Visiting fiancee...worried about getting through the immigration line.
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Hi everyone,
I live in England and proposed to my fiancee last summer. I going over to visit her in March under the visa waiver program but I am really worried about going through the immigration line because of my status. I'm worried that when they ask what I'm there for and I say 'visiting my fiancee' that alarm bells are going to go off in their head and they're going to think I'm going to stay there illegally. When I went there last summer they seemed slightly uneasy about me having a girlfriend in America...but thankfully they didn't have a problem with it and let me through.
When my fiancee came to visit me in England last spring she had so much trouble getting in. The immigration officer seemed certain she was not here for a visit and she basicly got detained, questioned about everything to do with us (I was interviewed too). Thankfully she was let in but because of this I am so worried about visiting the states. Are they likely to think something fishy is going on because we're engaged? Is there anything I can bring with me to prove that I'll be going back? I'm currently on job seekers allowance at the moment and so I wouldn't be able to prove that I have a job to come back to.
Sorry if this isn't really the right place for it, I'm just worried about the whole scenario and just need to know if I'm worrying over nothing or if I could be sent back. I can't face the thought of already not seeing my fiancee for 7 months...but to face a 10 hour trip and then be questioned and turned away breaks my heart. We don't plan to get married for another couple of years because of how much the visa requirments have changed with all the saving up we have to do.
I live in England and proposed to my fiancee last summer. I going over to visit her in March under the visa waiver program but I am really worried about going through the immigration line because of my status. I'm worried that when they ask what I'm there for and I say 'visiting my fiancee' that alarm bells are going to go off in their head and they're going to think I'm going to stay there illegally. When I went there last summer they seemed slightly uneasy about me having a girlfriend in America...but thankfully they didn't have a problem with it and let me through.
When my fiancee came to visit me in England last spring she had so much trouble getting in. The immigration officer seemed certain she was not here for a visit and she basicly got detained, questioned about everything to do with us (I was interviewed too). Thankfully she was let in but because of this I am so worried about visiting the states. Are they likely to think something fishy is going on because we're engaged? Is there anything I can bring with me to prove that I'll be going back? I'm currently on job seekers allowance at the moment and so I wouldn't be able to prove that I have a job to come back to.
Sorry if this isn't really the right place for it, I'm just worried about the whole scenario and just need to know if I'm worrying over nothing or if I could be sent back. I can't face the thought of already not seeing my fiancee for 7 months...but to face a 10 hour trip and then be questioned and turned away breaks my heart. We don't plan to get married for another couple of years because of how much the visa requirments have changed with all the saving up we have to do.
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There is no way of knowing for sure what will happen at the POE for you. But with the problems you both had last time, I'd say something might be flagged in the system, and you should be prepared to face a potential turn-around at the POE.
With you not having a job, that works strongly against you. Do you own property? Can you think of any other reason you MUST return to the UK?
The only way to know is to try. The good news is that even if you get turned away on the VWP, it does not count against you for any future marriage-based visa you want to do (when you do decide to marry).
If you don't want to take the risk, then try meeting each other in a 3rd country, where you will both most definitely be tourists.
Rene
With you not having a job, that works strongly against you. Do you own property? Can you think of any other reason you MUST return to the UK?
The only way to know is to try. The good news is that even if you get turned away on the VWP, it does not count against you for any future marriage-based visa you want to do (when you do decide to marry).
If you don't want to take the risk, then try meeting each other in a 3rd country, where you will both most definitely be tourists.
Rene
Last edited by Noorah101; Jan 22nd 2010 at 10:42 am.
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Many thanks for the reply Noorah101 :-) that doesn't sound overly promising...I know that my fiancee was on file for 6 months when she came to England and that although the immigration officer did seem a bit dubvious about me having an American girlfriend when I visited the US I wasn't detained or anything. I'm hoping that because I'm engaged that it will seem an official thing and that I'm less likely to stay in the country illegally if i've proposed. I'm just trying not to worry and just hope that if I prove that I'm going back that it may be good enough *sigh*.
As for me proving I have to go back to England...I don't really have anything as I'm currently not working and I live with my parents. The only thing I have is that I'm applying for a holiday work visa for Canada but I don't know if that will come thorugh in time to have an official email to print out.
As for me proving I have to go back to England...I don't really have anything as I'm currently not working and I live with my parents. The only thing I have is that I'm applying for a holiday work visa for Canada but I don't know if that will come thorugh in time to have an official email to print out.
Last edited by raining_at_sunset; Jan 22nd 2010 at 11:48 am.
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I'm just trying not to worry and just hope that if I prove that I'm going back that it may be good enough *sigh*.
As for me proving I have to go back to England...I don't really have anything as I'm currently not working and I live with my parents. The only thing I have is that I'm applying for a holiday work visa for Canada but I don't know if that will come thorugh in time to have an official email to print out.
But you never know until you try, maybe you'll get a nice POE officer on a good day and he'll wave you right in. But you should realize you probably won't be getting away with it too much longer.
Rene
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How long are you planning to visit for?
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Why do you think it's necessary to tell the officer that you're engaged and visiting your fiancee? You don't need to unless you really want to shoot yourself in the foot! If the officer asks why you want to enter the US, you tell him the truth... you're here on holiday and visiting friends in whatever city. If he asks whether or not you're engaged, you say "yes" of course... but you are not obligated to volunteer information not specifically asked for. When dealing with US immigration at the POE... less is more! ![Smile](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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Noorah101 - I can see how that may look to the immigration officer :-s all I have to prove I'm going back will be my return flight intinery sheet. I guess it really is just down to who I have and how trusting they are of me.
