US airport entry · CBP inspection · Immigration counsel
Get experienced immigration counsel before you travel or after a problem with Customs and Border Protection. We help people facing secondary inspection, denied entry, visa issues and expedited removal.
Consultations by phone or in person by appointment · US immigration representation nationwide
Two reasons to contact us
Airport inspection problems do not all have the same legal consequences. Our work begins with identifying the actual concern and evaluating the available options.
01 / An airport problem has already occurred
We assess the CBP encounter, determine whether a withdrawal, removal order or inadmissibility finding was issued, and advise on lawful next steps.
02 / You are planning travel
We review potential admissibility problems before departure, help you understand the risks and plan the documentation and legal strategy appropriate to your circumstances.
Focused immigration representation
Whether the concern is an upcoming inspection or a past refusal, meaningful advice requires the right legal analysis, not a scripted answer for CBP.
Examine immigration history, visa classification, prior CBP findings and supporting records. Identify potential inadmissibility or status issues before another attempted entry.
Meet by appointment or speak with the firm by phone to discuss your circumstances, immediate concerns, documents and possible legal responses.
Review notices, travel records, statements and decisions from an airport encounter, including the distinction between withdrawal of admission and expedited removal.
Evaluate record requests, visa applications, permission to reapply, nonimmigrant waivers or other remedies where the facts and applicable law support them.
Yes. Our firm may be able to assist while a traveler is undergoing secondary inspection at a US airport. Depending on the circumstances and CBP procedures, we may be able to communicate with the traveler or CBP officers, address immigration concerns, and provide guidance to family members or companions.
Contact our firm as soon as possible at (305) 515-0613 so we can assess the situation and determine what assistance is available.
Know what the paperwork means
CBP decisions can have very different effects on future travel. The exact form, legal ground and decision matter.
Additional CBP questioning or document review. Referral does not by itself establish fraud, inadmissibility or a removal order.
CBP may permit a traveler to withdraw an application for admission and depart instead of receiving a removal order. Permission is discretionary, and other immigration consequences may remain.
A formal removal process under INA §235(b)(1) in qualifying cases. A removal order may trigger restrictions on future admission and require a careful review of available relief.
A canceled visa, alleged misrepresentation or other inadmissibility ground must be evaluated separately. The appropriate strategy depends on the specific legal finding and travel history.
A documented immigration practice
The Messersmith Law Firm has represented immigration clients since 2002. Browse published government immigration decisions to learn more about the firm's broader case experience.
Preparing for a consultation
We can provide more focused guidance when we know what the traveler applied for, what CBP asked and what documents were issued.
Passport, current and past visas, travel history, I-94 records, immigration approval notices, relevant criminal case dispositions and an explanation of any earlier airport encounter.
Any Form I-275, Form I-860, sworn statement, visa cancellation notation, boarding or departure record, CBP paperwork, and a dated account of what occurred. Not every traveler receives every document.
Airport-specific guidance
CBP applies federal immigration law at airports nationwide. Explore our existing airport pages for location-specific information, or contact the firm directly about your situation.
Common traveler questions
Understanding the decision is the first step toward an informed immigration strategy.
Yes. A valid visa generally allows travel to request admission, but CBP separately evaluates eligibility for admission at the port of entry. Secondary inspection can be used for additional questioning or document review.
No. Secondary inspection is a further inspection process, not itself a denial or removal order. CBP may admit the traveler after reviewing the circumstances, or take another action.
Yes. Our firm offers telephone consultations and in-person meetings by appointment to review prior immigration events, documents and potential admission issues before travel.
Yes. Depending on CBP procedures and the circumstances, an attorney may be able to assist during secondary inspection, including communicating with the traveler or CBP when permitted. Family members or companions can also contact our firm to discuss the situation and available next steps.
A permitted withdrawal of an application for admission is not itself an expedited removal order. Expedited removal is a formal removal action. Both can affect future travel, and the CBP record must be reviewed.
The legal effect depends on what CBP actually determined, the visa cancellation notation and any inadmissibility ground cited. We can examine the records and consider visa, waiver or other options where appropriate.
Yes. An immigration consultation can be conducted by phone. We can review available CBP records, analyze the finding and advise whether further records, a visa application, a waiver or another legal step may be appropriate.
Call (305) 515-0613 or use the firm's consultation page . Telephone and in-person consultations are available by appointment.
When your entry into the US matters
Whether CBP has already questioned you or you want to prepare for an upcoming arrival, we can assess the immigration issues and help you determine what to do next.