Multiple long visits on ESTA VWP How long before i can go back?

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

...What I am worried about is my proof that I will return back to the UK.... I dont work, live with my mother.... so they are the main ties they look for

Two, red flags, yeap.

The fact that my mother has health problems and I live with her and help her would that be a reason? My grandfather who lives nearby is 95 and is also in bad health.

A CBP may ask, "If you truly care for your sick mother and grandfather, you would leave them for months at a time? Who cared for them in your last absence?"

Plus I have to return for medication and to continue to receive benefits.

You could always get medicine in the USA. Your benefits continuation is a good tie.

What other things could prove a tie to the UK? Other than the obivous return ticket and money for my stay?

In today's digital world, money and return tickets are not really strong ties to your country. As I said, your benefits continuation is a good tie, but may not be enough. You could always try the plain truth, but I would rather just wait it out 6 months if it were me. I suppose you really wont value the VWP privilege until you lose it.

[concernedesta 2]

Yes his dual has continued he has a british and american passport.

I could get medicine in the US but as i learnt from this trip it would cost me a fortune!

I mean would it be likely that on my 2nd visit they would turn me away? I could understand if it was 3rd or 4th but surely people do this! I mean what about people that take a gap year or decide to travel for a year. they would have no job or ties to home.

What other ties could I use?

[HFM181818 750]

So many changing stories......which one is the real one?

But what is certain (or fairly certain) is the following:

you have little reason to return - someone takes care of your mother and elderly grandfather during your absence...if for 89 days, why not for 890 or 8900?

Do Brits instantly lose their dole (no matter what brought it about) if they move to the US?

Is your medication given every 90 days? If so, by whom?

What 'tourism' is so important that you cannot wait to return to the US to engage in it? Our national parks are open almost all of the time, Mt. Rushmore is not going anywhere soon, Disneyland is open year round, etc.

If you are healthy enough to take international flights, unaccompanied by a nurse or caregiver, and manage to do all of this other 'tourism' without assistance, then how is it believable that you 'have to return' to the UK periodically for some medical treatment?

What else is missing in your story?

On just a moderately bad day, a CPB officer could easily ship you home, with your VWP cancelled and few prospects of getting a B2 visa in the foreseeable future....then what? A K1? If yes, then all of those things you have offered as the alleged reasons to return will have been rendered moot.

[concernedesta 2]

Its not that my story is changing just that I hadnt said he was a boyfriend and that was the main reason for wanting to come back so soon.

If you spend more than 6months out of the country in a year you are no longer eligible for UK benefits.

My medication is on a repeat prescription by my GP. I can get a 3month supply but I also require blood tests.

Its not that the tourism is important to happen so quick but that I want to come back to see my boyfriend whilst doing the tourist things.

If I were to come for a smaller length of time would that raise less issues?

[HFM181818 750]

possibly. So is it 100% true that if a Brit were to marry and move permanently to the US, they would instantly lose any UK benefits, even though they are still a UK citizen? Or is that a person (you, for example) could marry and move, but as long as you went back to the UK every 6 months, even if for ten minutes, that your benefits would continue?

[yuna628 9,700]

Its not that my story is changing just that I hadnt said he was a boyfriend and that was the main reason for wanting to come back so soon.

If you spend more than 6months out of the country in a year you are no longer eligible for UK benefits.

My medication is on a repeat prescription by my GP. I can get a 3month supply but I also require blood tests.

Its not that the tourism is important to happen so quick but that I want to come back to see my boyfriend whilst doing the tourist things.

If I were to come for a smaller length of time would that raise less issues?

If you are receiving benefits, I will assume that you are on unemployment 'dole'. How do you expect to manage to maintain being on it without having to constantly sign off and on (so they don't notice you're using that money on trips out of the UK), being made to mandatorily attend signing at your local workforce, or being forced onto work placements or courses which are mandatory if you wish to maintain funds? With that in mind how do you suppose to maintain your benefits while spending so much time in the US (provided you are allowed to return that is)?

If you came for a smaller length of time is not the issue, it won't matter if you came 3 days or 89. It's the frequency of the visits without spending a greater gap of time in your home country. If you miss your boyfriend, it's understandable. We all did at some point probably more or less, but having a relationship with someone from another country has a price, and if you want to be able to visit at all, you need to keep your VWP privileges, and do what it takes to keep them, yes?

