And certainly not copping an attitude with immigration official when entering the country is a huge plus. I have witnessed self proclaimed tough guys trying to be a smart ass with officials upon entry and then wonder what all of the fuss was about. Being polite and having your paperwork in order when it is your turn at the desk works wonders.
I got to see first hand what obnoxious travelers with attitudes can look forward to when I went thru Miami last time. They are destined to visit the room with no windows and be detained to the point of missing their connection. These guys got what they deserved and I am not sure the airline hadn't notified the officials prior to landing because these guys were piss ants the entire flight from Cent. Amer.
What the heck, I'll bite.
It was a rhetorical question---it wasn't intended to spark a discussion. US immigration laws may be arcane but they are not unique, at least when compared to immigration laws of other developed nations. If you look at statutory grounds for inadmissibility, it is obvious why a B-2 visa should not be a 10 year free pass to enter.
I also would be interested in reading any reliable source information that supports the position that low level/front line immigration officers arbitrarily deny entry to non-immigrant visa holders. It is difficult to define the limits of discretion, but anyone who thinks there are not written protocols and guidelines instructing officers how to exercise their discretion is simply naive.
It is equally naive to think that the officer at the inspection station (particularly at an international airport) makes a decision to deny entry and no one higher up in the food chain gets involved. It is a much more structured process than that.
Officers who routinely dick with entering visitors and set the cumbersome and time consuming exclusion process in motion because they had a fight with their spouse or their dog died that morning are destined for a short career. The immigration bureaucracy does not reward those who create unneccessary extra work for others. As someone noted, they don't usually get worked up unless they think something is amiss
I also would be interested in reading any reliable source information that supports the position that low level/front line immigration officers arbitrarily deny entry to non-immigrant visa holders.
Classified. National Security. Ask again and you'll be searched and imprisoned.
Ask a stupid question....
#10 and #11 are both correct.
While I've never experienced 'denied entry' visiting friends and I (all legal) have been subject to some long waits in windowless rooms, missed flights and property (ie luggage) damage even when being polite. As #11 says they will pass it up the chain if there is doubt, but honesty and laws have to date always prevailed.
To the OP's question however, a one-way ticket is (understandably) a red flag that will warrant investigation. If your status and motives are honest you will likely prevail, but you should be prepared for Q&A.
fyi: one way tickets are these days usually marked SSSS in the system (=experience-not material information!), its on your ticket and onward passenger ID. That translates to 'expect scrutiny!'
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