Pulaski

Seems entirely reasonable, and likely to work. In fact I read this thread early yesterday and came back today to suggest the possibility of a mid-season break and a short trip back to Blighty. The only enhancement I would recommend is to have as many documents as possible with you when you come back after the break, because nobody is going to start making phone calls to verify your story. So you need to bring paperwork to show that you are about to start playing for a team in Europe, as well as starting a course of study (hopefully plausibly close together because the immigration officer might smell a rat if you're studying in, say, Manchester and playing in, say, Munich!)

MikeCole

Yep, thanks. That does seem reasonable however I mentioned returning for a short break in the UK a few days close to the 90 day limit in case I don't get allowed back in and the disappointment will be less. I can only imagine how frustrating it will be to return home in early June (mid-season) for example and be refused entry for the second part of the season.

ian-mstm

If you overstay on the VWP, you can never again use the VWP and will, thereafter, require a visa to visit the US. Only you can determine whether or not that's going to be an issue for you. If you work and get caught, nothing really bad will happen to you... but your employer will get a hefty fine - which may make them hesitant to employ you again even if, in the future, you have permission to work. Only you can determine whether or not that's going to be an issue for you. If you break the law and get caught, you face immediate removal from the US with a possible ban. Again, only you can determine whether or not that's going to be an issue for you.

Ian

MikeCole

Sorry I wasn't clear, you misunderstood what I meant.

I meant what are the border officials biggest concerns when somebody wants to use the VWP consecutively i.e stay for 90 days, return home for a week and stay another month and then return home.

I know it's there to prevent people staying or taking advantage but I can't really see the harm in somebody wanting to spend a couple of months in Florida for example, head home for a week and then decide they want to do shopping in New York for a week. Should they really be denied entry?

I'm just a bit disappointed in the system I suppose. Want to stay for more than 90 days? Apply for a visa which can be approved/denied depending on the officer's mood or personality. Oh and if that happens, you can't travel on the VWP after all.

Noorah101

Their biggest concern is that you might be trying to live in the USA as a visitor, which is not allowed. Or that since you have so much free time, that you might not have any ties back home (job, family, school), and might try to live in the USA. Or, if you don't have a source of income, that you might try to work in the USA to support your lengthy (or multiple) stays.

The POE agent will deny anyone he or she thinks is misusing or abusing the VWP or B-2 visa.

Yep. No one said the system was perfect. I'd say your situation is not the majority of people coming to the USA for tourism. That's why it feels like it doesn't fit you...because you don't fit the regular mold of a tourist to the USA.

Rene

jeffreyhy

Not clear indeed! Ian answered the question you asked, which he quoted. "what I meant" was something entirely different.

Regards, JEff

ian-mstm

Their biggest concern is that you are abusing the system. Never forget that their job is to keep non-USC's out of the US unless they fall within several narrowly-defined exceptions to the law... and they're quite happy to do their job well.


Yes... if the officer thinks they should be! See above re: their job.


With respect, the US government doesn't care about your disappointment.

Ian

redarmy990

hi mike, a long time ago i was in your situation.

ie was a proffesional soccer player in England and got seriously injured but it ended my carear.

Can i ask who you coach or play for in UK you can pm me.

I am 40 now and here through marriage. Where in the USA are you planning on coming to.

Just wanted to say hi really and wish you the best of luck in your endeavours.

and if you need any help i will see what i can do.

The womans professional league starts today in the USA have you thought about trying to get a coaching role in that.

good luck

Cubero17

I'm not necessarily sure that the B2 visa was the correct visa to be originally given.

This states (from US consulate Amsterday):

It's a tough one because the majority of USL Premier Development League teams bar one classifies their players as amateurs, which means the players don't receive payment. They can receive housing, transport etc but that is still classed as necessary expenses and not payment, so the players still retain amateur status. The interesting thing from the above quote is that the USL PDL league is not a charitable/social context. It's a high level of play and fans pay to watch games.

Going forward I would suggest it's too risky as a 22/23 year old to apply for a B2 visa. I see no reason why he couldn't get a visa if a pro team wants him on the team. For the above scenario I would suggest to go on the VWP and stay for 90 days, work with the team to find the best dates to arrive/depart.

Now, if the OP wants or needs to stay for more than 90 days i.e he originally books a 90 day round trip to the USA and he wants to spend another couple of weeks or a month because the season ends in July and he wants to spend some time seeing the USA I would suggest he doesn't return home. I don't see why he couldn't spend 45 days in the US, book a flight to Guatemala and stay for a day or two. If questioned "why were you in GUA, what were you doing?", it's perfectly reason to say "I was visiting a friend/I had a business meeting for soccer!". "Where are you going now?" "The Guatemala trip was a last minute thing to catch up with a friend who was in Guatemala, I'm now heading back to (destination) in US to finish my vacation (or amateur soccer season)". When are you leaving the US? Same date as originally booked (i.e 90 day limit). OP gets passport stamped, 90 days reset and back in US. He can then change his flight home to a date that falls in line with the new 90 day clock.

It may not be right, but I see no reason why the above wouldn't work. I know plenty of people who come and go from the US and don't usually face an issue. The OP has a good record of visiting the US, he isn't working, he just may need some extra time. Just offering a solution, don't shoot me down...the same solution that was discussed above by returning home in the middle of the 90 days. Of course he can leave after the original 90 days and return a few weeks later if he really wants to head back to to the US but that seems more costly.

scrubbedexpat099

Horribly horribly dangerous.

Just because they are amateur for Football purposes does not mean they are amateur for immigration purposes.

So he pops out to Guatemala for a day. Comes back in and they say do I look like a muppet? and send him back to Guatemala. Then what?

Cubero17

Understood. I don't actually know if for immigration purposes it's amateur. I don't know what the guidelines is. All I know is the status of the league which is amateur, players don't receive payment. They usually get housing i.e a hotel room or stay with a guest family. The coaches are generally paid, and fans pay to watch the team.

They originally gave him the B2 visa so the immigration officer must have decided it was amateur. I am not sure when he goes on the VWP that he has to disclose anything about the football anyway if that could be an issue. What are we saying here? That he may not be eligible on VWP and will get denied a visa if he applies. Purpose of visit should just be vacation then.

I am just pretty sure that there are thousands of tourists/visitors who fly into the US and then may need to head to somewhere else outside of the bordering countries before returning and finishing there trip. He wouldn't be disclosing he's after an extra few weeks, because he would tell the officer he's leaving the same date as previously.

ian-mstm

Every post is time/date stamped. Why on earth did you resurrect a thread that's almost a year old?

Ian

Cubero17

Cubero17

Well, if the USA officials think like that then they are muppets. I'll tell you something geeeza if I go to the US on holiday, lets say for two months in Los Angeles over the summer, and after a month my friend calls me and says "Hey I'm working over in Guatemala, come over for a few days"....US Immigration wouldn't dare not let me back into the country.

scrubbedexpat099

That is so funny, even if it is not quite the situation.