Silly question re which queue to join
 

So I have searched, and found conflicting information on line so I thought I would ask the sages of BE. It is a small thing, but it would be helpful to know.

The Little Lion, planning ahead for the Easter holidays' trip back to Chicago, (he's travelling by himself for Christmas) wants to bring his newly-acquired girlfriend with him . He is a dual cittizen (US/UK) and she is a British citizen (they are at uni together in the UK) and will be doing the ESTA thing, etc.

When they go through immigration in Chicago, can he accompany her in the tourist queue? Or can she accompany him in the citizen queue? Or do they have to go separately?

She has UK familly and will be in her first year of university with a course to go back to and finish, so I'm also hoping that at 19 the boyfriend/girlfriend relationship won't make immigration suspicious of her intentions.

Can someone guide me on the queue question please? Girlfriend is not used to international travel so she's a bit nervous. It would put her mind at rest if she knew what's going to happen.

Thanks.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Well, it depends. Is she hot? Red haired?

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Well my son thinks so, and black hair.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I've been there with former girlfriend. British passport going into the UK for me - she was on US passport. I think I stayed with her at foreigners.
I don't think it really matters. If you get a grumpy agent, you could probably just apologize and say you weren't sure. I think it would be pretty minor.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

LIW’s son and girlfriend are entering the US...not UK.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

There is usually an agent posted to help people with which line to get in. They can ask and go together to whichever line he indicates. I'm going to guess they'll both get sent to the visitors line.

Rene

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

If you are not married though you have to go to the officer's desk separately. So he can stay in the foreigner's line with her but will not be able to accompany her to the desk.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Well that would be something, thank you. The foreigners line is longer and slower, but nothing to be done about that.

I'm pretty sure they aren't married. :blink:

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I don't know if that's right. My partner (?boyfriend) and I are definitely not married and were recently in the US. We went to the officer's desk together with no dramas at all. He was using his Australian passport and I used my Canadian one but we only filled in one landing card. We went through the line for US citizens, PR and Canadian citizens at LAX, not foreigner's.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Personally I would go through separate lines - especially as she is entering on the VWP. Entering the US with her 'boyfriend' who is a LPR or USC might cause the officer to think potential overstay. Especially as she (presumably) is young and probably has few ties.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

But surely young people enter on the VWP on holiday the whole time? She is 19, like my son, and a full-time uni student.

It can't be a good idea to hide the fact that she is with my son? Suppose she is asked whether or not she travelled with anyone? Lying can't be good idea surely.

It has been so long since I entered as a tourist that I have no idea what they are asked these days.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Most of them don't enter with a LPR/USC beau though.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

They are 19, with one of them coming home to see his mum :blink: It's just a short teenage holiday.

OK, so now I'm more uncertain than I was at the start of this thread.

I'm pretty sure that lying to the Migra is a bad idea.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Who said anything about lying? I certainly didn't.

I am simply stating that standing there, with your boyfriend, saying you are coming for a visit, has the potential to cause issues and have the officer think potential overstay. YMMV.

Personally, I would go in seperate lines (USC v tourist) and she should state no more than is asked. What is the purpose of her visit? For a vacation. Only if she is asked about a boyfriend and/or family should she volunteer that information.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Pop over to the Moving Back To The UK forum and ask Brit in Paris :)

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

How is this relevant to the UK? They would be entering the US.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Yes, being able to read quite well I'm aware of that.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Honestly, this country is truly absurd. Not you of course :)

Surely immigration officers know that boyfriends and girlfriends are capable of choosing different queues to walk through and can ask the question about any boy/girlfriend any time they want. My son is also returning to the UK at the end of the holiday too, she isn't "joining" him here.

Is she going to need to bring proof of her uni place?

I'm sure your advice is sound, but the immigration's neurosis over one teenager, in a country with over 11 million undocumented immigrants makes no sense at all.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Not a bad idea at all, unless he can be lured in here. I will have a look.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

It's the system. No one has the right to enter the US other than a USC. You just have to abide by the system and know that presenting a certain case is not in your best interest, Presenting it in a different way can remove the problem.

Put it this way, I came to the US 4/5 times after getting married. At no point did I mention I was visiting my wife. I was only asked what the purpose of my trip was and I said vacation. Which was true. Asked and answered, stamped, and on my way. That was under Obama, things will have got somewhat tighter under Trump.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

She is abiding by the system. Nobody assumes a right, she is applying for the ESTA, etc. etc..

The "system" ought to be rational, that's all, but I fully recognize that it's not.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I'm with civilservant on this one. Why give grounds for suspicion and additional questions when it is totally avoidable.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

BIP does browse the forums and replies if appropriate. He even joins in TIO. :eek:

I will send him a message.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Yeah, if that's the safest way then that's what it is.

It just seems absurd - it isn't as though the immigration officers can't work out for themselves that people queue in separate lines.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

He shouldn't go in there. It's no place for someone with a functioning brain. :blink:

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Hey, I'm a bit disappointed that you haven't added your desperate knee-jerk desires to your signature :teeth_smile:

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Your wish is my command.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

:rofl: Made my day! (I take my fun where I find it) :rofl:

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I'm with civil servant as well on this one. Separate lines. Vacation.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I think we have a majority opinion.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Typical: the usual blah blah turning a simple question into a cess pit of paranoia and panic. It doesn't matter which line your son goes into but she will have to go into the visitors' line. She has an ESTA and a return ticket and so does he. All she has to do is say I am here with my boyfriend who is there behind me in the line/waiting for me over there for me to visit his family for Christmas. Done.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I would concur.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I have unsubscribed from several threads in TIO in the last 48 hours for the sake of my sanity. Life is too short!

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

OMG. I've been dealing with so many new arrivals lately that I agree, I am completely paranoid. If they can eff it up, they will. CBP attitudes seem to be getting pissier by the week.
I blame trump.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

If you are coming to the US for a short holiday, how can you f it up!? And if you do, you should probably not be allowed to travel further than the local supermarket.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

Let's take it waaaayyyyy over the top there shall we sherbert? Can I interest you in a Christmas sherry?

Better to be safe than sorry and all that old chap. In principal I agree with you, but we all know that we have to cater to the lowest common denominator,

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I guess it depends on the airport/officer then but I come in/out a lot and people are always being screamed at for accompanying non-spouse to the desk and told to go back to the line. Have them go to the desk together and see what happens: she's not going to get denied for approaching the desk in the wrong manner. Gah.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

It's unnecessary and not helpful to the OP. How can entering for a short holiday on an ESTA turn into a rant on potential overstay and upsetting immigration officials in such a short space of time.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I'm talking about the border guards.

BTW the really great thing about this forum is that people get a range of opinions. It's up to them which route to go. No point throwing your toys out of the pram because there isn't a consensus that agrees with you.

Re: Silly question re which queue to join
 

I wasn't aware that I was ranting, and I don't think being cautious and aware that your words and actions can have negative consequences is a bad thing. Perhaps you need a break from BE,

Hell no!!! By God his way is the only way! :rofl:

OP - Ultimately it isn't going to affect me if your sons's girlfriend comes to visit or not, or gets bounced or not, but the question was asked and answered. Sherbert aside every one else has given you good options.