Traveling to U.S. with Non-U.S. Citizen Partner on ESTA for the Holidays

[apnzz 229]

22 minutes ago, rattlesnake123 said:

How do you prove family/community ties? Do they ask the documents to be in English?

Yes - every document you provide would have to be in English or you should obtain an English translation to bring alongside original ones.

 

IMHO familial ties aren't the strongest/best form of ties, but examples could potentially be:

• Birth certificates of spouses or dependents
• Marriage certificate if you are married

Next ones are kinda subjective because people can lie so I wouldn't place too much importance on them

• photos showing sincere/genuine connection with friends and family
• signed letters from friends and family indicating a close bond
• Some people have used proof of elderly or sick relatives in some situations to suggest they're going back to their country to see said relatives again

Community ties could be anything from proof that you are a member of a community or organisation, that you're integral to said community, student I.D or other I.D, some situations people are political or other figures and that can be used, but less common of course.

 

Regardless, the strongest form of ties are most commonly jobs, education, proof of ownership of housing or renting/leasing agreements, proof of children in your home country that you're coming back to etc.

 

You're essentially trying to convince them that you not only have a life in your home country, a life you aren't giving up or leaving behind but that you're also returning to that life / leaving the country. The more ties, the better & the stronger the ties, the better.

 

With the ESTA they may not even ask for anything, but better to be prepared than not. 

 

Personally I always have with me proof of my employment, proof of my time off being approved at my job, return flight, and proof of my rental agreement. 

Edited October 11 by apnzz

[Boiler 45,467]

Just think of the reason you MUST return, why it is IMPOSSIBLE to stay in the US and document that.