked luggage and proceed to the Customs station. Here, you must declare any items you are bringing into the country, such as food, large amounts of cash (over $10,000), or commercial goods. In 2026, many airports use "Simplified Arrival" facial recognition to speed up this process. If an officer cannot immediately verify your status or finds a discrepancy in your story, you may be directed to "Secondary Inspection" for a more detailed interview, which is a standard procedure and not an indication of legal trouble.