Am I in danger to get trouble?

[Epsilon 0]

Hi guys and girls,

I have a question about my travels on a VWP and if I may get in trouble for doing things the way I do. I know how the VWP doesn't define any limit to vistits and states unlimited entree's upto 90 days a year.

I since my I was 11, my family always went on a yearly holyday to the US.

Last holyday in 2011, I met my wonderfull girlfriend who I am succesfully dating for more then a year now.

My age is 21 btw, and I met her when I was 19. (just turned 21 couple days ago), my girlfriend is 20 right now and a junior in college. Expecting to graduate somewhere in 2014.

I met her in August 2011 when I stayed in Miami and had a cruise with her, afther the cruise I visited her in Houston.

The following travels I have made so far to the US in the year 2011 and 2012.

-2011-

August 2011 (1 weeks, with my family, I have met my current girlfriend during this holyday) POE- Miami

August 2011 ( after 1 week in aruba, I decided to meet my girlfriend in Houston where she lives, so there is 1 week between visit 1 and 2 in august) - POE Aruba (pre clearance)

October 2011 (1 week) - alone POE- Houston

-2012-

March 2012 (1 week - during springbreak) - alone POE- Houston

July 2012 (3 weeks, summer holyday) - alone. POE- Houston

We do actually see each other every 2 months, she was been in my home country, the netherlands in december-january for 3 weeks, and in may for 3 weeks. (my dad loves her and payes her tickets lol! )

I have been doing research if the way I did things is legal and acceptable, I have been reading a lot of topic's on this forum and other forms. I know admission is always up to the CBP officer. In a couple weeks I will graduate from my bachelor and before I am starting working in the family business I want to visit my girlfriend and other friends in october and celebrate my graduation with them. I will be flying to her 29 september and staying till the 14th. (2 weeks) I will be starting with my job the 16th.

Just not let you guys know, I am not looking to stay in the US or gain residence. If everything goes well, my girlfriend and I will be moving to the netherlands after she is done with her bachelor and she will gain dutch residency and later maybe dutch nationality. My connection with my family and the future family business is to big to every leave the nation of red white and blue bannerd flag (the dutch flag ), but in the future I might do an MBA in the US, since it will help my business skills bigtime. But thats still undecided and unclear.

My question for you experienced people are, am I gonna be in trouble for the way I travel? Like a big chance of getting into a 2nd questioning or even getting refused entry now I am going to try to enter the US for the 3th time, and yes I am kinda paranoid about it. Its because know you can never be sure about an officer, an that is the thing that makes me nervous. But with the trend other people(couple's) do and the way other couple's travel. Am I in a good position or a bad one?

I also asked my dad, who is my CEO too (midsize international company) to write a letter in which he states that I am expected back 15 October to work for him. I will also carry a return ticket. I have never got any remarks my CBP ever, I always tell them I am visting friends or holyday. I have never told them I have a american girlfriend.

Best Regards,

Epsilon

Edited September 3, 2012 by Epsilon

[Que Saudade 284]

Nope.

[TimeTravel 78]

I think you would be fine. You seem to have enough ties with your home country. Final decision is up to Border Official.

[dwheels76 5,469]

I guess I am not understanding why now are you scared? What have you been providing as proof of ties to country thus far? Nothing has changed accept your school status. And illegal what do you mean illegal?

Seems you are doing everything right you come and you go when you are suppose to. They like that at the border. You state who you are visiting , IF ASKED. And have your proofs of ties to country.

[Epsilon 0]

I guess I am not understanding why now are you scared? What have you been providing as proof of ties to country thus far? Nothing has changed accept your school status. And illegal what do you mean illegal?

Seems you are doing everything right you come and you go when you are suppose to. They like that at the border. You state who you are visiting , IF ASKED. And have your proofs of ties to country.

Actually I never took any proof before, just my flight sced. and return ticket.

With Illegal I wonderd when it actually becomes tricky. The moment that there is chance to get into trouble.

[Krikit 1,165]

You have a pattern of spaced-out short term stays. As long as you are honest with the officer and have not been in trouble with the law, you have given them no reason to deny you.

[Epsilon 0]

Thank you guys/girls for the replies!

I am glad that I am not in danger to get any trouble, that will be my last trip for this year. I know my entry will still be up to the CPB officer. But that makes me less worried about visiting in 29 september. I guess it usually gets ' too much' when you stay for 90 days or so. My next trip will be springbreak 2013, since then I can get off. and my girlfriend will be spending 3 weeks in the netherlands again in December/January.

Epsilon

[Moomin 292]

It's always up to the CBP officer to determine if he'll let you enter. I will say in your favor though - your visits are short compared to other people asking the same questions and wanting to stay for more than a month each time and it might seem odd to the officer how it's possible to have both job, house/lease and able to visit for 2 months here, 2 months there.

