Nervous! Preparing fo POE in Newark!

[Nymphadora 1]

I'm going on my second trip to the US on the 3rd of June, to spend this summmer together with my boyfriend and to start the K1-visa process.

I'm nervous about the POE in Newark though, and what type of questions they may ask there. What are the typical questions?

The last time I went there (in January for 18 days) it was like this:

OFFICER: "Who lives in *name of the town*?

ME: "*name of my friend/boyfriend*".

OFFICER: "Who is he?"

ME: "A friend."

OFFICER: "Do you have any family here?"

ME: "No."

OFFICER: "Any relatives?"

ME: "No."

OFFICER: "Where did you meet him?"

ME: "Through Internet."

OFFICER: "Is this your first trip to America?"

ME: "Yes."

OFFICER: "Is he picking you up at the airport?"

ME: "Yes."

And that was it.

I called him "a friend" since it was the first time we were going to meet in IRL.

If the officer ask me the same question again, I will say that it is a friend. And if the officer then asks me if it's my boyfriend, I will have to say yes. Right? How risky is it? I mean, I can't lie!

I'm not going to overstay, nor am I going to work illegal. I'm just going there on vacation over the summer, since I didn't have any other plans. We will start the K1-visa process when I arrive, but I guess that's not very wise to mention to the CBP.

I would really appreciate your experiences and thoughts! I'm really nervous, though I don't really have anything to be nervous about. It's just that it's my worst nightmare to be sent back home again. I've read so many stories about people being rejected entry when they mention that they're visiting their bf/gf, and I pray that won't happen to me, since I don't have any illegal intentions.

[fantonledzepp 159]

Don't lie. Tell the truth. Those interviews are recorded, I believe. And lying to a CBP officer is bad.

[Nymphadora 1]

Don't lie. Tell the truth. Those interviews are recorded, I believe. And lying to a CBP officer is bad.

Oh no, I won't lie.

It's just that some people say that it's bad to mention "boyfriend", but I have to do that if they ask.

[Holly2234 66]

Every time i have been to visit my husband in the US (he was my boyfriend then though) I just told the truth about who he was.

The first time i went for 3 weeks and the second time for 3 months.

I was sent to secondary inspection both times but i just told them i was visiting my boyfriend, they asked about my family and what i do for a job/college etc. They just want to establish your ties in your home country. They also asked for my boyfriends name, date of birth and phone number. I offered them two numbers, home and cell in case he had already left for the airport to get me. They said they called him and verified what i said but i later found out that they didnt!

Just be open and honest and if they want you to elaborate on anything, be willing to oblige. Arguing with them or being too quiet does no good.

They will probably ask you if you plan to marry on the trip (I was asked) and just say no, because you dont plan to marry on this trip. They sometimes give advice like "If you plan to marry, you need a visa for that before you enter, ok?" And just say yes ok.

You should be just fine if you tell the truth and are cooperative.

[Nymphadora 1]

Every time i have been to visit my husband in the US (he was my boyfriend then though) I just told the truth about who he was.

The first time i went for 3 weeks and the second time for 3 months.

I was sent to secondary inspection both times but i just told them i was visiting my boyfriend, they asked about my family and what i do for a job/college etc. They just want to establish your ties in your home country. They also asked for my boyfriends name, date of birth and phone number. I offered them two numbers, home and cell in case he had already left for the airport to get me. They said they called him and verified what i said but i later found out that they didnt!

Just be open and honest and if they want you to elaborate on anything, be willing to oblige. Arguing with them or being too quiet does no good.

They will probably ask you if you plan to marry on the trip (I was asked) and just say no, because you dont plan to marry on this trip. They sometimes give advice like "If you plan to marry, you need a visa for that before you enter, ok?" And just say yes ok.

You should be just fine if you tell the truth and are cooperative.

that's why I'm so nervous, since I don't have any "strong" ties. I have my family in Sweden, and I've applied for some courses at the university this coming fall. I don't have a full time job, and I don't go to the university right now.

