Thousands of Mongolians travel every year to the United States for vacation, work, or study. The U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar would like to share some tips to ensure you travel responsibly and avoid violating U.S. immigration laws, which could have serious consequences.
The Choice is Clear – Follow the Law
To make America safe, strong, and prosperous, President Trump is ensuring that U.S. immigration laws are followed. The risks of trying to illegally immigrate to the United States far outweigh any potential benefits. You could lose your ability to obtain a U.S. visa in the future, prevent your family members from getting visas, and affect the prospects of other Mongolians as well.
Overstaying a U.S. visa or misusing that visa to work illegally not only breaks U.S. laws, it also puts your safety and well-being in jeopardy. The penalties are serious: jail time, separation from your family, deportation, and permanent bans from re-entering the United States.
If you know someone who is in the United States illegally, the best thing you can do for them is encourage them to leave now before they are caught.
For everyone, the message is simple: Make the right choice, follow the law, and do not risk your safety, your family, or your future.
U.S. Visa Fraud Has Serious Consequences
The U.S. visa process is the most secure in the world. Yet, some people unwisely still try to cheat the system by using fake documents, lying on applications, misrepresenting their purpose of travel, or staying after their visa expires. These are examples of visa fraud, and it is a serious crime. If you break the law in this way, you will be punished, and you may never be allowed to enter the United States again.  Lying about your situation, misrepresenting your intentions for traveling to the U.S., hiding the presence of family members in the U.S., or other efforts to circumvent the lawful visa process will prevent you from getting a visa.  This will affect any application for a visa you make in the future as well.  Individuals who have always been honest during the visa process stand a substantially better chance of obtaining a visa for lawful travel to the U.S.
Working on a Tourist Visa is Illegal
Most Mongolians apply for B1/B2 tourist visas to the U.S.  It is illegal to work in the U.S. while on this kind of visa, even if you do not overstay your period of admittance.  This includes any type of gainful employment, whether working for friends or for an established business.  Paid employment of any type is not allowed while in the U.S. on a tourist visa.  It is important to travel to the U.S. only for lawful purposes.  If there is no U.S. visa that exists for the activity you wish to pursue in the U.S., then that activity is against U.S. law and you should not pursue such travel.
Overstaying your Visa Can Lead to Deportation
Staying longer than the time granted to you by Customs and Border Protection when you enter the U.S. is illegal and can lead to arrest, deportation, and permanent bans from the U.S.  Staying illegally can also affect your friends and family members who may wish to travel after you, preventing them from obtaining visas.  Your actions can have consequences beyond yourself.
President Trump is Holding Everyone Accountable
The United States government is taking action against those who help others enter the country illegally. This includes smugglers, human traffickers and even foreign government officials who allow illegal immigration to continue.
Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy for foreign officials – including immigration, customs, and port authority staff – who fail to help stop illegal immigration. This builds on similar existing restrictions for those in the transportation and tourism industries. Those who threaten U.S. security by facilitating illegal immigration are not welcome in our country.
Travel Responsibly
Travel responsibly to the U.S. by knowing the rules before you go and following them throughout your travels.  Obeying U.S. immigration law, being honest in your applications, and returning promptly to Mongolia are the best ways to ensure good outcomes for yourself, your family, and your fellow Mongolians.

Published Date:2025-04-01