How To Apply for a Visa You cannot apply for a visa when you arrive at a U.S. port of entry. If your plans change between the time you get a visa and the time you want to leave for the United States, you are required by law to go back to the consulate to obtain a new visa. If you wish to enter on a Visa Waiver, simply present yourself, your passport and your ticket home to the officers you'll meet upon arrival. If you come by land through Canada or Mexico, however, you'll also be asked for proof of sufficient funds to pay for your stay. One of the worst things you can do to your chances of getting a visa or changing your immigration status in the future is to lie during the visa application process or when you are being interviewed at the U.S. border by an immigration inspector.
Lies can have both immediate and long-term consequences.
Know Your Rights Foreign nationals attempting to come to the United States, either temporarily or permanently, have very few rights during the application and screening process. Even if you suspect that you will have problems with your visa at the U.S. border, you cannot have a lawyer present to represent you when you arrive, nor are you allowed to call one if problems occur during your INS interrogation. Your bags can be searched without your permission and immigration officials can ask you almost any question. Or, in some cases, you may be allowed to appear before an immigration judge to prove that you should be allowed into the United States. If the officer is simply suspicious or you have committed a minor error, you may be allowed to appear before a judge.