RETURNING AFTER FORM I-275
Can You Return to the United States After Withdrawing Your Application for Admission?
A CBP-approved withdrawal of an application for admission is different from an expedited-removal order. Withdrawal permits the traveler to depart instead of completing the alternative formal admissibility process, but it does not erase the reason CBP questioned admission or guarantee that a later application for entry will succeed.
Before Returning Determine
- Why CBP questioned admissibility
- Whether the visa was canceled
- What Form I-275 says
- Whether another inadmissibility ground was recorded
- What has changed since the withdrawal
Withdrawal Is Granted in CBP Discretion
8 C.F.R. §235.4 authorizes CBP, in its discretion, to permit certain travelers to withdraw an application for admission and depart immediately from the United States.
Withdrawal should not be treated as though CBP issued an expedited-removal order merely because the traveler was refused entry.
Form I-275 Describes Withdrawal as an Alternative to Formal Determination
Form I-275 states that the traveler requests permission to withdraw the application for admission and return abroad in lieu of a formal determination concerning admissibility through the alternative procedure identified on the form.
Withdrawal Does Not Erase the Underlying Concern
Current CBP guidance warns that an inadmissibility determination or border incident can affect future admissibility and may result in visa cancellation.
The traveler should therefore identify what issue caused CBP to permit withdrawal before attempting another trip.
Check Whether the Visa Was Canceled
An I-275 case can also involve cancellation of a visa. A traveler cannot rely on the physical visa foil if the visa was canceled or revoked.
Withdrawal Is Different From the Expedited-Removal Five-Year Bar
A withdrawal documented on Form I-275 is not itself a Form I-860 expedited-removal order. The INA §212(a)(9)(A) consequences associated with a formal arriving-alien removal order should therefore not automatically be attributed merely to the withdrawal itself.
That does not mean the traveler is automatically admissible. Separate inadmissibility grounds, visa problems or other immigration consequences may still exist.
Get the Form I-275 and Supporting Records
The withdrawal form and related secondary-inspection records can identify the reason CBP questioned admissibility and whether a visa or other document was canceled.
Prepare for a New Inspection
A later trip is a new application for admission. The traveler should be prepared to explain the earlier withdrawal truthfully and present evidence addressing the prior concern.
See Documents to Bring When Returning After a Prior Denied Entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Form I-275 mean I was deported?
Form I-275 ordinarily documents withdrawal of an application for admission and should be distinguished from Form I-860 expedited removal.
Can I return immediately after withdrawal?
There is no universal answer. The timing depends on whether the traveler still has a valid means of travel and admission and whether the underlying reason for the withdrawal has been resolved.
Does withdrawal guarantee there is no future immigration problem?
No. Withdrawal avoids the alternative formal process in that encounter, but the underlying facts, visa cancellation or separate inadmissibility issues can still affect future travel.
Primary Government Sources
These government materials provide the principal CBP inspection, visitor-intent and withdrawal rules discussed on this page.
Review the I-275 Before Planning the Next U.S. Trip
The return strategy should address the exact reason CBP questioned admission, the status of the visa and any facts that have changed since the withdrawal.