If you want to work on truly having good ties to prove your return home, I think judging by the replies here, you have a good idea what you'd need to do.

possibly. So is it 100% true that if a Brit were to marry and move permanently to the US, they would instantly lose any UK benefits, even though they are still a UK citizen? Or is that a person (you, for example) could marry and move, but as long as you went back to the UK every 6 months, even if for ten minutes, that your benefits would continue?

When someone from the UK leaves to go live and reside in another country he would report this to the HMRC for tax purposes. It is highly unlikely, if not highly suspicious at the idea someone could maintain benefits (other than perhaps some sort of pension or disability perhaps!) by remaining out of the UK for 6 months and then popping back in for ten minutes. ;-) For dole unemployment purposes it would even be more suspect! My husband is currently scratching his head at this entire thread...

Edited December 15, 2015 by yuna628

[DJ6372 111]

Now that your story is slightly more belivable you'll find a lot of people on here did something similar

I for one travelled backwards and forwards on an ESTA to see my girlfriend (now wife)

I wasn't 'lucky' enough to be' Government sponsored' I had a job and could only stay 1week to 10 days at a time

Yeah it sucks, so does living apart from your wife for 15 months while the whole IR-1 process took place

I was lucky time wise, a lot of people haven't made it yet, nor do they have the luxury of the VWP

You will hear a lot of negativity towards your situation, get over it, you are lucky to have what you have

People have offered you advice how to prevent so many red flags appearing

I still have doubts, your boyfriend lives in the US, you spend more time there than you do in the UK but don't want to live there??!! All for a booty call and 'tourist stuff'.............come on!

My opinion is you want to somehow stay over, get a job and not return, but somehow continue to milk the system

You won't get people on these forums assisting with that

Good luck

Edited December 15, 2015 by DJ6372

[concernedesta 2]

No I do not sign on. I am signed off for medical reasons.

If someone on benefits were to marry there benefits are then immediatly re-evaluated. Also they have to be in the country for 6months out of the year not just a quick trip every 6months, its a full 6months in the UK.

It saddens me that you feel I want to stay in the US permananently or find a job there. That really is not the case! I would not even consider the whole getting married on VWP and then applying for a visa or greencard while in the US as I would not want to have to spend the whole time I was waiting for approval or not in the US.

I was trying to fit my next visit in to coincide with valentines day and my birthday at the end of April plus get back in time for medical appointments I have. I have the funds to have one more long trip but not to take shorter trips as the cost of flights back and forth would cripple me.

[HFM181818 750]

What we think won't matter - it's what CPB will think...and based on the ever changing stories we have heard, well, you'll be on your own when and if you arrive here.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

I was trying to fit my next visit in to coincide with valentines day and my birthday at the end of April plus get back in time for medical appointments I have. I have the funds to have one more long trip but not to take shorter trips as the cost of flights back and forth would cripple me.

Valentines Day is a made up holiday. I wouldn't plan your trip around that. In truth, I think your attention to financial costs is spot on. Relationships are costly. International relationships are super costly. The more responsible you are with your money, the higher likelihood that your relationship will succeed. What that means is being very selective on the trips you do take. Make them few, and make them count. Good luck!

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

And one more thing...

Think about the worst case scenario. To me, you sound like an honest person who would not lie to the CBP. If so, then it seems like the worst that can happen is they send you back home and your VWP might be forfeit. Not the end of the world, especially since you're avoiding any kind of ban for misrepresentation. At that point, your boyfriend would need to pick up the slack to make the relationship work. That's not a bad scenario. Relationships are all about mutually shared sacrifice. And since he has ties to the UK, this seems like a good plan B. So start off by planning your next trip well to have the greatest possible chance of success. Keep in mind that the best laid plan might still fail. And finally, don't despair if your plan does fail. Talk all this through with your boyfriend and it'll go a long way to give you both a peace of mind.

One further thing in regards to navigating through the various opinions on this board. You're not going to get a lot of sympathy if you're unwilling to display some sort of patience when it comes to visiting your boyfriend. Many of us have spent months and years away from fiances or spouses as we navigate the system. Myself, I spent 15 months apart from my wife while waiting for a spousal visa. Again, good luck.

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

And one more thing...

Think about the worst case scenario. To me, you sound like an honest person who would not lie to the CBP. If so, then it seems like the worst that can happen is they send you back home and your VWP might be forfeit. Not the end of the world, especially since you're avoiding any kind of ban for misrepresentation. At that point, your boyfriend would need to pick up the slack to make the relationship work. That's not a bad scenario. Relationships are all about mutually shared sacrifice. And since he has ties to the UK, this seems like a good plan B. So start off by planning your next trip well to have the greatest possible chance of success. Keep in mind that the best laid plan might still fail. And finally, don't despair if your plan does fail. Talk all this through with your boyfriend and it'll go a long way to give you both a peace of mind.

