visiting girlfriend, problems with customs

[meauxna 15]

everyone on here is making it sound like i really shouldn`t try to go back to the US, if thats the case then i am totally lost, i mean my girlfriend can`t make it accross to the uk as easily as i can to the US. any more advice?

You are not totally lost just because you can't come to the US anymore. Which, by the way, is not the case for you just yet (you are over-reading). You are not allowed to live in the US before you get your K1 visa (have you actually got anything filed yet?)

The K-1 process through London is roughly 6 months; if you two can not take that separation in your relationship, it's time to do some re-thinnking, IMO.

You will not be allowed to work for your first 4-6 months in the US; how about working now and saving up some $$$? There is a lot to deal with, and a lot of reasearch to be done yet; why not spend your time now getting things ready so that when the time comes to move, you can.

In the Canada argument, I'll add that Mexico is nice too, and the airfare might be cheaper (not to mention the beaches warmer...)

And finally, because it's my pet peeve this week: US Customs is NOT the same as US Immigration. They are not interchangeable.

[rejane 1]

When i came to visit my boyfriend atthe times and the inspector was asking me what was the purpose of my visit, I stated that i was only visiting friends.

I also in case of a problem asked my employer a letter stating that i had to come back at a certain date to be at work.

I always took 10 days to 2 weeks trip except the last one was for a month....

Good luck and hope things work for you

[creasy19 0]

yeah sorry, when i said i was held at the immigration desk i meant that i was held at the customs desk, you know the little booth that they use to fingerprint you? but i was only kept there for like 10 to 15 minutes maximum and was asked a few questions, that was about it? any thoughts?

[Boiler 45,981]

yeah sorry, when i said i was held at the immigration desk i meant that i was held at the customs desk, you know the little booth that they use to fingerprint you? but i was only kept there for like 10 to 15 minutes maximum and was asked a few questions, that was about it? any thoughts?

That's Immigration.

Customs is futher on, where you hand in your Customs form.

Same principal as the UK.

[girl 37 7]

I visited my (then) BF repeatedly for 1-2 month visits before we were married. I got pulled into secondary inspection 3 times, and had a really long interview on the third time. At that interview the immigration officer asked me to add up all the days I'd visited, then said it was too long -that it was more like I was living in the US and visiting Canada instead of the reverse-, and warned me that there'd be problems next time I tried to enter if I couldn't show ties to home. The next time I went across I had a government work contract in hand and breezed through after a couple of questions at the primary inspection. I've visited a couple of times since then, and always carry my contract with me even though I haven't been asked to show it again.

[Crystal 0]

My now-fiance came over for the last three months of last year, then we travelled together to the UK for the holidays. When we returned, he was on another three month ticket and got held back in immigration for about an hour.

What was explained to us was basically that the VWP is intended to be used for visiting, not de facto living in the US (as that was what a prolonged period of entry appeared to be). They want you to be out of the US more than you're in it, essentially. They let him in, but said that he would need to be in the UK for a longer period before coming back.

[kaydee457 13]

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

creasy19

Just a small point of clarification but you had difficulty with the Immigration officer, not the Customs Officer. They have totally different missions........

[baf 0]

helloo,

Has anyone been denied entery on their first visit to America or is there a high chance of being denied if you just wanna visit ur Bf/gf on ur first visit?

[Widge 0]

I experienced EXACTLY the same situation as the opening poster (cant remember the exact dates) but had travelled for 2 or 3 trips of 2/3 weeks and then two 90 day trips I then came back for a two week holiday and was interrogated for 45mins (Pittsburgh) by immigration officials (luggage searched, spoke to B/F on phone down in arrivals etc etc). The end result was they believed I was here only for a holiday and I was allowed in but I did learn several things.

i) Every trip you run the risk of of some a**hole officer adopting the "More than my jobsworth role" it is always at te discretion of the officer examining you as you enter whether they stamp you or not be it trip 1 or 20.

ii) the critical factor that they are looking at is if you spend more than six months in USA within a 12 month period (not calendar year) then you are technically resident in US more than UK and it aint a holiday !!!!

iii) I had no "evidence" of my ties to the UK whatsoever - I was ###### scared but I answered all questions honestly and was eventually allowed in

My advice - look at your visits within the last 12 months from your planned trip and see if you are gonna raise a flag, if your under the six months then go for it. I came back again after this incident spent the whole trip terrified that I was going to be refused entry and had the easiest entry ever with not one single question being asked about my visit!!!!!!! Never lie and only ever answer the questions asked. Only ever travel with the luggage that you need for the trip/documents you are making (much as near the end of the process it would be great to move winter clothes over as excess luggage it does raise a red flag if its August and your only visiting for a week). If you come back and they don't let you in it does not count against you at a later point in the visa process.

