Yes, you can visit!

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

On 9/25/2019 at 5:03 PM, Sbrisa said:

Looking back, I think I've been VERY lucky in the end! Just to clarify, I had $40 in my bag but I also had my bank debit card and a prepaid card with money in it they simply didn't ask further questions about money. ALWAYS carry money with you, either on debit/credit or change. Is not advisable to go to the States with empty pockets.

Oh no. I definitely won't. I'll have a good £900 on me, with another £300 getting paid into my bank the following friday. That equals to over 1k usd so.

 

My wife has a lot of my money and its in her savings, I saw on the CBP website to have someone write a letter sponsoring you to show to the officer, seems quite outdated but I did it anyway. I must say, its what, 9 days until I fly out UK time right now and my anxiety is definitely calming. Lots of people telling me its nothing to worry about if you have no legitimate admissibility issues.

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

On 9/23/2019 at 10:42 PM, Limey said:

A lot is going to depend on whether you've made other visits recently and of course what kind of day the immigration officers are having.

 

From my experience I had very little questioning when I made a 6 week trip just a few weeks after my first (2 week) trip. I got more problems the next year making my 4th trip, which was just a month or so after my 3rd trip (both of these were only 4 weeks or so). They let me in after some questioning.

Things that help show you're going to return home

1) the NOA1 (shows you're doing things the right way)

2) car keys from your car in the UK (I mean, if you're moving for good, you'd sell it, right?). Also they are something you'd likely be carrying, it doesn't look like you bought them along to prove a point

3) proof of any future plans in UK (dentist appointment etc). Before I moved to USA I was regularly visiting my brother who lives in Portugal - I'd often book up my next flight to Portugal prior to my US trip, so I could show the flight itineraries for that as proof I was going to be going back to UK.

 

Also, I'd look at planning some things to do/travel for your time in the USA. I was lectured about it being a "tourist" visa, not a "visiting my girlfriend" visa. Its useful if you can show that you've got a trip or two planned, or concert tickets, football game, etc.

Be sure to update us as to how you get on - good luck!

 

 

Well I've only visited the US once and that was in May for 3 weeks. I think I'm safe as that was 5 months ago now. 

I do have my NOA1 obviously, I don't drive sadly! And I don't really have any future plans though I will admit, me and my wife decided we're going all out on the tourist side this time, I have tickets to a basketball game, football game, greyhounds to Houston and Austin and we are thinking one to Corpus and she also bought a concert ticket so Im a bit ahead of you, though we are married so I think it qualifies as visiting family, which is what I'm going to tell the border officer. 

 

I have to say, my anxiety isn't that bad anymore, I was freaking out when I booked it but I think the agent will see the money I've spent on it, the situation surrounding it (my wife is going into boot camp in January for 3 months... I leave on the 28th Dec, who wouldn't spend 78 days with their long distance wife before complete communication blackout??) and the fact I'm doing it legally and see no admissibility issues. My layover may not be enough if they take me into secondary though yikes!

[Kaatje 81]

13 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

My layover may not be enough if they take me into secondary though yikes!

 I've had that once.  They took me into secondary and had me wait for 2 and a half hours before asking me the same questions again (what's your fiancees address, what does he do for a living, how much money do you have, how long will you stay) and then stamp my passport. Missed my connecting flight in Chicago, got rebooked through San Fransisco where I ended up spending the night til the first available flight to Phoenix. Total delay was 16 hours...😟.....since then I make sure I have at least a 4 hour layover 🙃

 

I hope yours will go smoothly! 🤞

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

5 hours ago, Kaatje said:

 I've had that once.  They took me into secondary and had me wait for 2 and a half hours before asking me the same questions again (what's your fiancees address, what does he do for a living, how much money do you have, how long will you stay) and then stamp my passport. Missed my connecting flight in Chicago, got rebooked through San Fransisco where I ended up spending the night til the first available flight to Phoenix. Total delay was 16 hours...😟.....since then I make sure I have at least a 4 hour layover 🙃

 

I hope yours will go smoothly! 🤞

Oh no I hope not. The worst I've had is a 8 hour layover and I hated that. Secondary seems not that scary at all it seems more like they just want to probe to see if you'll admit you're staying for too long then give up when it turns out youre not, youre here for legitimate reasons and thats been highlighted in this thread and what you see.

 

Thank you though! My layover is only 2h 45m thats definitely not enough. Flying through Newark btw.