Meauxna - I'll be going for 8 weeks :-)
Ian-mstm - good point :-) this is mostly because when my fiancee came over she said she was her for vacation...and from then on things went very pear shaped from then on. So I didn't know if it was best to say from the start that I'm visiting a partner...mostly because I won't have that much money with me as her parents will be paying for food and stuff. So if I say I'm staying there for 8 weeks with, say, £300 it might make things worse.
agentpeppermint - glad things went without a problem when your fiance come over :-) I'm really hoping that if I'm honest saying that shes my fiance, and if they ask more uestions, I can just say that we hope to get married in the next couple of years as we want to save up before applying for a visa as we want to do it the right way. But I may just go with the 'vacation' reason first and then if they ask more I can explain.
Meauxna - I'll be going for 8 weeks :-)
Ian-mstm - good point :-) this is mostly because when my fiancee came over she said she was her for vacation...and from then on things went very pear shaped from then on. So I didn't know if it was best to say from the start that I'm visiting a partner...mostly because I won't have that much money with me as her parents will be paying for food and stuff. So if I say I'm staying there for 8 weeks with, say, £300 it might make things worse.
agentpeppermint - glad things went without a problem when your fiance come over :-) I'm really hoping that if I'm honest saying that shes my fiance, and if they ask more uestions, I can just say that we hope to get married in the next couple of years as we want to save up before applying for a visa as we want to do it the right way. But I may just go with the 'vacation' reason first and then if they ask more I can explain.
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Noorah101 - I can see how that may look to the immigration officer :-s all I have to prove I'm going back will be my return flight intinery sheet. I guess it really is just down to who I have and how trusting they are of me.
Meauxna - I'll be going for 8 weeks :-)
Ian-mstm - good point :-) this is mostly because when my fiancee came over she said she was her for vacation...and from then on things went very pear shaped from then on. So I didn't know if it was best to say from the start that I'm visiting a partner...mostly because I won't have that much money with me as her parents will be paying for food and stuff. So if I say I'm staying there for 8 weeks with, say, £300 it might make things worse.
agentpeppermint - glad things went without a problem when your fiance come over :-) I'm really hoping that if I'm honest saying that shes my fiance, and if they ask more uestions, I can just say that we hope to get married in the next couple of years as we want to save up before applying for a visa as we want to do it the right way. But I may just go with the 'vacation' reason first and then if they ask more I can explain.
Meauxna - I'll be going for 8 weeks :-)
Ian-mstm - good point :-) this is mostly because when my fiancee came over she said she was her for vacation...and from then on things went very pear shaped from then on. So I didn't know if it was best to say from the start that I'm visiting a partner...mostly because I won't have that much money with me as her parents will be paying for food and stuff. So if I say I'm staying there for 8 weeks with, say, £300 it might make things worse.
agentpeppermint - glad things went without a problem when your fiance come over :-) I'm really hoping that if I'm honest saying that shes my fiance, and if they ask more uestions, I can just say that we hope to get married in the next couple of years as we want to save up before applying for a visa as we want to do it the right way. But I may just go with the 'vacation' reason first and then if they ask more I can explain.
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My husband and I went back and forth several times when our K1 was being processed. We both just said we were on holiday which was the truth. Never had a problem .
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Why do you have to use the word "fiancee"??????
Girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, works just as well.
After reading a bit more of your subsequent posts, it would appear thatyou are no longer in school, not working, apparently being supported by your parents and have little, or nothing, to show that you are not an immigration risk. An application for a temp job in Canada won't cut it. Don't know what else to suggest but if you fly through Dublin, Ireland, you will be examined before getting on the plane and then won't lose your ticket since you can pay to reschedule it.
Girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, works just as well.
After reading a bit more of your subsequent posts, it would appear thatyou are no longer in school, not working, apparently being supported by your parents and have little, or nothing, to show that you are not an immigration risk. An application for a temp job in Canada won't cut it. Don't know what else to suggest but if you fly through Dublin, Ireland, you will be examined before getting on the plane and then won't lose your ticket since you can pay to reschedule it.
Last edited by Rete; Jan 23rd 2010 at 8:00 am.
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I was also worried about visiting my us fiance. When i arrived in the us and approached the POE they did ask me a quite a few questions like how long i was staying? they wanted to see my return ticket, they also wanted to know how much money i had in my UK account, i did bring statements to show them, they wanted to know how much us currency i had with me.
I also had two previous visa's the j-1 and the K-1 so they were asking about them. after about 4-5 minutes of answerinf questions he told me to take a seat.
I then had to go into a security room and have an interview with two people, asking me pretty much the same questions, but they recorded the "conversation" and entered what i was saying on the computer. This took around 20 minutes.
They did finally let me through, If you have never had any problems before entering you should be fine, but you may have to answer a load of questions. And be sure to bring proof of any property you own and bank statements and so on.
One last thing i missed my connection flight becasue 1st my plane was delayed and 2nd all the questions, so make sure you leave yourseld enough time if you have a connecting flight
hope this helps
I also had two previous visa's the j-1 and the K-1 so they were asking about them. after about 4-5 minutes of answerinf questions he told me to take a seat.
I then had to go into a security room and have an interview with two people, asking me pretty much the same questions, but they recorded the "conversation" and entered what i was saying on the computer. This took around 20 minutes.
They did finally let me through, If you have never had any problems before entering you should be fine, but you may have to answer a load of questions. And be sure to bring proof of any property you own and bank statements and so on.
One last thing i missed my connection flight becasue 1st my plane was delayed and 2nd all the questions, so make sure you leave yourseld enough time if you have a connecting flight
hope this helps
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