FuelG

Hi all

I am planning a trip to USA soon and will hopefully be getting married after visiting my partner for 5 years. I have taken multiple 2 week - 2 month trips to the same part of the states in which we will meet again next time.

I want to know what the best way is to approach the officer at the point of entry. I currently live with my parents so do not own a house, i do not drive and my new job is only temporary due to COVID. How will i prove my intentions to return home, even though i fully intend to do so. What do i say to the officer when he asks "what is the purpose of your visit" and what proof would i bring just incase it is needed. I have read that some people do not mention marriage while others have been fully honest and said everything. I am terrified that i will be denied entry should i have insufficient proof on my intentions to return home. i have also seen in other threads and on websites such as visajourney that you shouldn't lie to the officer (which of course i won't). Is it lying to say my visit is to be with my girlfriend or do i mention fiance this time? I have said that ever since my first visit.

Thanks in advance.

Noorah101

You have successfully entered the USA multiple times with no issues. Treat this entry the same way you treated all the other ones. Answer only the question asked, in as few words as possible, and don't lie.

Rene

FuelG

Thanks for the reply! So when you say don't lie. What would I answer to the question " what is the purpose of your visit "

Thanks again.

Noorah101

The answer would be whatever the truth is, in as few words as possible.

Have they asked you this question before exactly that way? If so, what was your answer?

Rene

FuelG

They have asked it every time and the answer is the same every time, to visit my partner. Would I just say the same again?

Noorah101

If that's what you are planning to do, then that seems the logical answer, right? .

Rene

os306

I was in the same position as you a few years ago, and this is exactly what I said.

stuwoolf

The apparent concern here is there may be a refusal to enter USA. If that is the concern, why not fly via Ireland and clear US Immigration there? If the worst happens, its a lot easier to get back to UK from Ireland than be around 3,500 miles away. Just a thought.....

Pulaski

I agree with all Noorah's advice. I married on a VWP visit myself, entering at Newark, and, as always, answered only the questions asked, briefly but politely.

"What is the purpose of your visit?", only needs a very general answer, not a laundry list of things you will be doing each day, so there is absolutely no need to mention that you will be getting married unless specifically asked "Will you be getting married?"

FuelG

Brilliant. Thank you both, you have really put me at ease in regards to the situation!

FuelG

thank you all!

S Folinsky

Why not a K-1 petition and visa.

Nutmegger

Perhaps the OP wants to be able to work immediately upon making the move to the States, rather than sitting around while the paperwork wends its way through the halls of officialdom.

Pulaski

Or perhaps the USC-spouse will move to the UK after they marry .... and a non-British citizen can't get married in the UK without getting a visa even if they plan to leave the UK again after marrying, so marrying in the US before applying for a spouse visa for either country, is a common strategy.

S Folinsky

Perhaps. I think the more common reason is to speed up coming to the US. Gov’t people call this “circumventing the orderly process.”

I chose not to speculate which is why I posed it as a question.