J-Man

I'm getting married in Kansas City next April so my family are coming out and I was wondering what to do regarding the POE. I've always travelled on my own but have seen people go through in groups/families but are there any rules?

Travelling will be My mum, my step dad, my sister (aged 27), my nephew (1.5), me and a family friend.

- Do we all go throught together (a lot of people!),
- Does my family go together with the friend on her own,
- Do we split up further Mum+step dad, sister+nephew, me, family friend?

Many thanks in advance for any help and apologies for the trivial nature of the question but as I said, it had been bugging me!

MsElui

well presumably you will have a visa in your own right - so if i were you i would go seperate to all the rest of the people on the vwp so its no confusion for the officer.

It might be quicker to get processed in smaller groups but it doesnt matter.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

Assuming you have a K-1 visa in hand, it would strike me that YOUR visa give credibility to the reason for the other family members.

J-Man

We will actually all be on the VWP as my fiancee is moving to the UK after the wedding.

My instinct was to split up as even though we are related as my and my sister are older and have moved out. I think my doubt was caused by having to fill out a customs form per family and I wasn't sure what a family consisted of.

runningbird

The rules are one custom form per family - with the same name so if any have differing surnames - step dad etc then you will need to do seperate ones - with that you can approach the officer as a group but he/she may make you take your turn - it can be quite random.
If you have differing surnames i would go in the corresponding groups

TBH - it wont be much quicker - they still have to scan everyones passport and take fingerprints whether you all stand together or one at a time

Good luck - oh and congrats on your up coming wedding

meauxna

hunh. Married we have different surnames; it never occured to me that we aren't one family for Customs.

Noorah101

Heck my fiance and I filled out one customs form for the both of us, before we were even married, different last names and everything. The flight attendant said it was one form per household.

fatbrit

Beyond their excellent visa and customs knowledge, I usually pump them for predictions on the 30-day dollar and euro rate as well as advice on my personal sex life. You'll find your average attendant has a mine of great information.

MsElui

they are also the only people who can prescribe certain emergency lifesaving drugs apart from doctors. Their training is very comprehensive.

Folinskyinla

Hi:

Playing with fire. Get professional advice.

runningbird

ooh well my advise is dud then ..... i filled in one form before we were married and was told we needed one each !! we had lived in together for 10 years!

i wont comment anymore - it will only comfuse the op

sambapink

Your advise isn't dud at all S... we all have different experiances at immigration - i was lucky enough to go through 'residents' at immigration last time - was told off, but didn't have to re-queue! Just as long as you have all your paperwork in order - sometimes it just depends on which immigration officer you have.

J-Man

Ok, that's got me worried

She honestly is moving back to the UK after the wedding and I have no intention of staying in the States. I know I'll more than likely get a few extra questions but I'll have evidence (mortgage/deed papers, letter from my work saying they expect me back, completed UK visa application).

What do you see as the issues? I was just asking as it's going to be nerve wracking enough and just wanted one less thing to worry about.

Noorah101

I think maybe having the whole family show up might raise more questions for everyone, not just you...

Rene

J-Man

I realise the situation will raise more scrutiny and questions for me & them if we arrive in a group and that ultimately it's down to the POE officer(s) on the day whether we get admitted. However I know that marrying on the VWP is allowed and I have no intention of breaking any laws so to hear that I'm playing with fire and should get professional advice (and especially from a poster with so much knowledge and experience) is a little worrying and I want to know if there's anything I can do to help the situation. Should we travel separately?