an activist from Sudan

The asylum officer asked:
-who prepared your application?
-can you answer each question on page one of I-589?
Can you answer each question on page four?
=
So, you did health education for women in your country?
Why do you care about this subject? when did you first get interested?
Why is this important to you?
Why does the government dislike this subject?
When did you start working in this area?
why did you decide to work for them, instead of some other organization?
=
What did  you do in your job? [what would a movie camera record you doing?]
what did you tell people? pretend I am a woman in a village. What would you say to me?
=
were you harmed in your country? how/when/why?
  OK, in 2006, you were detained for three hours, but what was the harm? did you suffer emotional harm at this time?
Did  you suffer physical harm? were you hit or slapped or punched?
=
  OK, in 2012, you were detained again for 6 hours. any physical harm? any hitting?
What words did the guard say?
what language did he speak in?
What thoughts went thru your mind when he said those things?
=
Why did you depart from your country?
What was your plan?
when did you decide, "I shall live in USA forever, and never return to my country"?
Why does  your government hate United Nations workers?
were any similarly-situated persons [i.e. other UN workers] harmed?
=
after your arrival here in USA, did government look for you? why?
What were your public activities here in USA?
Did  your family suffer any harm, since you left?
you had problems in City #1 and #2. OK, so why not live in #3?
Is there anything else?

activist from Egypt

The Asylum Officer asked:
-show me your passport!
tell me the date of birth of each of your children
what was your last address in your country?
You were arrested in September 2013? why?
what were your activities before your arrest?
WHAT COMPLAINTS DID YOU HAVE AGAINST YOUR GOVERNMENT?
=
you protested on 7/5/12?  what was it like that day? what was it like to be there that day?
Why did you, personally, decide to protest that day?
How did you join the party?
Tell me the process. Take me through the day: what would a camera have recorded? you walked into a building, and talked to a man at a desk?

did you ever have problems with the police before that day?
When you received the news, what did you think?
How did the police get your address?
Why wasn't your sister arrested? why your father not arrested?
=
why were you arrested?
Why were you shot?
If you had to return to your country, would you continue in politics?
Why would you be arrested upon your return?
When you departed from your country, why were  you not arrested at the airport?
=
Tell me all of your international travels!
Could  you obtain permanent resident status in any other country?
is there anything else?
is there any other reason why your government wants to arrest you?

what happened after man from Nepal sent certified mail to his Ambassador in Washington DC?

May 2014:  Mr. N, from Nepal, suffered no physical harm in his country.
He came to USA, and wrote a letter of complaint and criticism to the Nepal ambassador, who has an office in Washington DC.  He sent the letter by certified mail, attaching PS Form 3811 to the envelope.

PS Form 3811 is green, and is about the same size as a post card. It goes to the address, and someone there signs it, and gives it back to the Post Office. The Post Office then sends it to the man who wrote the letter.

The asylum officer asked, "Did the ambassador actually receive your letter?"
Mr. N showed the signed PS Form 3811 to the officer.

He was granted asylum.[Arlington Asylum Office, May 2014]

activist from cameroon, #2

The Assistant Chief Counsel asked:
 -why is anyone in your country still interested in you?
-your wife is a Bamileke? she lives in the exact same house as  you did, 8 years ago?
So, the government knows exactlly where she lives? and the government has not talked to her in the past 3 years?  They have forgotten about her, correct?

[we have been in court for two hours; zero questions about punching in prison and threats, instead, lots of questions about international travel and family members?]
=
tell me about current affairs in your country today? how many seats does the government party have in the legislature?
   what is the CDPF? what is the RDPC?
-your son goes to a public university? the government is giving a benefit to your son? so, the Government does not hate your family, correct?
=
when you talk, how much does the interpreter understand? 90%? so, what should you do? speak slower, and have long pauses, so he can interpret one sentence by one sentence?

