Work Visa to VWP

[Boiler 46,113]

There is no simple answer, depends on which visa, circumstances etc.

[TKY-LA 1]

If my planned stay in the U.S. on return is only ~2.5 weeks you still think this raises red flags? I booked/paid for festival tickets and travel within the U.S. a long time a go and would really really like to use it. Full situation would look like this:

Summary
July 2011 - July 2012: H1B
August 2012 - September 2014: E3
September 2014 - November 2014 - London
November 2014 - Feb 2015 (85 Days) - VWP Los Angeles
Feb 2015 - April 1 (~40 days) - Japan and London
April 1 - April 17 - VWP Newark <------ Bad Idea??
April 17 onward - Japan

Will have return flight booked, ESTA, and job offer letter in Japan

[aaron2020 11,651]

If my planned stay in the U.S. on return is only ~2.5 weeks you still think this raises red flags? I booked/paid for festival tickets and travel within the U.S. a long time a go and would really really like to use it. Full situation would look like this:

Summary

July 2011 - July 2012: H1B

August 2012 - September 2014: E3

September 2014 - November 2014 - London

November 2014 - Feb 2015 (85 Days) - VWP Los Angeles

Feb 2015 - April 1 (~40 days) - Japan and London

April 1 - April 17 - VWP Newark <------ Bad Idea??

April 17 onward - Japan

Will have return flight booked, ESTA, and job offer letter in Japan

It doesn't matter how long your trip is. It doesn't matter if you prepaid for the concert.

You have been given good advice that you may not be admitted based on your anticipated pattern of travel. No one can tell you that you will be admitted each time.

If you want to keep fishing for someone to tell you that it's okay, you will have a long wait.

Best of luck.

Edited February 28, 2015 by aaron2020

[TKY-LA 1]

Just to update. Thanks for the input -- definitely helped me get in the right frame of mind and prep (even if I was too stubborn to listen fully). Didn't have much trouble re-entering.

Was asked additional questions, but nothing to deep. Wanted to share some details I found interesting about what they seemed to find important, for future people contemplating frequent use of VWP (I know nothing is hard and fast, different for everyone)

* Seemed more concerned/interested that I had been in the U.S. for past 7 years, not that I had recently stayed 90 days on VWP

* Having job offer/info for job abroad was crucial, seemed much more relaxed after seeing that

* They took time to look up music festival I was planning on attending, and looked at tickets (so probably important vs. visiting friends and family)

* Staying in a hotel vs. with friends/family also seemed useful

All that said, I do not recommend doing this to anyone as it was extremely stressful and scary -- probably not worth the risk