visiting girlfriend, problems with customs

[canusa 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!

Yeah I remember back in the day when I use to visit my wife in Canada.I would visit her and stay 2-3 months at a time.Fly home to Cali for a few weeks and be back again.I run an online business so I could work form Canada.In a 1 1/2 years they only pulled me aside one time.They really went after me.Thye held me up atleats two hours while they checked me out.After that I visited a few more time then we filled the k1..I do think its eaiser to visit Canada than the US.Last year we flew to visit my wifes family.We had our 4 month old daughter with us and my my wifes daughter 11.When we crossed the border into Canada from Buffalo they didnt even ask anything about the baby.Not anythig.Then when we came back across to the USA they took my wifes and 11 year olds Canadian passports and greencards and was gone fo abut 20 minutes.Came back and said have a good day.The only thing they asked us about myself and our 4 month old was our citzenships.Didnt even ask to see any ID.Now is that weired or what?

[baf 0]

do you get interrogated like this the first time? or usualy after several visits?

[Boiler 45,981]

do you get interrogated like this the first time? or usualy after several visits?

You can get 'interrogated' the first time or any time.

I visted the US maybe 10 times and only had one hassle. The US is not part of the EU!

BUT if you are a two week holiday to see the Mouse the chances of being quizzed are pretty minimal, 90 days with no job, no ties to your home country etc and thats another situation.

Your chances of a B2 having been refused a VWP entry, assuming there is not a major change in your circumstances is pretty minimal. Has no impact on an Immigrant Visa as after all they refused you because you had immigrant intent, or they thought you had, now you are stating up front that you do.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Have her visit you in the UK.

[rachelw610 0]

Ah!!! Do NOT try to entry on visa waiver if you are uncertain... they turn people away all the time.

My fiance spend 3 weeks here with me in Michigan, then came back 2 months later and spent his full 3 months. He tried to come back a month later, and he was denied entry.

Funny, they let him stay with me for one night, then I had to have him back at the airport the next afternoon. They treated him horribly, kept him in question for learly 5 hours, refused to let him contact his embassy, or even give him a glass of water. They even came into the arrivals part of the airport to question me about it.

Their treatment of him was horrible, but that should serve as reflection of how we treat people we think are "immigrants".

The experience was devestating, but we are now pursuing a K-1 visa, and waiting for the NOA2. If anyone needs advice about VWP denial, please ask, as I feel your pain!

[Boiler 45,981]

Ah!!! Do NOT try to entry on visa waiver if you are uncertain... they turn people away all the time.

My fiance spend 3 weeks here with me in Michigan, then came back 2 months later and spent his full 3 months. He tried to come back a month later, and he was denied entry.

Funny, they let him stay with me for one night, then I had to have him back at the airport the next afternoon. They treated him horribly, kept him in question for learly 5 hours, refused to let him contact his embassy, or even give him a glass of water. They even came into the arrivals part of the airport to question me about it.

Their treatment of him was horrible, but that should serve as reflection of how we treat people we think are "immigrants".

The experience was devestating, but we are now pursuing a K-1 visa, and waiting for the NOA2. If anyone needs advice about VWP denial, please ask, as I feel your pain!

He pushed his luck and came a cropper.

Why did he want to contact the Embassy btw?.

[meauxna 15]

Ah!!! Do NOT try to entry on visa waiver if you are uncertain... they turn people away all the time.

My fiance spend 3 weeks here with me in Michigan, then came back 2 months later and spent his full 3 months. He tried to come back a month later, and he was denied entry.

Funny, they let him stay with me for one night, then I had to have him back at the airport the next afternoon. They treated him horribly, kept him in question for learly 5 hours, refused to let him contact his embassy, or even give him a glass of water. They even came into the arrivals part of the airport to question me about it.

Their treatment of him was horrible, but that should serve as reflection of how we treat people we think are "immigrants".

The experience was devestating, but we are now pursuing a K-1 visa, and waiting for the NOA2. If anyone needs advice about VWP denial, please ask, as I feel your pain!

Dunno, sounds like they treated him pretty darn well by letting him go home with you for the night. Most people are kept in detention (jail), which is a lot less nice. Their treatment of him was based on treating him as an illegal immigrant, btw, or immigrating without the correct documents.

I'm sorry you found it devastating, and hope you recover via a speedy K-1 case!

