Ace the 2026 CBP Border Patrol Agent Exam – Patrol Your Way to Success!

The correct answer highlights the initial action taken in the Creation of Record process, which focuses on preparing a temporary I-551. The temporary I-551 serves as a critical document that provides evidence of lawful permanent resident status for individuals who are in the process of adjusting their status. It signifies that the individual has been granted a specific status and allows them to reside in the United States while their application is being processed.

Preparing this document first is essential because it lays the foundation for the subsequent steps in the process, ensuring that the individual is documented correctly under immigration laws. Typically, this would follow the verification of eligibility, as it's vital to establish that the individual meets all necessary criteria before generating the temporary documentation.

In the context of the other potential actions, completing Form I-181 and obtaining the A-File are tasks that usually occur after the initial preparation of the temporary I-551. They are important in the broader scope of creating a record but are not the very first step. Verification of eligibility for status occurs concurrently but is not primarily the first action taken, as it is often a prerequisite for the preparation of temporary resident documentation. Thus, preparing the temporary I-551 is indeed the logical starting point in this sequence.