How to prove my return from the US back to Sweden?

[Nymphadora 1]

(I didn't find a suitable category for this topic so I'll just post it here!)

I'm a Swedish citizen, and I'm going to visit the US this summer between the dates 3rd of June - 29th of August.

I'm going to visit my boyfriend there for the whole summer, but I'm worried that they will

get suspicious in the customs/when they check my passport. I'm not going to stay there

illegal, and we're not planning to get married illegal either. I'm just visiting!

I know I must have a return ticket to prove that I'm going back to Sweden again after my trip.

But what if that's not enough? What if they want me to show other proofs to that I'm returning

back to Sweden, and that I'm not going to stay in the US illegal! I'm not sure if I'm going to any

school next autumn, so I won't have any certificate of study to show them. I will start to search

for work next autumn, but I won't be able to show them any work certificate before that.

Is there a reason for me to be worried about this?

Are there any other ways to prove that I'm returning to Sweden?

[Moomin 292]

Any lease from an apartment, loans, commitments you have which can tie you to Sweden? Sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your duration of stay?

You can't stay there illegally when being inspected/going through immigration. If you stay beyond what VWP allows then it's unlawful stay/overstay.

[Nymphadora 1]

Any lease from an apartment, loans, commitments you have which can tie you to Sweden? Sufficient funds to support yourself throughout your duration of stay?

You can't stay there illegally when being inspected/going through immigration. If you stay beyond what VWP allows then it's unlawful stay/overstay.

I'm in school now, and I've lived in my own apartment, but I'm moving to my school to get a room there for a couple of months. After shool's finished I'm moving back to my parents house. So I'll not

be living in an apartment in Sweden when I come to the US. I'll live at my parents' house.

I'm gonna bring USD when I come to America, and since I'm gonna live at my boyfriend's house we'll split the costs and live really cheap. Is there a specific amount they're looking for, for a longer stay?

I have my family in Sweden (mom, dad, sister etc) but I guess that's not enough I guess?

[HannaB 3]

I am also from Sweden and am now married to an LPR but I visited him in the US when he was just my boyfriend and I never had any problems. We met when I was on a J1 and after it expired I visited him twice on the VWP. Just answer their questions truthfully. They never asked to see any papperwork. As long as you dont have any convictions, previous overstays etc, you should be fine.

[Nymphadora 1]

I am also from Sweden and am now married to an LPR but I visited him in the US when he was just my boyfriend and I never had any problems. We met when I was on a J1 and after it expired I visited him twice on the VWP. Just answer their questions truthfully. They never asked to see any papperwork. As long as you dont have any convictions, previous overstays etc, you should be fine.

Okay, thank you!

I guess I'm just worrying too much.

I've got nothing to hide, so I shouldn't be worried.

When I went to the US in January this year (for the first time!)

the inspector asked me who lived on the adress that I'd given them.

I answered that it was a friend, and the inspector asked me if I was

related to him, how I got to know him and if he's gonna pick me up

at the airport. Don't know whether he understood it as a "friend" or

"boyfriend" though.

I don't know if it's a good idea to answer "boyfriend"? I mean...if that'll

make them suscpicious or something. Or should I say boyfriend if they ask me?

[Little_My 464]

Aren't you coming under the Visa Waiver Program..? All you need for that if for your ESTA approved before traveling. There's no interview, and you won't have to show proof of ties to Sweden. Or do you mean proof you should have with you at the border when crossing over to the US?

Regarding what to answer at the border, rule of thumb is to never lie. However, no need to volunteer additional information either.

Edited February 16, 2012 by Little_My

[Nymphadora 1]

Aren't you coming under the Visa Waiver Program..? All you need for that if for your ESTA approved before traveling. There's no interview, and you won't have to show proof of ties to Sweden. Or do you mean proof you should have with you at the border when crossing over to the US?

Regarding what to answer at the border, rule of thumb is to never lie. However, no need to volunteer additional information either.

Yes, I'm coming under the VWP, so there shouldn't be any problem since I am allowed to stay for 90 days under the VWP. My ESTA was approved in nov 2011 so that's already settled.

Yes, I was wondering if I need more proof than a return ticket when I meet the inspector to show my passport etc.

[Ryan H 3,828]

Moved from Off Topic to Tourist Visas; although the OP will be utilizing the VWP to visit the US, this forum is a more appropriate category for VWP related questions.

[GandK 168]

You worry too much, you don't even have an immigration visa pending. There won't be any problem.

Just round ticket should be sufficient for visitors from scandinavia. I travel to the US many times to visit my fiancee in the past two years, never had to show anything except round ticket and told the officer the address I was going to stay.

But do bring evidences if it makes you feel safer.

and of course, don't bring 5 luggages for a two weeks stay, act normal, answer question truthfully.

Edited February 19, 2012 by GandK

[Nymphadora 1]

Yes, I guess I worry too much.

But the only proof to that I am bound to Sweden are my student loans.

I won't be able to show them any admission for studies next fall, since

I will get the admission in July and I'll already be in the US by that time.

And of course I'll have a return ticket to show.

I just want to be prepared in case something would happen. I don't want

to stand there and not be able to proof my intent to return to Sweden if

they ask me to. That's my worst nightmare, that they'd send me back to

Sweden cause I didn't have enough proof to convince them that I did not

intend to stay after the VWP expired, or that I intend to get married during

my stay.

[Roxxi 3]

I've gone on VWP many times....sometimes they hardly ask any questions and sometimes more.. last time I was there for 90 days I got called in for second questioning....it can be scary but if you got nothing to hide it probably will be fine...

Not trying to scare you here but it seems you haven't traveled so much and yes most likely they will ask WHY you want to stay for that long

I never showed anything other than return ticket...

and they ask over and over again how much cash you have

[Laure&Colin 558]

You're a student, you're going on vacation to the US for the summer, there's nothing suspicious here.

Don't worry too much, they might not even ask you how long you intend to stay. Bring some proof of ties to Sweden, just what you can get, but most probably, you won't be asked for it.

[jaycali 415]

I agree with the other posters. They usually don't question VWP travelers too much, especially if you don't travel for extended visits plenty of times per year. If you've been in the US once before, and you didn't overstay, don't worry too much.

I've traveled to the US planty of times on the VWP, I never really got asked anything at all.

One time I had spent two stays of 50 days and 89 days, with a month in between. I got pulled into secondary "questioning". He just said "you come here a lot, huh?" to which I answered "yes, I have plenty of friends here from college", he then asked me "what do you back home?" to which I answered truthfully "I work as a XXXX for XXXX".. No more questions, he just typed some things into his computer, stamped my passport and monotonely said "enjoy your stay."

Just don't ever stay beyond 90 days

[Nymphadora 1]

You're a student, you're going on vacation to the US for the summer, there's nothing suspicious here.

Don't worry too much, they might not even ask you how long you intend to stay. Bring some proof of ties to Sweden, just what you can get, but most probably, you won't be asked for it.

That's the thing, I don't know what proof to show them that ties me to Sweden, since I won't have a work, nor will I have any admission for studies.

I'm going to search for work in my hometown when I get back to Sweden after summer. Other than that, I've NO IDEA what proof to bring except for

the return ticket, and obviously the return ticket isn't enough sometimes.

[Boiler 46,007]

As you have nothing, there is nothing you can take.