[lisaf 0]

I did 4 three month trips betweem may 04 and dec 05 ( which was my last trip, I left march 06 two days after we prepared teh I-129F. Basically I was 3 months on and 3 months off. My last trip at xmas I was sent to the little room :0 and asked a barrage of questions. His first question was ( on looking at my computer info) " are you TRYING to get deported!!!" I was horrified. In the end he said " there is a boyfriend , right ?" I said yes. He asked why I hadnt mentioned it. I told him because I was warned that I may be suspected of coming to the USA to get married illegally. He said he would let me in THIS LAST TIME without some kind of visa...and not to try the visa waiver for at least 9 months to a year. I explained that due to my boyfriends Job, I was the one who was " portable" He said would be easier if you take turns.. Now there is a record of that interview should I try to come back, which Im glad about, only backs up my fiancee story.( meeting in person!) I asked how is it possible for us to be togther to prove having met, yet get a problem going through immigration. Again he said take turns! I said I was applying for K1, he said "great then you will be welcome, but dont come here again for a tleast 9 months without it!" Hope it helps....

[vjb 1]

It all just depends on the person sitting at the desk and what questions they want to ask you!

I'm from the UK and travel on the VWP and I went to the US:

3 weeks in Aug, home for 2 weeks

1 week Sept, home for 4 weeks

5 weeks Oct/Nov, home for 2 weeks

all of Dec

then had to come home to have a baby in Jan!

went back for 6 weeks end of Feb/all of March.

I went through Dallas everytime and they only thing they ever asked me was what was the purpose of my visit and if I had a return ticket. Once they asked to actually see the return ticket but that was all and it's never taken more than a few minutes to pass through. There's no set rules just and just depends on what the immigration person at the time thinks.

Of course saying all of that I could have just jinxed myself for my next visit lol!

[rachelw610 0]

Well, when you are in a foreign country, and you are dealing with government officials that are less than personable, your instinct as a traveller is to contact home, and find out your rights.

Unfortunately, you don't become experts in certain areas until you actually go through it... we thought he would be ok provided that he didn't overstay his 90 day time. We are wiser now, and are going through it properly, but the experience was still devistating.

Ah!!! Do NOT try to entry on visa waiver if you are uncertain... they turn people away all the time.

My fiance spend 3 weeks here with me in Michigan, then came back 2 months later and spent his full 3 months. He tried to come back a month later, and he was denied entry.

Funny, they let him stay with me for one night, then I had to have him back at the airport the next afternoon. They treated him horribly, kept him in question for learly 5 hours, refused to let him contact his embassy, or even give him a glass of water. They even came into the arrivals part of the airport to question me about it.

Their treatment of him was horrible, but that should serve as reflection of how we treat people we think are "immigrants".

The experience was devestating, but we are now pursuing a K-1 visa, and waiting for the NOA2. If anyone needs advice about VWP denial, please ask, as I feel your pain!

He pushed his luck and came a cropper.

Why did he want to contact the Embassy btw?.

In retrospect yes, they did treat him well in comparison to how they could have treated him. But, we are nothing as people without respect and courtesy, and people with power can easily forget that.

Thanks for the good wishes about the K-1 process!!! It is exhausting, isn't it? Our luck has been horrible so far... it seems that they make it as difficult as possible for people to immigrate here legally, when so many manage it illegally. It's a shame.

Ah!!! Do NOT try to entry on visa waiver if you are uncertain... they turn people away all the time.

My fiance spend 3 weeks here with me in Michigan, then came back 2 months later and spent his full 3 months. He tried to come back a month later, and he was denied entry.

Funny, they let him stay with me for one night, then I had to have him back at the airport the next afternoon. They treated him horribly, kept him in question for learly 5 hours, refused to let him contact his embassy, or even give him a glass of water. They even came into the arrivals part of the airport to question me about it.

Their treatment of him was horrible, but that should serve as reflection of how we treat people we think are "immigrants".

The experience was devestating, but we are now pursuing a K-1 visa, and waiting for the NOA2. If anyone needs advice about VWP denial, please ask, as I feel your pain!

Dunno, sounds like they treated him pretty darn well by letting him go home with you for the night. Most people are kept in detention (jail), which is a lot less nice. Their treatment of him was based on treating him as an illegal immigrant, btw, or immigrating without the correct documents.

I'm sorry you found it devastating, and hope you recover via a speedy K-1 case!