Q: Dear SRW Border Lawyers,

Last month Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") issued an expedited removal order against me at the Peace Bridge port-of-entry. I was charged as inadmissible under both INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i) and INA § 212(a)(7)(i)(I).

I work for a U.S. based test prep company in Canada, but on more than one occasion I have entered the United States for additional training. I was compensated for my participation in these training sessions. Last month, I tried to enter the U.S. to attend a training session and teach a test prep course, but I was not allowed to enter and told by CBP that I needed employment documents because I was being compensated for my time. Against my better judgment, I attempted to enter the U.S. at another port-of-entry, the Peace Bridge, the following day.

During questioning at the Peace Bridge, I told the inspecting officer that I was entering the U.S. to go shopping. I was eventually pulled over and placed in a room where I was questioned further.  CBP officers searched my phone and found emails discussing the course that I was going to teach and how much I was going to be paid. The officer’s told me about the emails they found and then issued an expedited removal order against me.

How will this expedited removal order affect my ability to travel to the United States?

A: Based on your question, it appears that you were expedited removed under both INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i) and INA § 212(a)(7)(i)(I).  Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), a foreign national is inadmissible under INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i) if he or she seeks to procure (or has sought to procure or has procured) a visa, other documentation, or admission into the U.S. or other benefit provided under the INA by fraud or willful misrepresention of a material fact. Furthermore, a foreign national is inadmissible under INA § 212(a)(7)(i)(I) if he or she applies for admission without a valid unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing identification card, or other valid entry document required by the INA, and a valid unexpired passport, or other suitable travel document, or document of identity and nationality if such document is required.

Individuals who are removed from the U.S. by the expedited removal process are barred from reentering the United States for a five-year period. Pursuant to INA § 235(b)(1)(A)(i), individuals removed are not entitled to a hearing before an Immigration Judge (unless the individual seeks asylum under INA § 208). If, however, an individual stopped by an immigration officer is allowed to withdraw his or her application for admission (INA § 235(a)(4)), an expedited removal order will not be lodged and there will be no five-year bar. Only individuals order removed under INA § 235(b) are subject to the five-year bar. 

A charge of fraud or willful misrepresentation under INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i) creates a lifetime bar for entering the United States. What this means is that an individual charged under this provision will be permanently barred from the U.S., unless they are granted a waiver. Therefore, even after the expiration of the 5-year bar, an individual charged with fraud or willful misrepresentation will still be barred unless they are granted a waiver.

I would encourage you to call our office to discuss all of your options. In cases where it was appropriate, we have had a strong record of attacking fraud charges and having them removed because they were improperly issued. For cases where removing the charge is not an option, however, we have been very successful in acquiring INA § 212(d)(3)(A)(i) and Form I-192 waivers. If you wish to enter prior to the expiration of the 5-year bar, we can also discuss a Form I-212, Application for Admission after Removal.

In the meantime, to learn more about the expedited removal process, INA § 212(d)(3)(A)(i) and Form I-192 waivers, and the Form I-212, Application for Admission After Removal, please visit our website.