Traveling to USA

[candymountain 0]

Hey all,

I'm planning to travel to the US for a 6 month holiday (b2 visa) later this year, however my lease will expire while I'm away (i'll abandon before hand and continue to pay rent until they find another tenant or it runs out). I'll also be leaving my job to travel.

Therefore I have concerns that I could potentially be turned away at the border for not having strong enough ties to Australia.

I'm intending to take the following documents with me :

Bank accounts
Proof of an Australian self managed super fund
Proof of safe deposit box in Aus
Return ticket + accommodation booked for a week in Melbourne on return.
All accommodation for time in the US booked in advance.
Proof of home contents in storage + insurance
Aus brokerage account

With the above documents, what are my chances of running in to trouble at the border? I understand no job + no residence is a red flag, and rightly so I guess. I've asked elsewhere and been told I'll probably be fine, but my concern is the length of my trip will throw up a red flag, and I could get dragged off to secondary processing, where I may be denied entry.

I was born in Australia and have Australian citizenship. I have ample funds, enough to cover my trip thrice over.

In addition, my understanding is that the final say on how long you can stay is given by the officer at the immigration point. What if I book for 6 months and only get 3 (for example)?

Kind regards and thank you.

[MacUK 983]

Just out of curiosity, do you have a romantic relationship with anyone in the US?

With the scenario you describe I would imagine that would be a much bigger red flag than anything else. To the CBP it would appear that you've given up your life in Oz to immigrate and adjust status.

If you haven't got a significant other in the US then I'd say your chances would be improved but you still need to convince a total stranger of your intentions.

And if they permit you to enter but give you a shorter duration of stay then you MUST be away home within that time.

Enjoy your trip

[candymountain 0]

Thanks for replying.

No relationship. I'm single.

That's the rub, I have absolutely no intention of abandoning anything - but I could totally get how it would look that way.

Edited March 11, 2014 by candymountain

[Boiler 45,970]

Proof of home contents in storage + insurance

Why not just keep your lease going?

[Markrivers 0]

6months is the RED flag.

Here in the states, people with stable jobs CANNOT Have 6 months of consecutive days VACATION.

Even pregnant women, they don't enjoy 6 months of leave.

So be prepared to expound on this.

Can you make your arrangements shorter. 4 months maximum?

They will probably give you 6 months at the border anyway.

[Boiler 45,970]

He is not a Yank, certainly was quite common for those down under to get a leave of absence to go travelling, London was full of them.

Look up Barry McKenzie.

[candymountain 0]

I dont wish to keep the lease as I was going to move anyway, dont want to sign up for another year where I am.

I'd be leaving my job to travel, precisly because as you said, it would be tough to get that much time off.

I would have a return ticket plus further travel within aus on return booked in advance, I guess I could cut it back to 4 months.. would rather not though if possible.

Thanks all for the replies.

[Mitch0526 1]

Is the border officer much more likely to ask for proof and questions than at the first interview? My wife's interview was a piece of cake and asked the most basic questions and got the approval.

[Camelot13 63]

My boyfriend just arrived from the UK for 3 months and got through without any problems. I'm always surprised when things go smoothly since I've heard of people really getting grilled and sometimes sent home, but they only asked him where he was staying and who he was visiting. He even admitted to visiting his girlfriend, but they didn't question it. He had a ton of paperwork with him including a letter from an employer, the deed to his home, bills, return flight and lots of other stuff, but they didn't ask to see any of it and didn't even ask him how long he was planning on staying. I think we got really lucky, but it's possible you won't have any problems either. However, 6 months is a very long trip and it's highly likely that they'll want to see stronger ties to Australia. I've not really heard of people coming over for more than 3 without a B-2 visa. They probably wouldn't send you back, however they may enforce a shorter trip upon arrival.

One thing you may be able to do is go through an airport in Aus where the US immigration checkpoint is actually on that end so that if you run into trouble you don't need to be sent on another insanely long flight. Not sure they do that there, but I know Dublin has US Immigration on the UK side.

[Boiler 45,970]

90 days not 3 months

Dublin is not in the UK

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hey all,

I'm planning to travel to the US for a 6 month holiday (b2 visa) later this year, however my lease will expire while I'm away (i'll abandon before hand and continue to pay rent until they find another tenant or it runs out). I'll also be leaving my job to travel.

Therefore I have concerns that I could potentially be turned away at the border for not having strong enough ties to Australia.

I'm intending to take the following documents with me :

Bank accounts

Proof of an Australian self managed super fund

Proof of safe deposit box in Aus

Return ticket + accommodation booked for a week in Melbourne on return.

All accommodation for time in the US booked in advance.

Proof of home contents in storage + insurance

Aus brokerage account

With the above documents, what are my chances of running in to trouble at the border? I understand no job + no residence is a red flag, and rightly so I guess. I've asked elsewhere and been told I'll probably be fine, but my concern is the length of my trip will throw up a red flag, and I could get dragged off to secondary processing, where I may be denied entry.

I was born in Australia and have Australian citizenship. I have ample funds, enough to cover my trip thrice over.

In addition, my understanding is that the final say on how long you can stay is given by the officer at the immigration point. What if I book for 6 months and only get 3 (for example)?

Kind regards and thank you.

If you already have a B2 visa, you should have no problem getting a six-month stay. Chances are the CBP officer will ask you the perfunctory questions and let you in. However, if you get questioned, be ready to show evidence and support your plans. Have hotels booked, destinations checked, tickets in order and show evidence of funds - cash, traveler checks, credit cards. In other words, be prepared to explain how you intend to support yourself during the period of time you are planning for your vacation. Remember that the truth is pretty much self evident, which means be honest, direct and concise. Bring all the documentation you have but don't produce it until asked to do so. Just have it all ready, if you should be questioned.

If you are planning to apply for a visa, you will [most certainly so] be questioned at the US Consulate in Australia as to why you wish to visit the US for such a period of time. That you do not have a job will play against you and you may be denied on that account. Also, once you apply for a visitor's visa, you no longer qualify for VWP, so you may wish to consider the risks, given your circumstances, and if don't already have a visa you may wish to reconsider and come to the US for the 90 days you are allowed under VWP.

Good luck whatever your decision!

[MacUK 983]

I've not really heard of people coming over for more than 3 without a B-2 visa. They probably wouldn't send you back, however they may enforce a shorter trip upon arrival.

Nobody gets in for more than 3 months as a tourist without a B2, the VWP is limited to 90 days.

And not wanting to scare the OP, but it is very easy for them to send her back. All they need is to suspect that she isn't entering as a legitimate tourist.

[Camelot13 63]

I know Dublin's not in the UK. That was a stupid error on my part. What I meant was that there was the option of a US Immigration checkpoint close-by before the long overseas flight when my boyfriend was leaving the UK and if there's something like that in Aus and the OP is feeling nervous about being sent back, then that may be something to take advantage of.

I was under the assumption that the OP had a B-2 visa already? If not, then yeah, you can't come to the US for more than the 90 days the VWP allows.

[candymountain 0]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. I've decided to cut it back to 90 days and go under the VWP. Applied and it was approved straight away.

All that's left is to plan and book!

Cheers.

[Camelot13 63]

Candymountain, that sounds like a good idea. You'll still need to bring documents with you to show ties to AUS in case asked upon arrival. Gather as much as you can and be sure to have your itinerary and a copy of your return ticket. Have a great trip!