special k10

Thank you! All the best to you @Crazy Cat

Thank you so much, wishing you all the best!!!

OMG! Yesterday they told me the same about working! But I'm not at all interested in working in USA and I found it rather odd they mentioned it to me. Then it's probably just what they do, common practice and not specific to you or me

I appreciate the answer, thank you

Sorry for my ignorance, but better to be a fool once and ask for clarification than to never ask and be a fool forever - what's the difference between a secondary inspection and a customs referral? I didn't know there were 2 different inspections, was only aware of the secondary inspection being a thing. Many thanks.

To reply to this - we haven't decided yet. We could live anywhere in the EU or in the UK - so the US isn't the only place. The US is a beautiful country, but we're not sure yet if we would like to raise a family in the US, if one can imagine that there actually are people who aren't keen on moving there. One of us will have to make a sacrifice wherever we will move, so this is why we are unsure because it would pretty much mean one of us will probably have to start from scratch - but I don't want to get too detailed about our circumstances. As ever, I appreciate the advice, @Jorgedig

A further comment for those who might not understand why I made this post and for some reason assume the worst about me - what a judgmental lot here on VJ! I came here to ask because I was too nervous to ask during the secondary about the reason why I was further inspected and how I could avoid that in the future. I answered all their questions and I didn't want to bother them too much by asking for the reason. So I came here to understand exactly what happened, but I think many people on VJ are ready to cast judgement at incredible speeds and make this space for discussion harder to have. I mean -- how would one feel comfortable asking a question here when, seemingly, some VJers pretty much reply to my post as if I have committed the cardinal sin? I understand life makes people bitter and I'm sure going through the US immigration process is part of it... self-awareness isn't something everyone has ig🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi, @powerpuff. Before gaining British citizenship in Oct of this year, I actually had my Eastern European (EE) passport which does not have an ESTA - I did not "easily forget" that using the VWP is a privilege!!! But it's easy to jump to conclusions and assume the worst about someone since we're online, not face to face. Not to mention you are treated differently (read that as seen as being of a higher risk) if you are from EE, but that's a whole different topic of its own. I've had my share of judgement cast on me simply because of the country where I was born, so I'd appreciate you not casting any further judgement, thanks. It was the first time I have ever used the ESTA because it was also the first time I had ever used my UK passport. Previously, I have gone with my EE passport to the US embassy for different non-immigrant visas and I was approved each time. I appreciate your advice and I'm sorry that you think that I am one of the VWP untouchables who take the programme for granted. Not sure where you got the idea that I'm so privileged - probably a knee jerk reaction? I have a b1 visa valid for 10 years in my EE passport, so, if anything, I should know how much of a privilege IT ISN'T to go through the arduous process of simply visiting and the amount of paperwork needed just for non-immigrant visas🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi, yes, I did disclose every time I visited that I'm visiting for the sole reason of seeing my husband. Yep, can definitely see why they'd want to double check now... Haha😅

Thank you for saying this💜 It did feel like I happened to be unlucky that day (missed my connection due to airline delays too). I've previously disclosed to them every time that I'm visiting my husband and they never reacted this way, they would simply ask: do you have a return ticket and how long will you visit him for? Kind regards to you, Loren!! 💜

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have showed enough ties to the UK, I doubt they would have let me in otherwise. As for the passports -- I have different surnames in my passport, which is something they asked me about in the secondary. I appreciate your advice! 😁

Thank you for the advice. I'm worried now since you're the second person to say it was a warning - a warning for what? What did I do wrong exactly? 🙁 I guess I should've just used my first passport like I have before... If I'd done that, I probably wouldn't have had to deal with such a stressful situation.

Ohh, okay, and since it was the first time using an ESTA for my first British passport... Yeah, I can totally see that now.....

I have become a British citizen in Oct of this year, I really wanted to use my British passport. First time I used it was yesterday. I didn't realize it would seem so suspicious, hindsight is 20/20 though😅 I understand... Thank you @Crazy Cat!

What the CBP officer said sounds like a warning? Oh wow. I am unsure what made them want to warn me - nothing has changed apart from me gaining British citizenship since I last visited the US in August.

"Yes, you have a history" - could you kindly explain what you mean by that? I am reading that as "yes, they can see that you had a secondary inspection and it will raise eyebrows". Is that a fair interpretation of what you said? Thank you.

Good morning/afternoon everyone! Hope you're all doing well. Yesterday I flew from GTW in London to Dublin and then Dublin to Chicago so I can visit my USC husband. At the airport in Dublin, I went to preclearance. I've been to quite a few different American ports of entry and the one in Dublin to me seemed to have the nicest CBP people so far, and I'm usually a very anxious and stressed person, so I much prefer going to Dublin for preclearance. For context, the CBP officer admitted me into the US, asked me to fill a declaration form (for goods brought into the US), and the secondary inspection was around 20 minutes long. I've previously never had any problems whatsoever at the CBP, they would usually ask me 3-5 questions and then welcome me to the US. Yesterday, however, was the first time I used my British passport to enter the US. I've previously used my EU passport to enter the US and have never been refused or asked to go to the secondary. What happened, to put it succinctly, is that I gave them my British passport and what I can only assume happened (they didn't inform me what the exact reason was for the secondary inspection that followed) is that my fingerprints matched with the ones associated with my EU passport which I used before to enter the US. I believe this is the case because the first CBP officer who interviewed me was actually pretty confused looking and in disbelief; he was the one who asked me to go to the secondary for more questions. What ensued was lots of questions about my husband and I, and then at the secondary I was asked the same questions and a few more. The CBP officer at the end of the secondary inspection advised me that if I have an immigrant intent and want to ever live in USA with my husband, then my husband absolutely must file for a spouse visa and that's the end of it. What really confused me is that I had informed the officer that we don't actually know at the moment what country we will live together in, so I'm not sure if he thought I was a high risk of not honoring the tourist visa rules or if it's just normal for them to advise me this way. Is it normal practice at the CBP to inform someone on a tourist visa (like me) about the immigration process and how long it takes? I'm aware of the US immigration rules and have always had the right visa for the respective activity in the US (previously had a J1 visa). I completely hadn't considered that I'd get extremely scrutinized for having 2 passports from 2 different countries. If it makes any difference, the British passport has my married name, the EU one has my maiden name because I haven't yet managed to travel to my country of birth to do all the paperwork to change my name. So - I have 2 questions: 1) Should I be worried that before the secondary inspection ended, the CBP officer informed me what the immigration process is like? He said "your husband must file form i-930 and you have to go to the embassy in London". He also said I should get started on filing as soon as we can (even though I hadn't even asked about the immigration process) because the wait times for spouse visas are now approximately 2 years long - is that true? 2) Will I have problems entering the US again in the future? Will the secondary inspection I've had flag me in the future? Do I essentially have a target on my back from now on? I'm looking forward to all of your advice! Thank you in advance.