Timmy Larsson

    >>I had some problems getting in on the visa waiver program the other week. I am a
    >>Swedish citizen that visit my girlfriend (american citizen) quite frequently. I
    >>freelance as a computer consultant in Sweden, and most of my work is done from my
    >>laptop. Therefore, I
hook
    >>myself up with a couple of projects and go over to the US to spend time with my
    >>girlfriend.
    >>
    >>At the port of entry in Newark they told me that I was circumventing the
    >>immigration laws and threatened with 5 years deportation. They also told me that I
    >>would only get 30 days this time on the visa waiver program, and not to return
    >>until I had a valid visa of some sort.
    >>
    >>My question:
    >>
    >>The officer put 90 days in writing in my passport (on my I-94W), but told me 30
    >>days (I think), which one should I go with? Is there any way I can check my
    >>immigration record in the computer system to see what he put in the comments?
    >
    >The date on the I-94W counts, but in this case I would indeed return after 30 days.

I am not sure it was 30 days, it could have been 10, or it could have been 60. Is
there somewhere I can go and ask? Should I go to the closest POE and ask? Is it
common for the officers to say one thing and write another?

    >>Would it help if I brought a bank statement proving that I am filthy rich and don't
    >>really have to work?
    >
    >No, because you ARE planning to work.

What if I don't even bring my laptop and go on a real vacation, i.e. I won't work?

Ingo Pakleppa

On 12 May 2002 10:43:06 -0700, [email protected] (Timmy Larsson) wrote:

    >>>I had some problems getting in on the visa waiver program the other week. I am a
    >>>Swedish citizen that visit my girlfriend (american citizen) quite frequently. I
    >>>freelance as a computer consultant in Sweden, and most of my work is done from my
    >>>laptop. Therefore, I
    >hook
    >>>myself up with a couple of projects and go over to the US to spend time with my
    >>>girlfriend.
    >>>
    >>>At the port of entry in Newark they told me that I was circumventing the
    >>>immigration laws and threatened with 5 years deportation. They also told me that I
    >>>would only get 30 days this time on the visa waiver program, and not to return
    >>>until I had a valid visa of some sort.
    >>>
    >>>My question:
    >>>
    >>>The officer put 90 days in writing in my passport (on my I-94W), but told me 30
    >>>days (I think), which one should I go with? Is there any way I can check my
    >>>immigration record in the computer system to see what he put in the comments?
    >>
    >>The date on the I-94W counts, but in this case I would indeed return after 30 days.
    >
    >I am not sure it was 30 days, it could have been 10, or it could have been 60. Is
    >there somewhere I can go and ask? Should I go to the closest POE and ask? Is it
    >common for the officers to say one thing and write another?

DO NOT ask and wake sleeping dogs. I think the officer might have been "asleep at the
wheel" and wrote 90 days by accident. Which works in your favor, of course.

    >>>Would it help if I brought a bank statement proving that I am filthy rich and
    >>>don't really have to work?
    >>
    >>No, because you ARE planning to work.
    >
    >What if I don't even bring my laptop and go on a real vacation, i.e. I won't work?

After having been to the US many times in a short period, or spent a long time in the
US, you would still have problems. Remember, money is not the primary problem here.
Rather, the suspected intent to immigrate is.

Ingo

I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. For reliable advice, please consult
with a professional immigration attorney.

For further information, check the following frequently-requested links.

For many questions, you may find answers at
http://travel.state.gov/visa_services.html (Department of State)

or http://ins.usdoj.gov (INS).

For consular policies and visa reciprocity fees, find your consulate in
http://travel.state.gov/links.html

For visa denial and suggestions what to do about them, see
http://travel.state.gov/visadenials.html

For DOL Online Labor Certification: http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/

For information on affidavit of support for marriage to US citizens (I-864), go to
http://travel.state.gov/i864gen.html and http://travel.state.gov/checklist.html

For information on entering the US as a K-1: http://www.k1poelist.com/

For poverty levels, see http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/poverty/00poverty.htm

For information on H/L/O/P visa extensions at Dept. of State in St. Louis, MO, see
http://travel.state.gov/revals.html

For non-official information, check:

(When using these sites, and any Web sites, please watch out for privacy, as I do not
know all site operators.)

http://www.visalaw.com http://www.shusterman.com http://www.immigration.com
http://members.aol.com/MDUdall http://www.murthy.com/ http://www.richw.org/dualcit/
(dual citizenship FAQ) http://www.ilw.com http://www.srs-usvisa.com
http://www.getusavisa.com http://greencard-lottery.virtualave.net/
http://www.jcvisa.com (H-1B) http://www.h1bresources.com (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.kamya.com/misc/ (marriage and fiancee)
http://www.mindspring.com/~docsteen/...o/visainfo.htm http://www.workpermit.com

This is not an endorsement of any of these Web sites. I am not affiliated with any of
the Web site owners and do not receive nor accept payment in return for listing them,
and typically don't even know them.

(if believe you have a good immigration-related Web site and want your Web site
listed here, please e-mail me).