"militant" is an English word? in USA, it means an angry person, who perhaps throws rocks?
-in your country, "militant" means just a member, not an angry member?
=
"chain of custody" what does this mean?
it means: what person had the letter, or had control of the letter, for every day from its creation to the present

an activist from Cameroon

IJ asked: "does the asylum applicant have ties to a community here in USA?
Why would Biya want to kill you?
you departed from your country 8 years ago; he has forgotten you, correct?
Why would he still be angry?
How are you different from the other Bamileke? how come they are not dead?
What is the program of the government party?
What is the program of your party?
When were you arrested, and how long were you held?
When were you arrested the second time, and how long were you held?
RTDC + Return To Dangerous Country
how many times did you RTDC?
Tell me about all of your international travel!
is each stamp in your passport important?
you were too busy to review your passport, before coming to court today?
=
you traveled to USA in 2007, but did not apply for asylum at that time? why not?
You went to France in 2008, but did not apply for asylum there, either? why not?
=
where is the original passport?
[Ij holds it in his hands, and studies it in silence]
=
if  you speak in six long sentences, can the interpreter get everything, and repeat it all in English?
=
Why not flee from your country sooner, and more quickly?
Why not seek asylum sooner, and more quickly?
Why didn't you apply for asylum in Cote DiVoire?

Bamileke group in Cameroon

Milton Krieger says: "Mr. Biya is a Bulu ethnic, which is related to the Beti group.
 -the Bamileke is the largest ethnic group in Cameroon
-the government of Cam. does many things "just for foreign consumption"
-"Impunity underpins persistent abuse"
it is a "failed state"

Christian from Sudan, #3

More questions:

Why was the father upset?
Why was the guard upset?
What did the man know about you? how did he find that out?
=
you departed from your country, which you say is very dangerous? But then  you voluntarily returned to it?
Why?
=
The officer made a threat to you in February? but you did not depart from your country until October?
Why the delay? why not flee immediately?
Did you have any difficulty getting your passport?
=
Why did you voluntarily return to the [dangerous] country? you returned and lived there in peace for six months in 2013? OK, so, if you return to your country tomorrow, why not the same? i.e. six months of peace?

Your Declaration is just three pages long? but you can't repeat it? you were too busy to read it again, before today?
Why did you depart from your country?
The government stamped an exit permit into your passport? why? I thought they hated you, and wanted to kill you?
=
Why did you return, yet again, to your country in January 2014?
What should the smart person wear to the asylum office? will your lawyer be wearing a coat and tie?
Will the officer be wearing a tie? you want to be the same, or different, from these people?
=
Wouldn't the police protect you from the father?
Can't you live in another, far away city?
Tell me about ALL of your international travel! Why didn't you prepare a chart?
Is there anything else?

Christian from Sudan #2

More questions:
-does DS-160 ask these questions, and do you remember your answers?
      "what address will you stay at, in the USA?
      "who is paying for this trip?
      "how long will you stay in USA?
    "who will you travel with?
      "what is your current job? what is your monthly salary?
       "what is your home address? phone number at home?
       "what is  your father's name? DOB? where is he now?
      "what is your mother's name? DOB? where is he now?
        "what is your previous travel to USA? did you ever have a visa?
       "Where will you live in USA? where will you study?
        "what relatives do you have in USA?
         " did anyone assist you in preparing this application?
         "have you ever been arrested?
         "have you ever been arrested?
        "have you ever helped anyone else get a visa to the USA?

a Christian from Sudan

The asylum officer asked:
-who helped you prepare your application?
how often have you entered the USA?
-when did you last leave your country? why is this wrong on page 1 of I-589?
-do you know what each stamp in your passport means?
-you say your government hates you, but I see from your passport they gave you an exit permit?
-what was your last address in your country?
-where does each brother and sister live, and what is their immigration status there?
=
Why are  you applying for asylum?
Why is  your government angry at you?
Why is Mr. Mustapha, who does not work for government, angry at you?
=
Are you really a Christian? where is baptism certificate?
What are your religious beliefs?What is a Roman Catholic?
What is the Old Testament? do you know the names of any of the books in the Old Testament?
Did you go to church in your country?
What was the name of your church?
What does it look like on the inside?
What is on the walls?
=
do you go to church in the USA?
What is the name of it? you don't know?
Why don't you know the name of your church?
When did you last attend this church?
What did the priest talk about?
=
You say you had a Muslim girlfriend?
When did you first meet? how did you meet?
Did you ever meet members of her family?
What were her religious practices?
did she attend a mosque? what was the name?
Why don't you know the name of the mosque?
=
the father of your girlfriend was upset? why?
According to the father, what had you done?
After the father made a threat, you had what emotions?
=
to get your visa, you filled out a four-page form, DS-160?