Good Luck

[creasy19 0]

hey everyone, you have all been a great help and i am very much appreciated for it all. i do hae one other question though, if you come over on the VWP and you are refused entry, what are the ultiate ramifications of that, i mean other than you just simply not being able to use the VWP anymore? can you still apply for a tourist visa and get in or are you basically banned from entering america for a long time? and also is it a definate that being refused entry on the VWP will not count against you filing for a K1 visa?

thanks again everyone, you have been a terrific help.

take care now

Paul

and a response to poster WIDGE

when i make my next planned trip, i would have been int he US for a total of 95 days in the past 12 months, do you think that will help my cause or you think it will still be too much?

thanks

[Euro 3]

hey everyone, you have all been a great help and i am very much appreciated for it all. i do hae one other question though, if you come over on the VWP and you are refused entry, what are the ultiate ramifications of that, i mean other than you just simply not being able to use the VWP anymore? can you still apply for a tourist visa and get in or are you basically banned from entering america for a long time? and also is it a definate that being refused entry on the VWP will not count against you filing for a K1 visa?

thanks again everyone, you have been a terrific help.

take care now

Paul

and a response to poster WIDGE

when i make my next planned trip, i would have been int he US for a total of 95 days in the past 12 months, do you think that will help my cause or you think it will still be too much?

thanks

Yes it simply means no more VWP travel, dont know about the tourist visa, & no it wont have any effect on your K1 process

[canusa 0]

My Canadian wife(then fiance) visited me two times here in Califorina.The third time she was grilled and was not allowed to enter.I did most of the visiting myself.He told my wife he needs to file a fiance visa for you.We did, and at the interview it came up.She was honest with him and he approved her.He even told her thanks for being honest with me.It was all right there in the computer.She was only comming from Canada.This was about 4 years ago.Maybe its easier with all the people meeting online now?

hey everyone, you have all been a great help and i am very much appreciated for it all. i do hae one other question though, if you come over on the VWP and you are refused entry, what are the ultiate ramifications of that, i mean other than you just simply not being able to use the VWP anymore? can you still apply for a tourist visa and get in or are you basically banned from entering america for a long time? and also is it a definate that being refused entry on the VWP will not count against you filing for a K1 visa?

thanks again everyone, you have been a terrific help.

take care now

Paul

and a response to poster WIDGE

when i make my next planned trip, i would have been int he US for a total of 95 days in the past 12 months, do you think that will help my cause or you think it will still be too much?

thanks

I dont think it will hurt your k1 visa.Maybe you should start getting evertghing ready.Maybe in the nest 2-3 months file.Then have about 6 months wait b4 interview.After that you got 3 months to use the visa..There's a year there.Then if you want to take a chance visiting her b4 you file the visa you can.If you get in good.If not then file the K1...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

My Canadian wife(then fiance) visited me two times here in Califorina.The third time she was grilled and was not allowed to enter.I did most of the visiting myself.He told my wife he needs to file a fiance visa for you.We did, and at the interview it came up.She was honest with him and he approved her.He even told her thanks for being honest with me.It was all right there in the computer.She was only comming from Canada.This was about 4 years ago.Maybe its easier with all the people meeting online now?

Fortunately, entry denial to Canadian does not mean you cannot try again (though it DOES mean that you will have to answer "yes" to "were you ever refused entry to US?") for "just visiting" (aka undocumented B-2)--no need to get a B-2; unlike VWP, where an entry denial is a coffin for future travel ON VWP.

Edited April 6, 2006 by sriniv

[jen&darcy 0]

I think in alot of cases it just depends on who you get at customs. My fiance tried to come across the border last May via truck and was denied entry. In June, he flew by airplane and was allowed in no problem.

It is however very important to bring with you information that shows ties to your home country. They need to see you have something to go back to. They may not ask for it but its better to be safe than sorry!

Now me on the other hand almost always gets detained entering into Canada. I go to Canada for various reasons such as visiting my fiance, friends and work. I travel there for work a couple times a year so sometimes they think I am coming there too much! On a positive note, I was in BC two weeks ago and they didn't ask one question. Phew!

Edited April 6, 2006 by jen&darcy

[Widge 0]

and a response to poster WIDGE

when i make my next planned trip, i would have been int he US for a total of 95 days in the past 12 months, do you think that will help my cause or you think it will still be too much?

thanks

As I said previously the indication to me was that they did not want to see more than 180 days in a 12 month period so under that criteria you would be fine at 95 days but it is the case as everyone says on a given day you can get the pain in the B@@ officer who wants to get ahead.

whether you visit is a decision only you can make in my humble opinion the worse that happens is you get turned back and it doesn't go against you, you just waste you fare - for me at the time that was a no-brainer.

Stop sweating the things out of your control and occupy yourself with things you can