Visting US for 90 days

[Zeo-IL 0]

Hey everyone

 

I have a question, and I was hoping to receive some advice. 

 

Brief:

 

• Hoping to spend 86 days with my US partner, for christmas, new years, our birthdays 2nd and 3rd jan, and valentines day.
• Previous visits I have left a handful of days later than planned
• Less than 4 month gap between recent visit and planned december visit

 

I have recently returned to the UK from a short visit to the US, to spend quality time with my boyfriend in Arizona.

 

My total visits on my current ESTA are as follows:

 

June 30 2016 - July 20 2016

April 13 2017 - April 19 2017

August 25 2017 - September 09 2017

 

We both decided on myself returning in December, for a total of 86 days (leaving 4 days to compensate for any possible flight delays/cancellations etc, to avoid unintentionally overstaying my welcome). 

This way, we can spend christmas, new years, our birthdays 2nd and 3rd Jan, and valentines day together.

I would be staying at his parents address, as I did on my most recent visit, which did not seem to cause any problems at the border.

 

Will this be possible? Taking into account the length of stay, and the time between my last visit and my next planned visit, and taking into account the following:

 

• Every time I visit, something seems to happen, forcing me to stay a handful of extra days (but never over my limit of 90 days, not even close).
• My first visit, was 2 days longer than planned. This was due to a flight delay, which turned into a cancellation. I had to buy a new ticket.
• My second visit, I missed my flight due to poor timing; I did not take into account traffic. I had 30 mins left but they wouldn't let me run to the gate. I left 3 days later than planned. I had to buy a new ticket. 
• My most recent visit, my boyfriend was/is in a mess with court. I was originally coming back on September 5th, however stayed that week to be with my boyfriend after bailing him out and looking after him. So that's 5 days longer than planned.
• He does not work, he's 19, but I am financially stable and can provide for myself and my boyfriend throughout the 90 days. 

 

Will these extra days affect my future visits? They haven't so far, and each time i'm stamped with a 90 day limit, not limits on the dates I tell CBP (my original dates). Do they care if I stay a few days longer than I say? Unintentionally of course. 

 

I ask as, I'm unsure if the CBP officer was just joking around, as he seemed really jolly, but he scanned my passport, and said "ohhh, *slight pause* we'll let you off this one time" smiled/chuckled and handed it back to me. I don't know what I did wrong. apart from buying a new ticket 5 days later than planned. That was in Vegas airport. So now i'm paranoid that i've done something to offend the country and its border, and will be denied any future entry, especially a visit of 90 days. 

 

Regarding work, I will be able to take the 3 month vacation. I will bring with me written confirmation. Should I include phone numbers and email addresses so CBP can contact them for verification? Do they even do that, contact your employer overseas? If so I'll need to ask my boss for his contact information. 

 

 

 

Thank you very much for your time,

Damien

 

 

[Roel 7,192]

They will probably question you, seeing that you took few trips already. They might or might not let you in, that's something no one here can predict.

[Zeo-IL 0]

That's not a problem, I have ample evidence of intentions to come back to the UK  

[EandH0904 1,184]

The general rule is you should spend twice as long outside of the country as in it. Your previous visits were reasonably short, so that's one thing but if you are staying longer this time you'll want to keep that on your head for the next time. 

 

Also, seeing as how you've been there three times and three times you haven't gone back when planned and there are issues with you bailing your boyfriend out of jail, that's a little concerning don't you think? It doesn't show a great history and shows questionable decision making on both your parts. 

 

Most of us on here have likely never missed a flight. 

[A'n'L 735]

Given that you're from the UK and you have a history of reasonably short and well spaced trips - I think you will be ok. Bring a letter from your employer that confirms the extended vacation and the day they expect you back. Also bring your apartment/house rental agreement if applicable.

[Zeo-IL 0]

11 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

The general rule is you should spend twice as long outside of the country as in it. Your previous visits were reasonably short, so that's one thing but if you are staying longer this time you'll want to keep that on your head for the next time. 

 

Also, seeing as how you've been there three times and three times you haven't gone back when planned and there are issues with you bailing your boyfriend out of jail, that's a little concerning don't you think? It doesn't show a great history and shows questionable decision making on both your parts. 

 

Most of us on here have likely never missed a flight. 

Yeah, if I am granted the 90 day visit, I will ensure to not even attempt to visit for another 5 months or so, leaving plenty of time between visits, and that next visit will only be short as my previous visits have been. This extended visit is just to encompass all of the major holidays with my boyfriend. 

