[pct-l] foreign national arriving in US for PCT. My experience yesterday with US Customs and Border Protection

[Christian]

Holy shit, that does not sound good.
I did not yet book a return flight because I don't know where/when I 
will fly back.
Although I signed a contrat to be back at work in November I have no 
English translation of it...
And my flight is on monday, so no time left to get anything :(
Hope it will work.
Christian

On 04/12/13 18:19, Gideon Scher wrote:
> Hi to all foreign nationals entering the US for the PCT. Some friendly
> words of advice after entering the US yesterday and requesting (and
> receiving) a 180 day duration of stay from US Customs and Border Protection
> (CBP).
>
> I entered yesterday at San Francisco International with a valid B1/B2
> tourist visa, arriving 2 weeks before KO to spend some time with family in
> the Bay Area. (I am aware that most PCT-ers will enter in San Diego but
> putting this out there just in case). The CBP officer referred me to a
> secondary inspection area after my request to be granted a 180 day stay to
> hike the trail. He had not heard of the PCT. In the secondary inspection
> area were two very polite CBP officers who also had not heard of the PCT.
> They did not automatically grant my request. They requested to see (1) a
> return ticket, looked at (2) printed financial bank statements proving that
> I had funds to support my hike, looked at (3) a letter from my employer at
> home regarding my eligibility to return to my job after the PCT. (4) I
> showed them my PCT permit, (5) appeared to be reassured when I told them I
> had a family member who was a citizen where I could stay if needed.
>
> Bottom line - be prepared for CBP officers who do not know about the PCT.
> Have with you *all the documents you can* that will help you get those 180
> days (and help CBP officers to help you) I suggest not to be negligent
> about this issue and not to assume that you are just gonna get the long
> stay. Of course, it goes without saying that all the CBP officers I
> encountered were polite and professional, not aggressive or intimidating.
> So that is my experience. Yours may be simpler :-)
>
> G.
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