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Skychi

Visiting the USA to see my girlfriend on an ESTA should I say girlfriend or friend?

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Hi all, I am 29 years old male with a full time job (Technical Engineer for Local Government) in UK London, I have visited the USA twice within the last year (under 2 weeks), the last time I travelled was in mid May 2022 for 10 days and both times I have them I was visiting friends and family, I’m getting a little worried that it is becoming suspicious. I have scheduled another visit last August for 9 days to spend time with her (almost running out of vacation days from work) lol

 

Should I just tell them I am visiting my girlfriend for an X amount of days/weeks? 
Am I allowed to visit my girlfriend on n ESTA?

 

Does anyone think this will be a problem? I would like to hear some of your past experiences.

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Argentina
Timeline

You can visit, but it’s up to the CBP discretion whether they’ll let you in, based on your frequent visits.

Lying is never a good idea. Anyone telling you to lie here is violating the TOS

FROM F1 TO AOS

October 17, 2019 AOS receipt date 

December 09, 2019: Biometric appointment

January 15, 2020 RFE received

January 30, 2020  RFE response sent

Feb 7: EAD approved and interview scheduled

March 18, 2020 Interview cancelled

April 14th 2020: RFE received

April 29, 2020 Approved without interview

May 1, 2020 Card in hand

 

REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS

February 1, 2022 package sent

March 28, 2022 Fingerprints reused

July 18, 2023 approval

July 20, 2023 Card in hand

 

N400 

January 30,2023: Online filing

February 4th, 2023: Biometric appointment

June 15th, 2023: Case actively being reviewed

July 11th, 2023: Interview scheduled.

August 30th, 2023: Interview!

August 31st, 2023: Oath ceremony scheduled.

Sept 19th, 2023: Officially a US citizen!

 


 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Wales
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I had no issues flying from the UK and saying I was visiting my girlfriend (now wife), I had return flights booked which is all they ever checked. 

 

I visited frequently as well:

  • September 2019 - 2 weeks
  • November 2019 - 1 week 
  • January 2020 - 2 weeks
  • February 2020 - 1 week 

Then covid happened. 

Edited by JPD91
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I visited my (now husband) 12 times over the course of 2,5 years. All of them on an Esta and half of them with a CR1 (spousal visa) application pending. I usually stayed 1-2 weeks per visit and told them I was visiting boyfried/fiancé/husband. 

Edited by Daphne K

“It’s been 84 years…” 

- Me talking about the progress of my I-751

 

 

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1 hour ago, Skychi said:

 

Hi all, I am 29 years old male with a full time job (Technical Engineer for Local Government) in UK London, I have visited the USA twice within the last year (under 2 weeks), the last time I travelled was in mid May 2022 for 10 days and both times I have them I was visiting friends and family, I’m getting a little worried that it is becoming suspicious. I have scheduled another visit last August for 9 days to spend time with her (almost running out of vacation days from work) lol

 

Should I just tell them I am visiting my girlfriend for an X amount of days/weeks? 
Am I allowed to visit my girlfriend on n ESTA?

 

Does anyone think this will be a problem? I would like to hear some of your past experiences.

 

Always be honest. Lies (no matter how big or small) have a horrible habit of unravelling, particularly in pressure situations, not to mention the fact that lying to CBP is fraud. They’re unlikely to bat an eyelid at a visit of a couple of weeks. However, of course, it is always at the discretion of the CBP officer that you interact with.
 

In my experience when I was visiting, the amount of hassle went up in line with the length of stay. Visited for 75+ days once - got a bit more hassle, but they still let me in. 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ghana
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A third visit to a “friend” within a year is unusual, don’t you think? You’re better off being honest and saying girlfriend although girlfriends are also friends.

 

I watched an edition (or two) of Border Patrol where immigration officers generally didn’t take it too kindly finding out that the “friends” the travelers were visiting were not “just friends” 😉

Just another random guy from the internet with an opinion, although usually backed by data!


ᴀ ᴄɪᴛɪᴢᴇɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ 

 

 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
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I never had an issue visiting on ESTA and letting CBP know I was visiting my American fiance. 

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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17 hours ago, Skychi said:

 

Hi all, I am 29 years old male with a full time job (Technical Engineer for Local Government) in UK London, I have visited the USA twice within the last year (under 2 weeks), the last time I travelled was in mid May 2022 for 10 days and both times I have them I was visiting friends and family, I’m getting a little worried that it is becoming suspicious. I have scheduled another visit last August for 9 days to spend time with her (almost running out of vacation days from work) lol

 

Should I just tell them I am visiting my girlfriend for an X amount of days/weeks? 
Am I allowed to visit my girlfriend on n ESTA?

 

Does anyone think this will be a problem? I would like to hear some of your past experiences.

 

Of course it’s looking suspicious, because you were less than forthcoming with the truth. As you’ve seen above, many people have regularly visited SOs with no problem. What becomes a problem is when you try to mislead CBP.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Echoing the others.  Be honest.  If the relationship turns to something more, you don't want a black mark on your record to impact any potential future immigration endeavors.  

 

You are at the discretion of the CBP officer for allowing you in.  If you're that concerned, take some evidence of your ties to home evidencing your need to return.  Shouldn't be an issue though.  

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 FAQ

 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 Visa spreadsheet: follow directions at top of page for data to be added

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
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Deleted..... I quoted wrong member...LOL.

Edited by Crazy Cat

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

August 7, 2022: Wife filed N-400 Online under 5 year rule.

November 10, 2022: Received "Interview is scheduled" letter.

December 12, 2022:  Received email from Dallas office informing me (spouse) to be there for combo interview.

December 14, 2022: Combo Interview for I-751 and N-400 Conducted.

January 26, 2023: Wife's Oath Ceremony completed at the Plano Event Center, Plano, Texas!!!😁

February 6, 2023: Wife's Passport Application submitted in Dallas, Texas.

March 21, 2023:   Wife's Passport Delivered!!!!

May 15, 2023 (about):  Naturalization Certificate returned from Passport agency!!

 

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

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2 hours ago, mam521 said:

Echoing the others.  Be honest.  If the relationship turns to something more, you don't want a black mark on your record to impact any potential future immigration endeavors.  

 

You are at the discretion of the CBP officer for allowing you in.  If you're that concerned, take some evidence of your ties to home evidencing your need to return.  Shouldn't be an issue though.  

 

What do you mean black mark, it's if the CBP deny him the entry, the person gets a black mark on passport?

 

thank you

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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43 minutes ago, Genzo10 said:

 

What do you mean black mark, it's if the CBP deny him the entry, the person gets a black mark on passport?

 

thank you

a withdrawn application or denial go on record with CBP.  This information is available to USCIS.  

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 FAQ

 

Montreal IR-1/CR-1 Visa spreadsheet: follow directions at top of page for data to be added

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