Dating a US citizen

[Liz in UK]

Originally Posted by Elysium

Thanks for all the advice it's really helpful

Liz - did either you or your husband ever travel with proof of ties for your home countries? Something other than the return flight?

Also can I ask where your husband was flying in to? I have heard that smaller airports might be a bit more leniant due to a number of reasons - including the officers aren't so busy and are therefore less stressed and in a better mood and that if the airport is in a smaller city (NOT New York, LA, Dallas etc) where there are generally less tourists - if anyone else can comment on this that would be great.

I'm wondering what might be a good thing to use as proof that I plan to come back to the UK each time, other than just a return flight.

I understand that the "evidence" is completely up to the immigration officer whether it counts as good enough to tie me back home or not, but it would be great to know what other people have used

I'm not sure Gord ever traveled with much proof, except the first year we were together when he was still at University. But he had done seven summers of Camp America on a J1 visa, so he had a long and positive immigration record (Always leaving on time.)

I always took out a travel health insurance policy that expired the day after my flight home as a sign that I had every intention of leaving when I said I would, but also to prove that I wouldn't need the NHS, and be a drain on the UK tax payer. My ties to the US were always a bit tenuous, as I had to leave my job to come over for 6 months, but I convinced immigration I had every intention of behaving. And when I came over for 6 weeks in 2010 I had to return home as my father had fallen very ill and I was moving to care for him after my visit to the UK. (I was planning to leave anyway, but the fact that I had to go home for my father showed stronger ties than just saying I would leave.)

One thing we always did was to have an itinerary for the visit, as the primary purpose of the visa waiver is for tourism. So we always had at least a tentative plan of things to see and do in our respective countries, and we always had them written down. If there were tickets for things or hotel reservations, we always traveled with confirmation of those, so that if Immigration asked, they could see that while we were visiting primarily to see each other, there were firm plans to be tourists and make it a vacation, and not look for work then disappear. (If you do things like take day trips or have a weekend away in a nice place, make sure you take photos of the two of you together. This will help you if things to progress and you have to apply for a visa in the future.)

As for airports, I'm not sure it matters. I flew into Bristol and was detained for two hours when I came for six months (Understandable really) but Gord always flew into major airports; Newark, JFK, O'hare, and Dulles. He always breezed right through. I think even if you flew into a smaller airport, there are certain things they will pick up on.

When (if) you come over for your friend's wedding in September, my advice is to have proof of your uni course, a letter stating when you're due back at work, travel insurance, a return flight, and an itinerary for your visit. Can't guarantee that they will let you in, but those things certainly couldn't hurt. I would guess that while you may be taken in for secondary questioning, they will see that you are a genuine visitor and you will be ok. But I am not an immigration officer and can't guarantee it. Best of luck to you!

[Qewty]

Not sure if this is helpful to you, but I carried a letter from my employer stating that they approved the length of leave and the date I was to return to work. At one visit I was asked (at secondary interview) to show my bank account statements (yes, I had them on me, prepared for anything). It really does depend on the officer. When I stated to one that I had 2 children in Australia (21 and 18), he said "that means nothing, they are young enough for you to leave them there". I guess all I'm saying is take all that you can.

Q

(oh, and regarding the B visa, I applied for one of those because when I looked visa's up that I figured that was my only option other than the waivered visa at the time).

[thyrag]

Hi I have been in a LDR with my American bf for the past 5 years, I have visited him twice and will be going back again next year. He is hoping to come back with me next year to Australia for a visit.
When I went to the States on my last visit, I got asked about my employment and if I had any proof like my ID badge for work. I guess it was because it was like a year in between visits.
I thought wow, why would I carry that around with me but this time when I go I am taking that with me. This airport was San Francisco, where I got a bit of an interrogation. I found LAX to be cool. I was honest too about visiting my boyfriend, on both occasions. I went for 3 months and then 6 weeks visits.
This time I am hoping to stay for 2 months so I can get him organised to come back lol
We are going to look into immigration stuff for him when he is here as we are eventually going to get married.
Hope this was little bit of help, good luck with everything
Thyra

[Elysium]

A big thanks to everyone, it's good to hear success stories and people going through the same or similar situations as me

It's also good to have all this advice in one place.

I did think about the employer's letter, but an issue with that is i work for an agency, so my work is often only sorted out the day before, or a week before i am required. And while work isn't guaranteed, (and I don't mean to brag) but I am very good at my job and am reguarly asked for by name to work at different organisations - some of which offered me full time posts after 1 or 2 days (which due to the LDR situation wouldn't suit me as i wouldnt get the time off, as well as i would actually get paid less money)

I do currently live with my father, who has a bad knee and occasionally needs driving places and things like that - i usually do the shopping for him because he cant walk around on it for long periods of time.

And while I do this, it was never recommended by the doctor, but would a doctors letter explaining he has a problem with mobility help with prooving I intend to go back and "look after" him?

I dont know why i hadnt thought about that before, i guess because neither me or my father really make a big deal out of it

thanks once again, i'm so glad everyone here has been helpful and friendly, i wish everyone the best in the future - who knows, i could be living near some of you in the future!

