Previously denied entry to US on ESTA applying for B2. Advice?

[SweetKuri 0]

Hi I'm new to this site, my bf from the UK tried to visit me in 2023 on ESTA. Long story short, he was denied entry due to not having strong enough ties to the UK. At the time, he was recently unemployed and living in a shared household, basically no assests, in general just bad timing. He has a clean record btw. I (US) have visited him 3 times since then because it was a traumatic experience. We agreed to try for him to visit again and he is actively working on applying for a B2. At this time, hes employed, has an apartment and owns a motorbike. Are there any documents that he should carry for his interview with the US embassy or that we should prepare to have on his person whenever he does cross the border? I've seen people mention having a letter from work and utility bills. We want to make sure nothing happens this time and things go smoothly.

Edited 3 hours ago by SweetKuri
adding more detail

[appleblossom 5,398]

6 minutes ago, SweetKuri said:

Hi I'm new to this site, my bf from the UK tried to visit me in 2023 on ESTA. Long story short, he was denied entry due to not having strong enough ties to the UK. At the time, he was recently unemployed and living in a shared household, basically no assests, in general just bad timing. He has a clean record btw. I (US) have visited him 3 times since then because it was a traumatic experience. We agreed to try for him to visit again and he is actively working on applying for a B2. At this time. hes employed, has a job and owns a motorbike. Are there any documents that he should carry for his interview with the US embassy or that we should prepare to have on his person whenever he does cross the border? I've seen people mention having a letter from work and utility bills. We want to make sure nothing happens this time and things go smoothly.

 

He can take those things to the interview, but they're not likely to be looked at. The decision is generally made on the details given on his DS-160. He can certainly carry them when he enters the US if he's granted the B2 though. 

 

What's his housing situation, does he own his own home? 

 

If the B visa is granted, he might want to look at Global Entry. I think he'd still be eligible for it with a refusal on his record (not 100% sure on that) but it would make entry much easier for future visits. 

Edited 3 hours ago by appleblossom

[SweetKuri 0]

3 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

He can take those things to the interview, but they're not likely to be looked at. The decision is generally made on the details given on his DS-160. He can certainly carry them when he enters the US if he's granted the B2 though. 

 

What's his housing situation, does he own his own home? 

 

If the B visa is granted, he might want to look at Global Entry. I think he'd still be eligible for it with a refusal on his record (not 100% sure on that) but it would make entry much easier for future visits. 

Yeah..I've seen that the documents aren't typically looked at during the interview unfortunately... I guess we just wanna have everything together just in case. He does not own his own home. He lives in an apartment. 

 

Do you know whats asked on the DS-160? Just for my own understanding. 

 

I've never heard of global entry before, would you mind explaining to me what that is?  

[appleblossom 5,398]

Just now, SweetKuri said:

Yeah..I've seen that the documents aren't typically looked at during the interview unfortunately... I guess we just wanna have everything together just in case. He does not own his own home. He lives in an apartment. 

 

Do you know whats asked on the DS-160? Just for my own understanding. 

 

I've never heard of global entry before, would you mind explaining to me what that is?  

 

You can Google and find an exemplar DS-160 form, I don't recall every question off the top of my head but it will ask about his work etc. And you can also search for info on Global Entry but essentially it's pre-approval for entry in to the US. Myself and my family all have it, means you don't even have to get your passport out usually, I just get 'anything to declare?' and then waived straight through. My daughter's boyfriend got it earlier this year to try to minimise stressful questioning whenever he visits here, and it's worked so far, he's not been questioned since getting it. 

[SweetKuri 0]

5 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

You can Google and find an exemplar DS-160 form, I don't recall every question off the top of my head but it will ask about his work etc. And you can also search for info on Global Entry but essentially it's pre-approval for entry in to the US. Myself and my family all have it, means you don't even have to get your passport out usually, I just get 'anything to declare?' and then waived straight through. My daughter's boyfriend got it earlier this year to try to minimise stressful questioning whenever he visits here, and it's worked so far, he's not been questioned since getting it. 

 

Okay thank you very much for the information!

[Boiler 48,265]

I assume something happened when he sought entry, I have never been asked more than 2 or 3 questions, where am I going how long who am I visiting and once how much cash I had on me, a few dollars.

 

What raised their interest, a very long visit?

[SweetKuri 0]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I assume something happened when he sought entry, I have never been asked more than 2 or 3 questions, where am I going how long who am I visiting and once how much cash I had on me, a few dollars.

 

What raised their interest, a very long visit?

I can't remember the particular question/answer that raised their flag.  It was probably a culmination of things. I think it was the fact I paid for the tickets, him losing his job just prior to the trip, the trip was longer than 2 weeks and we didn't have an itinerary he was just going to stay at my place. He also did not bring a lot with him like luggage. So he probably looked like he was just going to stay here indefinetly 

[Boiler 48,265]

I have bever been asked about my job or who paid for the tickets, now they can ask what they want but they tend to follow certzain common question at least for the vast majority of those entering.

 

He did not bring a lot with him, that should not be an issue.

 

How long did he plan to stay?

[SweetKuri 0]

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I have bever been asked about my job or who paid for the tickets, now they can ask what they want but they tend to follow certzain common question at least for the vast majority of those entering.

 

He did not bring a lot with him, that should not be an issue.

 

How long did he plan to stay?

He was asked that when he got pulled in for questioning. I was also asked that by a CBP agent to vouch for him. Again, I can't remember the original question that made them do further questioning it was probably related to his employment. I think we planned 1 month at the time. The reasons I listed were the same reasons he was told by a CBP officer as to why he was denied. 

[Boiler 48,265]

There will be notes in the system so hee needs to be prepared to answer them.

[SweetKuri 0]

17 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There will be notes in the system so hee needs to be prepared to answer them.

yeah he will. my purpose of this post was mainly to ask any other ways to prepare like physical documents 

[Boiler 48,265]

They interview people not documents and like what anyway?

[appleblossom 5,398]

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

 

I have bever been asked about my job or who paid for the tickets

 

I’ve never been asked about who paid for my ticket, but in 10+ visits on ESTA I was asked about my job every single time. Three times I even had to pull my website up on my phone to show them.