Love online

[jenoral 3]

You are miss-reading the quote. Anyone can be turned away by a border officer at anytime if they suspect you have immigrant intent. Whether you are visiting a girlfriend, going for a business meeting or touring Disneyland. Since you are from a VWP country, you most likely will be waived through, but it is never a bad idea to have some proof that you intend to return home with you, such as lease to your flat, letter from job when you are expected back etc.

For what it's worth, when my now husband was my boyfriend (and later fiance), I visited often, and always said that was the reason for visiting. I only got pulled into secondary (ie questioned) once, and always let in.

Thanks Penguin that gives me great hope I appreciate it. I was afraid to go to the airport, be taken somewhere and questioned and feared that if i told them i was visiting my girlfriend that I would be turned away. Some even told me that I would be banned from ever entering the USA again because I would be seen to be in breach of the visa. Do you think the US embassy in Dublin would advise me? or do you think I should just book my (return) flights and go to the airport and tell them I`m visiting my girlfriend who I intend to marry but not just yet?

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Thanks Jihana,

The funeral is over now, I am retired and have been self employed since I was 21, I sold my business in 2007 so to the immigration official it looks like I have no permanent ties at home.....which is true.

My fiance has never travelled with any of the information detailed above. She has been honest and upfront with customs each and every trip, telling them she is here to visit her boyfriend (now fiance) and every single time she's been let through. She does have a job in the UK, but has moved back in with her parents to be ready for the move over here later this year.

She was just over here at the beginning of the month for 2 weeks. When she arrived she told them she was here to visit me, and even told them that I had petitioned for her to come here later to get married. They still let her visit. the customs agent did recommend that maybe next time I go see her, but didn't say she was forbidden from coming back again (although we have no plans for her to come back again before her visa).

You most definitely may use your VWP to legally enter and visit your SO, but just be sure not to try to enter with VWP and stay. That is not ok.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

Thanks Penguin that gives me great hope I appreciate it. I was afraid to go to the airport, be taken somewhere and questioned and feared that if i told them i was visiting my girlfriend that I would be turned away. Some even told me that I would be banned from ever entering the USA again because I would be seen to be in breach of the visa. Do you think the US embassy in Dublin would advise me? or do you think I should just book my (return) flights and go to the airport and tell them I`m visiting my girlfriend who I intend to marry but not just yet?

Read this page Visa Free Travel Information from US Embassy Dublin It explains pretty much everything you need to know

[jenoral 3]

That`s such a relief UK-USA-K1...I`m booking my ticket

If I`m questioned I`m implicating you, I dont wanna go to jail alone hehe......Thanks again.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

There is no point calling the embassy really- even if you get through, the decision would be up to the immigration officer at the airport, not the embassy.

I wouldn't volunteer the intention to marry unless asked- never lie to immigration, but no need to volunteer info either.

In the unlikely event that you are turned back, you would need to update your ESTA, and may not be able to use it anymore, ie you'd need to apply for a tourist visa. You would not be banned, and it would not affect a later K1 fiance visa or CR-1 spousal visa.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

That`s such a relief UK-USA-K1...I`m booking my ticket

If I`m questioned I`m implicating you, I dont wanna go to jail alone hehe......Thanks again.

Just be honest and don't worry. Plan yourself a good time, and do plan to return and everything should be fine. Just realize that a smile and friendly but honest replies will get you further than anything else. Customs/Border Agents are people too. They have good days and bad. If you make their day bad, they can make yours worse. If you make their day better, they can easily do the same for you. So after that long flight, smile and be friendly and you should have no trouble.

[NikLR 13,232]

Do you have a house? bills? a car? a lease?

Those things can provide proof. Chances are, you'll never be asked for any of it. I never have.

Just be honest, polite, don't over share, and relax. People visit ALL the time. Shorter visits are better than longer. Don't pack more than you need. If anything pack light and do laundry.

[Sirdaniel42 86]

i guess your only hope is to file for K1 or either get married to your home country, then file for CR-1.

but to be honest. some people take advantage of the system...some do visit their fiance here in the US then get married and right then they file cr-1 without leaving the US. other say it's illegal to do so. but it still happening without getting introuble lol

anyhow just to the legit way file for K1. goodluck!!!

I used the VWP for 7,5 years 4 to 5 times a year to visit my girlfriend (now my wife :-)) and when asked at immigration I told them that I was visiting my girlfriend, no problems. As long as you do not use the VWP to come over and marry there is nothing illegal, also do not overstay.

[SarahandBen 4]

Last time I visited my Fiance in the US on VWP I told them straight up that the purpose of my visit was to see my girlfriend. They just said "have a nice time" and stamped me in. Do not worry about a thing. Just be calm, honest and bring anything you can that shows you have ties to your home country. But I can tell you its 99 percent chance they wont ask to see a thing and will let you in no problem. Again, even if they do ask to see more or question you further, as long as you are friendly, positive and co operative, they will let you in fine.

Also dont say anything to suggest you might marry on that trip or stay any longer than your planned visit.

Have a great time in the US!

[ricnally 259]

I'm visiting my USC fiance at the moment and was let in, no problem, even though I have no home, bills, or job or anything to show ties to Canada, (as I'm wrapping everything up at home, in anticipation of my upcoming move to US).

[Cathi 5,783]

There are many of us who have spouses/fiances who are not from VWP countries and we managed to keep our marriages/relationships going without them visiting the US during the process. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. You are lucky the VWP was/is an option for you.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Yeah: after the one time I was questioned in secondary, the next time I brought over a ton of evidence, asked my employer to write a letter (they looked very strangely at me...) etc. I was all prepared and took a deep breath as I stepped up to the immigration window.

.

The guy barely glanced at my passport, swiped it, and said "have a nice time in the USA". I almost told him to look at all the evidence I painstakingly complied, but thought better of it and toddled off to get my lugage

[AmericanExpat 18]

Thanks for replying Lynne,

As far as I know I can only use the VWP to visit for tourist activity and if the immigration people at the airport think I`m going to visit a girlfriend I will be refused entry and wont be allowed to use the VWP again as I will be deemed to have abused it. As far as I know there is no legal way to visit her .

Going to visit a girlfriend/boyfriend is still going as a tourist. You're not staying, so you are not abusing. Simple "I'm just visiting friends" is a good enough answer at immigration. A boyfriend/girlfriend is not a official category, they are still just friends... hence the 'friend' part of the term.

You'll be fine visiting friends on the VWP.

[Hypnos 6,578]

As Penguin said, always be honest but do not volunteer information either.

On my most recent entry (B-2, tourist) the conversation went like this:

CBP: "What is the purpose of your trip?"

Me: "To visit a friend".

CBP: "Girlfriend?"

Me: "Yes".

He then looked at my ticket, stamped my passport and said, "Enjoy your stay".

Be honest, carry proof of ties to Ireland (if you have any) and you will have done all you could have done from your end, regardless of what happens.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Hypnos

[Arinlars 19]

I met my fiance (online) March 2012 and then I visited him May. Then we got together and on my next trip on July he proposed and we filed for the visa. Now we are together 1 year still in love. They don't care how long you have been dating as long as you have met within 2 years. You may have to give proof like we got an RFE that we are together but in this 1 year time we visited each other 5 times so it's ok. The k1 is the most logical route because it gives you a chance to get to know each other well enough too. And if you follow tge guides for visiting and proving that you have strong ties to Ireland then you are ok.

Edited April 25, 2013 by Arinlars