visiting girlfriend, problems with customs

[creasy19 0]

hey, i am new to this website but i have done a lot of reading on it and it seems like the most helpful website out there. i have a few questions. i met my girlfriend online a few years ago and then in the summer of 2005 i came to visit her on the VWP and i stayed for the 3 months that we are allowed, i then returned to the UK for 3 months and then came back for a month to visit her again. after that i was in the UK for 2 months and then came back for 6 weeks to surprise her on her birthday, however i got serious questions the last time i i tried to get past the customs man at chicago. he gave me a real hard time, he asked me how much money i had, what kind of job i had in the Uk and my reasons for visiting and what i`ll be doing the whole time. this lasted for about 10 minutes of me just standing there talking to him. it scared the ####### out of me. i understand now that i was entering too much, i just naively thought that if i didn`t overstay the 90 days then i`m not doing anything wrong. my question now is though, how long should i leave it before i try and come back? i know that a lot of you have reported trouble at the customs when trying to visit your boyfriends or girlfriends. we plan to file for the K1 visa next year and are trying to worko ut how to see eachother at least a couple of times a year without me being turned away and sent back to the UK. so can anyone give me any advice? any similar experiences? i`m thinking that i won`t be coming back for about 6 months, will this be sufficient? if i come back in like 6 months and only stay for about 4 weeks? or do you think that this could still be a big problem? i am so confused by it all!!

any help or advice at all would eb so hugely appreciated.

thank you, i hope to hear from you all

Paul

[Euro 3]

hey, i am new to this website but i have done a lot of reading on it and it seems like the most helpful website out there. i have a few questions. i met my girlfriend online a few years ago and then in the summer of 2005 i came to visit her on the VWP and i stayed for the 3 months that we are allowed, i then returned to the UK for 3 months and then came back for a month to visit her again. after that i was in the UK for 2 months and then came back for 6 weeks to surprise her on her birthday, however i got serious questions the last time i i tried to get past the customs man at chicago. he gave me a real hard time, he asked me how much money i had, what kind of job i had in the Uk and my reasons for visiting and what i`ll be doing the whole time. this lasted for about 10 minutes of me just standing there talking to him. it scared the ####### out of me. i understand now that i was entering too much, i just naively thought that if i didn`t overstay the 90 days then i`m not doing anything wrong. my question now is though, how long should i leave it before i try and come back? i know that a lot of you have reported trouble at the customs when trying to visit your boyfriends or girlfriends. we plan to file for the K1 visa next year and are trying to worko ut how to see eachother at least a couple of times a year without me being turned away and sent back to the UK. so can anyone give me any advice? any similar experiences? i`m thinking that i won`t be coming back for about 6 months, will this be sufficient? if i come back in like 6 months and only stay for about 4 weeks? or do you think that this could still be a big problem? i am so confused by it all!!

any help or advice at all would eb so hugely appreciated.

thank you, i hope to hear from you all

Paul

Hiya Paul Your problem was the fact you used the VWP so often for so long!! but you know this

A trip every 6 months might be ok but you wont know until you try just make sure you have evidence of ties back to the UK, morgage,letter from employer,bills stuff like that, & Good luck

Edited April 5, 2006 by euro

[Ladylethal 12]

Why don´t you get her to come to UK the next time, and wait at least 6 months till you go to US again.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

In the officious' eyes, it could easily appear that you were making visits too long and too often--and unfortunately (for any foreigner wishing to enter US), it is up to officious' discretion whether you will be allowed entry.

Now, I'll make the sales pitch--how about you and your girlfriend meet in Canada?

[iceyspots 0]

Yes... the officers will have suspicion if you are entering and staying longer in the states than you stay in the UK..

[Euro 3]

Wanted to add....................at least you were not Denied entry as once you are, you wont beable to use the VWP again!!!!

[Boiler 45,981]

Why don´t you get her to come to UK the next time, and wait at least 6 months till you go to US again.

Ditto.

My wife did most of the travelling for a variety of reasons.

Nobody can give you an answer, you are in the system, so at least 6 months, longer the better. And probably best to make it a 2 week trip, Americans understand that better.

Also make sure that you have job/property/anything else that requires your return to the UK evidence.

[raymaga 25]

No matter how much time between trips, there is no guarantee you will be allowed entry into the U.S. To make your chances better, you will need to provide as much evidence as possible that you have ties to the U.K. and plan to return after your visit to the U.S., such as mortgage/lease documents, your most recent pay stubs, etc.

We all know the stress of fearing not being allowed in, but that's the reality of it all. I think a lot of VJ members have given you lots of good ideas on ways to be able to see your fiance with less risks.

Good luck.

[iceyspots 0]

They also believe that if you are there that long, and you don't have a really good reason (No working visa) They'll assume that you have an immigrant intent. Also, once you have papers filed on your behalf, you shouldn't attempt to enter the US, because customs officers will believe that you are trying to get in to immigrate at that point (Even if you do have to return to get your visa).

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Wanted to add....................at least you were not Denied entry as once you are, you wont beable to use the VWP again!!!!

Is this true? Because I can remember re-entering (for a job interview) US after being denied entry (due to having resumés in my briefcase)--as "undocumented B-2/B-1" (the "default status" for Canadian visitors to US).

[Euro 3]

Wanted to add....................at least you were not Denied entry as once you are, you wont beable to use the VWP again!!!!

Is this true? Because I can remember re-entering (for a job interview) US after being denied entry (due to having resumés in my briefcase)--as "undocumented B-2/B-1" (the "default status" for Canadian visitors to US).

YES it is true!!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Wanted to add....................at least you were not Denied entry as once you are, you wont beable to use the VWP again!!!!

Is this true? Because I can remember re-entering (for a job interview) US after being denied entry (due to having resumés in my briefcase)--as "undocumented B-2/B-1" (the "default status" for Canadian visitors to US).

YES it is true!!

I guess VWP rules are quite different then from those for "undocumented B-1/B-2" then (this particular status is--I know it sounds just like the Red Rose Tea commercial--"only for Canadians").

Still, I'd like to know what creasy thinks of my alternative "sales pitch".

Edited April 5, 2006 by sriniv

[Boiler 45,981]

Canada may be different.

But if denied entry, you can not use the VWP any longer.

I read it that he was just grilled.

But getting a B after a VWP denial is a very long shot.

Being denied a B does not prevent you using the VWP.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Canada may be different.

It is--as Canadians DO NOT fill out I-94's when "just visiting" (but if first-time in a status such as TN-1/TD, L-1/L-2, etc the plain-jane-white I-94 needs to be filled) US.

But if denied entry, you can not use the VWP any longer.

I read it that he was just grilled.

But getting a B after a VWP denial is a very long shot.

Being denied a B does not prevent you using the VWP.

So they really should consider the alternatives of:

• USC girlfriend visiting UK
  
• both meeting in Canada (no visit to US by UKC in this case, so nothing to flag)
  

[TracyTN 237]

Still seems that the path of least resistance here would be for his fiancee to visit him in the UK, or for them to meet somewhere else (ok, Canada - there you made me say it, sriniv.