Visiting the US alone to visit girlfriend

[AdamB 0]

Hi,

My girlfriend just returned to the US after being here in the UK for 10 days. It was our first time meeting in person after knowing eachother for almost 6 months. (as we met online).

She had some trouble at immigration and was asked a load of questions, I was worried she wouldn't be let through but thankfully we were alright.

We are both 21, I am a British citizen (born in the UK) and currently a student in my second year of university study. I do not have a job at the moment. She lives in KY, has a full time job and is also educating.

I'm plannning to visit her in December-January for around 30 days, we're hoping to get married.

I've not flown before and will be traveling alone so I'm worried about getting through immigration.

What will I need?

Am I likely to get through?

I understand I'll be coming under the visa waiver ESTA programme but will I need an additional visa for marriage even though I plan to return to the UK?

Thanks!

[Ryan H 3,812]

I understand I'll be coming under the visa waiver ESTA programme but will I need an additional visa for marriage even though I plan to return to the UK?

No

[Darnell 8,478]

no 'marriage visa' needed at this point.

[Naddy&Mikey 2]

If your concerned about getting through border control I would suggest taking evidence of your ties to the U.K, so they can see you will be returning. Regarding marrying on the vwp, well that's what I did and returned home to the U.K a week later. We filed the I-130 once I had got back

[nufcfc 1]

You'll be fine. Just make sure you have your return flight details and if you want get a letter from your employer saying when they expect you to return to work. Visa wise all you need is the esta. If you buy travel insurance that works as decent evidence that you intend to go home as it has a start and end date on the print out.

[nufcfc 1]

Sorry just saw you don't have a job. That's ok. Just make sure you have at least travel insurance dates and return flight details and you'll be ok.

[richinlove 2]

u can also bring school id's and other information

[AdamB 0]

Thanks everyone!

If immigration were to ask, would I mention we intend to marry?

Also, considering we married there, if she would like to settle in the UK, what's the best way to go?

Sorry for all the questions! Just nervous considering what we went through when she got here!

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Just say you are there to visit your girlfriend for x amount of weeks/days.

The only trouble you might get is if you have barely any money to survive, are asking to come in for a period of time that would be considered longer than a regular vacation, have visited too frequently, have overstayed before, or you say something blatently off like "I'm coming in to get married and never ever leave. Visa? What's that?"

A condition of a country being part of the VWP is that they have a less than 3% visa overstay rate. So although a border agent can deny you just because he thinks your hair is the wrong shade of brown, it is quite a rare occurrence.

Lots of people have partners in the States. If it were illegal to have an American partner, there would be no visas to be with them, visas which you can only get if you've met your partner in person.

The first time I ever visited my fiancé in the States, I decided to go with the "I'm on vacation" line. It didn't work out like I wanted it to the guy looked at me like I had just turned into a huge purple toad and asked me if I had any relatives in the States, and how I could afford a luxury such as a plane ticket to LA. I said I had a job, and I could tell that he was thinking I looked too young to have a job. When I said I had no family out there, he asked who I was staying with, and I said "my friends". He then said "you just told me you had no friends here" although he actually asked if I had relatives, not friends. I think he was trying to catch me out in a lie but failed a bit because after looking at my passport and then me several times with an evil face, he stamped me in

Then the customs guy also gave me the third degree.

It wasn't scary at all. I think they were just doing their jobs.

Second time, I went through Newark. The lady just asked me my purpose of visiting, how long for, who with, and whether I had a job. After I left, a guy from customs half-arsedly searched my suitcase and asked me the same questions immigration did. He totally missed my needles and syringes with medication in. For all he would have known, they might have been heroin. He literally removed like, one of my shirts, stabbed a massive hole through my case and was like "yeah, bye"

Third time, went through Newark again. The guy asked me the purpose, who with, how long for, how did I meet my friends, did I go to school in America, when was the last time I visited the States, blah blah blah, then we wished each other Merry Christmas and I left to get my bag. That was the only visit that customs didn't hassle me afterwards o_o

My visit dates were as follows:

July 16th 2011 - July 30th 2011

November 21st 2011 - December 6th 2011

December 15th 2012 - January 5th 2013

My next visit will be July 24th 2013 - August 9th 2013

As you can see, I probably haven't been hassled by the scary secondary people because I visit so infrequently and for only 2 or 3 weeks. All your past visits show up on their computer screen, and any overstays. So don't overstay.

