Ugh, POE harassment at Seattle

[Texanadian 10]

Sounds like that guy was having a bad day and was determined to share it with everyone. What an a$!

Border guards always have bad days.

[palilover 1]

Wow. I'm sorry for that:( What an ####### they can be!

You are lucky that he got to go through. For this reason alone, I was scared of my husband taking the risk of being sent back after having spent money on a plane ticket here. It's next to impossible for him to come up with the money n Paletsine for a plane ticket so I did not want to risk it.

you just never know what you're going to get:(

[Aubrey 10]

Thanks everyone for the supportive responses! I can't believe the story about the search into boxer shorts... that's simply shocking. It's bad enough when your padded down.

And yeah, it was pretty obvious from the agent's questions that he didn't believe that Andy would come for so long just to visit. I knew coming that it'd be better if he had documents to show "ties to home" but given the student visa not working out, he just doesn't have much to show. We'd been banking on him moving in a month, so there was no point in getting a job with everything going on. His roommate of ~5 years has never had Andy on the lease because it just wasn't necessary and it was no simple matter to add him... so, yeah, it didn't make it easy to convince the guy once he was suspicious. It definitely helped that our stories matched exactly, and we'd actually talked about how to answer questions should they arise... I'm so glad we did!!!!

And how I remained cool... hah, I didn't completely. I was shaking during that phone call, and getting increasingly nervous and pissed off. Maybe it helped that I was upset, I don't know, because he actually explained a little why he was so suspicious after I asked sarcastically if it was illegal for me to purchase his ticket.

And rebeccajo, I think you misunderstood. He's going home in September -- staying for 85 days. I'm definitely not risking the VWP for him again after this experience. I'm hoping we'll be lucky and have our case resolved quickly like some this year have. We mail our stuff the beginning of next week.

[sara..... 371]

congratulations on making it thru enjoy your time together..........

that is one of the places that asked us why are u coming to the usa how long are u going to stay what will u do while ur here huh? huh? huh?

we are coming home we live here we are USA citizens made me wonder what the visitors have to go thru........its craziness.........

Edited June 28, 2008 by estadia

[palilover 1]

congratulations on making it thru enjoy your time together..........

that is one of the places that asked us why are u coming to the usa how long are u going to stay what will u do while ur here huh? huh? huh?

we are coming home we live here we are USA citizens made me wonder what the visitors have to go thru........its craziness.........

Didnt they see your BLUE passport? Why they ask what you are doing here? lol Silly customs!

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Sorry he had such a rough time. I am glad you all are together again though.

Edited June 28, 2008 by Wacken

[MariaLicious 0]

Omg MY POE IS SEATTLE WA THIS COMING JULY 18

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

My fiancé just got here and was interrogated at POE in Seattle. The officer at the main entry area asked him what the purpose of his visit was (he's coming to see me for 85 days on the VWP) and apparently he didn't like his answer. So he gave him a giant red card and he was sent to the interrogation room, all his bags thoroughly searched, asked about all his finances, how he and I met, why I had paid for his ticket, what he was doing here, etc. My fiancé says he was questions over 30 minutes... then they called me and asked me just about every question the same. I don't think I've ever been so nervous... and simultaneously pissed off. He kept reasking me the same questions, I guess to see if I'd come up with a different answer. I finally asked him "What, is there something illegal about me paying for his ticket?" He's like, "no, but the US has laws about intent to immigrant" blah blah. Of course I know this, and I try very hard to explain he's returning in September and he's here just to visit and that yes, I'll be supporting him during his stay. He of course doesn't believe me and keeps asking more questions. That phone call felt like an eternity, and he hung up without even telling me if my fiancé was getting through! Ugh...

Thank goodness he made it through. We haven't even filed our K1 paperwork yet!

First of all, you are very lucky to be able to TRY to have your fiance come to visit you on the VWP. However, it is widely known that any time you do this, you are risking your Fiance being turnned away at the POE. This is something that you have to be prepared for, that they will have to get on the next flight back to their country. Even if you need and receive a visitor visa, it is known that you can still get turnned away at the POE.

