Is there a chance TSA could deny my entry?

[VeryConfused. 0]

I'm 18 and a UK citizen. I have a boyfriend who lives in New Jersey, USA. I've visited there 3 times since last May, each time being about a week and I usually have a good couple months between each visit. I've just finished college and i'm taking a gap year but before i come back home to work i want to spend the summer over there with him. I've booked my flight, im going in july for 84 days, flying to Newark where i have flown to once before. I havent ever over stayed or anything, no criminal records etc. but i'm worried they might be suspicious as ive been there often and im staying a long time.

Im not going to be packing things like photos or anything that will make it seem like im planning to not leave, because i really will leave..

the question is has anyone else done something like this, and could they possibly send me home with no evidence that im planning to stay? I find them really intimidating :S

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

There is a chance, yes. (Not TSA though, CBP).

Edited June 20, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[JJ:( 0]

maybe if you have a job letter, rental agreement, something to show your return, it may not be a problem.

[KLS2010 30]

There is always a chance that you will be denied entry... even with a valid visa entry to the US is still at the discretion of the CBP officers.

Having said that, the chances of someone from the UK that has had no previous overstays, etc, being denied is not really all that great.

I visited the US 5 times in the space of about 2yrs, three of those trips were around 88 days long each, and I also made a couple of 6-week trips with a gap of only a month or five weeks between them. I have never been questioned beyond the norm (ie standard questions like where are you staying, purpose of your visit, how long, previous trips, etc). I even told them I was visitng a friend, my boyfriend, my fiance and my husband (obviously not all at the same time, and I'm referring to only one person lol, just saying that I visited during the progression of our relationship).

Just be honest when questioned (but don't offer more information than strictly necessary to answer their questions). Also, maybe take some proof of your intent to return home after your visit... ie do you have a lease, a car loan, job to come back to, etc? I've never been asked to show proof of intent to return, but it can't hurt to have something just in case they do ask.

Go check out the UK forum, I'm sure you will find plenty of people there that have done exaclty what you are planning to do.

Enjoy your trip, most likely you will not have any problems!!

[VeryConfused. 0]

There is always a chance that you will be denied entry... even with a valid visa entry to the US is still at the discretion of the CBP officers.

Having said that, the chances of someone from the UK that has had no previous overstays, etc, being denied is not really all that great.

I visited the US 5 times in the space of about 2yrs, three of those trips were around 88 days long each, and I also made a couple of 6-week trips with a gap of only a month or five weeks between them. I have never been questioned beyond the norm (ie standard questions like where are you staying, purpose of your visit, how long, previous trips, etc). I even told them I was visitng a friend, my boyfriend, my fiance and my husband (obviously not all at the same time, and I'm referring to only one person lol, just saying that I visited during the progression of our relationship).

Just be honest when questioned (but don't offer more information than strictly necessary to answer their questions). Also, maybe take some proof of your intent to return home after your visit... ie do you have a lease, a car loan, job to come back to, etc? I've never been asked to show proof of intent to return, but it can't hurt to have something just in case they do ask.

Go check out the UK forum, I'm sure you will find plenty of people there that have done exaclty what you are planning to do.

Enjoy your trip, most likely you will not have any problems!!

Oh thanks! that's reassuring I was told by someone else that you can only stay for a maximum of 180 days in a year? As in the amount of time you've spent there on a waiver added up cant exceed 180 days? Is that not true then?

[KLS2010 30]

Oh thanks! that's reassuring I was told by someone else that you can only stay for a maximum of 180 days in a year? As in the amount of time you've spent there on a waiver added up cant exceed 180 days? Is that not true then?

As far as I am aware, there is no hard and fast rule about how many days you are allowed to stay within one year. It really is at the discretion of the CBP. Obviously though, the VWP is intended to be used to 'visit', so if the CBP thinks you are using it a little too much, or are using it to basically live in the US, then you will run into problems. I have read about people being warned on their second trip within a year; in another case I have read, someone used the VWP to stay in the US for well over 200 days with no problems at all. Me personally, the most time I spent in one (calender) year was about 24weeks, so a little under 180days.

You say you've visited three times since last May, and only stayed for a week or so each time? I really don't think you will have any problems, but of course, I'm not the CBP. I can only tell you my own experience, and about what I have seen happen in other cases.