Yes, you can visit!

[Pebbles1989 3]

So if I change the address, it does not interfere the approved ESTA visa? Sure? Just don't want to cause any problems three weeks before I leave

[TabeaK 516]

Very sure! Done it a bunch of times.

[wbeem 568]

So if I change the address, it does not interfere the approved ESTA visa? Sure? Just don't want to cause any problems three weeks before I leave

Very sure! Done it a bunch of times.

I have also amended my address and flight details on existing ESTA's countless times, but when they changed the ESTA forms at the end of last year, it wouldn't let me go in and edit my daughter's one. I had to apply for a new one and had to give my address in the USA and also the person I was staying with, if not a hotel. I emailed them to ask if I need to get a new one for my daughter and they said if it's still valid, just to leave it. So I did.

When you complete your API for your airline booking, it asks for the details of where you are staying and you can just enter it in there. I was asked countless questions (some of them numerous times), but the address I was staying at was not one of them. Strangely enough. The officer did seem quite taken aback that I only had $6 in cash on me though

Edited March 24, 2015 by wbeem

[Yanirose 64]

Hey everybody,

Just want to share my experience since I've been reading everyone else's. So yes I've collected all my ties back to the UK such as payslips and employers letter.

I was so nervous and felt sick but Thank God Seattle had one of them airports with self machine service where you scan your passport, take a photo and fingerprints. I did that and then went to the officer. He asked me two Q's Are you here for pleasure or business? I said Pleasure and how long i'm staying, I said two weeks! He then said welcome to America and stamped my passport!!! It was that easy my God I was sick for no reason lol. By the way the self machine service is for people with returning ESTA as in not your first

time ESTA, green card holders and US citizen.

Good luck everyone.. Now I'm just going to enjoy my two weeks with my fiancé before going back to waiting and counting down the days!

[Pebbles1989 3]

Yanirose,

thank you so much for sharing your experience.

My PoE for my visit in 2 1/2 weeks is Seattle. I do have a connecting flight to Portland, I have to go through the immigrations in Seattle though. Do you think it will be possible to use the self service machines as well or is it just for final destination passengers?

Can you perhaps let me know where you have found those self service machines. I hope I will find them. It's my first flight via Seattle. I am a bit nervous!

Have a wonderful time together with your fiancé!!!

[wbeem 568]

Yanirose,

thank you so much for sharing your experience.

My PoE for my visit in 2 1/2 weeks is Seattle. I do have a connecting flight to Portland, I have to go through the immigrations in Seattle though. Do you think it will be possible to use the self service machines as well or is it just for final destination passengers?

Can you perhaps let me know where you have found those self service machines. I hope I will find them. It's my first flight via Seattle. I am a bit nervous!

Have a wonderful time together with your fiancé!!!

Not sure if this will help, but there is a guide and a video so you can see where they are in the immigration hall http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Passenger-Services/Pages/International-Travel.aspx

You can use the automated machines as long as you meet the qualifying criteria, which I'm thinking you will if you are on an Austrian passport. You need to have visited the US within the past two years (I think it's two years) under the Visa Waiver Program. Again, since you needed this for filing your petition, I would think you're good to go. It does not have to be your final destination.

I actually like the CBP website and have used it a lot over the years. Here is the link to the FAQ's and conditions

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/automated-passport-control-apc

To all of you going to spend time with your loved ones, have a safe trip and enjoy your time together. Just let the world stop while you visit

[TabeaK 516]

Try not to be nervous - there is no reason to, you will be fine!

ESTAs who have not changed their passport and have used ESTA at least once before are eligible to use the machines. I POE through EWR a lot and have used them a few times.

Small word of warning though - do not rely on them too much, it has happenend to me that the machines were not open for business and arrivals were guided to the regular desks.

[Yanirose 64]

Yanirose,

thank you so much for sharing your experience.

My PoE for my visit in 2 1/2 weeks is Seattle. I do have a connecting flight to Portland, I have to go through the immigrations in Seattle though. Do you think it will be possible to use the self service machines as well or is it just for final destination passengers?

Can you perhaps let me know where you have found those self service machines. I hope I will find them. It's my first flight via Seattle. I am a bit nervous!

Have a wonderful time together with your fiancé!!!

Hey,

Is this your first time on ESTA?

If it isnt then yes you can use the self-machine service, they've basically changed it. I've been to Seattle three times and the previous were straight to an Immigration Officer, but now you'll be asked if you're a returning ESTA, Greencard holder or US citizen to join the self-machine service line.

If It is your first time on ESTA you have to meet an IO (immigratlion officer).

You'll be fine do not stress, just have your ties back to your homecountry ready such as two months payslip. Also only answer what they ask with a smile lol

And yes even though Seattle isn't your final destination you'll still have to clear immigration and customs in Seattle.

Good luck

[Mena28 35]

I just came back from my visit to the US - POE was Boston Logan.

They actually changed the whole set up, instead of US/Canada and EverybodyElse they now have four lines - US/Canada, ESTA, Greencard, Visa.

