Husband visiting US with me on ESTA

[Ladybug13 0]

Hi everyone!

 

I’ve been lurking here for a while and reading information. My husband and I will file for the CR-1 via consular processing later this year. (We have not filed anything yet and don’t plan to until maybe this summer)

 

However, he is going to visit the US with me in March. I’m actually moving back to the US from South Korea and he’s helping me, but he will be visiting for a month on his ESTA and then returning home. 
 

I know he should bring a letter from his boss, proof of temporary travelers insurance, phone bills, bank statements and what not proving ties to South Korea. 
 

My question is, has anyone with a Korean spouse experienced issues at the border? He is going to bring his credit and debit cards instead of carrying cash as well because he can use it at international atms. I know they may check how much money he has, so bank statements would help with this.
 

thank you for your help in advance! 

[CMJuilland 485]

I'm not from South Korea, but I used to go back and forth on ESTA quite a bit when we were waiting for my K1 visa to come through.  I never had a significant amount of cash on me, and I was never harassed about it at the border.  There was only once that I was pulled into secondary when two of my visits were a little too close to each other, but when I explained our situation and that my job back in Switzerland gave me a lot more flexibility in terms of overtime - time off than my now wife's, I was fine. 

While there is no guarantee of admission for any non-citizen ever, your husband seems to have a good chance with his proof of ties that you mention.  

On another note, since processing times are so long, you might want to look into filing sooner than this summer, but that's ultimately up to you. 

 

Good luck with everything! 

 

PS: There are regional subforums too, so maybe you have a better chance of getting a response from fellow Koreans there. 

[Redro 4,611]

On 1/22/2022 at 1:54 PM, beenika said:

Hi everyone!

 

I’ve been lurking here for a while and reading information. My husband and I will file for the CR-1 via consular processing later this year. (We have not filed anything yet and don’t plan to until maybe this summer)

 

However, he is going to visit the US with me in March. I’m actually moving back to the US from South Korea and he’s helping me, but he will be visiting for a month on his ESTA and then returning home. 
 

I know he should bring a letter from his boss, proof of temporary travelers insurance, phone bills, bank statements and what not proving ties to South Korea. 
 

My question is, has anyone with a Korean spouse experienced issues at the border? He is going to bring his credit and debit cards instead of carrying cash as well because he can use it at international atms. I know they may check how much money he has, so bank statements would help with this.
 

thank you for your help in advance! 

Is your husband planning to fly with you and help with luggage allowance? Or is he planning on flying to the US after you arrive?

If you're moving back to the States with a lot of luggage he might be flagged on entry if it looks like he is also moving to the States (he could be pulled into secondary and have his bags searched). 

 

I'm in another forum with Korean spouses and some have been flagged for visiting a lot. But never for the initial visit. And most of them have a I-130 on file when they visit .

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Kor2USA

[Ladybug13 0]

6 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Is your husband planning to fly with you and help with luggage allowance? Or is he planning on flying to the US after you arrive?

If you're moving back to the States with a lot of luggage he might be flagged on entry if it looks like he is also moving to the States (he could be pulled into secondary and have his bags searched). 

 

I'm in another forum with Korean spouses and some have been flagged for visiting a lot. But never for the initial visit. And most of them have a I-130 on file when they visit .

 

Oh that is very helpful!

 

Yes, he is traveling with me and taking one of my checked bags (only one free bag these days per person).  He is only taking a carry-on and a back pack otherwise.  So if they searched it, they would see all of my stuff in the checked bag if they look and we would tell them honestly the items are mine (women's clothing and shoes). But one checked bag for a 4 week trip does not seem unreasonable for the average person to travel with. I plan on having a backpack, carry on, and two checked bags on my ticket.

 

We also have separate tickets as he needed a round trip back to South Korea, so I did not book them together since mine is one-way. 

 

For the Korean spouses who visit a lot, were they denied entry or just warned about visiting too many times in a year?  Could you link me to that forum please?

 

Thank you for the info!

[Redro 4,611]

31 minutes ago, beenika said:

Oh that is very helpful!

 

Yes, he is traveling with me and taking one of my checked bags (only one free bag these days per person).  He is only taking a carry-on and a back pack otherwise.  So if they searched it, they would see all of my stuff in the checked bag if they look and we would tell them honestly the items are mine (women's clothing and shoes). But one checked bag for a 4 week trip does not seem unreasonable for the average person to travel with. I plan on having a backpack, carry on, and two checked bags on my ticket.

 

We also have separate tickets as he needed a round trip back to South Korea, so I did not book them together since mine is one-way. 

 

For the Korean spouses who visit a lot, were they denied entry or just warned about visiting too many times in a year?  Could you link me to that forum please?

 

Thank you for the info!

Sent you a PM.

And I am so annoyed we only get one checked bag these days. Although Korean Air is still giving 2 checked bags for the flight I'm looking at ^^ 

[Ladybug13 0]

Just now, Kor2USA said:

Sent you a PM.

And I am so annoyed we only get one checked bag these days. Although Korean Air is still giving 2 checked bags for the flight I'm looking at ^^ 

What! I’ll have to check then cuz my flight is Delta operated by Korean Air haha so maybe I’ll get lucky then! 

[Redro 4,611]

4 minutes ago, beenika said:

What! I’ll have to check then cuz my flight is Delta operated by Korean Air haha so maybe I’ll get lucky then! 

Yep! double check... but I think you have to book through Korean Air not Delta. 

https://www.koreanair.com/kr/en/airport/baggage/checked/free-allowance

We did it a few years ago. Booked a flight through Korean Air (even thought it was operated by Delta) to get extra bags.