[Kaatje 81]

6 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

Oh no I hope not. The worst I've had is a 8 hour layover and I hated that. Secondary seems not that scary at all it seems more like they just want to probe to see if you'll admit you're staying for too long then give up when it turns out youre not, youre here for legitimate reasons and thats been highlighted in this thread and what you see.

 

Thank you though! My layover is only 2h 45m thats definitely not enough. Flying through Newark btw.

Yes, it's not scary at all, just a long wait. This was the only time I had to go to secondary though. I've flown about 10 times to the states to see my fiance and all of them, except this one time, went very smoothly (with just 2h 30m layover). Flying there again in november, this time through Houston. I hope they will be kind 😉🙃

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

Hello!

 

So I have been writing a lot recently about how worried I am to fly in for my long visit (2.5 months) and how worried I was overall for the entire of being shipped to secondary. I am hoping what I write will ease some peoples minds.

 

On Oct 11, 2019 I flew into Newark Airport and immediately felt that pressure and lack of ease from the fact that I was gonna get questioned by a CBP officer. I am a returning ESTA visitor so I went into a line to use the APC machines, I thought I had to use the machines then go to an APC line so when I saw a CBP officer at the end of the line authorizing people to go to the APC machines, my thought was CBP > APC > Further CBP, so I stood in the line, 80 pages of documents printed out as the line whittled down and down, there was an officer who looked very happy and kind so I was praying to god I'd get him opposed to this one who looked very angry and like he was having a bad day. Eventually I was called (by the angry guy). I walked up to the stand and immediately the man looked at my stack of papers and I placed my passport on the table, he asked me "What is the purpose of your visit to the United States" I gave him a kind of pre-planned out answer, basically saying I was visiting family as well as doing some touristy kind of things, then he asked me straight after how long I was staying for, automatically I said "78 days", he made a face and asked me again, I said "78 days". I was even more nervous cause he asked me again like he couldnt believe it but then he said he couldnt hear me and then started to tell me that I'm cutting it "real close." He asked me the last time I was in the country, I said May and said for 3 weeks, he said "Is that it this year", Yup. He then said "Okay, just go to the line down there" and pointed to the machines. I thought, PART ONE DONE! I went and used the machine, worked perfectly, gave me a little slip with my face. It said "Go to APC line", so I asked a woman where that was, she pointed me down a little alleyway between machines with some kind of boarded off area at the end next to the stairs for baggage claim, so I assumed that the people there would direct me the proper line, I walked down there, some CBP officer asked me for my slip and said "Thats okay" and let me by. I was like "Huh?" I was in baggage claim, where was my stamp? Where were the hard demanding questions about my employment and what I'll be doing? Where is the call to my wife? I asked about 9 officers about the stamp they said it wasn't even needed as I used the APC machines and was allowed to be admitted by the officer.

 

That was basically it. I think if I, someone with no ties back home, can get through like that. Someone visiting for four days awaiting a K1 can do it. I was quite lucky I believe but I have read a lot of stories of people just being admitted like that too so! A lot of officers arent as mean and scary as you read, the only deny entry to 0.3% of people did you know! Thats so little and they search (so go hardcore) on only 33k of all passengers. 

 

I hope everyone else has as good of an experience as I had flying in. Now I gotta fly back through Brussels in Dec, ugh Brexit! Worry another time though.

Edited October 14, 2019 by ohcoffeeeyes

[Sbrisa 41]

On 10/2/2019 at 4:28 AM, ohcoffeeeyes said:

Oh no. I definitely won't. I'll have a good £900 on me, with another £300 getting paid into my bank the following friday. That equals to over 1k usd so.

 

My wife has a lot of my money and its in her savings, I saw on the CBP website to have someone write a letter sponsoring you to show to the officer, seems quite outdated but I did it anyway. I must say, its what, 9 days until I fly out UK time right now and my anxiety is definitely calming. Lots of people telling me its nothing to worry about if you have no legitimate admissibility issues.

I'm sure you'll be fine, don't worry! The money aspect is not even that relevant in my opinion, they mostly care about the length of your staying, return ticket and that you wont' get married/immigrate illegaly.

Edit: I've just read your story. ooops! I'm so glad you got in with no troubles!

Edited October 17, 2019 by Sbrisa
Specified in the message

[Chipmunk78 0]

Hello 

I've recently joined here and although I do have other questions. I wanted to ask this. 