activist from Ethiopia

The Judge asked:
Why did  you protest inside the USA?
Why did you come to USA?
Why did you depart from your country?
Why does your government think you are an enemy?
How many times were you arrested? why were you arrested the first time?
Why were you arrested the second time?
=
Why did you submit photos of scars on your back?
Why did the guard hit you?
=
what did you tell the US Embassy in your country to get your visa?
Did you answer four pages of questions? does the Court have a copy of the four pages, along with your answers?
When was your interview at the Embassy? when did you get your visa?
=
can you return to your country today? why not?
Why would your government want to hurt you?
Did you engage in any political activity here in USA? why?
did you join an organization here in USA? who organized the protests in front of your Embassy?
=
How active were you in the organization? besides attending meetings, did you do anything else?
Did you tell lies to get your visa?

denied for vague answers

The following answers annoyed the asylum officer: asylum was denied.

What were your political activities in your country?
     "I attended meetings."
What was discussed at the meetings?
    "human rights."
What do you mean?
    "you know, like unfairness."
What did you do?
    "I created party awareness"
= =
you say you suffered great harm, but you did not go to the doctor?
Why not flee immediately?  you say you were harmed in January; you did not depart your country until December?
Your government hates you? but it did not arrest you at the airport, as  you departed?

woman from Saudi Arabia

The Asylum Officer asked this of the woman from Saudi Arabia:
-did anyone help you fill out this application?
can you repeat all the info on page 1 of I-589?  on page 4?
What is your political opinion?
How did you first become interested in this problem?
When did you first become active and involved?
you joined the group in 2008? why not join it in 2007?
how did you express  yourself?
why did you change from one activity to another?
=
Tell me about all of your international travel: when and why did you go to each country?
why weren't you arrested at the airport upon departure?
how were  you able to re-new  your passport?
you departed from your country, and then you voluntarily returned to it? why? weren't you afraid?
-why didn't  you flee from your "dangerous" country earlier?
why did n't you seek asylum earlier? you applied in the year 2014; why not apply in the year 2013?
What would happen if you return to your country?
Who is it, exactly, that you fear? do you fear more than one person?
How has your country treated other human rights activists?
you had problems in the capitol city; OK, so why not go live in city #2 or in city #3?
Where are the original documents?
is there anything else?

an activist from Togo was able to answer all of these questions from the Judge

1. YOUR FAMILY
where does husband live now, what does he do?
each brother and sister: live where, do what?
mother lives where, does what?
father, lives where, does what?
each of your children: live where, do what?
   Did any of these people suffer harm? please tell me what the harm was, and MONTH/YEAR/CITY

2. YOUR EDUCATION
did you get a bachelor's degree?
3. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
for the last ten years, what jobs have you held?
when you quit your last job, what did you tell your employer? [did you tell him you were going to depart from the country and seek asylum in the USA?  did you lie to your employer, as you departed?]
4. YOUR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
tell me about all of your travel to other countries:
   2003: went to Ghana for 6 weeks to visit friend    2004: went to DRC for two weeks on business
= =
5.  ARRESTS: HOW MANY TIMES WERE  YOU ARRESTED AND DETAINED?

6. YOUR FIRST ARREST
where were  you at the moment of your arrest? what time was it? what were you doing? who was with you?
You are marching on the street, chanting slogans and holding large signs?
   how did you travel to the protest?
what were you protesting? what was the basis of the protest?
    Soldeir #1 hit you, on the street? what was he wearing? what weapons did he have? what language did he speak? what words did he say?
-did  you suffer any harm, at his hands?
-at that time, were any of your friends close by, and saw what happened?
did that friend write a declaration for you? why not? did you ask that person?


a] travel from the street to the police building
        how did you travel? they put you in a truck?  did anyone hit you, during the travel?
were you abused during the travel?
b] at the police building
-what happened? were you hit?
what questions did they ask?
what were your injuries?
= = = =
DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS?
what were your injuries from 2007-2010?
from 2011-2012?

PASSPORT
how did you get your passport? did you have any problems getting it?
did you have to pay a bribe to get it? why did you want a passport?
-if your government was angry at you, why would it give you a passport?

VISA AT US EMBASSY
when did you get a visa? what day? what was the process? did you tell lies to get it?
-did you fill out DS-160, five pages long, and answer lots of questions?

