VWP travel when having previously been accepted into a US college

[saxon 0]

I recently applied to a community college in the United States and was accepted, I-20 and acceptance letter came and I have paid the I-901 fee. I am now reconsidering my options and thinking of not going through with the actual visa application itself, however would the I-20 and/or I-901 payment be on any record anywhere accessible to customs officers, thus affecting future holidays to America under ESTA and the VWP?

Edited March 15, 2021 by saxon

[Boiler 45,488]

Both are non immigrant so not relevant

[saxon 0]

Just now, Boiler said:

Both are non immigrant so not relevant

But if a CBP officer could see records of this wouldn't that make it seem as though I have immigrant intent and that I intend to abuse VWP?

[Boiler 45,488]

 Student visa is non immigrant.

[saxon 0]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

 Student visa is non immigrant.

Yes I'm aware however many people abuse student visas to live in the US which is referred to as having "immigrant intent". My question is whether CBP officers will be aware i once wanted to study in the country even if i never went for an interview

[Boiler 45,488]

Many more abuse tourist visa's to live in the US.

[saxon 0]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Many more abuse tourist visa's to live in the US.

Dude you're not answering any of my concerns

[Boiler 45,488]

If they thing you will abuse a student visa why would they not think you would abuse a visitor visa or vice versa? I do not see the basis of your concern.

[laylalex 7,284]

4 hours ago, saxon said:

Dude you're not answering any of my concerns

Think about it this way: use of the student visa to enter the US is non-immigrant entry approved by the US; use of the VWP to enter the US is also non-immigrant entry approved by the US. For one, you're studying, for the other, you're visiting. Sure, people overstay on student visas or marry people they meet in the US when studying here, but the same thing can be said for people here just visiting. 

 

You always have to prove lack of intent to immigrate on a non-immigrant visa -- there's no gradation of "that non-immigrant visa's more risky than this one." A person's circumstances are what make them more risky, like do you have family or a girlfriend/boyfriend here already? What country are you travelling from? What country are you a citizen of? Does it look like you're actually coming here to work rather than visit? 

 

You are overthinking these things. You're fine.  

[saxon 0]

51 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Think about it this way: use of the student visa to enter the US is non-immigrant entry approved by the US; use of the VWP to enter the US is also non-immigrant entry approved by the US. For one, you're studying, for the other, you're visiting. Sure, people overstay on student visas or marry people they meet in the US when studying here, but the same thing can be said for people here just visiting. 

 

You always have to prove lack of intent to immigrate on a non-immigrant visa -- there's no gradation of "that non-immigrant visa's more risky than this one." A person's circumstances are what make them more risky, like do you have family or a girlfriend/boyfriend here already? What country are you travelling from? What country are you a citizen of? Does it look like you're actually coming here to work rather than visit? 

 

You are overthinking these things. You're fine.  

I don't think you understood my question, I'm not looking to be an immigrant. I simply wanted to study abroad and have now decided against it, and I am wondering if the college acceptance, I-20 and SEVIS fee are visible to Customs officers and if this will affect holidays in my future that i may or may not have

[laylalex 7,284]

2 minutes ago, saxon said:

I don't think you understood my question, I'm not looking to be an immigrant. I simply wanted to study abroad and have now decided against it, and I am wondering if the college acceptance, I-20 and SEVIS fee are visible to Customs officers and if this will affect holidays in my future that i may or may not have

It really is as simple as this. Just because you applied for one type of non-immigrant (i.e. student) visa doesn't mean that it will be held against you in applying for another (i.e., an ESTA, which essentially performs the same function as a visa by determining your eligibility to enter under the VWP). Each visa and each admission is treated on its own merits. That includes travel under the VWP through use of ESTA. 

 

You wanted to come to the USA for study which is not an immigrant purpose. But your plans may have changed. Why would you think CBP would assume you had immigrant intent when you're trying to enter under the VWP after abandoning a non-immigrant visa application? Is there something Boiler and I are missing here?

 

I go back to what I said before. You are overthinking this. Enjoy your travels.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

7 hours ago, saxon said:

Dude you're not answering any of my concerns

He is, in a roundabout way. If you were approved for a student visa the same factors come into play assessing your stay as a visitor. Should mean you’re ok, in other words.

 

The only thing that strikes me as odd is your focus on people who abuse student visas and why that would have negative implications. Seems really secondary, unless that was actually your intention and you are concerned that will somehow come to the fore.

[Mike E 11,739]

10 hours ago, saxon said:

I am wondering if the college acceptance, I-20 and SEVIS fee are visible to Customs officers

They are visible to US CBP officers whom you will meet at passport control.  Customs is a different function that if it occurs at all, happens after passport control while and/or after you collect any checked bags or exit the baggage control area.  

 

10 hours ago, saxon said:

 

and if this will affect holidays in my future that i may or may not have

No.   
 

Your question is puzzling everyone because you are asking if expressing non immigrant intent on b the past will affect your future non immigrant travels to the USA.  
 

If you had applied for a K-1 visa or an immigration visa, this would increase the possibility of being denied entry by passport control.  
 

Since you are worried about this, my suggestion is to route your travel through Shannon or Dublin  so that you encounter US passport control outside the USA and thus don’t have to come all the way to the USA before being refused admission.  

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

He is, in a roundabout way. If you were approved for a student visa the same factors come into play assessing your stay as a visitor. Should mean you’re ok, in other words.

 

The only thing that strikes me as odd is your focus on people who abuse student visas and why that would have negative implications. Seems really secondary, unless that was actually your intention and you are concerned that will somehow come to the fore.

My thoughts exactly... 

 

@OP do you intend to abuse the VWP? In my experience people with zero intention of abusing a visa really don’t tend to consider visa abuse as part of the whole vacation planning process, regardless of prior visa acceptance under different categories.... if your so concerned about the student visa affecting your risk factor, you can apply for B2 as an alternate to VWP and ask the consulate officer

[Mike E 11,739]

Applying for a B2 when one is from a vwp country is high risk.  The visa is sometimes (most times?) denied because the applicant has access to the vwp.  And esta is usually denied if a visa has been denied.