Re-entering on ESTA

[Becki Louise 0]

Hey guys.

This forum was very helpful on my last post and ypu all advised me not to bother with the K1 visa, instead to visit my partner on an ESTA visa.

 

Basic overview - I am a UK citizen, living in Australia and have a partner from the US. We're trying to figure a way to not have to do this long distance anymore. So I'd like to temporarily move to the US to be with him (I will not be working). We are then planning to come back to Australia mid next year to settle for a while, while I do my citizenship. Best to be married for that so that's what we will plan to do.

 

My question right now is what is the go with re-entering on an ESTA?

 

Our timeline looks like this for 2023/2024:

Our current plans look like this for 2023/2024:

- I am visiting him for 2 weeks May/July.

- I am going to the UK to visit family and for a trip to Italy for 4 weeks.

- I would visit him again for 4 weeks, end of July to end of August.

- We would both go to the UK for a 2 week visit.

- I would come back with him early September.

- We would vacation out of the US for 10 days/2 weeks before heading back together.

- We fly to the UK for Christmas, for 2 weeks.

- I would fly back again with him in Jan, we would get engaged in the following couple of months.

- We plan a 2/3 week vacation to the UK/France in March.

- I fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.

 

So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months. Never for more than 90 days. All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment.

 

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

 

If anyone has any experience in this, please let me know! 😊

 

Thank you!

 

[Crazy Cat 41,808]

"So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months. Never for more than 90 days. All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment."

 

I think this is an overly risky plan.  You cannot live in the US without a proper visa. So many visits in a short time is playing with fire, imo.  Each & EVERY entry is at the complete, sole discretion of CBP.  If they even suspect that you are spending too much time in the US, you can be denied entry, and you can lose ESTA forever.  It is risky. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Crazy Cat 41,808]

26 minutes ago, Becki Louise said:

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

That is not typical of someone who is visiting.  

[Boiler 45,443]

Agree you are really pushing your luck especially the Forestry Service bit

[Crazy Cat 41,808]

I can remember multiple cases where an individual was denied entry, and told to "Get a proper visa". 

[Lil bear 4,181]

49 minutes ago, Becki Louise said:

Hey guys.

This forum was very helpful on my last post and ypu all advised me not to bother with the K1 visa, instead to visit my partner on an ESTA visa.

 

Basic overview - I am a UK citizen, living in Australia and have a partner from the US. We're trying to figure a way to not have to do this long distance anymore. So I'd like to temporarily move to the US to be with him (I will not be working). We are then planning to come back to Australia mid next year to settle for a while, while I do my citizenship. Best to be married for that so that's what we will plan to do.

 

My question right now is what is the go with re-entering on an ESTA?

 

Our timeline looks like this for 2023/2024:

Our current plans look like this for 2023/2024:

- I am visiting him for 2 weeks May/July.

- I am going to the UK to visit family and for a trip to Italy for 4 weeks.

- I would visit him again for 4 weeks, end of July to end of August.

- We would both go to the UK for a 2 week visit.

- I would come back with him early September.

- We would vacation out of the US for 10 days/2 weeks before heading back together.

- We fly to the UK for Christmas, for 2 weeks.

- I would fly back again with him in Jan, we would get engaged in the following couple of months.

- We plan a 2/3 week vacation to the UK/France in March.

- I fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.

 

So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months. Never for more than 90 days. All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment.

 

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

 

If anyone has any experience in this, please let me know! 😊

 

Thank you!

 

Likely to result in extreme questioning at entry.. maybe not the second entry but pretty soon after.. a stern warning perhaps .. notes on your file… refusal of  entry if you try after that any sooner than 6+ months … Just my assessment of 15 years of visiting family here on ESTA.. one time where i had an unplanned emergency trip .. 3 days only.. then a planned 3 week visit 10 days later … didnt think i was going to get in.  
 

Suggest you find another plan. And definitely do not volunteer,.. tourists don’t volunteer… they visit 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Lil bear

[Boiler 45,443]

They certainly do not volunteer with the Forestry Service 

[powerpuff 6,677]

Agreed with everything that was said so far. You need to rethink your plans.

 

1 hour ago, Becki Louise said:

All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment

That is not helping your case at all.

 

1 hour ago, Becki Louise said:

fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.

And what is the plan after that? 

[Daphne . 1,852]

This is way too much visiting in way too little time.. 5 times in 7 months is a lot, even if you have the financial means to do it. CBP is very likely not going to like that. 

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, Becki Louise said:

So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months.

I count at least 3.5 months in the U.S. over that period of time, assuming 0.5 months for the visits where you didn't say how long you would stay.

