URGENT: UK to US Immigration

[nicolev 3]

Hello, I'm new to this forum, and I apologise if I have placed this in the wrong section. I also apologise if I refer to any idea with the incorrect term ... I am not very well educated in this area, and I am also very, very nervous. I would also like to ask if everyone could please refrain from judging me. I am in a very tough position as is and I am very fearful of what could happen. The last thing I need is added stress. I'm sorry, I don't mean to come off as aggressive, I'm just in such an unbearable situation.

I am an American citizen, born and raised, and I am female. My girlfriend lives in England (no, we did not meet online) and her mother is quite horrible to her. She is being kicked out within the next day or two and she does not have a definite place to go. She does not have any family or friends to stay with, she is completely alone in this. I do have a friend who has a place in England, and he and I have been trying to sort something out with her staying at his place until everything is properly sorted for her permanently staying somewhere.

She can stay with me, but, of course, this is a difficult situation since she is British and I am American. She is under the age of majority, and therefore our options are quite limited.

What can I do? I understand that I cannot get here within the next two days, but how soon can I get her here? I know that she could stay here as a normal tourist would for less than 30 days, but we need a more permanent solution. She cannot come here using the Visa Waiver Program because I don't believe she qualifies considering her situation. What can we possibly do? What are our options? I need any tiny bit of hope at all, so any suggestions will be taken into consideration! I will be most likely attending a university in London in September, but we are in desperate need of a solution for our situation which would suffice from now until then.

Please help.

EDIT: I'm not certain why this says I live in the UK .. I certainly wish I did

Edited January 15, 2012 by nicolev

[Little_My 464]

First, why do you think she couldn't use the VWP? Has she previously overstayed a visit to the US, or been denied a non-immigrant visa? If not, she should be able to use the VWP and with that visit the US for up to 90 days.

When you say "below the age of majority", how young are we talking exactly..? Old enough to travel alone, I hope.

In any case, your options are quite limited from an immigration perspective. In the eyes of US immigration, same sex couples do not qualify for the same immigration benefits as hetero sexual married couples do. Therefore, even if she is old enough to legally marry, and even if you two got married in a state in the US where that is legal, it wouldn't do you any good immigration-wise. Sad, unfair - but reality for now.

If she came to the US sometime in early February, she could stay until late April/early May. After that she would have to return to the UK though. She can also apply for a B2 tourist visa with which she could possibly stay for longer, but she would have to give a good reason as to why the 90 days under VWP isn't enough and also show strong ties to the UK, which probably would be hard in her situation.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I am sorry, but as of now there doesn't seem to be a permenant solution to your problem (especially coming to the US)

If she does travel on the VWP (if she can) then she can be admitted for up to 90 days (I assume, but now not sure if parental permission is required since she is under age)

If she is truly under age, I am sure her parents cannot simply throw her out right?

GOod luck

[Dan & Jenni 457]

VWP or tourist visa are the only options available to her i believe

[GandK 168]

What can I do? I understand that I cannot get here within the next two days, but how soon can I get her here? I know that she could stay here as a normal tourist would for less than 30 days, but we need a more permanent solution. She cannot come here using the Visa Waiver Program because I don't believe she qualifies considering her situation. What can we possibly do? What are our options? I need any tiny bit of hope at all, so any suggestions will be taken into consideration! I will be most likely attending a university in London in September, but we are in desperate need of a solution for our situation which would suffice from now until then.

Please help.

EDIT: I'm not certain why this says I live in the UK .. I certainly wish I did

Since you are most likely will be in UK in September, then your girlfriend should not be looking at any kind of immigrant visa to the US. The process takes 6-12 months depends on the specific visa and by the time it's done you will already be in the UK.

Your girlfriend is British citizen, she can travel to the US on VWP and stay for 90 days without having to apply for any visa. But I'm not quite sure what the rules are for unaccompanied child travel alone, she might need her parents' permission for that.

I'll let someone more knowledgable answer that.

Edited January 15, 2012 by GandK

[ScottnIzabela 25]

her immidiate concerns are being safe and not on the street. the UK has vastly better help than the us does.

she needs to seek out that help and use it. i have no idea where to start for her but one of our UK members will know .

best of luck to you and her. it sucks being homeless. i would but am using a friends couch till i can get a better job. i lost everything last year...

but i still have love and my wife....i ll take it

Hello, I'm new to this forum, and I apologise if I have placed this in the wrong section. I also apologise if I refer to any idea with the incorrect term ... I am not very well educated in this area, and I am also very, very nervous. I would also like to ask if everyone could please refrain from judging me. I am in a very tough position as is and I am very fearful of what could happen. The last thing I need is added stress. I'm sorry, I don't mean to come off as aggressive, I'm just in such an unbearable situation.

I am an American citizen, born and raised, and I am female. My girlfriend lives in England (no, we did not meet online) and her mother is quite horrible to her. She is being kicked out within the next day or two and she does not have a definite place to go. She does not have any family or friends to stay with, she is completely alone in this. I do have a friend who has a place in England, and he and I have been trying to sort something out with her staying at his place until everything is properly sorted for her permanently staying somewhere.

