Need advice

[sararowley 0]

Hi, (SORRY FOR LONG POST).

So, I'm planning to visit my boyfriend for 30 days in the US in about 2 months.

I don't need a visa since I was born in Portugal. I got my ESTA approved yesterday.

HOWEVER, I live in Brazil, have ever since I was 4. 

I am worried they will deny my entry because they will be sure I don't plan to come back to Brazil. If they know I live here and not in Portugal they might not believe me since there's been a lot of immigration problems recently with Brazillians.

I am currently unemployed so I can't tell them I have a job. I pay rent to my dad but its not on paper, I just give him the cash. I don't know how I would be able to prove ties to Brazil. 

The only thing I can think of is if they check my phone in secondary inspection then there are all the chats with my mom, bf and family, talking about visiting him and coming back, etc.

Should I tell them I'm visiting my boyfriend? I know the answer is no and I don't want to lie BUT I'm scared of getting deported back.

 

I'm very scared of going through immigration when I get there. What other way can I prove strong ties to Brazil? Need advice.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

First of all, they do already know you live in Brazil as you had to input your current address on the ESTA application. Same goes for being unemployed.

 

Whatever they ask, you must answer truthfully, without elaborating or providing more information than what was asked. 

For instance they could ask who is paying for your trip and expenses, and what's your source of income -which I'd ask too, as you are unemployed but pay rent-. They will very likely ask what is the purpose of your trip.

 

To prove you're not staying in the US you must have a return flight booked which they will require you to show. 

 

Are you a student? How old are you? 

[PaulaCJohnny 713]

49 minutes ago, sararowley said:

Hi, (SORRY FOR LONG POST).

So, I'm planning to visit my boyfriend for 30 days in the US in about 2 months.

I don't need a visa since I was born in Portugal. I got my ESTA approved yesterday.

HOWEVER, I live in Brazil, have ever since I was 4. 

I am worried they will deny my entry because they will be sure I don't plan to come back to Brazil. If they know I live here and not in Portugal they might not believe me since there's been a lot of immigration problems recently with Brazillians.

I am currently unemployed so I can't tell them I have a job. I pay rent to my dad but its not on paper, I just give him the cash. I don't know how I would be able to prove ties to Brazil. 

The only thing I can think of is if they check my phone in secondary inspection then there are all the chats with my mom, bf and family, talking about visiting him and coming back, etc.

Should I tell them I'm visiting my boyfriend? I know the answer is no and I don't want to lie BUT I'm scared of getting deported back.

 

I'm very scared of going through immigration when I get there. What other way can I prove strong ties to Brazil? Need advice.

The answer is the truth. ALWAYS. Never ever ever lie to a CBP or any person involved in this.

 

So, your goal is to use your Portuguese passport to enter? 
 

The only people that have guarantee entrance to the US are citizens. So even with a visa anyone can be stopped by CBP and based on their criteria they can allow you or not.

 

Yes, your profile is risky: single women coming from South America, no strong ties… just be prepared for the both options: if they say yes or no.

 

Is your boyfriend an US Citizen or is he from Brazil too?

Edited February 11, 2022 by PaulaCJohnny

[sararowley 0]

1 hour ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

First of all, they do already know you live in Brazil as you had to input your current address on the ESTA application. Same goes for being unemployed.

 

Whatever they ask, you must answer truthfully, without elaborating or providing more information than what was asked. 

For instance they could ask who is paying for your trip and expenses, and what's your source of income -which I'd ask too, as you are unemployed but pay rent-. They will very likely ask what is the purpose of your trip.

 

To prove you're not staying in the US you must have a return flight booked which they will require you to show. 

 

Are you a student? How old are you? 

I haven't been unemployed for too long, and my boyfriend does help out if needed. I was getting the stimulus money and jobs here were always difficult to get and ever since the pandemic its become almost impossible without a good employment history or a degree. I've applied for more jobs than I can count.

Don't think they know I'm unemployed as the application asks "do you have a current or previous employer?" so I put my last employer info. 

I'm 25 and no, its almost impossible to afford education here unless you're loaded, sad but true. 

My cousin (who I worked for) talked about me going back to work there when I come back, maybe I could take a letter from her saying I'm expected back to start work?

I don't intend on doing anything wrong, I'm just worried about being "punished" because a lot of people do what they shouldn't. 