 

1 hour ago, Becki Louise said:

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

Volunteering as the primary purpose of travel is not a permitted use of your ESTA. Also, I don't believe volunteer work by someone without work authorization for U.S. government is ever permitted.

 

Not only am I seeing loss of ESTA, but I would predict worse. 

[Sammy_2496 116]

The amount of travel you are proposing is very risky... i would be extremely careful. 

[SalishSea 17,801]

3 hours ago, Becki Louise said:

Hey guys.

This forum was very helpful on my last post and ypu all advised me not to bother with the K1 visa, instead to visit my partner on an ESTA visa.

 

Basic overview - I am a UK citizen, living in Australia and have a partner from the US. We're trying to figure a way to not have to do this long distance anymore. So I'd like to temporarily move to the US to be with him (I will not be working). We are then planning to come back to Australia mid next year to settle for a while, while I do my citizenship. Best to be married for that so that's what we will plan to do.

 

My question right now is what is the go with re-entering on an ESTA?

 

Our timeline looks like this for 2023/2024:

Our current plans look like this for 2023/2024:

- I am visiting him for 2 weeks May/July.

- I am going to the UK to visit family and for a trip to Italy for 4 weeks.

- I would visit him again for 4 weeks, end of July to end of August.

- We would both go to the UK for a 2 week visit.

- I would come back with him early September.

- We would vacation out of the US for 10 days/2 weeks before heading back together.

- We fly to the UK for Christmas, for 2 weeks.

- I would fly back again with him in Jan, we would get engaged in the following couple of months.

- We plan a 2/3 week vacation to the UK/France in March.

- I fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.

 

So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months. Never for more than 90 days. All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment.

 

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

 

If anyone has any experience in this, please let me know! 😊

 

Thank you!

 

Not a smart plan, by any stretch.   
 

In order to be allowed to do what you apparently seek to do (frequent trips into the US, volunteering for a federal agency), you need an immigrant visa.

 

Marrying and planning to stay are not allowed.   You need to be petitioned for either a K-1 or a CR-1.

 

Would be a damn shame to deplane after that 16+ hour trip, only to be returned to sender due to suspected immigrant intent/abuse of ESTA privileges at the border.

[Becki Louise 0]

Thank you everyone. I was thinking the same. Have seen we can volunteer on an ESTA but agreed on the amount of re-entries. Thank you

[SalishSea 17,801]

16 minutes ago, Becki Louise said:

Thank you everyone. I was thinking the same. Have seen we can volunteer on an ESTA but agreed on the amount of re-entries. Thank you

Volunteering is a slippery slope.   Please put a link to the official USCIS policy stating that.

Volunteering becomes a labor/work permit issue if you are volunteering for work that an American could get paid to do.     Volunteers in the US are typically vetted with background checks and such.   I’d be very surprised if the agencies you named would allow a tourist to volunteer.

[Caligirl1 211]

6 hours ago, Becki Louise said:

Hey guys.

This forum was very helpful on my last post and ypu all advised me not to bother with the K1 visa, instead to visit my partner on an ESTA visa.

 

Basic overview - I am a UK citizen, living in Australia and have a partner from the US. We're trying to figure a way to not have to do this long distance anymore. So I'd like to temporarily move to the US to be with him (I will not be working). We are then planning to come back to Australia mid next year to settle for a while, while I do my citizenship. Best to be married for that so that's what we will plan to do.

 

My question right now is what is the go with re-entering on an ESTA?

 

Our timeline looks like this for 2023/2024:

Our current plans look like this for 2023/2024:

- I am visiting him for 2 weeks May/July.

- I am going to the UK to visit family and for a trip to Italy for 4 weeks.

- I would visit him again for 4 weeks, end of July to end of August.

- We would both go to the UK for a 2 week visit.

- I would come back with him early September.

- We would vacation out of the US for 10 days/2 weeks before heading back together.

- We fly to the UK for Christmas, for 2 weeks.

- I would fly back again with him in Jan, we would get engaged in the following couple of months.

- We plan a 2/3 week vacation to the UK/France in March.

- I fly back to the US with him and we would marry in May.

 

So, I would be re-entering the US 5 times in a time period of 7 months. Never for more than 90 days. All the while being able to prove to immigration that I am independently financially capable of not needing employment.

 

I am also looking at volunteering during these stays, either at a humane society or the forestry service where he lives and would hopefully be able to provide a letter from the organisation stating I am volunteering only.

 

If anyone has any experience in this, please let me know! 😊

 

Thank you!

 

Just from my own experience: volunteering CAN get difficult if they have it  mandatory to provide us id/ drivers license and/ or social security number - i had that issue and ended up not being able to volunteer at the places I wanted to🤷‍♀️