[Holly2234 66]

All i was doing at the time was a 3 hour a week college course. If you have applied for courses, do you have any letters from them or anything? They will normally take your word for it. They did with me. I even had my student card with me but they werent bothered. Do you have a part time job? I worked before my first trip but had quit two weeks before. I had an old pay slip in my purse just by chance, i shoved it there when i got it and totally forgot but after looking at it they were satisfied that i do have a life in my home country.

How long do you plan to go for this time?

When i went the first time, it was a December for 3 weeks. Then i returned the following April for 3 months. They obviously asked me a lot of questions but after one quick look in my bag and me giving him my boyfriends details to check on, he was completely fine and sent me on my way. It was easier to get in the second time than it was for the first time!

[Nymphadora 1]

All i was doing at the time was a 3 hour a week college course. If you have applied for courses, do you have any letters from them or anything? They will normally take your word for it. They did with me. I even had my student card with me but they werent bothered. Do you have a part time job? I worked before my first trip but had quit two weeks before. I had an old pay slip in my purse just by chance, i shoved it there when i got it and totally forgot but after looking at it they were satisfied that i do have a life in my home country.

How long do you plan to go for this time?

When i went the first time, it was a December for 3 weeks. Then i returned the following April for 3 months. They obviously asked me a lot of questions but after one quick look in my bag and me giving him my boyfriends details to check on, he was completely fine and sent me on my way. It was easier to get in the second time than it was for the first time!

I don't have any letter of acceptance yet. I will know in July if I'm accepted to the courses, even if I'm sure I'll be accepted. I do have a paper that shows what courses I have applied for, and I'm planning to bring that since it's the only paper that shows the courses.

I do have an extra work, and I'm quitting one week before I leave. Unfortunately, they don't give me any pay slip or anything like that. They pay my wage directly to my bank account.

Would a phone bill do as well?

I'm planning to stay for 88 days, since summer is the only time in the year where I'm "free" so to speak.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Nymphadora

[Holly2234 66]

Can you take a bank statement? That will show your wages going in. Its unlikely you will need it. I stayed for similar amounts of time to you both times and didnt take anything. They just asked me what i do in my home country and left it at that. Try not to worry, im sure you will be fine.

[Krikit 1,164]

Take a look at the link below. It has some good information in it.

Do not call your boyfriend your "friend". They will consider that as being evasive and things will go downhill from there.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1visit

[Nymphadora 1]

Take a look at the link below. It has some good information in it.

Do not call your boyfriend your "friend". They will consider that as being evasive and things will go downhill from there.

http://www.visajourn...content/k1visit

That's one thing that confuses me, cause most people tells me that I should not mention my boyfriend, even if CBP asks me. They've told me that it's mor risky to be honest and say "boyfriend" than to say "friend".

I mean, it can't be illegal to go and visit your boyfriend/girlfriend in the US?!

I want to be honest and say "boyfriend", cause that's what he is, even if he's also my "friend".

And since I don't have very "strong ties" to Sweden, other than my family and the courses I've applied to, it makes me nervous to think that they might think I'm going to stay illegal...

Edited May 11, 2012 by Nymphadora

[Nymphadora 1]

That's one thing that confuses me, cause most people tells me that I should not mention my boyfriend, even if CBP asks me. They've told me that it's mor risky to be honest and say "boyfriend" than to say "friend".

I mean, it can't be illegal to go and visit your boyfriend/girlfriend in the US?!

I want to be honest and say "boyfriend", cause that's what he is, even if he's also my "friend".

And since I don't have very "strong ties" to Sweden, other than my family and the courses I've applied to, it makes me nervous to think that they might think I'm going to stay illegal...

Cause a person wrote to me, in another forum, that the word "boyfriend" has a total different meaning in english than in swedish.

The person said that if I say that he's my "boyfriend", the american's (CBP) will think that we live together, are engaged and as good as married already.