 

Very true, however it's only been a couple of days difference each time, and CBP officers have never questioned it before. The first time was completely out of my control.

 

14 minutes ago, A'n'L said:

Given that you're from the UK and you have a history of reasonably short and well spaced trips - I think you will be ok. Bring a letter from your employer that confirms the extended vacation and the day they expect you back. Also bring your apartment/house rental agreement if applicable.

Of course, I'll be bringing tons of documentation. This is what I brought for my most recent trip (and wasn't even required) and what I'll be bringing in December:

 

Letter of employment with intent to return to UK (Full time job)

Letter of employment with intent to return to UK (Part time weekend job)

Letter from mother detailing my address and intent to return to UK

Letter from my boyfriends mother detailing intent to visit her house for the duration of the visit, and intent on returning home to UK

Printed document showing the house i'll be staying at, with the address mentioned

Documentation regarding my car finance here in UK, in an attempt to prove intent on returning to UK

Printed photos of myself and my boyfriend together, proving he exists

Bank statements

Payslips

Travel insurance

Printed car rental documentation

And i'm sure I brought more... 

 

 

 

[MacUK 983]

Letters from employers - good (on company headed paper is better)

Car finance proof - ok

Letter from your mum - probably useless, you're not trying to get out of doing PE at school! Neither your mum nor his can guarantee you'll get on a plane at the end of your trip.

Photos of you and him - it's doubtful they'll think he doesn't exist, but it's always nice to have piccies of your loved one so it couldn't do any harm.

Bank statements and payslips - pretty useful to show you have enough to cover nearly 3 months holiday and won't need to work during such a long trip

 

Chances are you won't be asked to show any documents, but always good to be prepared

[Diane and Chris 651]

Sometimes I wonder if people actually make up these scenarios. I am amazed at these questions and situations. 

[mindthegap 2,590]

8 hours ago, Diane and Chris said:

Sometimes I wonder if people actually make up these scenarios. I am amazed at these questions and situations. 

Plenty of other made up stuff on here, such as the non existent 'must spend twice as long out of the US as in' rule.

 

 

OP, tell the truth (that doesn't mean volunteer absolutely everything though!), don't take the p*ss and you should be fine. 

That you changed or missed flights they do not care - or probably even know - as long as you didn't overstay because of it.

[Zeo-IL 0]

13 hours ago, MacUK said:

Letters from employers - good (on company headed paper is better)

Car finance proof - ok

Letter from your mum - probably useless, you're not trying to get out of doing PE at school! Neither your mum nor his can guarantee you'll get on a plane at the end of your trip.

Photos of you and him - it's doubtful they'll think he doesn't exist, but it's always nice to have piccies of your loved one so it couldn't do any harm.

Bank statements and payslips - pretty useful to show you have enough to cover nearly 3 months holiday and won't need to work during such a long trip

 

Chances are you won't be asked to show any documents, but always good to be prepared

Haha, I know the letters from both parents are pretty much useless, I'm just desperate to see my bf and they are a real threat in regards to stopping us seeing each other xD

 

I guess I could also show proof of rent, being monthly instalments and on a fixed term contract of 6+ months, for intentions to return to the UK.

 

Yup, always be prepared. If there is anything else I can bring to show intent on coming back home, could you give me some ideas? I may have missed something obvious that could help a great deal..

 

3 hours ago, mindthegap said:

Plenty of other made up stuff on here, such as the non existent 'must spend twice as long out of the US as in' rule.

 

 

OP, tell the truth (that doesn't mean volunteer absolutely everything though!), don't take the p*ss and you should be fine. 

That you changed or missed flights they do not care - or probably even know - as long as you didn't overstay because of it.

I always do tell the truth. I never mask the fact I'm visiting my boyfriend. It's just not worth holding back the truth, which could cost me my ESTA and any future visits. I didn't think missing and changing flights would be that big a deal tbh, thanks for confirming  

 

I wish my situation was made up.. 

 

[MacUK 983]

27 minutes ago, Zeo-IL said:

Haha, I know the letters from both parents are pretty much useless, I'm just desperate to see my bf and they are a real threat in regards to stopping us seeing each other xD

 

I guess I could also show proof of rent, being monthly instalments and on a fixed term contract of 6+ months, for intentions to return to the UK.

 

Yup, always be prepared. If there is anything else I can bring to show intent on coming back home, could you give me some ideas? I may have missed something obvious that could help a great deal..