Enjoy your time together. Great that you take turns visiting each other.

[Epsilon 0]

Thanks,

I know its always up to the CPB officer, but I wanted to know if I was in any danger to get refused or get into second questioning for abusing the VWP or so. There always still is a risk, But since the VWP is used for short stays. I though I was okay. Schengen border patrol is always more relaxt to my thinking about US people entering europe, that why she always stayed here longer then I do over there. I am kinda afraid of them.

but I still wasn't sure and kinda nervous about it going for a 3th time this year. And still am, since you don't know how its gonna turn out. But now multiple people said that I shouldn't worry to much since I got ties to my home country, a return ticket and a report of travel where I always leave the US within a short time. Even people who arrive for 3 times and stay longer then me always get in, sometimes they have to get thrue 2nd inspection but I havn't read a case where someone in a likewise situation like me got refused for coming to much and staying to long. The longest time I ever stayed in the US was 40 days or so. But that was when I was 11 lol.

I really hope I am all good!

Best Regards,

Epsilon

Edited September 3, 2012 by Epsilon

[*Snowdrop* 604]

Before I married my husband and moved over to the USA, we dated for about 2 years and had another whole year while the visa was processing when each of us took turns flying to the other's country every 6 weeks or so.

So I did between 5-6 trips to the US each year and he did the same to the UK. For me alone that was 18 different visits to the USA over a 3 year period. Some for a weekend, some for a week, some for a month or two. (I had an amazing job with fantastic vacation benefits - really, really miss it over here)

I never had any problems entering the country. I was never even asked why I was visiting so many times. Once we had started the visa process I started to take evidence of my return, such as letter from my boss etc. but I was never asked for any of it.

However my American husband was often questioned quite harshly at the UK border for his frequent travel especially once we were married.

[Epsilon 0]

Thank you people for all your answers, You were all a great help!

I am less worried now, I guess being paranoid about stuff you can't influence is in my blood. I still know the decision is always up to the border official, but I never had any trouble before, with the law or immigration.

I know there is a pattern in my visits of short stays with a some time between it. I always leave within a short period of time (longest was a 3 week summer holiday in july (which is normal I guess)) and there is always a lot of time between my visits. (A minimum of 2 months, while between october-march it was 4.5 months. And between March and july, it was 3.2 months.) Between the last visit and now (the next time) there is a 2 months and 1 week. Thats 3 times the length I have stayed in July.

But compared to what other people do, they get into the states a lot more then me and still don't get into trouble. I havn't really found stories like that but maybe I need to look more for it . Prove me wrong if I am not right.

Just another question, what effect would my age have? 21 years is pretty young for someone to travel alone and that much, and I am sure it would be seen as a more 'potential' group of immigrants, or is the actually the other way around? like people around 30-40 years who travel a lot to america and stay longer like up to 30 days each stay.

But anyway,

Thanks for the help guys!

Epsilon.

[afoyoswa 178]

Just another question, what effect would my age have? 21 years is pretty young for someone to travel alone and that much, and I am sure it would be seen as a more 'potential' group of immigrants, or is the actually the other way around? like people around 30-40 years who travel a lot to america and stay longer like up to 30 days each stay.

I'm not sure where you'd get the idea that 21 is "pretty young to travel alone"? 21 is right in the prime age range for aimless college-break traveling. Maybe it's a little more likely that someone of any age would travel with a companion, but solo travel isn't unusual for anyone over, say, 17-18 or so? Especially to a developed country.

I think you're overthinking this whole thing. Be glad both of you are in "easy" countries and can travel freely to see each other, always be honest with border officials, and be sure you spend more time at home than in the U.S., and you're good.

[Amanda Lynn 3]

The inital thoughts I had was:

1) Will they think you're not going home?

Nope, you have established ties in the netherlands.

2) Will they think you're trafficking drugs?

Honestly, this would be my fear. That they may think you're doing this. But as long as you arent you're fine

[Epsilon 0]

You guys are right, I am probertly overthinking this whole thing. Just a man's worries... I kinda know that for sure....

The Netherlands is the 3th most developed country in the whole world according to the UN (HDI-index). and I doubt they will expect much immigrants from the netherlands, I guess their forcus is more on nations were the situation is less then in the US. But ooh well I realy am overthinking this whole 3th visit thing and overworried.

But thanks anyone, for your time and advice!

And ofcourse I am not taking any drugs. I actually never thought about it Amanda that they could be thinking something like that.

Anyway, thanks everyone! Have a good one!

[rade2rising 205]

good now relax