We tried to get my wife a visitor visa while we were going through this process so that she could come and visit me while we were going through the process. Knowing that it was a long shot. And paying the $131. But were turnned down.

But, it is US law that everone visiting the US is an intending immigrant. And you must prove that you are not. When the person has friends or family. Or especially a Spouse or fiance. That is a giant red flag. And in fact, your fiance IS an intending immigrant. Maybe not now, but he is.

Whether, any of us like it or not, the officers at the POE were just doing their job, and doing it correctly. They should have questioned him more because he has a fiance in the US.

I do not agree with this. I feel that when you file for a spouse or fiance visa, you should be able to come to the US on a visitor visa and wait for everything to be approved. Then if it is not approved then the person needs to return to their country.

But instaed of being pissed that the officers at the POE were doing their job correctly. You should be very happy that after some time, your fiance was able to convince them that he intended to return to his country. I would have loved to at least try this.

[pnrmbr975 1]

My fiancé just got here and was interrogated at POE in Seattle. The officer at the main entry area asked him what the purpose of his visit was (he's coming to see me for 85 days on the VWP) and apparently he didn't like his answer. So he gave him a giant red card and he was sent to the interrogation room, all his bags thoroughly searched, asked about all his finances, how he and I met, why I had paid for his ticket, what he was doing here, etc. My fiancé says he was questions over 30 minutes... then they called me and asked me just about every question the same. I don't think I've ever been so nervous... and simultaneously pissed off. He kept reasking me the same questions, I guess to see if I'd come up with a different answer. I finally asked him "What, is there something illegal about me paying for his ticket?" He's like, "no, but the US has laws about intent to immigrant" blah blah. Of course I know this, and I try very hard to explain he's returning in September and he's here just to visit and that yes, I'll be supporting him during his stay. He of course doesn't believe me and keeps asking more questions. That phone call felt like an eternity, and he hung up without even telling me if my fiancé was getting through! Ugh...

Thank goodness he made it through. We haven't even filed our K1 paperwork yet!

First of all, you are very lucky to be able to TRY to have your fiance come to visit you on the VWP. However, it is widely known that any time you do this, you are risking your Fiance being turnned away at the POE. This is something that you have to be prepared for, that they will have to get on the next flight back to their country. Even if you need and receive a visitor visa, it is known that you can still get turnned away at the POE.

We tried to get my wife a visitor visa while we were going through this process so that she could come and visit me while we were going through the process. Knowing that it was a long shot. And paying the $131. But were turnned down.

But, it is US law that everone visiting the US is an intending immigrant. And you must prove that you are not. When the person has friends or family. Or especially a Spouse or fiance. That is a giant red flag. And in fact, your fiance IS an intending immigrant. Maybe not now, but he is.

Whether, any of us like it or not, the officers at the POE were just doing their job, and doing it correctly. They should have questioned him more because he has a fiance in the US.

I do not agree with this. I feel that when you file for a spouse or fiance visa, you should be able to come to the US on a visitor visa and wait for everything to be approved. Then if it is not approved then the person needs to return to their country.

But instaed of being pissed that the officers at the POE were doing their job correctly. You should be very happy that after some time, your fiance was able to convince them that he intended to return to his country. I would have loved to at least try this.

I totally agree with you. It is all part of the job.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Omg MY POE IS SEATTLE WA THIS COMING JULY 18

I would not worry, your situation is completely different. You are coming over with your K1 visa, they know what your plans are.

[jundp 191]

Omg MY POE IS SEATTLE WA THIS COMING JULY 18

But you are coming with your K1, so I wouldn't worry overmuch!