Both ESTA and US lines use the same self service kiosks - aparently regardless of whether or not you have traveled on your ESTA and passport before, because they had me go there and do all of that (picture, fingerprints, answer same questions as on the blue form they give you on the airplane) and I only got my ESTA in January. Some people´s printouts have a big black X across the whole thing and some dont. Not sure of what that means (mine had an X and they let me in, so don´t panic!).

I did update my "where I am staying in the US" address just a day before traveling (from my hostfamilie´s address to my fiance´s) with no hiccups or issues.

Questions I was asked where:

Are you here for a visit? (Yes)

Who are you visiting? (my fiance) - that made the guy say "a-ha" and grin at me. Interestingly enough I had been interviewed by the same guy a couple years ago as well, I remembered him.

Does your fiance know you are coming? (Yes, of course, he is picking me up)

Where does your fiance live?

When did you meet?

Then he looked at my passport and found a couple visas so he asked what those were for, when I was here, where i stayed and if I met my fiance while I was here on one of them (Yes) In between he kept asking where my fiance lives, so just kept giving the same answer.

Last question was: Is or was your fiance a member of the same household that you lived with as an aupair? (Clear and resounding "No", honest surprise and reaction on my part - which is probably what he was going for anyways lol)

Then I was in! Picked up my bag and customs was done in under 3 mins.

Throughout the interview I had the feeling that he was trying to gouge my honesty and sincerity in my answers. I had brought proof of ties that have been mentioned here before, but they never came up. Still, the 90 mins waiting for my turn felt *really* long. totally worth it though :-)

[Chalandrae 29]

I will be visiting my Fiancé for the last time before my interview. I leave on May 2nd and will come back the Thursday before my interview. My interview is the Friday, May 15.

The thing is, he will be with me to the interview (well, we will try, I'm not 100% sure if he can come Inside with me. I'll be at the Montréal consulate). So, to save money and time, I will only buy 1 ticket and not roundtrip. I will be coming back to Canada with him. That way, I can memorize everything for when we bring me down.

I am planning on bringing my appointement letter and a letter from my employer (there will be the date on when I am suposed to go back to work also). Would that be enough to prove I will be coming back? Only bill I have to pay is my cellphone bill as I am now living at my parents until everything is over, so I don't think it can be used.

[TylerandSue 4]

Hi all,

Really interesting reading all your posts on this subject.

Congratulations to all who are beginning, midway, nearing the end of your journey!

We submitted our application in December via an attorney (I was residing in Qatar at the time so this was the best option for us) and it is currently in the queue at Texas.....

So far my fiance has visited me in the UK and plans to again in June. When we asked our attorney if it would be possible for me to visit US she said absolutely no. She made it quite clear that it would be a 5 year ban!

Since reading your posts I'm now unsure of the advice we have been given. I see that it is not illegal (as we thought it was) it just takes preparation and an aspect of possibly getting turned down. For the record, I am not trying to skip the system and fully intend on coming back to UK.

So we are planning on meeting up with our attorney for her to clarify her advice.

Great to read other peoples positions.

Good luck to you all!

[TabeaK 516]

Wow, if an attorney gave me such blatantly wrong advice, I'd seriously be worried...

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Hi all,

Really interesting reading all your posts on this subject.

Congratulations to all who are beginning, midway, nearing the end of your journey!

We submitted our application in December via an attorney (I was residing in Qatar at the time so this was the best option for us) and it is currently in the queue at Texas.....

So far my fiance has visited me in the UK and plans to again in June. When we asked our attorney if it would be possible for me to visit US she said absolutely no. She made it quite clear that it would be a 5 year ban!

Since reading your posts I'm now unsure of the advice we have been given. I see that it is not illegal (as we thought it was) it just takes preparation and an aspect of possibly getting turned down. For the record, I am not trying to skip the system and fully intend on coming back to UK.

So we are planning on meeting up with our attorney for her to clarify her advice.

Great to read other peoples positions.

Good luck to you all!

Wow. I'm not sure why they said that.

My lawyers just told us they didn't recommend it, as we could be turned away (but not that it wasn't possible). But it's just as much a risk whenever ANYONE comes on the VWP- with or without awaiting the k1 visa. The foreigner always has a chance of getting deported but for most of us, as you've already read, that hasn't happened! Good lawyers (ours are family friends/neighbors of ours) typically have to advise their clients in a way that keeps them from having any issues, so for us, we knew that they told us that because they had an obligation to make sure we knew the real possibility of rejection. When we read these stories here, we told them we'd like to risk it, and now my fiancé is here! They were happy for us that he was allowed in, and we understood that they had to advise us the way they did.

However your lawyers giving information about a 5 year ban... I'm not sure where that came from! You could get sent back, but I havent heard of getting banned for years because of trying to enter while awaiting k1! Gov website doesn't say that, either.

[TylerandSue 4]

Thanks for that TabeaK

Yes Allie, I presume they have to advise of the risks. That way I suppose it can't go back on them if it goes wrong. The thought of not being allowed in is a risk I think is worth taking. Thanks for your response and I'm happy for you that you and your fiancé are together at the moment!

[TabeaK 516]

Good luck! As a non US cititzen/Green card holder you always stand the chance to be turned away at the border, petition or no...happens rarely though.