DID YOU JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY?
name? what was its platform
did  you hold a leadership position?
what did you do, specifically? who did you talk to? where?
=
what was your last contact with your family?
what would happen if you return?

an activist from Cameroon

The Asylum Officer asked:

-did you earlier, apply for a visa? what did you say on Form DS-160?
your ethnic group?
is there an error on Page 1 of I-589? your lawyer was too busy to double-check?
Where is your husband today? does he suffer anything?
where is child #1 today? does he have any problems?
Why don't you want to return to your country?
Why were you imprisoned?
What did you oppose? your government did what, that you did not like?
=
why did you protest for the first time? what events led you to want to protest?
Why did you protest?
how did you get released from your first detention?
how were  you treated in detention?
why was the journalist arrested?
=
why did you join the UDC?  what is their platform?
why did you distribute pamphlets?
=
what questions did they ask  you in prison?
What did they do for at the hospital?
Why were you released from prison?
What motivated you to continue to protest?
didn't  you fear getting arrested again?
Why were you arested?
who else was arrested? you were put into a cell with whom?
Why did you decide to depart from your country?
why did you decide to apply for asylum?
what would happen if you return to your country?
where did you protest in the USA?
is there anything else?  you have nightmares? why?
is there anything else?

Ukranian loses

The Asylum Officer wrote a Notice of Intent to Deny:

1. you were beaten and hospitalized twice; however, you had no permanent injuries. Your physical injuries are not lasting.
2. your psychological harm is minor. You did not see a therapist in USA; no nightmares.
3. you came to USA in October 2012; and then you voluntarily returned to the country you say is dangerous.
4. no one in your family has suffered. They are the same ethnic group, aren't they?
5 . you did not suffer physical harm when they lit your door on fire.
6. the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, available at www.refworld.org says your group does not suffer much
7. the CIA says your group is the majority
8.  five articles in www. refworld.org say no big problems in your country
9. your family continues to live safely there.

Oromo from Ethiopia loses

The Asylum Officer ruled against Mr. O, the applicant, because:
1. Mr. O did not repeat each element in his written application. In writing, he said he witnessed the shooting death of his brother. However, when asked, "did you have any problems?" he did not mention that event.
2.  He departed from his country, found a place of safety, and then voluntarily returned to the so-called dangerous country.  If your country is indeed so dangerous, why did you voluntarily return to it?'=
=
3. He went to Belgium, but did not apply for asylum there. Why not?  If you really want and need asylum, you would apply as soon as possible, wouldn't you?
=
4.  You failed to name even one high-profile prisoner in prison. Not even one? I, the asylum officer, know more about your country than you do!
=
5.  You did not provide details about your political activity. I asked you what you did, and you said,"I attended meetings."  Anything else? you could not think of anything.

"Lack of details" is in my instruction book: if the applicant does not give multitudes of details, deny him!

a Shia from Iraq

The asylum officer asked :
When you were earlier in USA, why not apply for asylum?
why not talk to the police?
why do you fear your government?
who is the person you are most afraid of?
tell me about each of your brothers and sisters: their immigration status and jobs
what is the immigration status of your mother?
if you stay in USA, what would you do?
If you return to Iraq tomorrow, what would happen?
is anywhere safe for you in Iraq?
why wouldn't the police protect you?
Is there anything else?
How would anyone know what  your ethnic group is?
What does your last name tell to others?
what cultural rules have you broken?

activist from Sudan #2

The Asylum Officer also asked:

What does your government want?
Why do they care about you?
Your brother came to USA, was granted asylum, and then he returned to Sudan?
Did he suffer any harm when he returned? NO, so, how about you? how are you different from your brother?
=
while you were in the jail cell, what weapons did the guard have?
what words did he say? what language did he speak in?
What thoughts went through your mind at that time?
When did you decide to depart from Sudan?
How did you arrange for your travel to USA?
Can you return to Sudan today?
who would harm you? how would they harm you?
Has anyone been looking for you, since you departed?
Today, how many family members live in Sudan? how much has each one suffered?
If no one has bothered them, why would you be bothered?
=
you had problems in the city of Khartoum? Ok, so why not go live in a different city?

