Luggage on ESTA

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

11 hours ago, Coa said:

Hello! So am I visiting my girlfriend in January under an ESTA, and she asked me to bring two of her suitcases with me, from when she was visiting here in the summer, as she couldn't take them with her at the time. So this would mean I would take two suitcases plus my stuff which would be a carry on and a big suitcase. Would this cause any concern at POE? As the things inside are hers and I am just doing her favor. Thanks!

Usually only two check in bags permitted for international flights... you’ll be charged excess on a third bag... not cheap $$$$$

 

generally, you’ve already gone through visa checking before collecting baggage so no issues there.

 

But, I’d be sure to know content on her additional baggage in case asked at customs.. not saying anything illegal in it, you just don’t wanna be liable to forbidden items etc.. 

[ineedadisplayname 502]

55 minutes ago, Duke & Marie said:

generally, you’ve already gone through visa checking before collecting baggage so no issues there.

I am pretty sure they can see the amount of luggage you have right at the passport control. (APIS system)

[dentsflogged 352]

5 hours ago, Coa said:

It's just more expensive to ship them.

It's even more expensive to have paid for a flight only to be denied entry when you arrive. Just sayin'

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

CBP certainly can get your bags before you get to the baggage carousel. They can and do get the bags to search when they think someone is acting suspiciously, for example. Tricky question all in all I think, especially as it comes to light the girlfriend was trying to move to Europe before which will now beg the question of - that obviously didn’t work out so now are you trying to move to the US instead? It could be a total non-issue (I’ve seen some people take 3 suitcases for a couple weeks’ holiday, though that’s generally when traveling business or first), or you could get a super suspicious CBP officer...I don’t think anyone here can really say one way or the other.

[SalishSea 18,073]

7 hours ago, Coa said:

Would they really pull me aside to second interrogation? I can always take proof I am returning as I have plenty.

They certainly can.  Will they?  No way to know.  Towards the end of our wait for NOA2 for the K-1, my now husband, unbeknownst to me, packed and brought an entire suitcase full of Calvin & Hobbes books.  He had another suitcase full of things like snow boots and winter clothes.  This was during the Northern Hemisphere's summer.  Had I known, I may have advised him otherwise, lol.  He didn't get hassled by CBP though.   We are a little older than many here on VJ though, and he had a return ticket and compelling reason to go home and tie up loose ends in New Zealand (teenage kids, house, job, aging parent, etc), so there was never any intent to stay to marry and adjust status.

[Coa 1]

10 hours ago, JFH said:

Have you had any problems visiting before? 

I have not, I went there 3 times in total, 1 under the VWP and 2 with an H2B visa.

 

The only questions asked were what are you doing here and that's it, although at the time I only had 1 big suitcase.

[Coa 1]

10 hours ago, Duke & Marie said:

Usually only two check in bags permitted for international flights... you’ll be charged excess on a third bag... not cheap $$$$$

 

generally, you’ve already gone through visa checking before collecting baggage so no issues there.

 

But, I’d be sure to know content on her additional baggage in case asked at customs.. not saying anything illegal in it, you just don’t wanna be liable to forbidden items etc.. 

Yea some airlines allows up to 4 checked bags, but after the second one it's not cheap. But shipping with a company has its price as well.

 

Inside the suitcases there's only female clothing, shoes and books and that's it.

[Coa 1]

7 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

CBP certainly can get your bags before you get to the baggage carousel. They can and do get the bags to search when they think someone is acting suspiciously, for example. Tricky question all in all I think, especially as it comes to light the girlfriend was trying to move to Europe before which will now beg the question of - that obviously didn’t work out so now are you trying to move to the US instead? It could be a total non-issue (I’ve seen some people take 3 suitcases for a couple weeks’ holiday, though that’s generally when traveling business or first), or you could get a super suspicious CBP officer...I don’t think anyone here can really say one way or the other.

Those are good observations. In my mind I am only thinking that I am returning the suitcases back to her, but I also understand it's up to them to believe my explanations or not. It would be also a matter of luck, regarding the officer yes. Although in the past I went to the US 3 times and was always asked 2 questions at max.

[Coa 1]

6 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

They certainly can.  Will they?  No way to know.  Towards the end of our wait for NOA2 for the K-1, my now husband, unbeknownst to me, packed and brought an entire suitcase full of Calvin & Hobbes books.  He had another suitcase full of things like snow boots and winter clothes.  This was during the Northern Hemisphere's summer.  Had I known, I may have advised him otherwise, lol.  He didn't get hassled by CBP though.   We are a little older than many here on VJ though, and he had a return ticket and compelling reason to go home and tie up loose ends in New Zealand (teenage kids, house, job, aging parent, etc), so there was never any intent to stay to marry and adjust status.

That's pretty funny, being a fan of Calvin & Hobbes myself! But yea I mean, I think in this situation it can go totally wrong or without a problem at all.

[JFH 12,191]

1 hour ago, Coa said:

I have not, I went there 3 times in total, 1 under the VWP and 2 with an H2B visa.

 

The only questions asked were what are you doing here and that's it, although at the time I only had 1 big suitcase.

So why would this time be any different? When you’re standing at the CBP desk you don’t have your baggage with you. Customs officers see your bags. 

[Coa 1]

1 minute ago, JFH said:

So why would this time be any different? When you’re standing at the CBP desk you don’t have your baggage with you. Customs officers see your bags. 

There's nothing different, besides the fact I am taking two extra suitcases with me that are not mine and belong to my girlfriend. i just don't want any fuss over a 2 week visit.

[JFH 12,191]

4 minutes ago, Coa said:

There's nothing different, besides the fact I am taking two extra suitcases with me that are not mine and belong to my girlfriend. i just don't want any fuss over a 2 week visit.

You are really overthinking this. I made over 40 VWP visits before I got my immigrant visa. I arrived with no luggage once (it was lost en route), carry-on only many times, one checked bag many times, and with two large bags on another occasion. In over 40 visits nothing was ever mentioned as to how little or how much luggage I had. Cruise passengers regularly travel with that much. 

 

Note that you are never guaranteed entry regardless of how many or few bags you have. But the bags alone would not be a basis for refusal.

[Coa 1]

3 hours ago, JFH said:

You are really overthinking this. I made over 40 VWP visits before I got my immigrant visa. I arrived with no luggage once (it was lost en route), carry-on only many times, one checked bag many times, and with two large bags on another occasion. In over 40 visits nothing was ever mentioned as to how little or how much luggage I had. Cruise passengers regularly travel with that much. 

 

Note that you are never guaranteed entry regardless of how many or few bags you have. But the bags alone would not be a basis for refusal.

I think you're right, it's just because in the past I've read about people here on VJ being denied entry with little chance of explaining the situation. So I wouldn't want that to happen over something silly like doing my girlfriend a favor of bringing her two suitcases and them thinking I have intentions to stay. 

[JFH 12,191]

2 hours ago, Coa said:

I think you're right, it's just because in the past I've read about people here on VJ being denied entry with little chance of explaining the situation. So I wouldn't want that to happen over something silly like doing my girlfriend a favor of bringing her two suitcases and them thinking I have intentions to stay. 

People who have been denied entry on the CWP weren’t denied because if the number of bags they had. They failed to convince CBP that they had no intention of staying. So, they had no job back home, no home of their own, no financial responsibilities, were planning to stay for the full 90 days or were very vague about their return date. It takes more than a few suitcases to be refused.