I visited last month for two and a half weeks from England. (My girlfriend lives in the US). I got back last Friday. 

Anyway I am due to fly out at the end of November and return after my 90 days is up in February. So I get to spend Thanks Giving, Christmas and Valentines with her before I return back and my work begins again in March. 

I'm self employed and my work goes quiet at this time of the year anyway, so I have the time to visit my better half. Hence the three months. 

 

However this time the flights different, I'm flying to Dublin and then onto Philadelphia, apparently I clear passport control in Dublin. 

 

Am I likely to have any problems and if so, what can I do? 

Any advice much appreciated. 

 

Thankyou ☺ 

[Limey 551]

4 hours ago, Chipmunk78 said:

Hello 

I've recently joined here and although I do have other questions. I wanted to ask this. 

I visited last month for two and a half weeks from England. (My girlfriend lives in the US). I got back last Friday. 

Anyway I am due to fly out at the end of November and return after my 90 days is up in February. So I get to spend Thanks Giving, Christmas and Valentines with her before I return back and my work begins again in March. 

I'm self employed and my work goes quiet at this time of the year anyway, so I have the time to visit my better half. Hence the three months. 

 

However this time the flights different, I'm flying to Dublin and then onto Philadelphia, apparently I clear passport control in Dublin. 

 

Am I likely to have any problems and if so, what can I do? 

Any advice much appreciated. 

 

Thankyou ☺ 

Your timeline is blank. Tough to give advice without that.

How far in are you?

From my experience long visits can raise issues, as can a visit soon after a previous one. You're ticking both those boxes. What type of work do you do (they will likely ask)? In my case when I had problems it wasn't that they thought I'd overstay, it was that they accused me of circumventing immigration law by effectively living with my girlfriend without a residence visa. It was only a one month trip, and a little over a month after a previous one month trip. They let me in, but after that I left it a few months (next meet was in Canada).

Edited October 24, 2019 by Limey

[Chipmunk78 0]

37 minutes ago, Limey said:

Your timeline is blank. Tough to give advice without that.

How far in are you?

From my experience long visits can raise issues, as can a visit soon after a previous one. You're ticking both those boxes. What type of work do you do (they will likely ask)? In my case when I had problems it wasn't that they thought I'd overstay, it was that they accused me of circumventing immigration law by effectively living with my girlfriend without a residence visa. It was only a one month trip, and a little over a month after a previous one month trip. They let me in, but after that I left it a few months (next meet was in Canada).

37 minutes ago, Limey said:

 

Hello Limey

 

Thanks for your reply. 

 

Not sure what you mean about timeline and how far in? Sorry if I sound daft. 

 

I have my own small business primarily carrying out landscaping services and property maintenance and repair. 

However between mid November and March, my work gets really quiet so this is the best time for me to go really. (Nobody I know seems to want work done on there garden in the winter, or on there house over the Christmas holidays). It's been like this for years, and is usually the only time I can take lockquote widgetblockquote widget

Edited October 24, 2019 by Chipmunk78

[Limey 551]

3 hours ago, Chipmunk78 said:

Hello Limey

 

Thanks for your reply. 

 

Not sure what you mean about timeline and how far in? Sorry if I sound daft. 

 

I have my own small business primarily carrying out landscaping services and property maintenance and repair. 

However between mid November and March, my work gets really quiet so this is the best time for me to go really. (Nobody I know seems to want work done on there garden in the winter, or on there house over the Christmas holidays). It's been like this for years, and is usually the only time I can take lockquote widgetblockquote widget

If you look at my post, then in the left hand column near the bottom there is a timeline link. This shows the timeline of where I am in the immigration process. You can fill this in within your account. People can see where you are and give better advice based on that.

In theory you'll get fewer problems at immigration if you're well into the k1 journey - you've less reason to overstay etc if you're almost done with the legal path to living in the US. The time that I mentioned where I had issues was before I'd applied for the k1. I'd also made a couple of visits in the second half of the previous year. So it was my forth visit within a year or so (though mine were generally only 2-4 weeks). So there are lots of factors to consider. Frequent visits and long visits are more likely to cause problems for you.

 

Having a landscape business is a plausible reason to be able to take 3 months off over the winter. In my case I'm a software developer so I guess their worry was that since I can do that from anywhere with an internet connection, I could spend time in the USA while I was working (albeit for customers outside the US). Make sure you can show some evidence of your business, as they'll want to see that there are ties that will make you want to go home at the end of your visit.