an activist from Sudan

The Asylum Officer asked:
-who prepared your application? who helped you?
Can you repeat everything on page 1 of the I-589?
What was your last address before arriving in USA?
Tell me about all of your international travel: for each country, can you live there today, and why didn't you apply for asylum in that country?
-for each country you lived in, what was your immigration status?
=
what is the immigration status of each member of your family?
=
before they FGM on you, did they give you an anesthetic?
What complications did you suffer, afterwards?
did they remove all of the stitches?
was there pain upon urination?
=
Do you have a political opinion? what is it?
When did it begin?
What did you do, in opposition to your government?
If a movie camera or camcorder followed you around, without any sound, what would be recorded?
How did you criticize your government? when, and where?
Does government know that you criticized it?
=
if you say 8 sentences in a row, can the interpreter translate everything? NO? so why not just two sentences and stop?
Is a picture or a drawing worth 1,000 words? Yes! [so, create more exhibits which are drawings]
=What is your ethnic group? from your appearance, can people tell what group you are in?
-ethnic group is permanent, and easy to see, whereas a political opinion could be secret and ever-changing?
=
After you departed from Sudan, you returned there several times, voluntarily?

Common reasons why people were denied

COMMON REASONS WHY PEOPLE WERE DENIED ASYLUM:

1.the applicant was inconsistent. He could not repeat, orally, what he had written. Or, the letter from his mother was inconsistent with what he said

2. the applicant voluntarily returned to his country, after he was injured. For example, Mr. C was beaten and imprisoned in his country in 2012. Then, he departs from his country in 2013, is gone for three months, then he voluntarily returns;
then, six months later, he daparts again, and comes to the USA. He says, "I need asylum because it is very dangerous in my country." The Asylum Officer thinks: you departed from the "dangerous" country in 2013, and then you returned to it! If it is really so dangerous, you would not have returned to it."

3. the applicant did not report his problems to the police; the applicant did not seek protection from his own government. Why should the USA give you asylum, if you have not demonstrated that your own country will not help you?

4. Your mother and brother were not beaten and imprisoned. Why not? This shows the government does not hate your entire family. [perhaps they were not beaten because they were not active in politics]

5. Your government has forgotten about you. You think you are a big deal, but no one in your country cares about you anymore. You left your country years ago; they worry about current dissidents, not dissidents from years ago.

do you know what mother knows?

The Asylum Officer asked:
-is your government still looking for you? No, said applicant.
-is your government still looking for you? No, said applicant.
=
Asylum denied. Mother had written a letter, mailed to applicant, which was then
given to the asylum office, which said, "the police came and asked about you last week."
=
In other words, the asylum officer knew more about the letter from mother than the
daughter-applicant did.

an activist from Tunisia

The Asylum Officer asked this of Ms. T, from Tunisia:
-did anyone help you do your application?
let's see if you can repeat everything on page one!
Can you repeat what is one page four of Form I-589!
-how do you support yourself here in USA?
=
Why are you applying for asylum?
Why you fear your family?
Why you fear the extremists?
Tell me, in detail, about the physical harm you suffered?
Did you suffer emotional harm?
=
Is there a reason why you can not tell me more details?
Why did the soldier hit you?
Why was your sister raped by the sidewalk vendor?
Did he tell your sister why he raped her?
What words did he say during the rape?
=
what is the platform of your political party?
Why did you decide to join it?
How would anyone know you were a member of that party?
=
What was the worst thing that happened to you because of your political opinion?
What was the worst thing that happened to you becauses of your religion?
What would happen to you if you return to your country?
On the street, the man hit you? why not report this to the police?
Why didn't you go to the doctor?
What was your last contact with your family?
What did your mother tell you?
=
Is the Government still looking for you? why do you think that?
Are the extremist still looking for you? why do you think that?
Is there anywhere in your country where you could go , and be safe?
You had problems in City #1; OK, so why not live in City #2?
=
You traveled to France? why not apply for asylum there?
Is there anything else?

