traveling with documents

[dentsflogged 352]

On 10/11/2017 at 10:09 PM, JFH said:

Note that a petition is not a visa application. All a petition does is establish that there is a legal route for the beneficiary to apply for a visa. All it does is establish eligibility to apply. 

I agree, but if you get the wrong CBP officer, they can and will interpret any sort of paperwork that shows an intent to stay in the country (going via the legal route or not) as a possible conflict with the terms of your VWP/Visitor Visa. 
 

All that being said, as others have pointed out, there must have been other red flags in that case - no significant ties (ie: rental or owned property, job, pets etc) to Australia and demeanor or information which suggested she intended to stay. 

I'm being overly paranoid, as I'm about to head back for 8 weeks which I realise is a long visit especially since I spent 4 weeks there earlier this year. Because of that, I've had my boss email me a confirmation of my leave dates and the day I am expected back at work (proof I have a job to come back to) - including that I will have his number and the work "hot desk" phone number programmed into my phone so CBP can call either number to confirm (though I have just realised that it's going to be 1am here at around 7am LA time, so that'll be interesting if they try... )

 

I've also got a photo on my phone of my current lease agreement which expires in June next year, as well as an email I sent to my Real Estate agent confirming that I've arranged a house sitter, my leave/return dates and asking if they want to do my inspection while I'm still in the country.

 

I have to admit I am worried about Immigration hearing horror stories like this, but I figure I'm going to be honest, I've got my return tickets all organised, travel insurance for only my travel dates, proof of a job to come back to and of responsibilities in this country (like car payments and family/pets here) so except for the fact that I'll have spent 3 months in the country (still under the magic 180 days though) they don't really have a reason to deny me, especially since my phone is clean of any references to not coming back/marriage etc since I don't talk about that stuff with my friends (I'm really superstitious- I won't tell any friends/family that we are engaged until the ring is on my finger)