Visiting the USA for a prolonged amount of time?

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

I'm going to stay with my spouse for 3 months (October to mid December) because she ships to boot camp on January 1st 2020. I have heard stories about people being turned away by the people at the point of entry due to visiting for a long period of time. I am not from a high fraud area of the world (UK) and I want to do this because I realized I have the money for it but I'm scared of that possibility? Any advice?

[Dashinka 23,242]

Bring evidence that you will actually return at the end of your stay.  You may also consider shortening your trip a bit as 90 days on an ESTA is at the limit.

 

Good Luck! 

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

1 minute ago, Bill & Katya said:

Bring evidence that you will actually return at the end of your stay.  You may also consider shortening your trip a bit as 90 days on an ESTA is at the limit.

 

Good Luck! 

What type of evidence? like hotel reservations, tickets and that kind of stuff? I'm leaving my job before I go on this trip btw.

Edited July 31, 2019 by ohcoffeeeyes

[Dashinka 23,242]

Hmm, that will be tough.  You obviously have strong ties to the US through your spouse, and with no job ties to the UK, it may look suspicious.  You mentioned she is heading to boot camp, maybe bring a copy of her orders.  Return tickets are only as good as the paper they are printed on as they can easily be changed.

 

Good Luck!

[FlashLG 152]

I visited my wife (then girlfriend) for 3 months around 3 years ago. I too had just quit my job in the UK prior to visiting. I had evidence of my mortgage on the property I owned as proof of my ties to the UK, in case I was questioned. If you have a mortgage or rental agreement, I would suggest those as evidence. Strangely enough, that was the one visit where I wasn't asked any questions by the border officer other than how long I'm visiting for. I told him 87 days and he smiled and waved me through. 

Edited July 31, 2019 by FlashLG
typo

[Ontarkie 13,915]

~~MOved to Tourist Visas, from IR1/CR1 P&P - as the OP is asking about visiting~~

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

 

1 minute ago, FlashLG said:

I visited my wife (then girlfriend) for 3 months around 3 years ago. I too had just quit my job in the UK prior to visiting. I had evidence of my mortgage on the property I owned as proof of my ties to the UK, in case I was questioned. If you have a mortgage or rental agreement, I would suggest those as evidence. Strangely enough, that was the one visit where I wasn't asked any questions by the border officer other than how long I'm visiting for. I told him 87 days and he smiled and waved me through. 

Sadly, I don't have a rental agreement or mortgage. 😪 The last time I visited the guy kept questioning me even though I was only staying for 20 and I was very nervous so I kept making mistakes. So I haven't had as pleasant experiences as you! But that keeps me reassured thank you. I'm hoping the fact my wife currently works and is earning a good amount and that I'll be going in with a lot of money will be fine as I'm guessing a lot of kids come into the USA every year for the same amount of time.

[geowrian 22,335]

You're unlikely to have an issue as VWP traveler, unless you've been visiting too long already.

 

Recently leaving your job, having a US spouse, etc. are not positive factors. Nobody here can guarantee you will be fine, but I wouldn't personally expect an issue either.

 

24 minutes ago, FlashLG said:

I told him 87 days and he smiled and waved me through. 

Having a clear (although not rehearsed) answer goes a long way. 👍

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

2 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

What type of evidence? like hotel reservations, tickets and that kind of stuff? I'm leaving my job before I go on this trip btw.

Evidence that you wil go back home. You have to have a return ticket to use VWP/ESTA anyway

2 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

 

Sadly, I don't have a rental agreement or mortgage. 😪 The last time I visited the guy kept questioning me even though I was only staying for 20 and I was very nervous so I kept making mistakes. So I haven't had as pleasant experiences as you! But that keeps me reassured thank you. I'm hoping the fact my wife currently works and is earning a good amount and that I'll be going in with a lot of money will be fine as I'm guessing a lot of kids come into the USA every year for the same amount of time.

Well, that's not a great precedent unfortunately - and you have even less ties to show now. Your wife earning a good amount is an incentive to stay in the US, not to return home. You coming in with enough to support yourself is better. Highly suggest you look for as much as you can to show why you need to return to the UK at the end of it.

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

2 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Well, that's not a great precedent unfortunately - and you have even less ties to show now. Your wife earning a good amount is an incentive to stay in the US, not to return home. You coming in with enough to support yourself is better. Highly suggest you look for as much as you can to show why you need to return to the UK at the end of it.

Well shes leaving to boot camp just after I go home. I was wondering if the fact she has orders to go to boot camp and her contract is signed and she swore an oath and all that basically indicates that she isnt serious about this job anyway. (which she isnt.)

 

Thank you for your response anyway. I see your point.

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

4 hours ago, geowrian said:

You're unlikely to have an issue as VWP traveler, unless you've been visiting too long already.

 

Recently leaving your job, having a US spouse, etc. are not positive factors. Nobody here can guarantee you will be fine, but I wouldn't personally expect an issue either.

 

Having a clear (although not rehearsed) answer goes a long way. 👍

Yep. Spent most of today looking up about being denied entry. It's very rare and I'm not a suspicious looking fella. Guessing I'm worrying about nothing!

[jskibo 588]

14 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

Well shes leaving to boot camp just after I go home. I was wondering if the fact she has orders to go to boot camp and her contract is signed and she swore an oath and all that basically indicates that she isnt serious about this job anyway. (which she isnt.)

 

Thank you for your response anyway. I see your point.

Actually means nothing until the second swearing in at MEPS the day you leave for boot. You can drop out of DEP at any time. Just FYI

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

15 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

Well shes leaving to boot camp just after I go home. I was wondering if the fact she has orders to go to boot camp and her contract is signed and she swore an oath and all that basically indicates that she isnt serious about this job anyway. (which she isnt.)

 

 

But..so what? How does that prove you’ll go back home? 

 

Anyway, you can argue with me here or you can sort out proper evidence of returning home. You’ve been questioned on entry before, very unusual for VWP entrants, especially on a short stay like your previous one, so there might be something about you that is flagged and they may very well question you again. You can fly over and hope, or you can fly over with enough to convince them that you won’t overstay. Your choice.

[ohcoffeeeyes 120]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

But..so what? How does that prove you’ll go back home? 

 

Anyway, you can argue with me here or you can sort out proper evidence of returning home. You’ve been questioned on entry before, very unusual for VWP entrants, especially on a short stay like your previous one, so there might be something about you that is flagged and they may very well question you again. You can fly over and hope, or you can fly over with enough to convince them that you won’t overstay. Your choice.

Sorry if I seemed aggressive I was just wondering if I could use that as evidence. I even said thank you to you! I'm not trying to argue. 😓😓😓

1 hour ago, jskibo said:

Actually means nothing until the second swearing in at MEPS the day you leave for boot. You can drop out of DEP at any time. Just FYI

Yeah I figured but I thought it'd mean something.

Edited August 1, 2019 by ohcoffeeeyes

[SalishSea 16,770]

21 hours ago, ohcoffeeeyes said:

I'm leaving my job before I go on this trip btw

Not a great idea when it comes to convincing CBP that you intend to return home.  In fact, what reason will you have to return home?