questions to a Burmese

The asylum officer asked:
"will you answer in as much detail as possible?"
-is "lack of detail" a very common reason to be denied asylum?
-did anyone help you with your application?
Are you aware of the contents of your application?
Did you write the English version of your statement?
=
Show me your passport! I want to study it in silence for two minutes!
=
what is your name/address/DOB/POB?
can you repeat your answers to everything on page one of I-589
Why did you apply for asylum?
Were you harmed in the past? tell me about 1] physical harm 2] emotional harm 3] economic harm
Why was your borther's shop attacked?
If you return, who would harm you? Why?
=
How do people know that your brother is a Muslim?
How do people know you are in the "Karen" ethnic group?
How much of the news is reported by the media?
Are there any other reasons why you do not want to return to your country?
=
Do you know anyone who was arrested because he wrote a letter to the government?
Do you know anyone who was arrested because he protested in Burma?
anyone who protested here in USA?
How did you show your opposition to the government?
were there any other ways?
What were your activities in USA?
Is there anything else?

advice from a judge 2/21

An Immigration Judge made these suggestions:
1. do not use excerpts, unless you give me the entire report
2. during the hearing, interrupt, and say, "Judge, i call your attention to page 32, which is a letter from mother, which corroborates this event"
3. talk to DHS in advance, to narrow the issues
4. to determine fraud: interrupt the client with an irrelevant question, such as what color was the shirt of the guard; then see if client can return to his story'
4a. during the six months after the terrible event, did you get involved in any fights?
5. Ask this, "why did he hit you?"
6. if client writes part of the Dec, in bad English, it will have a ring of truth
7. prepare a one page summary, with bullet points
8. tell a story; judges are people, tell a story
9. we do not have a lot of time
10. this has the ring of truth: "A was raped, but she said the worst thing was to have to bend over to sweep with a short broom"
11. was there public or social humiliation?
12. get the prescription off of the bottle
13. be simple: "she has trouble sleeping"
14. what does IJ benchbook say?
15. many victims do not want to talk about their harm. They will tell the therapist things they will not tell their lawyer.
16. "fill in the boxes on the 589!"
17. compliment the client: "It takes courage to talk about these things"
18. what does the NY Times and the BBC say?
19. did your group suffer more than others/

advice from a 5-year asylum officer

Mr. J.J. was an asylum officer for five years. He gives this advice:
1. to research country conditions, use "refworld."
the next best authority is Freedom House.
2. if grandmother writes a letter, make sure it is consistent with the story of the applicant!
3. the longer the declaration, the more chance for inconsistencies.
4. One Judge said, "just use the boxes on the I-589; do not even write a declaration; b/c someone will be inconsistent."
=
5. Officers often reject applicants due to lack of detail in their oral responses. For example, "why did you join the party?" a common, bad answer: "because I want democracy." Be specific. If you hate the dictator in your country, explain why: for example, "the dictator stole land from my father 20 years ago. That made my father mad; so I too am mad."
=
6. A better answer to "why did you join the XXX party?" "Because that party advocates for glass-walled ballot boxes, for the installation of drinking fountains in the middle of the city, for NOT paying high salaries to senators."
=
7. Officers love membership cards.
8. Yes, the officers care about the harm you suffered, but the officers care more about why you did the thing which caused the harm: i.e. you were hit on the head at the protest; yes, being hit is suffering harm, but why were you at the protest?
9. the head of your political party should write a letter of support.
10. When mailing package to Texas, put G-28 at the top. The people in Texas do not care about the cover letter [it will be taken from the top and put back into the middle of the package.

Cameroon #2

The asylum officer also asked:
-did any members of your family suffer? why not?
Is there anything else?
What does your passport say about your travels?
Why weren't you arrested at the airport as you departed?
-smith visited you in the hospital? why didn't Smith write a letter of support?

activist from Cameroon

The asylum officer asked:
-Where are the originals? did you bring all originals, and your passport, to the asylum office?
Was your application read back to you in your language?
Can you repeat each box on page one of I-589? what is your name? have you used other names?
Did you ever work for your government [which you say is angry at you]?
Here in the USA, who are you living with?
Can your government protect you?
You fear whom?
Did you belong to any organizations in your country? any membership cards?
What is the history of your political party? what is its platform?
Why did you join it? what attracted it to you?
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What does "tribalism" mean?
When did you first become involved in political activities?
How many times were you detained?
What did the policeman say, when he arrived?
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When was the last time your read your Declaration? you have forgotten your Declaration, so that you cannot repeat it back to me?
-where did you live, each night, for the last three months you were in your country?
Why didn't you try to depart from your country earlier?
Why did you come to the USA?
What did you say on Form DS-160?