Visiting my girlfriend with a B-2 Visa

[WolfandBird 0]

Hello

I'm from Brazil and have a B2 (tourist visa) and I'm planning on visiting my girlfriend (she's an american citzen) for about 4 months. I will be staying with her (she lives in a rented place).

My main concern is if I will be denied to get in the US by the customs and immigration officer at New York City's airport. I have no plans of staying in the US for good (least not now), but I'm worried the officer will find weird I'm traveling alone to spend 4 months with a "friend" on tourism...

We met online back in 2012 and met in person this year in June (I'm 27 and she's 20). I traveled with my mother, but we booked a room in NYC, from there I took a train all the way to her town, where I had a room booked at the local inn. We had no problems at the airport.

Any help or tips? I love her dearly and we miss each other a lot, but I'm scared our plans will be ruined if I'm completely honest at the customs and immigration interview....I don't know what to do.

Thank you so much

[Hypnos 6,576]

You may need to demonstrate ties to Brazil that necessitate your return (employment, university, property ownership, etc.).

[canadian_wife 1,823]

No one travels to the US for 4 months to visit a 'friend'. They will know it is a girlfriend so just be honest ok?

Travel with strong ties to Brazil, you obviously had to demonstrate those ties when you got the visa yes? So bring them to the POE to help demonstrate why you MUST return to Brazil and won't marry your girlfriend and try and stay

good luck

[WolfandBird 0]

Yes, I had...I'm a free lance attorney here in Brazil. I renewed my B-2 visa not so long ago without any problems. I know the B-2 visa allows me to stay up to 6 months.

I've been thinking maybe I should book a room at the same inn I stayed at last time for 10 days and declare that ? Bring the reservation confirmation paper and all. Do they check if you have a departure date set?

She really wants me to be able to stay longer this time, but I do worry about the CBP questions. I don't want surprises.

I appreciate the replies.

[RhettVoe 282]

No one camps out in a hotel for four months (maybe Bill Marriott, but then, he owns several).....and you would have to have around $20,000 to just spend to do that....

[Teddy B 17,252]

Yes, I had...I'm a free lance attorney here in Brazil. I renewed my B-2 visa not so long ago without any problems. I know the B-2 visa allows me to stay up to 6 months.

I've been thinking maybe I should book a room at the same inn I stayed at last time for 10 days and declare that ? Bring the reservation confirmation paper and all. Do they check if you have a departure date set?

She really wants me to be able to stay longer this time, but I do worry about the CBP questions. I don't want surprises.

I appreciate the replies.

Your best bet is to be honest, customs officers are trained to spot liars and have heard every trick in the book. Also, make sure you have a dated return trip ticket when you enter the US.

[WolfandBird 0]

I meant, book a room for 10 days and spend the rest of the time with her. I could never afford 4 months in a hotel.

I'm no longer in college, but I work on my own, live with my family. Would my attorney card information, bank account, travel inseurance (with a departure date), the departing airplane ticket and round trip for the train be enough to show I have no intentions of wanting to stay in the US and/or marry her?

We plan on starting the K-1 process on 2015 since our relationship will have more than 2 years by then.

Being honest is always the best policy, this will be my third time going to the US, but I never travaled to stay that long...plus I'll be traveling alone.

The CBP procedure makes me so anxious, I apologize for all the questions. I'm scared of being denied and not be able to see her for 5 years and not be able to start the K-1 visa process because of that. It would kill the most precious thing to me, which is what we share..

Again, I apologize...I intend on traveling around march, but I'm so scared already.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I meant, book a room for 10 days and spend the rest of the time with her. I could never afford 4 months in a hotel.

I'm no longer in college, but I work on my own, live with my family. Would my attorney card information, bank account, travel inseurance (with a departure date), the departing airplane ticket and round trip for the train be enough to show I have no intentions of wanting to stay in the US and/or marry her?

We plan on starting the K-1 process on 2015 since our relationship will have more than 2 years by then.

Being honest is always the best policy, this will be my third time going to the US, but I never travaled to stay that long...plus I'll be traveling alone.

The CBP procedure makes me so anxious, I apologize for all the questions. I'm scared of being denied and not be able to see her for 5 years and not be able to start the K-1 visa process because of that. It would kill the most precious thing to me, which is what we share..

Again, I apologize...I intend on traveling around march, but I'm so scared already.

I don't see any benefit in booking a room for 10 days at the inn. The bottom line is that you're going to be spending the time with your girlfriend, where you're going to sleep for the first 10 days is irrelevant.

No one can say for sure what is enough to satisfy customs upon entry, there is no guaranteed formula. Bring everything you have for proof of ties and be honest about what you're doing is the best advice anyone can give you. In my opinion, 4 months is a long time for a "vacation" in the states. You may improve your chances of entry by cutting back on the time, maybe 2 months now and two months later next year. That will also give you a pattern of returning home when you say you will and will gain you some trust with the customs officers.

Good Luck.