Edited October 24, 2019 by Limey

[Chipmunk78 0]

1 minute ago, Limey said:

If you look at my post above, then in the left hand column near the bottom there is a timeline link. This shows the timeline of where I am in the immigration process. You can fill this in within your account. People can see where you are and give better advice based on that.

In theory you'll get fewer problems at immigration if you're well into the k1 journey - you've less reason to overstay etc if you're almost done with the legal path to living in the US. The time that I mentioned where I had issues was before I'd applied for the k1. I'd also made a couple of visits in the second half of the previous year. So it was my forth visit within a year or so (though mine were generally only 2-4 weeks). So there are lots of factors to consider. Frequent visits and long visits are more likely to cause problems for you.

 

Having a landscape business is a plausible reason to be able to take 3 months off over the winter. In my case I'm a software developer so I guess their worry was that since I can do that from anywhere with an internet connection, I could spend time in the USA while I was working (albeit for customers outside the US). Make sure you can show some evidence of your business, as they'll want to see that there are ties that will make you want to go home at the end of your visit.

 

Thanks again for another reply.

 

We have only just consulted an immigration attorney during my last trip over there. But haven't started the ball rolling yet with the K1 visa. 

We did ask a lot of questions and were still considering it. Although other people on other forums etc have suggested to just skip the k1 and get married (I forget the name of that visa). 

 

Basically every year I get this time off. Unless something happens on a house, emergency etc. But that's rare and it's also rare that a client would want any work carried out on there house over the a Christmas period. So it's kind of ideal traveling for this long really. Especially at this time of the year. 

 

I've only been to the US once. 

That was for two and a half weeks, and I returned last Thursday. 

 

We booked the next ticket and it's a return too, so surely if I show them that, it'll hemp? 

 

Next flight out is at the end of November for Thanksgiving, and we're also going to do a lot of traveling, going to see New York, Washington. Then visiting a friend of mine who moved over there a few years back. 

After that, we intend to travel across to Minisota to go and see my Uncle, who I've not seen for years now and then visit her friends and family too. 

 

That's the plan anyway.

 

What you said about your line of work, I can understand. I actually went to college for that. But only did a year. Sometimes wish I'd carried on, as my job in the UK weather can be a nightmare. 

 

On other forums people are saying they've had difficulties. Which both myself and my Girlfriend are now starting to worry about.

 

 

 

 

[Limey 551]

Just now, Chipmunk78 said:

 

Thanks again for another reply.

 

We have only just consulted an immigration attorney during my last trip over there. But haven't started the ball rolling yet with the K1 visa. 

We did ask a lot of questions and were still considering it. Although other people on other forums etc have suggested to just skip the k1 and get married (I forget the name of that visa). 

 

Basically every year I get this time off. Unless something happens on a house, emergency etc. But that's rare and it's also rare that a client would want any work carried out on there house over the a Christmas period. So it's kind of ideal traveling for this long really. Especially at this time of the year. 

 

I've only been to the US once. 

That was for two and a half weeks, and I returned last Thursday. 

 

We booked the next ticket and it's a return too, so surely if I show them that, it'll hemp? 

 

Next flight out is at the end of November for Thanksgiving, and we're also going to do a lot of traveling, going to see New York, Washington. Then visiting a friend of mine who moved over there a few years back. 

After that, we intend to travel across to Minisota to go and see my Uncle, who I've not seen for years now and then visit her friends and family too. 

 

That's the plan anyway.

 

What you said about your line of work, I can understand. I actually went to college for that. But only did a year. Sometimes wish I'd carried on, as my job in the UK weather can be a nightmare. 

 

On other forums people are saying they've had difficulties. Which both myself and my Girlfriend are now starting to worry about.

 

 

 

 

 

Unless you have criminal convictions etc you probably don't need an attorney to do the process. Nearly every one on this forum did it themselves. Mostly its about gathering documents and other information together - something an attorney can't do for you. Then just fill in the forms and pay the fees! Its daunting at first but it really isn't too difficult. I have 10 year green card now, and never consulted an attorney at any stage in the process.

The marriage visa is most likely CR1. There are pros and cons to k1/CR1. CR1 takes a little longer (around 1 year), but when you do arrive in USA you have a green card pretty much immediately, whereas you might have to wait 4 - 6 months after arriving on a k1. You also avoid costs of AOS (alteration of status) which is what you have to do to get green card after landing with k1.

