Today I arrived at Newark Airport with a new passport and a new B1/B2 visa. I came before many times to the US and always stayed 6-10 weeks on my ESTA visa. But since I have so many entries I thought a proper visa would be better. And so I applied for one...
So here I am at the airport immigration. The first agent could not check me in because I used the self-scanning machines and since I have a ESTA nationality passport it could not find the ESTA. So he referred me to another agent who had the same issue.
I then was asked to go with another agent to some office in the back. I did and there it started. 'Why do I have a visa and not a ESTA?' I explained that the US embassy recommended that I get a B1/B2 visa after talking to me as it would be better for my needs.
After answering some questions why I was in the US, the attitude of the officer changed and became hostile. I told him I was there for business and told him about my meetings and the name of the clients. I even offered to give him the phone numbers. I also said that I would only stay 4 weeks max.
The officer seemed to think I was there only to pick up money and go home. He kept insisting that clients paid me in cash money but they don't. We use wire transfers and I'm not there to work just to negotiate contracts.
I told him that in the past clients did pay me cash to pay flights, hotel, car, gas and food as this is their cost.
Now the officer says I should not try bullshit him. However because I went to get a visa and tried to do the right thing he will give me entry for 1 week.
But on my passport it says B1 and also my I-94 says 180 days.
I'm unsure what to do. Do I leave after 1 week and miss out on work for me and my employees? Is the officer allowed to just change dates? If yes, can I in this week's time, appeal it somehow and sort this out?
Help would be welcome.