Edited February 11, 2022 by sararowley

[sararowley 0]

1 hour ago, PaulaCJohnny said:

The answer is the truth. ALWAYS. Never ever ever lie to a CBP or any person involved in this.

 

So, your goal is to use your Portuguese passport to enter? 
 

The only people that have guarantee entrance to the US are citizens. So even with a visa anyone can be stopped by CBP and based on their criteria they can allow you or not.

 

Yes, your profile is risky: single women coming from South America, no strong ties… just be prepared for the both options: if they say yes or no.

 

Is your boyfriend an US Citizen or is he from Brazil too?

I only have a Portuguese passport as I was born there, I'm a permanent resident here, not national or citizen. 

Yes, he is a US Citizen, and no, he's originally from Nepal.

Yeah, I know only they will decide but I've seen so many horror stories about this. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

9 minutes ago, sararowley said:

I haven't been unemployed for too long, and my boyfriend does help out if needed. I was getting the stimulus money and jobs here were always difficult to get and ever since the pandemic its become almost impossible without a good employment history or a degree. I've applied for more jobs than I can count.

Don't think they know I'm unemployed as the application asks "do you have a current or previous employer?" so I put my last employer info. 

I'm 25 and no, its almost impossible to afford education here unless you're loaded, sad but true. 

My cousin (who I worked for) talked about me going back to work there when I come back, maybe I could take a letter from her saying I'm expected back to start work?

I don't intend on doing anything wrong, I'm just worried about being "punished" because a lot of people do what they shouldn't. 

Bring all the evidence you can think of -such as the letter from your cousin-.

 

Do you travel a lot? I guess this is the first time you travel to the US?

 

[sararowley 0]

11 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Bring all the evidence you can think of -such as the letter from your cousin-.

 

Do you travel a lot? I guess this is the first time you travel to the US?

 

Yeah, I'll bring the letter. I can also show them I have electricity bills to my name maybe and my bank account here (?) I'll bring it with me just in case.

No, last time was 2014 when I came back from the UK after living there with my mom for 4 years. 

Yup, first time to the US, that's why I'm scared.

Edited February 11, 2022 by sararowley

[carmel34 3,650]

3 hours ago, sararowley said:

Yeah, I know only they will decide but I've seen so many horror stories about this. 

You are correct that Brazilian residents have been getting more scrutiny in recent years when entering the US on a non-immigrant visa.  With the bad economy in Brazil and other problems, many have abused their visas and lied by saying they are only visiting as a tourist and then stay, making it more difficult for those who are truly coming to visit for a few weeks.  Take all the documents you can with you, to show strong ties to Brazil, and always be truthful when asked questions about the purpose of your visit and how long you plan to stay.  The horror stories you are referring to are real, so you have good reason to be concerned.  Some get taken to secondary inspection for further questioning, even searching bags and phone.  Some are let in, others sent back.  No one can predict what will happen when you land in the US, so be prepared and don't lie.  Hopefully you will be allowed to enter, but if not, your boyfriend can go and visit you in Brazil.  In my case, my boyfriend in Brazil did not even try to visit the US for these reasons, I went to visit him 8 times to get to know each other, get married, and visit prior to his US entry on a CR-1 visa.  We met in Heathrow airport while waiting for his CR-1, and he was so worried about going through British immigration alone that I waited nearly four hours for him so that we could go through together and it worked out fine, we spent 10 days in London, Edinburgh, and Paris for a vacation.  Good luck!  

Edited February 11, 2022 by carmel34

[African Zealot 1,455]

In my opinion, your chances of being let through IF they question you to any depth and you’re scrupulously honest are very very slim. Also be aware that if God forbid you get stopped and sent back, you’re done with VWP, subsequently you will have to be applying for visas. You might also incur a ban.
 

Your profile screams red flag, prime candidate for not getting a visa if you had applied for one. My advise would be don’t come, just because the consequences of being turned back are brutal. Wait until you get a job so that you can be honest on that count if they ask about it. 
 

If however you wanted to play the probability game, I would say your chances of slipping through without in depth questioning are better than a coin toss.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[Loren Y 2,756]

Sounds like some good advice all around. Hopefully you get to visit the US. I was just in brazil with the wife this past September and had a great time. A lot of people I talked to said it was pretty tough there with employment and getting by. Hopefully it turns around there soon.