I know I’m not the only one, though. In fact all my friends face more or less the same problems. So I’ve been thinking about posting some easy-to-follow travel guides on immigrationroad.com to hopefully make their cross-ocean journey less stressful. I already did the first one: A list of English/Chinese translations of frequently used terms around an airport, on board an airplane, and going through Customs inspections. If it turns out useful, I’ll add more content and maybe even have it translated into other languages as well.

Other than translations, I also did a few things that may have helped my parents previously. I’ll list some of them in case you haven’t thought about them:

• Fill out a sample Form I-94 so that they can simply copy all the information while completing the real I-94 card during a flight;
• Explain and translate all items on the Customs Declaration Form as well;
• Have them carry a card with your phone numbers in case of emergency;
• If they have medical conditions, have them carry a brief description (in English) with them at all times;
• Book non-stop flights if at all possible. It is easy to imagine how struggling they will be to catch a connection flight at a foreign airport, not to mention a potential delay or cancellation. I know some of you live too far from a major airport, and direct flight isn’t an option; what I meant was that if you do have a choice, even if the ticket may cost a bit more or you have to drive farther to pick them up, a non-stop flight should really be on top of your priority list.
• Send them a detailed airport map and instructions if they do have to deal with connection flights;
• Have them bring a copy of the entire itinerary with them so that airport staff may be able to help without a translator;
• Although most airlines flying to and from China will have Chinese-speaking attendants, it is not guaranteed. If this is important (they need special assistance, for example), then obviously China-based airlines would be better options. Air China and China Eastern sometimes have Chinese-speaking staff at the airport to help passengers going through Customs inspection, which is very important for first-time visitors.

If you have other tips or materials that you would like to share, please drop me a line.

Updated 4/1/2012: Added Airport Inspection Process in Simplified Chinese (and English)

With the establishment of a new Visa Pilot Program, the department plans to reduce the amount of visa interviews for certain foreign visitors, including people renewing their visas, and children or elderly first-time applicants. This will not only save foreign travellers a considerable amount of time and money, but also free up resources at Embassies and Consulates to focus on higher-risk cases. In the end, a much more streamlined visa application process for everyone.

This is, in my opinion, long overdue! Take my parents as an example, they are over 70 years old and have been to the U.S. six times in the past ten years. We have taken many out-of-state vacations together, as well as frequent weekend trips. Despite their contribution to the travel industry and their track record of never over-staying their B2 visas, they had to re-apply every couple of years. Even with automatic visa re-validation (they were eligible once or twice before), it was still a hassle. And they are even considered lucky because there is an U.S. embassy in the city they live in. Others may have to travel by train, stay at a hotel, and wait for several days just to get a B visa which they had before.

I’m glad the administration recognizes the unbelievable waste of resources on processing these low-risk applications, and are taking initiatives to improve it. The pilot program (details still to be released) is certainly a step in the right direction:

The pilot program will streamline visa processing for certain low-risk applicants, such as individuals renewing expired visas, or some categories of younger or older first-time applicants. We expect that this will benefit tens of thousands of applicants in Brazil and China; saving them time and money, and encouraging them to choose to visit the United States again. However, given that national security remains this Administration’s highest priority, individuals identified as higher-risk will remain subject to interviews – in addition to the full screening and review all visa applicants receive.

The department also provided some figures to demonstrate the economic impact of the new policy:

For example, this will make it much easier for many Chinese tourists to renew their visas – a group that spends more than $6,000 per person, per trip, according to the Department of Commerce. Over the course of the year, this policy could open as many as 100,000 interview appointments for Chinese travelers applying for visas for the first time. That increase in tourism could support as many as 1,500 travel and tourism-related jobs.

Alaska Coupon Books

Even if you are not a typical “coupon clipper,” don’t overlook the Alaska Coupon Books. They can easily save you hundreds of dollars. The one I bought is called Alaska TourSaver, priced at $99.95 on Amazon. Despite the high price, I’m glad I bought it since the first two coupons I used already recouped the book cost. If your plans include train tours, glacier cruises, flightseeing, river rafting…your savings could quickly add up with those buy-one-get-one coupons.