[twostep]

Doesn't having a father with medical issues as binding tie sound a bit odd when you regularly leave him for weeks at a time?

[galaxysurfer]

Originally Posted by twostep

I have never come across an official link stating that refused B2 eliminates VWP on a permanent basis. Has anyone else?

No, and you probably won't, but the moment you complete the ESTA one of the questions it asks you is; 'Have you ever been refused a Visa' (or something like that), so, if you were refused a B2 visa (like I was) then you're automatically excluded from the Visa Waiver Programme/ESTA assuming you are being honest when completing the on-line form (it wouldn't pay NOT to be honest anyway as they keep records like everyone else). I have come to the conclusion mentioned earlier, to wit; never volunteer information; when it comes to dealing with the US authorities, (it seems), the more honest and reliable you are...the more it doesn't make a damn bit of difference.
(My Gf is also in the States, and I was refused last October, despite being honest, no convictions etc they refused me on the grounds of 'not strong enough ties to the UK', despite the fact I had two children from a previous marriage both under 12 yrs old.
I don't know what to do now. Feel like ending it all if I'm being honest as I can't see anyway around this as she can't come here, unfortunately).
Good luck to you , Elysium, hope you have better success than I did.

PS Oh!, and as I've seen previously on here; don't phone the UK Embassy for advice; (apart from the extremely high cost of the phone calls -and I mean EXTREME-) then believe it or not they're not there to HELP you get a visa...quite the opposite if anything.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by twostep

Doesn't having a father with medical issues as binding tie sound a bit odd when you regularly leave him for weeks at a time?

yeah like i said, its again not really something we make a big deal of. its one of those injuries that gets worse some days and is better other days.

some days he cant move, other days he can move just fine, so like i said its not really something that came to mind.

also my fathers brother lives about half hour away, so if need be he could look after him while i was away, but yeah i see why immigration would see that as odd.

its just a bad situation for me i guess, i came last year for 6 weeks to see friends i havent seen for 6 years, one of my friends got engaged and planned the marriage for this september. i wasn't planning to come back until then, but on the last day of my 6 week trip i met my girlfriend and we decided to give long distance a try.

didn't think it would be so much of an issue of planning to stay illegally etc, especially when im employed, all my family live in the uk and i have all my savings tied up in accounts that arent easily accessible (for the purpose of saving)

its only now i find it could be an issue.

life huh? ha ha. not going to let it put me off, if i get refused entry then i'll find another way to see her.

hopefully my university course will be enough to tie me back to the uk[/FONT]

[kaljames]

In 2003 I visited my then Girlfriend who was still in her last year of High School; my visa waiver ran out a week after she graduated High School and so we didnt actually get to take any trips or really spend much quality time together because she was studying hard.
I decided to go to London for a week instead of coming back home to New Zealand so that I could re-enter the US and get another 3 month waiver but was stopped by immigration on the way back in North Carolina.
I was taken to an office and made to wait for 50 mins while they sweated me; I was a naive 18 year old at the time so I was pretty much s##ting myself but after they questioned me and called up my girlfriend they let me into the country with a warning.
The warning they gave me was come for 3 months and then go to your HOME country for a minimum of 6 otherwise they get suspicious.

My girlfriend and I only spent about 8 months apart during our Long Distance relationship before we actually did things the right way through immigration.
International Relationships are tricky; we have gone through immigrations for New Zealand 2 times, America once and almost finished with yet another greencard process to move back to America a second time.

We have been married 7 years so it works.

[Elysium]

Originally Posted by kaljames

I
My girlfriend and I only spent about 8 months apart during our Long Distance relationship before we actually did things the right way through immigration.
International Relationships are tricky; we have gone through immigrations for New Zealand 2 times, America once and almost finished with yet another greencard process to move back to America a second time.

We have been married 7 years so it works.

your post is very useful. like i said above, i wasnt planning to come back in September, but as my friend is getting married, and i got second questioning when i came in june, i just wanted to know what other people's opinions were.

your relationship sounds complex, moiving between new zealand and the us so much. i'm hoping that when/if my gf and i get to the stage of marriage that we will be fine living in which ever country we choose at the time without the need to keep changing.

i will be enrolled on my university course, and as its my final year of a degree i'm hoping this will work in my favour to proove i plan to come back to the uk.

i'm also hoping the fact that my stays are never longer than 4 weeks, and i spend at least double, usually triple, that amount of time in the uk will be enough to proove im not working in the us, but am working in the uk to raise the money for the trip. the guy who second questioned me last time seemed to understand this and did say "as you are staying for short periods of time and longer in the uk than us then its fine" so i hope i either have this guy next time, or someone just as understanding.

[chachi]

US immigration is worried about the person leaving the country. As long as you are honest you have demonstrated that you come and go as planned ( no over stays) you should be fine. I would not approach any type of immigration visa at this time. The only and best immigration visa is the Fiance Visa once you guys decide if that is your path. You have to get married within 6 month and can immediately apply for a Green card.

For me an my wife I met her stayed in touch and were married 8 months later. Four years later the best thing I ever did. After being married it took her four attempts over three years to get a visitor visa to the US. We have never lived in the US so no big deal. I am an American living overseas.

Best of luck n love.