POE Officiers

[Wishing 1]

Just wondering what people's experience is with this ...I have a boyfriend in US not yet engaged (planning to hopefully soon). Is it crucial to say that Im visiting my boyfriend right off the bat? In any previous visits I've always said I'm visiting friends (which is also true I have friends there too) and if ever asked specifically about boyfriend I would have truthfully said yes. So how important is it to specific boyfriend right off the bat and what do you guys do...anybody say they're visiting a friend/friends?? Thanks!!

[Emancipation 2]

i used to say friend.. but I had no ring, hadn't let anyone in my life know I was engaged at that point..

[BH45 0]

I always said friends. After having my interview, I said my fiance but had all the ties I needed to prove I was returning to Canada.

[MrsCat 6]

I always said "visiting my boyfriend" before we were engaged. Once engaged, I would say "visiting my fiancee", now married I say "visiting my husband." Never been a problem. Say whatever is honest and comfortable for you.

[brown_eyes 0]

Although we haven't gone through this yet, I'll probably say 'visiting my boyfriend.' I'd rather be upfront since that is the truth... plus there will be times when we're crossing together so I just want all stories to match up.

[trailmix 77]

Just wondering what people's experience is with this ...I have a boyfriend in US not yet engaged (planning to hopefully soon). Is it crucial to say that Im visiting my boyfriend right off the bat? In any previous visits I've always said I'm visiting friends (which is also true I have friends there too) and if ever asked specifically about boyfriend I would have truthfully said yes. So how important is it to specific boyfriend right off the bat and what do you guys do...anybody say they're visiting a friend/friends?? Thanks!!

I never had this situation but I guess you can just play out the conversation and see how that might go.

Why are you going to the U.S.?

To visit friends.

Boyfriend?

Yes.

I'm just thinking, I imagine the conversation could go like that so - if you aren't up front about it - well now he/she has a reason to be suspicious. Wouldn't most people, if they had a boyfriend/girlfriend mention that they were going to visit them first - that seems natural.

I would personally just be upfront about it.

[melusine 5]

agree... boyfriend upfront ...

(and it already happened to me in toronto airport)

[SapphireDreams 71]

I used to say friend all the time and they would usually then ask, a boyfriend? and I would say yes.

Lately I've been saying boyfriend and not had a problem at all. The last time before this one he asked "Are you going to move to the US?" and I said, "I'm not sure yet" and that was it.

The last time I crossed, I said boyfriend (Instead of fiancee because he hasn't officially proposed yet, so i felt odd saying fiancee), even though we've filed for the K1 and I was barely questioned at all.

[aravis227 1]

The last time Dennis was visiting me his conversation with the Customs agent went like this, we had already filed for our K1, but didn't have our NOA2 yet.

CA: "Final destination?"

Dennis: "Salt Lake City."

CA: "How long will you be staying?"

Dennis: "About a week and a half - returning on the 8th."

CA: "Purpose of your trip?"

Dennis: "Vacation with my Fiancee."

CA: "... and where is she...?"

Dennis: "Salt Lake City."

CA: "Planning on getting married?"

Dennis: "Not until the Visa comes through."

CA: "Good answer, (nods) good answer. Have a nice trip."

[MrsCat 6]

CA: "Planning on getting married?"

Dennis: "Not until the Visa comes through."

CA: "Good answer, (nods) good answer. Have a nice trip."

[thetreble 19]

I always said boyfriend and never had a problem with it. Some times they can really catch you up on a lie in the way that they word things. I had one POE officer that spoke almost as fast as an auctioneer to try to catch me up in my words. Just be honest. Most people don't go to the US every month or so to visit friends so they would have started to suspect something any ways you know:?

[DeadPoolX 9]

I don't think there's one "catch-all" solution, really. What I mean is that sometimes "friend" might be the best answer and other times, "boyfriend" would be instead. It primarily depends on the officer you're dealing with, since some are much easier to handle than others. Unfortunately, you probably won't know what you have there until it's too late.

One option is to watch and listen how the Customs Officer deals with others in the lines before you. Try to get a feel for which one might be the "easiest" to work with that day. They're human too and maybe one or two of them have had a rough day at home. That shouldn't carry over to the job, but it often does.

Something else I've found -- and I know this will sound sexist and I apologize for it ahead of time -- is that female Customs Officers tend to be tougher than males. I'm not sure why, but this also seems to be the case when dealing with police officers too. I think female law enforcement personnel often feel like they need to be "tougher" than their male counterparts or they'll be seen as "weak" simply because they're women. So it might just be a case of overcompensation. Whatever the reason, I've noticed that NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, male Customs Officers are less trouble than female ones.

The bottom line is just do what comes naturally and always have plenty of evidence proving your relationship, ties to home and visa paperwork (if it's currently processing). The less nervous you appear, the fewer questions they'll ask. So if you feel more comfortable saying "boyfriend" then do that; likewise, the same is true with "friend." The point is you want to draw the least amount of attention to yourself as possible.

[thetreble 19]

The point is you want to draw the least amount of attention to yourself as possible.

Very true.

[Flames9_RN 358]

ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH,lol but only answer the question. many Times the POE officer would ask me "business or pleasure? I would state pleasure and returning on such a date. Sometimes that was all the conversation that took place. I didn't have to state it was my girlfriend and eventually wife. But when we were married, i did state wife. Then they would ask what she did, what are plans were. me beign in the Cdn Forces, i probably had an advantage as they knew I had to return to Canada.

My advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3)keep ur response short and to the point, dont tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5)pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isnt going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didnt lie! Refer to #1

Best of luck

[Marilyn. 340]

I just asked my hubby what he said to the POE officers and he said he just told them the truth... which is good advice..

answer all the questions truthfully but you don't need to go into detail..

like if they ask you personal or business? answer personal... not I am going to visit my boyfriend... now if they ask you another question after that.. like, "what are you planning on doing there?" then you can answer with, "I am visiting my boyfriend/girlfriend"...

ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH,lol but only answer the question. many Times the POE officer would ask me "business or pleasure? I would state pleasure and returning on such a date. Sometimes that was all the conversation that took place. I didn't have to state it was my girlfriend and eventually wife. But when we were married, i did state wife. Then they would ask what she did, what are plans were. me beign in the Cdn Forces, i probably had an advantage as they knew I had to return to Canada.

My advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3)keep ur response short and to the point, dont tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5)pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isnt going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didnt lie! Refer to #1

Best of luck

lol.. I should read all the posts before answering..