Some places, especially hotels, accept only a limited number of coupons per day. So again, book early if possible. The TourSaver’s website lists all the coupons in the book. You can find out beforehand if a particular activity offers a coupon, and whether there are validation or other limitations. Do not tear off the coupons just yet; many places require the entire book, with the coupon still attached, to honor the discount. Alaska Railroad, on the other hand, asked me to mail the coupons to them, which was interesting.

Other than the Tour Saver, another coupon book called Northern Lights is also quite popular. Although there are overlaps, the two books do offer different coupons. Another tip, if you’re planning a trip for later in the summer, you can probably grab a lightly used coupon book off eBay for half the price.

Best Time to Visit Alaska

Alaska is open to tourists all year round, but obviously the majority of people go during the summer. Alaska’s travel season is usually May 15 through September 15, peaking from mid-June to mid-August.

Our late July trip was during the peak season, but honestly I didn’t feel over crowded at all. The sky was light nearly all night long, air was fresh and pure, temperature was surprisingly pleasant (even at night), and nature was in full bloom. If I’m travelling to Alaska again I might choose early June or late September, just to see something different, but I wouldn’t mind any month, really.

Cruise or Fly

We thought about going for an Alaska cruise, which is certainly more comfortable and relaxing than a road trip. And cruise excursions do offer opportunities to further explore the inland. However, we decided to fly to Anchorage instead, especially since JetBlue just launched a non-stop flight from Long Beach to Anchorage in 2011. A DIY road trip can be more flexible and does allow a more up-close experience with Alaska, in my opinion.

Hotels

Being a tourism state, Alaska offers plenty of lodging options. In Anchorage, you will see luxury hotels, national chains, independent inns, and many bed-and-breakfasts scattered across the city. They are on the expensive side – roughly double the price I usually pay at similar hotels elsewhere. It is understandable, though, given that many hotels will probably only see guests one third of the time in a year.

Since we prefer suites, we quickly narrowed down our choices in Anchorage and eventually booked Homewood Suites by Hilton, through Expedia.com. It was very nice with complimentary breakfast, free wifi (that actually worked), and a tiny kitchen in the room. All the hotels we looked at offered free shuttle service too. The shuttles not only pick up and drop off guests at the airport, but also go to the train station, downtown and a few other designated locations. All we had to do was to call dispatch and a shuttle usually showed up within 10 minutes.

If you are also heading up to Denali, my recommendation is to stay at a Bed-and-Breakfast in Healy, a short drive from the park. I would avoid the pricey and over-crowded hotels at the park entrance. More on this later.

Train, Bus, Shuttle, Rental Car, RV

Although a rental car gives you flexibility and convenience, you don’t necessarily need one in Anchorage. Shuttles can take you around town, and trains/motor coaches connect Anchorage to everywhere. Alaska Railroad operates scenic train tours (slow but very comfortable) to Seward, Denali, Fairbanks and Spencer. The trains are narrated and will even slow down when noteworthy animals (bears, anyone?) are present. The schedule is also coordinated with many local tours, such as glacier cruises. You just have to try it!

We didn’t have a rental car for the first three days of our trip, then rented a minivan to drive to Denali National Park. I reserved it in mid-May, and at that time almost all rental companies were out of minivans. I eventually spotted one at Budget, but for a six-day rental, they were asking for $1700. I tried all the codes I could find from Costco or AAA, but none worked in Alaska. Just when I was about to give up and shell out the money, a coupon offered by an airline that I found online magically worked, and knocked the price to about $900. I took it without any hesitation

At Denali I saw an army of six RVs leaving the park together. They were apparently rentals. I thought that is a good idea too, especially if you have friends going with you. They aren’t cheap, but offer a unique experience. I’m actually thinking about giving it a shot, maybe at Yellowstone.

Attractions and Activities

Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, and acts as a hub to other parts of the state:

• North: Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Fairbanks
• South: Seward, Kenai Fjords, Whittier, Homer, Central Kenai Peninsula, Girdwood
• East: Valdez, McCarthy Kennicott
• Inside Passage: Juneau, Skagway, Sitka, Yakutat

Some of the most popular tourist activities include:

• Glacier and Wildlife Cruises
• Flightseeing
• Rafting, Kayaking
• Fishing
• Dog Sledding
• Northern Lights Viewing
• Hiking and Camping
• National Park Tours
• Train or Road Tours
• Marine Highway