I probably gave more info than was needed, but sometimes reassuring and realistic perspectives are needed

I also want to add that I have taken proof of ties to home such as a letter from work stating my job role, salary, length of service, and when I'm due back. I've taken a bank statement to show additional funds, I have taken varying amounts of cash from $600 - $1000 each time, a copy of my ESTA, a copy of my itinerary and a copy of my travel insurance. I've never been asked to prove anything or show them any of this stuff but it is good to have in case they want to have a nosey at your print-outs.

Edited June 30, 2013 by Ketsuban

[AdamB 0]

Thanks alot guys! I'll be booking my ticket today

[AdamB 0]

Hey everyone,

I've booked my ticket, 12th December - 8th January (27 Days), Only 97 days to go!

It'll be my first time travelling since I was a child and Iso I'm a little worried I'll have some trouble at the airports...I guess I am the wrong shade of brown!

I intend to carry:

Passport

Driving license

National Insurance card

I'll need an ESTA

A deed poll (as I underwent a surname change in the last couple years)

a photo album containing our pictures and various bits of mail

her and my personal and family details

Student ID

A letter of leave from uni

Student loan and grant documentation

Travel Insurance

Credit card suitable for travel

A copy of my lease

I'm unsure as to how much I should present in a bank statement? Would £1500 be too much/too less?

Also, as mentioned I am able to marry whilst I'm there without applying for additional Visa

However, what I'm unsure of is how this would affect our applications in the future. Our plan is that she moves to the UK - as soon as possible. Would it be advisable to marry whilst I'm there, Would it affect further travel, or applications, or anything in any way?

Thanks everyone!

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I can't afford to get this wrong!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Hey everyone,

I've booked my ticket, 12th December - 8th January (27 Days), Only 97 days to go!

It'll be my first time travelling since I was a child and Iso I'm a little worried I'll have some trouble at the airports...I guess I am the wrong shade of brown!

I intend to carry:

Passport

Driving license

National Insurance card

I'll need an ESTA

A deed poll (as I underwent a surname change in the last couple years)

a photo album containing our pictures and various bits of mail

her and my personal and family details

Student ID

A letter of leave from uni

Student loan and grant documentation

Travel Insurance

Credit card suitable for travel

A copy of my lease

I'm unsure as to how much I should present in a bank statement? Would £1500 be too much/too less?

Also, as mentioned I am able to marry whilst I'm there without applying for additional Visa

However, what I'm unsure of is how this would affect our applications in the future. Our plan is that she moves to the UK - as soon as possible. Would it be advisable to marry whilst I'm there, Would it affect further travel, or applications, or anything in any way?

Thanks everyone!

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I can't afford to get this wrong!

That's more stuff that most people take with them. You'll be fine. £1500 is plenty - not too less/too little. Don't bother with the photo album - if you are asked for evidence, it'll be about stuff back in the UK (like your uni letter and lease).

As for her moving to the UK - you're going to get less advice about that here, naturally, as everyone is trying to move the other way. You should look up the requirements for a spousal visa from UKBA (assuming you want to get married while you're there).

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/citizens-settled/spouse-cp/

They have some quite strict income requirements, and there's been discussion on this over here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/372449-before-you-permanently-move-to-the-us/

The UK also has the concept of a fiancé visa, so you could also opt for that if you don't wish to be married on this trip but would like to marry in the future in the UK and have your partner stay after the marriage:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/citizens-settled/fiancee-proposed-cp/

There's a user on here who entered the UK on the fiancé visa and became the spouse of a UK citizen. They're currently in the process of going back to the USA. You might want to look her up and ask some questions: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/164133-tomandcatie/

Edited September 6, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[AdamB 0]

Thank you very much.

I've been taking a look at those topics and I'm pretty surprised at the restrictions we have on US spouses, it's terrible because based on our position it's going to be 2-3 years before we can be anywhere near being together!

We may just opt for me to move to the USA if I can't get a graduate job meeting the requirements.