One further thing in regards to navigating through the various opinions on this board. You're not going to get a lot of sympathy if you're unwilling to display some sort of patience when it comes to visiting your boyfriend. Many of us have spent months and years away from fiances or spouses as we navigate the system. Myself, I spent 15 months apart from my wife while waiting for a spousal visa. Again, good luck.

She admitted in this thread that she was planning on not mentioning her intentions of visiting her boyfriend to the CBP because she thought it would be a red flag.

You have a strange sense of honesty..

[concernedesta 2]

Russ&Caro Thank you I really appreciate your words to me. I have never been in this kind of situation before so it is like shell shock to me at the moment. I am hoping to try and convince him to come back to the UK for a bit... dont think it will work but I will try. I was just looking on a post on the US visas website and it said this for reasons allowed for travel:

Tourism:

• tourism
• vacation (holiday)
• visit with friends or relatives
• medical treatment
• participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

Well I am going for a vacation visiting with friends so thats a tick. Then under whats not allowed:

These are some examples of activities not permitted on the VWP and require visas for travel to the United States:

• study, for credit
• employment
• work as foreign press, radio, film, journalists, or other information media
• permanent residence in the United States

I dont intend or want to do any of those things so I guess as long as I am totally honest with them I am hoping I wont have a problem. I really need to go in february 2 months after getting back otherwise I cannot fit a trip in until much later in the year and also the heat in Florida would be too much for me. I understand why some people may be rather unsympathetic and may i say harsh. If you have had to fight like I suspect you must have to be able to stay with your partner that must be just awful. I guess that is why I am lucky that if by some miracle we ever did get to the point of wanting to get married he has a UK passport so we wouldnt have to be apart. Unfortunately at this moment in time we do unless i can travel to the USA.

I know my posts may not come accross like i am an honest person but I really am. Although when it comes to relationships I am usually very private hence I didnt want to say that at the start.

I suspect I will be allowed in this second time especially if I shorten the length of my stay but if I wanted to come back a third time I would think it would be very hard. Luckily there would be a long gap between a possible 2nd and 3rd trip. Having said that I will have to prepare myself that I could end up getting turned back at the airport which I think would kill me!

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

She admitted in this thread that she was planning on not mentioning her intentions of visiting her boyfriend to the CBP because she thought it would be a red flag.

You have a strange sense of honesty..

One of the things I appreciate about this forum after reading many threads like this one, is how the community encourages people to do the right thing. Some posters reject the right approach out of hand and usually abandon open threads early. Others seem to learn from the community about what to say at interviews, POE's, etc. In fact, they come onto this forum for this specific advice. From what I've read here, I believe the OP is looking to do the right thing. Obviously, I could be wrong.

By the way, on my return from my very first trip to Colombia, I totally botched the answers involving the purpose of my trip and who I visited and their relationship to me. I wasn't trying to be dishonest but damn if it isn't nerve wracking answering such questions for the first time.

[concernedesta 2]

Yes I wasnt going to mention it and was going to just say we are friends as I thought it would raise more questions. We are friends, and we are more than friends.... As I said earlier we havent even labelled ourselves we have both had bad relationship experiences in the past so we are just going with the flow. However to make things more simple then yes I guess we are in a relationship. Im pretty sure if I got to immigration and got asked is he your boyfriend me then having to go well we are and we arent well we have sex and share a bed but we havent given ourselves that title etc etc etc would not go down well hence thinking I would just say friends to avoid all of that and raising red flags but after seeing how people reacted to what i said I have realised that No I just have to be honest, to all intents and purposes yes we are a couple. What goes on in our relationship and what we choose to define it as is our business but to make it simple boyfriend/girlfriend covers it.

I was so scared when I came the first time knowing that you can be turned back for any reason and people said to me that they can be really hard and just pick on you for no reason other than they want to! When I got there I must have looked nervous but the man didnt ask me anything! He said the address i was staying at to which i said yes and took my prints and photo and that was it! He said welcome back to america and as i walked away i said its my first time.

Getting turned away at the airport must be one of the worst things ever! I can only imagine how hard it would be knowing your partner is waiting for you on the other side and you cant even see them or touch them! Gosh its making me want to cry just thinking about it!