Anchorage Weather and Rain

On our July trip the weather was very pleasant in Alaska, around 70′s during most of the day and dropping only to the 50′s at night. The weather forecast, before our trip, showed 50% chance of rain everyday, but it only hit us on the last day. Below is a chart I made based weather.com data for Anchorage:

Miscellaneous Equipment to Bring

Mosquito Repellent: We definitely heard about Alaska mosquitoes, so we brought plenty of bug repellent with us. Fortunately in the Anchorage area mosquito wasn’t a problem at all. At Denali National Park, however, we did see more than a few and the battery-powered mosquito repeller we brought helped (kids somehow didn’t like the spray-on type of repellent). The bed-and-breakfast hotel we stayed at sit deep in a wooded area, and had a pond nearby, so yes, there were plenty of mosquitoes.

Binoculars: Good binoculars make glacier cruises, bird viewing and bear searching more enjoyable. I would recommend them. Some day cruises also loan binoculars to passengers if they don’t have their own.

Portable GPS: If your rental car isn’t equipped with GPS, a portable one does come in handy. However, the highway system in Alaska is the easiest to navigate through compared to every other state I’ve been to. I would recommend one for the peace of mind, but you probably won’t need it much.

Lots of storage for your photos and videos: I brought a laptop (primarily for this reason) and was glad I did. I had to transfer images and videos off our cameras and camcorder everyday. In the end I managed to come home with about 50GB of digital files – a lot more than I expected.

Don’t worry if you forget anything; shopping is very easy in Anchorage. The Costco we visited had some huge fishing nets for sale – now that is convenient.

Last year we spent our summer vacation in Alaska. For a family that tends to choose nature over big cities, the trip was truly amazing and unforgettable. I always wanted to write something (sort of like a user review), or just post some photos, but never got to it until the other day when I talked about fee-free entrance days in the national parks.

I realized that if you are thinking about visiting Alaska in 2012, the time to start planning is about now. Alaska is a busy and expensive place to visit during peak travel seasons, so it pays off to get a head start. In the next few posts I’ll talk more about the trip, and along the way provide my personal reviews, a few tips and of course lots of pictures.

Our itinerary, although not perfect, worked out quite well for us. As a family of six (grandparents, two kids, wife and me), we felt that we experienced Alaska as much as we could, without feeling exhausted or rushed. We certainly missed some “adventurous” activities, but no regrets whatsoever.

• Day 1: Fly to Alaska on JetBlue (non-stop Long Beach to Anchorage), check in with Homewood Suite
• Day 2: Anchorage downtown, local fair, Anchorage Zoo
• Day 3: Alaska Railroad 5-hr train tour to Seward, Major Marines 3-hr Wildlife Cruise, same train back to Anchorage
• Day 4: Pick up rental car, drive to Whittier, take 6-hr glacier cruise by 26Glaciers, back to Anchorage
• Day 5: Drive to Denali National Park, check in at Faith Hill Bed-and-Breakfast
• Day 6: Take Denali’s 8-hr Tundra Wilderness Bus Tour
• Day 7: Denali Wilderness Center, Sled Dog Show, Savage River
• Day 8: Return to Anchorage
• Day 9: ULU factory tour, local parks, evening flight back to Long Beach

Now off to trip planning.

Some national parks don’t charge an entrance fee, but others do. However, every year those parks that usually charge a fee will be open for free on given days. For 2012, the fee-free days are listed below:

• January 14-16 (Martin Luther King Jr. weekend)
• April 21-29 (National Park Week)
• June 9 (Get Outdoors Day)
• September 29 (National Public Lands Day)
• November 10-12 (Veterans Day weekend)

Below is the USCIS email message:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the new I-766 Combo card. We have had recent reports the Beijing Entry/Exit bureau was not recognizing the validity of the new card. Please be advised that the United States Embassy provided a formal notification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Public Security on December 20, 2011. We believe this will eliminate any confusion as to the validity of the new Advance Parole cards.

Please note that the card must either state: “Valid for Reentry to the U.S.”, or” Serves as I-512 Advance Parole”, to be a valid advance parole document and in order to allow travel to the United States.

Thanks,

Sincerely,

USCIS, Beijing China

Update 12/23/2011: Confirmed by Beijing Station of Exit and Entry Inspection that the combo EAD/AP card is now accepted as valid travel document.