She can stay with me, but, of course, this is a difficult situation since she is British and I am American. She is under the age of majority, and therefore our options are quite limited.

What can I do? I understand that I cannot get here within the next two days, but how soon can I get her here? I know that she could stay here as a normal tourist would for less than 30 days, but we need a more permanent solution. She cannot come here using the Visa Waiver Program because I don't believe she qualifies considering her situation. What can we possibly do? What are our options? I need any tiny bit of hope at all, so any suggestions will be taken into consideration! I will be most likely attending a university in London in September, but we are in desperate need of a solution for our situation which would suffice from now until then.

Please help.

EDIT: I'm not certain why this says I live in the UK .. I certainly wish I did

[nicolev 3]

Thank you for the replies and advice, everyone!

She is going to be 17 soon, so she is old enough to travel alone.

The issue with VWP is that I've looked into it, and it appears as though she needs to have a place to return to (which she doesn't). Should I still look into this regardless and see what could be done about it?

Her mother is being extremely unfair with this entire situation, and I don't think she cares much about the fact that my girlfriend doesn't really have anywhere to go. I'm assuming this is illegal? I mean, it's technically child abandonment. I've tried to tell my girlfriend to seek help from the authorities, but she doesn't want to get her mother in trouble, and we're also a bit weary on how we'd keep in contact if she was to stay in government-funded housing.

Any idea on what my first step should be?

Edited January 15, 2012 by nicolev

[nicolev 3]

yes! that is a great suggestion! honestly, my first concern is to have her safe. her coming here is second to her safety.

could anyone from the UK please let me know what I can do about this? I would appreciate any advice at all, and I would love to speak one-on-one with anyone who can offer some guidance on this! As I said, I've been working like crazy all day, trying to figure out if I can find a person for her to stay with for the time being. But, it's been a useless effort atm

[Dan & Jenni 457]

Thank you for the replies and advice, everyone!

She is going to be 17 soon, so she is old enough to travel alone.

The issue with VWP is that I've looked into it, and it appears as though she needs to have a place to return to (which she doesn't). Should I still look into this regardless and see what could be done about it?

Her mother is being extremely unfair with this entire situation, and I don't think she cares much about the fact that my girlfriend doesn't really have anywhere to go. I'm assuming this is illegal? I mean, it's technically child abandonment. I've tried to tell my girlfriend to seek help from the authorities, but she doesn't want to get her mother in trouble, and we're also a bit weary on how we'd keep in contact if she was to stay in government-funded housing.

Any idea on what my first step should be?

To apply for an ESTA and travel to the United States under this the Visa Waiver program, you must:

• Be travelling to America for a period of 90 days or less;
• Have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended visit;
• Be a citizen of a country which holds a visa waiver agreement with America;
• Provide evidence you intend to depart the country, such as a return ticket; and
• Be of good character.

All Visa Waiver Program ("VWP") travelers, regardless of age or type of passport used, must present machine-readable passports. In addition, depending on when VWP travelers' passports were issued, other passport requirements will apply:

• Machine-readable passports issued before 10/26/05 - no further requirements
• Machine-readable passports issued between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06 - requires digital photograph printed on the data page or integrated chip with information from the data page
• Machine-readable passports issued on or after 10/26/06 - requires integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport)

[nicolev 3]

Thank you!

So, would this mean that she just needs proof of a return ticket, and not proof of a house to return to? (Sorry, I know it sounds a bit stupid!)

[cdneh 3,112]

I am not sure where she is in the UK, but have you tired contacting Centerpoint?

http://www.centrepoint.org.uk/the-solution/get-help-now

[Dan & Jenni 457]

Thank you!

So, would this mean that she just needs proof of a return ticket, and not proof of a house to return to? (Sorry, I know it sounds a bit stupid!)

when i used the VWP last year i was asked the purpose of my visit and do i have a return ticket, which i showed them. it might not always be that easy so the more proof that she can get the better, but it isnt limited to a certain item like proof of house to return to.

i think the first thing she should do though is sit down with her mom and try to work things out. if her mom is angry right now though then visiting you on the VWP could give her time to calm down and think things through more clearly

Edited January 15, 2012 by Dan & Jenni

[lilly1986 5]

while traveling VWP i never had to show a return ticket or anything at all. they just ask u the purpose of ur visit and some questions like what do u do for living etc.

I dont know if its true that ur passport has to be valid for 6 more month since mine was not for 2 visits.

Good luck with everything :-)

[nicolev 3]

She is in Nottingham, and I did find Centerpoint during a desperate search for answers earlier in the day. I'll have to try to convince her to go for it if there truly aren't any other options! I think she was a bit weary on staying with other people, because she assumed that the experience would be like staying in a hostel, which she is afraid of. Thank you for reminding me! I shall look into it now and see what I can do about that.

I'll definitely look into the VWP a bit more since it seems like the best option. I definitely think being away from her mother for a bit would really help the situation, and perhaps when she returned, her mother would calm down a bit! Is applying for the VWP a long process? About how long did the approval process take for you?

[cdneh 3,112]

From memory, and what I can see on the website, they do offer more than simple hostel, such as supported flats and the like.

There's a phone number there to call as well.

I wish you both good luck, and I hope you can find a solution soon that works well!