Should girlfriend say she's visiting boyfriend?

[redsnap 13]

I wouldn't say boyfriend... I've been asked that question, said boyfriend, and ended up being drilled and grilled for half an hour by the (female) officer. It wasn't fun. Only after I showed her all my cash, my credit card, my return flight ticket and so on, I could go on. That was a pain, from that time on, I only said "friend" and never had a problem. I didn't lie after all, just left out the "boy".

[Pinoylover 6]

Thanks Jojo and Noah! It's just we love each other so much! as i know all of the VJ'ers do! But she would have a reason to go back! Her my soon to be daughter would that be enough you think if not i guess we will have to ride it out. But will say this if a miracle was to come and i got the NOA2 like in 3 months then we would certainly wait! But the bad is you never really know when your going to get it right! Thanks again.

[jaycali 415]

I've been in the exact same situation before. My ex gf (long time ago) was American, I would visit her frequently on the VWP. I would go about twice a year, staying 60 - 90 days at a time.

Getting refused entry was always a concern for me and to tell you the truth I used to spend countless sleepless nights before my departure date thinking of scenarios and planning what evidence I could come up with to make sure they believed I'd leave within 90 days.

Turns out, for the most part, all my worrying was for nothing. Most of the time I was actually disappointed at how easy it was to pass CBP. I always brought with me employer letter, bank statement, and two previous visas (J1 and F1) as evidence I'd return home. The former "cancelled without prejudice" visas were just to prove that I could be trusted with leaving on time.

The CBP officers just usually asked the same questions; "Why are you coming to the US today?" to which I'd answer 'vacation', "How long are you planning to stay?" to which I'd answer 'Got a couple months off work so I'll be staying about 60 days.' To the question "who are you visiting" I would usually answer 'friends from college', which was true since I had a bunch of friends from when I was a student in the US. I'd usually stay at their houses or my family's house most of the time so I wasn't lying either. They never asked "do you have a gf in the US?"

One time I did get secondary questioning though. I'd been in the US for 60 days, went home for 6 weeks, and went back to stay for 88 days. At initial questioning they just asked how long I was staying to which I answered 88 days. The officer said "88 days huh. Come with me please."

In secondary, the officer just asked what I did back home, to which I answered "working temporary jobs" and asked how I was paying for my 88 days. I had a bank statement and credit cards with me, but he never asked to see them. Just kept typing on his computer and looking through my passport. Stamped it and said "ok, thanks, have a nice stay." When I went through customs, another officer came up to me and asked me "where will you be living?" to which I answered "my friend's house" (which was true), and he said "your GIRLfriend's house right?" and I said "no, my friend from college's house" and that was that. Strange, but hey. I never lied. Had they asked if I had a gf in the US I would have happily said yes.

Just answer short and precise, never lie, but never volunteer information either.

If they ask what your purpose of entering is, say "vacation" or "visiting", don't say "visiting my girlfriend."

If they ask "do you have a girlfriend in the US?" - Always answer "Yes." Japan is a low fraud country (as is Norway).. They're visa waiver countries for a reason (VERY few people from those countries overstay) and they do seem to take that, plus past admissions and ability to leave on time into account.

[Travis and Meghan 24]

I visited the US on VWP in January last year, my POE was LAX. when they asked what the purpose of my visit was i said 'visiting my boyfirend' they then asked if it was my first time in the US and if i had met him before to which i replied yes and no then he stamped my passport etc and let me through.

[GandK 168]

I visited my girlfriend in the US five times using VWP in the last two years with the POE being SFO and DC.

That was even before I joined VJ and got to know all about this immigration hassles. My visits were about 15-20 days on average and the longest was 60 days last summer.

During all those visits I did NOT carry any proof of ties with me other than my return flight itinerary since I didn't know that I could be denied entry!

Every time, I always answered to the officer that I was visiting my girlfriend. They always asked how long I was going to stay. I think he asked to see my return itinerary at two occasions.

Last trip over the xmas, he asked how long am I going to stay and what am I doing in Denmark. I told him I study in Denmark and he just stamped my passport. Didn't ask anything else.

Never got secondary questioning either, maybe I was lucky?

We just filed I-129F when I was there during xmas and I plan to visit her again in march. This time I will have letter from school and letter of employment (part-time job) with me, just to be on the safe side.

[Holliver 0]

When I went over at Christmas I was worried about this, but I made sure I had proof of ties to Japan. Job contract, got my landlord to write me a letter stating that I had been a tenant since 2007 and was currently a tenant. The immigration officer at LAX asked me who I was visiting I said "boyfriend," he said "OK, thanks." That was it. Didn't need to use my evidence. Lot of stressing for no reason.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

My girlfriend from Japan is coming to visit me in LA. She has been here 5 times over the last three years, staying at most 85 days, which was on her last visit 5 months ago. We met on her last visit. What are people's thoughts on whether or not she should tell the CBP officer that she's visiting me when asked the question "What is the purpose of your visit?" I'm especially concerned because she does contract work and will be between jobs when she comes. The truth is, she works contract jobs because she likes to travel. But is that going to fly with CBP?

She should tell the truth.