I called the Beijing station (8610-58105400) and a gentleman answering the phone confirmed such policy. He said they were instructed not to allow a traveler to board his/her flight if the sole proof of eligibility for entering the U.S. is the combo EAD/AP card. And in order for them to accept the combo card, the U.S. government must notify China, through official channels, to establish them as valid travel documents.

With the holiday season just around the corner, this is certainly shocking news. Many Chinese nationals may have plans to visit families in China with their EAD/AP card. Also because of recent visa bulletin movement, a large number of people just recently became eligible to file I-485 (along with EAD and AP), and were excited that they could finally visit China after a few years of visa retrogression. Although people could use non-immigrant visas to re-enter the U.S., advance parole (AP) is supposed to be a much easier and safer way for travel.

There is no indication when the Beijing Station will begin to accept EAD/AP combo cards, and there is no published information from either the Chinese or the U.S. government with regard to this issue.

If your trip to China is coming up, you may want to monitor the situation closely. If you’re already in China, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in your area, or a USCIS local office if available, as soon as possible to seek assistance. Some reported on the internet that other cities in China, such as Shanghai, did accept the combo card. But this could change without notice.

I don’t think this particular issue will last long, but you never know. I’ll update this post as soon as I hear anything. In the mean time, good luck and travel safely.

Update 1 (12/20/2011): U.S. Embassy Sent Official Notification to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Public Security on December 20, 2011.

According to a recent article from AAA, on a 90-degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle can climb to 130 degrees within just a few minutes. Parking in the shade, tinted windows or leaving some windows cracked open doesn’t doesn’t help if the car is closed.

Many states, such as California, have enacted laws to prevent such tragedies. An adult driver will be held liable for leaving children unattended inside a motor vehicle, when there are conditions that could put the children’s safety at risk. Such conditions include hot weather, leaving the engine running or leaving keys in the ignition. If you see a child locked in a hot car, call 911 for emergency assistance.

What is so sad about these fatalities is that they are all preventable. A parent may decide to leave the kids inside a car while she uses the ATM machine, expecting to be back in a minute. Then the ATM isn’t working, and she has to go inside and get cash from a teller. Then the quick run turns into a long wait because a person in front of her has problems with his account …… so the best practice is, never leave a child unattended inside a car, not even for a minute.

Another common case is that the driver simply forgot the child in the back seat. I remember reading a story a few years ago about a father going to work, leaving a sleeping baby inside his car in the parking lot. AAA suggests that people should train themselves to always check the backseat before exiting their vehicle.

Many families are now planning for summer vacations or road trips. I just wanted to wish everyone a good time, and please stay safe.

Form I-131 can be used to apply for either a Reentry Permit or Advance Parole (AP), for which the “Class of Admission” requires different information.

If you are using I-131 to apply for a reentry permit, which means you already have a green card, Class of Admission is asking for the three-letter code representing your immigrant category under which you became a permanent resident. This is the same code as we discussed in the I-90 post mentioned above.

If you are using I-131 to apply for Advance Parole, which means you are not yet a permanent resident, Class of Admission is asking for your non-immigrant visa you last used to enter the U.S. This is usually, but not always, a two-letter code you get at the port of entry. For example, F1, B2, H1, TN, etc.

However, if you entered the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa but later changed your status to another non-immigrant category (F1 to H-1B, e.g.), this is where confusion arises. In this case, should you put your last or current status as your “Class of Admission”? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer, and USCIS hasn’t clarified the situation. I personally prefer using the last status, since that is what “admission” refers to. But I think it is Ok to put either one. I know some people have filled in both, such as “F1 then H-1B,” which seems to be acceptable too. If you have doubt, ask your attorney. But depending on whom you ask, you may get a different answer each time. The good news is, USCIS hasn’t made a big fuss about it, so it is probably no big deal to them whether you choose to use your last or current status.

Below is an excerpt from the Canadian immigration authority’s website with regard to Visitor Visa Exemptions:

persons lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who are in possession of their alien registration card (Green card) or can provide other evidence of permanent residence

If you are staying in the United States under a non-immigrant status, such as F-1, B-2 or H-1, you do need to obtain a visitor visa before travelling to Canada, if your country is on the list that requires visas. You may have heard of the “30-day rule (Automatic Revalidation),” but don’t confuse it with entering Canada because it is only referring to your return to the United States.