 

The return ticket doesn't help much because 1) you have to have a return in order to fly under ESTA, so you'd have to have it even if you planned on staying illegally and 2) often return tickets are cheaper than one-way tickets (absurd I know, but true - when i finally moved to USA on k1 I bought a return and just didn't use the return flight, as it was cheaper than a one-way).

 

The travel plans you have are all good things to have proof of when you arrive. When I got a hard time the officer said "there is no such visa as a 'visiting my girlfriend' visa. Its a tourist visa". So proof that you're going to be a tourist is a good thing to have!

Software development has made moving around the world easy, but I love being outside and gardening and always tell my wife I'm going to quit and become a gardener. I now have my dream house with enough grass to justify having my john deere lawn tractor - the day that arrived was one of the happiest of my life, I never get bored of mowing the grass even when its 100 degrees outside.

[jeanieCZ 228]

 

9 hours ago, Chipmunk78 said:

Hello 

I've recently joined here and although I do have other questions. I wanted to ask this. 

I visited last month for two and a half weeks from England. (My girlfriend lives in the US). I got back last Friday. 

Anyway I am due to fly out at the end of November and return after my 90 days is up in February. So I get to spend Thanks Giving, Christmas and Valentines with her before I return back and my work begins again in March. 

I'm self employed and my work goes quiet at this time of the year anyway, so I have the time to visit my better half. Hence the three months. 

 

However this time the flights different, I'm flying to Dublin and then onto Philadelphia, apparently I clear passport control in Dublin. 

 

Am I likely to have any problems and if so, what can I do? 

Any advice much appreciated. 

 

Thankyou ☺ 

I think you should have a clear story and also a clear way to show the CBP that you have a way of supporting yourself during the time you spend in the USA. To me it sounds like they might have quite some questions about you not working (not having any income then, I assume?) during the winter period until March. 

Better to be prepared, good luck!

[Chipmunk78 0]

5 minutes ago, Limey said:

 

Unless you have criminal convictions etc you probably don't need an attorney to do the process. Nearly every one on this forum did it themselves. Mostly its about gathering documents and other information together - something an attorney can't do for you. Then just fill in the forms and pay the fees! Its daunting at first but it really isn't too difficult. I have 10 year green card now, and never consulted an attorney at any stage in the process.

The marriage visa is most likely CR1. There are pros and cons to k1/CR1. CR1 takes a little longer (around 1 year), but when you do arrive in USA you have a green card pretty much immediately, whereas you might have to wait 4 - 6 months after arriving on a k1. You also avoid costs of AOS (alteration of status) which is what you have to do to get green card after landing with k1.

 

The return ticket doesn't help much because 1) you have to have a return in order to fly under ESTA, so you'd have to have it even if you planned on staying illegally and 2) often return tickets are cheaper than one-way tickets (absurd I know, but true - when i finally moved to USA on k1 I bought a return and just didn't use the return flight, as it was cheaper than a one-way).

 

The travel plans you have are all good things to have proof of when you arrive. When I got a hard time the officer said "there is no such visa as a 'visiting my girlfriend' visa. Its a tourist visa". So proof that you're going to be a tourist is a good thing to have!

Software development has made moving around the world easy, but I love being outside and gardening and always tell my wife I'm going to quit and become a gardener. I now have my dream house with enough grass to justify having my john deere lawn tractor - the day that arrived was one of the happiest of my life, I never get bored of mowing the grass even when its 100 degrees outside.

 

Thanks for that. 

Do I need proof of visiting other places, tickets booked in advance etc? 

The thing is, we plan on doing a lot of traveling. But haven't actually booked anywhere yet. 

We didn't plan to book, just travel and explore, that kind of thing. Similar to what we'll be doing when she comes over here. 

 

I have family over here, 14 nieces and nephews. No reason not to come back. My business has a website and a Facebook page, infact ntoh sides of it do. Would that be proof enough if they asked? 

 

I also have a three domestic clients which we do grounds maintenance for, but a huge majority of the work is landscaping construction. You know, re- designs, from design to construction completion. 

So they're mostly one offs. 

 

I'm not sure exactly what else to say to them. If they pull me to the side. 

 

A John Deere tractor is a good and pricey bit of kit! I've used them before, love the things. 

Your garden must be huge to need one of them though, most of my clients aren't much bigger than a postage stamp.