Parents planned 5-month US stay, allowed only 2 months as father has job in India: NRI shares entry experience, seeks advice

An NRI shared the questions his parents faced while entering the US, claiming their permitted stay was reduced to just two months despite having a return ticket booked for five months later.

The parents had travelled from Hyderabad to Miami on Qatar Airways to be present for the birth of their grandchild. However, after being referred to secondary inspection at the port of entry (POE), they were questioned about the length of their planned stay.

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Parents issued I-94 for only two months

"My parents traveled today from Hyderabad to Miami on Qatar Airways. They have a return ticket booked in five months for Feb 11. However, at POE, the first officer referred them to secondary inspection along with many other people and the officer there asked why do they need 5 months of stay when my father has a job in India," the post said.

The NRI added that his parents were issued an I-94 allowing them to stay for only two months. The officer also reportedly wrote that there would be no adjustment, change or extension of status and that they would have to leave the US by November 5.

The person sought advice on the situation and asked whether there was any legal remedy.

"Please help because they're here for the birth of our baby, and now they would have to leave just before the birth if there's no possibility to extend their stay legally," the person wrote.

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'Not much can be done': Social media users respond

Several social media users said that since the officer had reportedly specified that there would be no extension, the parents would have to leave the US by the date mentioned.

Users also warned that overstaying could have serious consequences and potentially affect their ability to enter the US in the future.

One user suggested that parents should not travel to the US specifically to help with a newborn.

"Please ensure your parents are not here to help with the baby. While that’s normal, it’s considered, in the eyes of USCIS, as work that is being taken away from an American worker. They may have said they were here to help with the baby and that was red flag to the officer. Also if this is their first trip then 5 months was too long to request. Several shorter trips first before a long one is the only route nowadays," the user wrote.