want to stay with my american girlfriend for a few months without getting married

[sam1983 0]

i was just denied the esta..going for the b2...if i say im visiting friends for a month, and came back after the month...that wouldnt affect future k1 visa right? im thinking it would be more likely to be accepted that way, rather than being honest about visiting my gf...thank you for your replies and sorry for the continual questions, but it really does mean everything to us and the less likely it looks, the more desperate n hopeless we become.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Never lie to immigration, that will come back to bite you. That being said, you also don;t need to volunteer information.

[RhettVoe 282]

But aren't really going to visit your fiance?....if you try the old 'visiting friends' story with your other issues, erc., you will likely stumble during the interview, then what will you say when thr CO asks about a USC girlfriend? The more you try to hide the truth, the more likely you will tip off a keen CO about the real story, and your credibility will go down the drain.

[sam1983 0]

but who's to say we didn't break up, then rekindle the romance when i was there visiting friends? Surely they couldn't prove this one way or another? She hasn't been earning for a long enough time to sponsor me for the k1 yet, shes earning enough but only been working 2 months.If we go down that route it could be a year before we can see each other again. That would be unbearable. it seems crazy that i cant simply visit my girlfriend for a month, if i intended to stay there and marry then i would be going for the k1 instead. none of it is at all straight forward. Would there be any point in paying to speak to a solicitor do you think?

[sam1983 0]

but i will almost certainly be rejected if i say im visiting my gf...i honestly want to go for a short time to meet her family properly and spend time with her, then come back home, then we would make a decision together of where we want to settle and apply for the necessary fiance visa. Even though its harmless and its the truth, from what im told it would definitely be denied. just don't know what to do.

[Soul Froosh 31]

You could have got that ESTA fine on day 1 since the drink drive charge was irrelevant. Now the B-2 decline is hindering your ESTA applications.

Are you still declaring the drink drive charge on later ESTA applications?

You need to explain that you applied for the B2 out of error and was always eligible for the ESTA but you read or perceived the restrictions wrong.

It's worth a shot, but will still be hard now with all the details of girlfriend and serious relationship on the table. You could have initially flown on the ESTA and declared very little at border control and visited with good intentions.

[sam1983 0]

i know i wish id not rushed in with the b2 without research, i didnt even know about estas at that point. i applied for the esta without the dui yesterday and was rejected, because obviously i had to declare the b2 denial, who could i explain this to?because on the esta form there is no space to elaborate...if idve researched properly a year ago, i couldve got an esta, just wish i hadntve rushed the b2 application, was just so eager to be with my partner.so frustrating, messed it up by simply being naive

[Soul Froosh 31]

There's got to be some way to explain you filed for B-2 out of error

Maybe some more knowledgeable posters can chime in with that info.

I think if you clear that aspect up and can then legitimately fill out an ESTA w/out declaring any info on a B-2 rejection - you might be good to go.

[sam1983 0]

nick loves rosie, any idea how i could find out if this is possible?thank you for the reply and the ideas. This really means so much to us, there is no bad intentions, but if im honest it seems i will be denied. if idve applied for an esta before i rushed into the b2, then none of this would be happening, it was simple naivety. Am praying there is a way round it. the 2 months we've been apart already feels like a lifetime.

[RhettVoe 282]

But at the end of the day, YOU know that you are considering fibbing to the CO, about whom you plan to visit...and the fact that you are already thinking of a story about the alleged 'break up' followed by an immediate rekindling of said relationship starts to say a lot about your true intentions and maybe even your character.

Those who have lied to a CO and then get caught always want (and believe they are entitled to) another chance, just to 'prove' their honesty...but if said applicant knowingly does something that has already compromised that honesty, then what are you supposed to point to next as the reason(s) a CO should believe you the next time?

You don't think that a reasonably experienced CO has not heard the 'gee, I had a GF but we broke up last week [right after my ESTA denial] so I am just going to visit other friends whose names I cannot recall...'...does this sound believable to you? To anyone? The COs are not as naïve as you may believe (or hope)....they are trained to spot inconsistencies (and lies), and will toss seemingly innocent questions at an applicant just to test their credibility or story in ways that are not noticeable by the typical applicant.

If you think you are more clever than they are, well, by all means....take your best shot....but if that shot fails, there will be no sense blaming the VO.

[Soul Froosh 31]

We've already established he could have come on an ESTA from day 1.

if he was entitled to it, he could have entered and declared very little and visited with good intentions.

He still can. I'm assuming if he gets the ESTA (in the end) he would go and not give any misinformation or lie to anyone.

[sam1983 0]

i get that rhettvoe,but as i said, my intentions are not to stay there or get married there.simply to spend some time with my partner and get to know her family better. to return to the uk where we would then apply for a uk or usa fiance visa. i do not intend to lie, was simply asking the questions, and from what ive gathered, even though there is nothing wrong with my intentions, if im honest ill be denied anyway. which pretty much leaves nothing and it would be a waste of time and money even attempting to get a b2. its all seeming more and more hopeless.

[Boiler 45,978]

You have a B2 refusal and always will.

There was another thread where someone in a similar situation had tried and tried and still after 22 months was rejected, norm seems to be about 6 months.

[sam1983 0]

so its a b2 or nothing but if im honest it will almost certainly be denied unless i manage to lead the conversation away from the fact ill be staying with my girlfriend. Because my girlfriend has only been earning for 2 months since shes been back, how long does she have to be earning for before she can sponsor me?and also who can co-sponsor and how does that work?again, thank you so much for the feedback, it has been most helpful and probably saved me some solicitor bills!

[Boiler 45,978]

Read the K1 guide, she has to be your Sponsor , if she does not earn enough she can have someone else co sponsor.

London allows self sponsorship, you might be able to save enough for that.