Can I say to the CBP I am visiting my boyfriend in the USA? 2017

[CamilaSa 0]

I am really scared! I want to visit my boyfriend but I am scared about CBP. Can i tell to the CBP I am visiting my boyfriend? I mean when they ask me: why are you coming to US? can I say that? The first time I went to US I spent 3 weeks there with my family, then I was in US for 12 months in a exchange program. I met my boyfriend there. Now, after almost 1 year living in my home country I decided to visit my boyfriend for 33 days. I am from latin america and I am working in my country. I am panicked! can somebody please help me with this?

[Crazy Cat 42,058]

The best policy is to just be truthful if asked about the purpose of your visit.  You should be also prepare to convince the officer that you intend to return to your country after the visit.

[TNJ17 1,329]

You have to tell the truth no matter what. But because you have a boyfriend there you’re at high risk of getting denied entry. Like previous poster said, you have to convince the CO that you are going back to your home country and you have no intentions of immigrating. And the way to do that is showing strong ties. A lot of strong ties. 

[D.Ba 85]

Better be honest. While we were applying for K-1 I visited and told them I am going to see my fiancé. They never even asked if I planned to get married and stay right away.

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

Don't worry, just be honest. Be prepared to answer questions like: are you planning to get married, how did you meet, when are you leaving, how long have you known each other, what will you do if he asks you to marry you. 

Those were the questions they asked me last time. They look pretty scary but it was a very nice lady and she loved to hear about us. 

[CamilaSa 0]

2 minutes ago, Little_Vixen said:

Don't worry, just be honest. Be prepared to answer questions like: are you planning to get married, how did you meet, when are you leaving, how long have you known each other, what will you do if he asks you to marry you. 

Those were the questions they asked me last time. They look pretty scary but it was a very nice lady and she loved to hear about us. 

Can I ask you, what did you aswered when she asked you: what will you do if he asks you to marry you?

[Longingfor 195]

From my experience just say who you are visiting and for how long. Instead of saying 33 days just say one month. I would responding visiting my boyfriend for a month. CBP may or may not ask follow up questions. I never had any follow up questions. 

 

No need to panic just relax because if you are indeed visiting you would be excited and that excitement shows especially having not seen each other for an extended period of time. So relax and be truthful about purpose of visit.

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

16 minutes ago, CamilaSa said:

Can I ask you, what did you aswered when she asked you: what will you do if he asks you to marry you?

I told her I'd say yes of course, with a big grin on my face. When she asked what we'd do after that I told her we'd have to look into the whole visa thing cause I hear it's quite complicated. 

[geowrian 22,338]

Just tell the truth top whatever he/she asks. Nothing fancy or elaborate is needed here.

 

Can I get back in the time machine and return to 2018 now?

[Mrs. DPK 66]

Hello!

 

I am from Peru, and I've visited my now husband while we were dating  a couple times too. I also have been visiting too now, as married.

 

Every advice here is good. Always be honest; and try your best, clear and friendly English. Regardless if the CO seems cranky or "suspicious" it's better to greet and wait for them to ask what they need to know. Then proceed giving short and concise answers.

 

I believe the first time I visited my husband, I replied that I was going to spend New Year's Eve with a friends' (my boyfriend) family. I had a letter of invite from his mother, an itinerary and also documents supporting that I was still in college. If your boyfriend is the one inviting you, then just mention visiting your boyfriend but have in hand documents supporting that you will be going back (work vacations permit, start date from college/masters, lease, etc.).

 

The other times visiting my then boyfriend, I always replied "visiting my boyfriend" with no problems, but again having documents supporting that/why you'd go back to your country. I believe the more entries I had, the less the CO cared to ask me more info.

 

And even now while coming to the US on my visitor visa (while waiting for my immigration process to be finished) I say "visiting my husband" which usually leads to the CO asking a few more questions about him/us, but with no attitude at all.

 

I can understand your worries, I felt the same way the first few times visiting and the first time visiting after getting married. I even felt nauseous waiting in line there, but being honest will make things fine.

 

Good luck!

F

Edited January 13, 2018 by dpk

[Ahoy01 31]

You should be fine. I went and visited my wife after I was married (which I feel like is a stronger tie then having a BF), I was asked what is she doing in the US? Told them she was a USC. They asked me what she did for a living and what I did for living. Then waved me through.

 

Another time when I was with my wife. They asked when we got married. How we met? How long ago did we meet? She was friendly and told us how our story was similar to her aunt's and uncle's.

 

So yeah I feel like just having a bf alone will not make them deny you entry. But if there is other reasons it will be an added red flag.

 

I also feel like it might have to do with the country you are from. I am a Canadian who visited US often.

[Georgia16 2,858]

I got asked one time and said boyfriend as he was at that time and just got a have a nice time back. 

 

If asked be honest if not asked then don't say anything. 

 

Just because you have an american boyfriend does not mean you will get denied entry

[Scandi 4,178]

13 hours ago, Longingfor said:

From my experience just say who you are visiting and for how long. Instead of saying 33 days just say one month. I would responding visiting my boyfriend for a month. CBP may or may not ask follow up questions. I never had any follow up questions. 

 

No need to panic just relax because if you are indeed visiting you would be excited and that excitement shows especially having not seen each other for an extended period of time. So relax and be truthful about purpose of visit.

Better to say the exact date of your return flight, that way they know that you have a return flight and a specific date you will be leaving the country. It just sounds better to say "I'll be staying until February 16" instead of "Oh, I'll stay about a month or so..".

[JFH 12,191]

Depending on your country of origin, you may have a more difficult time at the POE than has been reported here by people from Canada and VWP countries. 

 

If you are asked who you are visiting then you must be honest and tell them you are visiting your boyfriend. But you don't have to volunteer information that is not asked. There is nothing illegal about having an American boyfriend. There is nothing illegal about coming here to visit him. But there's everything illegal about lying to or giving misleading information to a CBP officer. 

 

That said, CBP officers are just as human as we are. Young woman traveling alone with a residential address given on the customs form (instead of a hotel) and they've pretty much worked out what's going on. Especially if you are returning to the same address you previously provided on your customs form (they store that information on your file). If they ask you who you are visiting they are just testing you to see if you'll lie - they already know the answer. 

[Tom&Hana 37]

My fiancé has visited me here in the US several times before we were engaged. Each time she was totally honest with the CBP officer and told him she was visiting her USC boyfriend. She was asked questions such as "what is your boyfriends full name?", "where does he live?", "what does he do for a living?".  There was never an issue with entry. 

 

She he plans on visiting in March for the first time since I filed the I-129F. She plans on having plenty of evidence of ties to her country including the lease for the business she owns, her apartment lease, and of course her return ticket so we are not expecting any problems this time either.