No stressing allowed now! You got your approval and we won't allow you to worry anymore

[przy 0]

When my husband and I visited to the USA together (POE LAX), it was the first time with a new passport, so I don't know if this is procedure or not. I was waiting for our luggage and he was still going through customs. At the counter, the man asked him what he was doing and what no. My husband said he was visiting me (his girlfriend) at the time. Without futher questioning they took my husband by the arm and I kept asking them what's wrong, what's wrong and I got no reply. They set him in a seperate room and then called him up and started asking him questions. They then called me in (luckily I was there) and started asking me the same questions. They said they had to do this because he had a new passport. Bullshit. I highly doubt that was the reason, but maybe I could be wrong. His second time here, which was back in May, there were no problems. This time he said, I am going to visit my wife. That was it.

Edited July 5, 2008 by przy

[christera22 8]

WRONG !!! WRONG !! WRONG !!! WRONG !!! WRONG !!!

If thats the US law that any person coming here for a visit is an immigrant ...........then is a very wrong law and shd be changed !!! US earns in millions every year from visitors and business men coming here.Thus US is obliged to them and they are not obliged to US. Our country wd just die if we loose these people becasue of exreme reszervation and stringent laws.What the POE officers do and what they did in her case is extremely wrong, illogical and against human rights. They almost do whatever they feel like .................and typical POE guy thinks himself next to GOD just by sitting in the chair and holding as gun.Of course they do their duty ... but they do the extreme and act like robots. When they strip search in the line , making him stand in a short ............what do u think the tourist carries in his homeland in respect to the fame of USA ??? I tell u i have roamed over 11 countries in the world ............ They laugh on USA as they say USA is a afraid country and cannot save its internal disturbences of society. I have heard this with my own ears and from learned people.MOst of the POE officers treat people in the line in a very inferior way.They are idiotically proud of their bad american accent and not being able to understand other accents of english.I have seen them shout in a harsh way on a old couple, who were 1st in usa and cdnt fill the I-94 form properly. Do you think the couple has done a henious crime by not being able to fill the form correctly ??? They shd be given a rigorous traning of how to behave and how to understand inetrnational english. We shd be proud that foreigners are visiting our country ~!! no wonder they treat americans & foreigners the same damn way !! MOst of them are dumb, compartmental minded & robotic ...........

I of course agree to you when you say "I feel that when you file for a spouse or fiance visa, you should be able to come to the US on a visitor visa and wait for everything to be approved. Then if it is not approved then the person needs to return to their country." TRUE .....

But pls dnt give ur illogical suppiort for those POE guys who act as the way they wish. I dnt think anyone in VJ wd support u in that respect, as u have seen most of them have said against the POE guys .

First of all, you are very lucky to be able to TRY to have your fiance come to visit you on the VWP. However, it is widely known that any time you do this, you are risking your Fiance being turnned away at the POE. This is something that you have to be prepared for, that they will have to get on the next flight back to their country. Even if you need and receive a visitor visa, it is known that you can still get turnned away at the POE.

We tried to get my wife a visitor visa while we were going through this process so that she could come and visit me while we were going through the process. Knowing that it was a long shot. And paying the $131. But were turnned down.

But, it is US law that everone visiting the US is an intending immigrant. And you must prove that you are not. When the person has friends or family. Or especially a Spouse or fiance. That is a giant red flag. And in fact, your fiance IS an intending immigrant. Maybe not now, but he is.

Whether, any of us like it or not, the officers at the POE were just doing their job, and doing it correctly. They should have questioned him more because he has a fiance in the US.

I do not agree with this. I feel that when you file for a spouse or fiance visa, you should be able to come to the US on a visitor visa and wait for everything to be approved. Then if it is not approved then the person needs to return to their country.

But instaed of being pissed that the officers at the POE were doing their job correctly. You should be very happy that after some time, your fiance was able to convince them that he intended to return to his country. I would have loved to at least try this.

Edited July 8, 2008 by christera22

[christera22 8]

I agree and I think most VJ ers wd agree when someone posts here "I totally agree with you. It is all part of the job. " TRUE ...we agree too ...but there is a procedure to do the job .... RIGHT ???

[2ond journey 0]

Yeah they are rude basterds. When I came back from my trip of seeing my husband the man said to me , after searching everything in my suitcase, " Why do you have to go to that country and marry a pakistani your pretty enough to get somebody here."