Visting girlfriend under VWP

[Princely 1]

Here's the story: I'm a British Citizen in the UK and intend to visit my beloved girlfriend (whom I met online a few years ago) in the USA sometime soon for a total of one week, after applying under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).

 

1. My main concern is that I have been unemployed for quite some time after leaving school a couple years ago. Will I be asked by immigration to show proof of strong ties when travelling under the Visa Waiver Program? If so, how would I do that?

 

2. I will have a return ticket. How much money should I have in my bank to show proof of sufficient funds? 

 

3. I can't afford anything going wrong because we have been dying to meet for a long time now. Have there been cases where someone in a similar situation to me has been refused entry upon arrival under Visa Waiver Program?

 

Any help, tips or guidance is appreciated. Thank you.

Edited August 12, 2017 by Princely

[Jordan8768 107]

1 hour ago, Princely said:

Here's the story: I'm a British Citizen in the UK and intend to visit my beloved girlfriend (whom I met online a few years ago) in the USA sometime soon for a total of one week, after applying under the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA).

 

1. My main concern is that I have been unemployed for quite some time after leaving school a couple years ago. Will I be asked by immigration to show proof of strong ties when travelling under the Visa Waiver Program? If so, how would I do that?

 

2. I will have a return ticket. How much money should I have in my bank to show proof of sufficient funds? 

 

3. I can't afford anything going wrong because we have been dying to meet for a long time now. Have there been cases where someone in a similar situation to me has been refused entry upon arrival under Visa Waiver Program?

 

Any help, tips or guidance is appreciated. Thank you.

As long as you have a return ticket, enough funds and you satisfy their reason for why you don't have a job in the U.K. You will be fine. 

 

You need enough to last the time you are there. I've brought about $700 cash for a 2 week visit and they've asked why I had so much. 

[Going through 5,671]

1 minute ago, Jordan8768 said:

You need enough to last the time you are there. I've brought about $700 cash for a 2 week visit and they've asked why I had so much. 

I'm surprised they considered that "so much" money for a 2 week visit....considering the cost of eating out, public transportation, entertainment, shopping for souveniers...

Even if you didn't stay in a hotel, and have someone driving you everywhere, you can easily blow that much within a 2-week vacation just having fun.

[Jordan8768 107]

4 minutes ago, Going through said:

I'm surprised they considered that "so much" money for a 2 week visit....considering the cost of eating out, public transportation, entertainment, shopping for souveniers...

Even if you didn't stay in a hotel, and have someone driving you everywhere, you can easily blow that much within a 2-week vacation just having fun.

I know that's what I told them... haha. Maybe the officer was just really tight fisted haha

[JFH 12,191]

Not sure how someone who is unemployed can afford a long-haul holiday but that's another matter. 

 

Carrying large amounts of cash cash is not advisable. Every time I have been asked how much cash I have with me the answer has always (truthfully) been "about $20 and probably a few pounds as well". They prefer to see credit and debit cards so that they know your accounts are still active in the U.K. Large amounts of cash could indicate that all accounts have been emptied, possessions sold and no plans to return. 

 

Is this your first ever visit here? If so, I wouldn't be too concerned. You're only coming for a week to see someone you've never met before so the chances of overstay are probably lower than someone coming to see a spouse they have been married to for some time. 

Edited August 12, 2017 by JFH

[MacUK 983]

23 hours ago, JFH said:

They prefer to see credit and debit cards so that they know your accounts are still active in the U.K. Large amounts of cash could indicate that all accounts have been emptied, possessions sold and no plans to return. 

 

That's something I've never thought of, personally I prefer taking cash with me when I go to foreign parts.

I can keep better control over how much I'm spending with cash, and I don't have to worry about transaction charges and unknown conversion rates.

Also I couldn't imagine much worse than if there was a problem with my cards and I'm stuck without cash or access to any. Santander has a nasty habit of putting a block on my card if there are any transactions they consider unusual.

 

 

[JFH 12,191]

9 minutes ago, MacUK said:

 

That's something I've never thought of, personally I prefer taking cash with me when I go to foreign parts.

I can keep better control over how much I'm spending with cash, and I don't have to worry about transaction charges and unknown conversion rates.

Also I couldn't imagine much worse than if there was a problem with my cards and I'm stuck without cash or access to any. Santander has a nasty habit of putting a block on my card if there are any transactions they consider unusual.

 

 

Very true. But I don't think CBP cares about that. The one time that I was given a very hard time by CBP (officer kept saying to me "now tell the truth, the plan is for your husband to file an adjustment of status and you have no intention of going home. Tell the truth!") he only let me go when I told him I only had $15 and some change and showed him my debit card and credit card from the U.K. He said to me "good. That's what I wanted to hear." 

[Going through 5,671]

21 minutes ago, MacUK said:

 

That's something I've never thought of, personally I prefer taking cash with me when I go to foreign parts.

I can keep better control over how much I'm spending with cash, and I don't have to worry about transaction charges and unknown conversion rates.

Also I couldn't imagine much worse than if there was a problem with my cards and I'm stuck without cash or access to any. Santander has a nasty habit of putting a block on my card if there are any transactions they consider unusual.

 

 

I normally carry and use only cash when abroad as well.  Only recently I started using my debit card instead.

 

One thing you can do to avoid any problems using your debit card, is inform the bank that you will be out of the country (they will ask the dates) and they will put a note on your account to expect transactions from ATMs or shops in the foreign country during that time so that payment goes through.

[mindthegap 2,601]

I don't think I ever entered under my many VWP visits with with more than about $20 in cash.

On the couple of occasions that I was asked how much cash I had (which was a few times) a quick flash of a certain coloured amex card from my wallet and all was well.

 

 

On 8/12/2017 at 9:48 AM, Princely said:

3. I can't afford anything going wrong because we have been dying to meet for a long time now. Have there been cases where someone in a similar situation to me has been refused entry upon arrival under Visa Waiver Program?

 

Plenty. But everyones circumstances are of course different.

If asked a question just be truthful, but in such a way as you aren't volunteering information that they don't necessarily have to know, or that will lead to more questions.

 

 

 

[Private One 44]

On 8/12/2017 at 0:37 PM, JFH said:

Not sure how someone who is unemployed can afford a long-haul holiday but that's another matter. 

 

Carrying large amounts of cash cash is not advisable. Every time I have been asked how much cash I have with me the answer has always (truthfully) been "about $20 and probably a few pounds as well". They prefer to see credit and debit cards so that they know your accounts are still active in the U.K. Large amounts of cash could indicate that all accounts have been emptied, possessions sold and no plans to return. 

 

Is this your first ever visit here? If so, I wouldn't be too concerned. You're only coming for a week to see someone you've never met before so the chances of overstay are probably lower than someone coming to see a spouse they have been married to for some time. 

You make a great point with cash vs cards but I'm not sure immigration will consider coming here to see a "beloved girlfriend" (not just "someone") as a plus especially for someone who don't have much ties back home. They'll be thinking marriage.