 

I always do tell the truth. I never mask the fact I'm visiting my boyfriend. It's just not worth holding back the truth, which could cost me my ESTA and any future visits. I didn't think missing and changing flights would be that big a deal tbh, thanks for confirming  

 

I wish my situation was made up.. 

 

 

I hate to break it to you Princess, but your situation isn't all that special or unique

 

You do spend more than the average amount of time in the US but I wouldn't say excessively so.

Your planned trip is a long one but it's within the permitted length of stay and wanting to be with each other for your birthdays, Chrimbo and Valentines is understandable. Your last trip was short and quite a few months will have passed before your next one. It could be your next visit after this planned one that could get more scrutiny if you take one too soon but as you say, you've already considered that and are not planning going back Stateside for a little while.

You may find some scepticism that your employer is happy to let you disappear for so much time every year but that's between you and your employer and you'll have a letter to state it.

No-one here can predict exactly what will happen but I personally don't think you'll have too much trouble at all. Maybe a couple of extra questions but I doubt you'll be sent back to secondary for extra waterboarding and thumbscrew inquisition.

 

Try to stop overthinking any bad things that could happen, your plan isn't all that extraordinary 😎

[Zeo-IL 0]

3 minutes ago, MacUK said:

 

I hate to break it to you Princess, but your situation isn't all that special or unique

 

You do spend more than the average amount of time in the US but I wouldn't say excessively so.

Your planned trip is a long one but it's within the permitted length of stay and wanting to be with each other for your birthdays, Chrimbo and Valentines is understandable. Your last trip was short and quite a few months will have passed before your next one. It could be your next visit after this planned one that could get more scrutiny if you take one too soon but as you say, you've already considered that and are not planning going back Stateside for a little while.

You may find some scepticism that your employer is happy to let you disappear for so much time every year but that's between you and your employer and you'll have a letter to state it.

No-one here can predict exactly what will happen but I personally don't think you'll have too much trouble at all. Maybe a couple of extra questions but I doubt you'll be sent back to secondary for extra waterboarding and thumbscrew inquisition.

 

Try to stop overthinking any bad things that could happen, your plan isn't all that extraordinary 😎

Haha Princess, I'm a guy! xD

 

I'd probably spend less time in US if my bf could come here to UK and visit once in a while, share the burden of travel, and see each other more. 

Exactly. I'm hoping CBP will be more inclined to let me visit for that period in regards to the holidays  And I plan on leaving with 4-6 days to spare, to ensure I don't accidentally overstay the 90 days period thanks to any possible delays, cancellations etc. 

 

Yup, I plan on leaving it at least 5 months before my next visit after the lengthy holiday.

 

I understand where they're coming from with the scepticism. I hear that in the US, you only get 14 days a year holiday. We get 28+ days as standard here in UK.

 

Will the letter be enough? Or will CBP require a phone number to contact them? I already have a letter printed out ready, but with no phone number (I'm unsure why my boss didn't add the number), so CBP currently have no way of verifying it with my boss, only a letter to go off. Is that enough?

 

Of course. I expect more questions, and I will provide a full detailed list of plans and dates during my visit. Heh. Let's hope it doesn't come to waterboarding xD

 

I can't. I kept thinking bad things would happen on my most recent visit xD

 

 

[Zeo-IL 0]

I should probably start a new thread for this topic, but I was also considering applying for Global Entry and TSA Precheck. Is that wise, with my intended lengthy visit? 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

9 hours ago, mindthegap said:

Plenty of other made up stuff on here, such as the non existent 'must spend twice as long out of the US as in' rule.

 

I've never seen anyone say that it is a "rule" or a "must" in any way?

 

It's a general "rule of thumb", as in, as far as advice goes it's an alright estimate to have someone think - oh, it might be time to think a bit about the frequency and lengths of my visits.

General advice is what happens when you have a community of people that gather empirical observations on what works and what doesn't, what people experience and are told by officials over time and then go on to share those experiences, so that others may benefit from them. It doesn't absolve anyone from applying their own common sense to their particular situation.

It always goes that each circumstance is different and that there is no set rule.

[Diane and Chris 651]

7 hours ago, MacUK said:

No-one here can predict exactly what will happen but I personally don't think you'll have too much trouble at all. Maybe a couple of extra questions but I doubt you'll be sent back to secondary for extra waterboarding and thumbscrew inquisition.

😂 LOL!