Visa question of the month - Influence of Global Entry on the duration of residence status

One of our employees recently received a new E-2 visa, issued for another 5 years. She successfully entered the USA. After checking her electronic I-94 entry form, she noticed that she was only given a status for 2 weeks. The date is the end date of her old E-2 visa. This is incomprehensible to us, as she has received a new E-2 visa. However, she did not have to show this to the official on arrival, but used the accelerated entry procedure (Global Entry) as usual. What can we do?

The restriction of the residence status to the validity of the last visa is actually due to the use of the Global Entry Program. Why? Global Entry Program participants, i.e. persons who use the simplified entry into the USA on a so-called Global Entry Portal, are obliged to keep their personal information on the web-based Global Entry account up to date at all times. For example, when receiving a new passport, the relevant information in the Global Entry account should be updated.

Unfortunately, not all information can be updated via the Global Entry online portal. If a Global Entry member receives a new visa - as in the case of your employee - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must be notified personally. Your employee would therefore have to have her data reentered in the Global Entry system. The Global Entry profile is usually updated the first time the employee enters the country with the (new) visa documents directly at the airport in person at a Global Entry Enrollment Center.

If this does not happen, and we currently assume that this is the case, the old E-2 visa information is still stored in the system and your employee has therefore only received a shortened residence status.

We therefore strongly recommend the following procedure:

1. Personal appointment at the nearest Global Entry Enrollment Center
   Your employee needs to carry the old E-2 visa, the new E-2 visa including passport, her Global Entry membership number and the current I-94 entry document. CBP officers will then enter the new visa information into the system accordingly.
2. New data entry and adjustment of the I-94
   While re-entering the data in the Global Entry system, your employee should ask the CBP officers to submit a new (extended and adjusted) I-94 entry document (= residence status). Generally, CBP officers can arrange this directly.
3. Check of the Global Entry account and I-94
   Your employee should then check the Global Entry online system to ensure that all data has been entered correctly and check CBP's official I-94 website to ensure that the new I-94 (including extended stay status) has been entered correctly.

Please note that the above steps must be taken before the currently approved residence status expires so that your employee does not run the risk of generating an overstay, i.e. exceeding the approved residence period.