[Krikit 1,164]

I called my boyfriend my boyfriend every time. And then I called him my fiance after we were engaged. They appreciate the honesty. If you try being evasive they are going to get really angry and ask why you didn't say boyfriend to begin with. They will find out and wonder what else you are hiding. Never, ever, lie to the CBP. They have the authority to deny you entry, and if they find you are misrepresenting yourself, they also have the authority to bar you from entering the US forever. It's better to be truthful and denied entry for this one time than to be deceitful and to be denied entry forever.

[Teddy B 17,252]

That's one thing that confuses me, cause most people tells me that I should not mention my boyfriend, even if CBP asks me. They've told me that it's mor risky to be honest and say "boyfriend" than to say "friend". http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif[/img

Always tell the truth, most people don't lie well and the POE officers are trained to spot this. The last thing you want is to be flagged and then heavily wscrutinized every time you try to enter the US. At least if you're denied entry for telling the truth, you can always fix the problem, but being labeled as a fraud will stick with you forever.

In your case, what's more believable, that you are going to visit a "friend" for 3 months with no means of supporting yourself financially, or that you are going to visit your "boyfriend" who will be supporting you financially for 3 months? I would say the latter.

And since I don't have very "strong ties" to Sweden, other than my family and the courses I've applied to, it makes me nervous to think that they might think I'm going to stay illegal...

From my experiences POE officers want to see firm ties to your native country, a return trip ticket is a must, anything else you can gather will help. Good luck.

[Nymphadora 1]

Always tell the truth, most people don't lie well and the POE officers are trained to spot this. The last thing you want is to be flagged and then heavily wscrutinized every time you try to enter the US. At least if you're denied entry for telling the truth, you can always fix the problem, but being labeled as a fraud will stick with you forever.

In your case, what's more believable, that you are going to visit a "friend" for 3 months with no means of supporting yourself financially, or that you are going to visit your "boyfriend" who will be supporting you financially for 3 months? I would say the latter.

From my experiences POE officers want to see firm ties to your native country, a return trip ticket is a must, anything else you can gather will help. Good luck.

I do have a return ticket, and my family lives here in Sweden. As I said, I've applied for some courses at the university for this coming fall and will bring a paper that shows what courses I've applied for. I will also bring a bank statement, and probably a phone bill, and my home insurance bill, but that's all I have. I don't have a full time job, and I don't study at the university right now. What else can I bring?!

I have been working beside school this spring, to be able to support myself during my stay in the US for the summer, and my parents will also help me out with money if necessary.

And I truly will return to my home country in time, I've NO intention to overstay. If CBP are good at spotting liars, don't you think they will see that I'm telling the truth if they ask me?

How big are the chances that they will deny me entry when I say that I'm visiting my boyfriend?

Edited May 11, 2012 by Nymphadora

[Teddy B 17,252]

I do have a return ticket, and my family lives here in Sweden. As I said, I've applied for some courses at the university for this coming fall and will bring a paper that shows what courses I've applied for. I will also bring a bank statement, and probably a phone bill, and my home insurance bill, but that's all I have. I don't have a full time job, and I don't study at the university right now. What else can I bring?!

You should be ok with what you have mentioned. The most important of all is your return ticket with a specific date, and you have that, everything else is a plus.

I have been working beside school this spring, to be able to support myself during my stay in the US for the summer, and my parents will also help me out with money if necessary.

The copy of the bank statement you're going to bring will support this, that is also good.

If CBP are good at spotting liars, don't you think they will see that I'm telling the truth if they ask me?

Yes, they will, but they will still be asking you questions. Just be truthful and to the point, don't offer anything more than what they are asking you.

How big are the chances that they will deny me entry when I say that I'm visiting my boyfriend?

Whether you call him your friend or boyfriend really doesn't matter to CBP, the truth does. I have been back and forth to Canada to visit my girlfriend(now wife) numerous times and she has come to the states to visit me also, never have we had a problem because we used the term "boyfriend" or "girlfriend". Tell the truth, you should be fine.