VWP Questions

[nervousalan 0]

Hello everyone. In June I will be going to the US to visit my girlfriend for 87 days while using the VWP. My girlfriend and her family will be supporting me while I am visiting but I'm getting horrendously paranoid about the idea of being bounced at the POE. I have no intention of staying in the US but at the moment I am unemployed so I don't have proof of a job to go home to, even if I'm actively looking for work. What other types of evidence could I use to show my intent to return home? A return ticket is obvious but what other things could I use as proof just in case I'm one of the unlucky people who get grilled by the CBP.

So far I'll have it itinerary, going to print out my ESTA just to keep myself covered. My girlfriend is going to write a letter for me to show to CBP if they feel I didn't bring enough cash to cover 87 days, along with her phone number and address, and a rental agreement. Anything else I'm missing that could prove my ties to home?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Which country are you from?

How often have you visited the US and for how long in the last year?

Chances are you won;t have any trouble, they'll just wave you through. But what ties DO you have? Ie why do you want to return home after your visit? Do you plan on going to college at home, have elderly parents who need you, a kid....?

[nervousalan 0]

Which country are you from?

How often have you visited the US and for how long in the last year?

Chances are you won;t have any trouble, they'll just wave you through. But what ties DO you have? Ie why do you want to return home after your visit? Do you plan on going to college at home, have elderly parents who need you, a kid....?

I'm from the UK, Scotland to be more specific.

I've never been to the US.

The only ties I have at the moment is family and obviously renting my house, if I don't come back I'm gonna lose that since I'm only covering the 3 months rent when I'm gone. And being unemployed isn't going to help my case either.

I've been told I'm worrying about nothing but I have anxiety issues and just want to have myself covered if the CBP agent decides to start grilling me, haha.

Edited April 20, 2013 by nervousalan

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Yeah you will most likely be ok.

If you haven't booked your flights yet, you may consider flying via Dublin/ Shannon, which do pre-clearance. This means you;d do US immigration there, and then can enjoy the rest of your flight in peace, knowing you are already "in".

[nervousalan 0]

Yeah you will most likely be ok.

If you haven't booked your flights yet, you may consider flying via Dublin/ Shannon, which do pre-clearance. This means you;d do US immigration there, and then can enjoy the rest of your flight in peace, knowing you are already "in".

Aw man, already booked my tickets. I'll be getting on a connecting flight at Heathrow to the US. Assuming London doesn't have the pre-clearance stuff? Also am I pretty much covered with the stuff I listed in my original post as proof of ties to the UK or is there anything I'm missing?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Aw man, already booked my tickets. I'll be getting on a connecting flight at Heathrow to the US. Assuming London doesn't have the pre-clearance stuff? Also am I pretty much covered with the stuff I listed in my original post as proof of ties to the UK or is there anything I'm missing?

No, London doesn't do pre-clearance.

The "grillings" you read about generally happen to non-business travelers who have recent frequent travel to the US. People who are spending more time in the US than in their home country. This isn't you. The odds of you being queried are very very low.

Even though you say you have anxiety issues, try not to appear anxious at the border. You really have nothing to hide here. Don't give the officer any reason to think you do. Just be pleasant and smile.

[nervousalan 0]

No, London doesn't do pre-clearance.

The "grillings" you read about generally happen to non-business travelers who have recent frequent travel to the US. People who are spending more time in the US than in their home country. This isn't you. The odds of you being queried are very very low.

Even though you say you have anxiety issues, try not to appear anxious at the border. You really have nothing to hide here. Don't give the officer any reason to think you do. Just be pleasant and smile.

Ahh I see. I guess I'll just carry whatever evidence I can scrounge up just in to keep myself covered. Though what you said about them only targeting people who seem to be there a lot more than they should put me at ease, hooray!

Thanks for the help guys.

[nervousalan 0]

Whoops forgot to ask, we'll be going to visit my girlfriends sister at some point in another state, should I print that flight itinerary too to show the CBP if they ask to see it?

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

They don;t care about your flights inside the country.

[jaycali 415]

Whoops forgot to ask, we'll be going to visit my girlfriends sister at some point in another state, should I print that flight itinerary too to show the CBP if they ask to see it?

No need. My guess is that no documents you bring will ever be requested by anyone in immigration. They'll probably ask you three questions in the lines of:

1. What is the purpose of your trip to the US?

2. Have you ever been to the US before?

3. How long will you be staying?

And then tell you "Have a nice day. NEXT!"

That's how the vast majority of VWP entries go.

Edited April 24, 2013 by Jay Jay

[CarlaDave 27]

No need. My guess is that no documents you bring will ever be requested by anyone in immigration. They'll probably ask you three questions in the lines of:

1. What is the purpose of your trip to the US?

2. Have you ever been to the US before?

3. How long will you be staying?

And then tell you "Have a nice day. NEXT!"

That's how the vast majority of VWP entries go.

Not sure where the OP's POE is but those were the questions Dave was asked when he arrived from Scotland (POE LAX). They also asked what he did for a living. Dave didn't bring any documents with him other than the obvious ESTA confirmation.

The only confusing thing for Dave was the train transfer at Heathrow to get to the other terminal. LOL!

Just be truthful and you'll be fine.