If you are already a U.S. citizen, you don’t need a visa to visit Canada or a long list of other countries. The Department of State publishes extensive country-specific information, including entry/exit requirements, for U.S. passport holders planning to travel abroad.

The new card is essentially an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with added text that reads, “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole.” And just like current EAD, the new card will be issued with one or two-year validity.

From the released Q&A, it doesn’t appear that applying for the combo EAD/AP card would save money, or the hassle of applying for such documents. Rather, it would offer convenience since an applicant no longer has to maintain two separate documents, especially paper-based Advance Parole.

If you already have EAD and/or AP, you may renew them and get the new card instead if you meet certain requirements listed below:

Q7. What if I already have an EAD or an Advance Parole document?
A7. If your Advance Parole document and EAD card have different expiration dates, you may only receive this card if both documents have less than 120 days of validity left, or if the EAD has less than 120 days of validity left and the Advance Parole document is for a single entry only. If you decide to file for this card by filing Forms I-765 and I-131 simultaneously, do not apply more than 120 days before your current EAD expires. The validity period for the EAD and Advance Parole card will begin on the date of the adjudication of the Forms I-765 and I-131.

You may still apply for separate documents if you wish to do so. Some people choose to renew only EAD, but not AP, for example.

The combo EAD/AP card is still new – USCIS just made the announcement today – so there is still unanswered questions with regard to the issuance of this document. We’ll post more details later on.

In 2006, 24.5% of B visa applications, including B1, B2 and B1/B2, were rejected in China. In FY2010, the refusal rate was down to 13.3%. See the curve below for more details.

First of all, I had always thought that the rejection rate would be much higher than 20 some percent, based on anecdotal evidence I gathered throughout the years. But I’m willing to trust DOS’ statistical data.

I forgot where I read it, but State officials commented on this very subject, claiming that there was no policy change or memo to intentionally grant more visas to Chinese visitors. And U.S. embassies and consulates have been maintaining the same standards while reviewing B visa applications. It wouldn’t be a bad policy though. The US’ gloomy economy could definitely use a few dollars brought in by foreign tourists. Chinese travelers, especially those wealthy enough to visit the United States, have a reputation of being big spenders. It sounds like a perfect win-win situation to me.

Another possible explanation for the continued drop in refusal rate is that China’s tremendous growth in recent years has changed people’s perspectives. For many Chinese, it is no longer an attractive option to ‘immigrate’ to the United States by over-staying their visas. Consulate officers may have noticed the shift, and adjusted accordingly by granting more visas to legitimate visitors.

Now the question for Chinese travelers is, does it feel like easier to get a visitor visa?

Now there is good news. Next time you might be able to bypass the long lines and get out of the airport a bit more quickly.

The Global Entry Program from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been expanded to now include 20 international airports across the United States. Participants in the program may use self-service kiosks, much like ATM or self-checkout machines, to complete customs and passport control. According to CBP, “Global Entry is a traveler’s ticket to get out of line.”

Not everyone is eligible for Global Entry though. Only U.S. citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals from certain countries may apply to enroll in this program. After $100, a thorough background check, and an in-person interview with a CBP officer, you will be granted a 5-year membership if your application is approved.

If you are accepted, here is what you will do when you arrive at the airport:

• Bypass passport control lines and proceed to the Global Entry Kiosk
• Scan your passport and fingerprints
• Answer Declaration questions
• Take receipt to expedited exit point

Designated airports include LAX, JFK, SFO, BOS, among others. Check out the CBP brochure for complete list of participating airports and detailed instructions on how to apply.

But apparently an Immigration Road does exist!

It is a street in the downtown area of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), near Dubai. There are restaurants, shopping malls, business centers, and of course hotels, such as the Jormand Hotel Sharjah located at the intersection of King Faisal Street and Immigration Road. From what I read online, it is quite a popular area attracting many tourists.

We haven’t found an Immigration Road in the United States yet. But there are two Immigration Streets, one in Charleston, South Carolina; the other in Moyie Springs, Idaho.

When ImmigrationRoad.com was first created, I was actually wondering why there are so few roads named Immigration. Given the consensus that The United States of America is a nation built by immigrants, it is somewhat surprising, especially compared with the number of freeways named after politicians.

Maybe eventually a little more will be done to honor the contribution of millions of immigrants, like naming the newly-developed back road Immigration Lane or something. And chances are, the family that just bought the house on the corner, happen to be immigrants.