MissKing

6 hours ago, Carolina1985 said:

Hi! How did your interview for the B1/B2 go? My BF is in a similar situation as what happened to you but we want to apply for  B1/B2 for him so we can visit The States on vacation with our kid. He was granted permission to whitdraw application to enter The States before, because the CBP officer found out he worked for 3 weeks on a previous visit under B1/B2 without a permission to work. He then was sent back home from the Miami airport. 

How was your experience applying for the B1 B2 after being denied access before? Thanks for your time. I hope to hear from you!!

Hi Carolina1985!

My interview was successful and was granted a B1/B2 visa that's good for 10 years and multiple entries! the VO that interviewed me was super cool and it didn't feel like an interview at all, more like a conversation with a friend. I went to the interview with my job offer, letter of employment and I carried my bank statement plus a few bills but she didn't look at those. She only looked at the job offer and letter of employment. Luckily, she understood the industry I work in and how crucial it is to have a B1/B2, so that definitely helped.

Although I have the visa now, I still have trouble whenever I try to get into the US. After I was granted my visa, I flew back a week later and was pulled into Secondary Processing (my passport is now flagged) where I was there for about 45 minutes and they questioned me. I asked the CBP if this will happen to me whenever I go to the US and he said it will happen 'sometimes'. They allowed me into the country once I explained the situation and showed them my work documents. A few days after arriving I had a work trip and had to travel the Caribbean. We came back and I went to get my passport stamped at a sea port and they also questioned me. It took about 20-30 minutes and they asked me if I were arrested. They also asked me if I was vacationing or not, told them I planned to vacation now that this work trip ended and they stamped my passport and let me in. Having the B1/B2 won't necessarily guarantee that you'll be let into the country. 

Good luck to your husband!

Hello everyone!

Just a quick update but my visa interview will be this week! I'm more excited than nervous as I have my captain's job offer letter, the boat's registration (for Sint Maarten!) papers and crew list (just a list of who the crew member's are on the boat). I won't lie I'm a tiny bit nervous about the 'withdrawn application' on my file however, my boat will only be in Miami for two weeks for the boat show that's happening there and then were heading back to the islands which I'm really going to stress in my interview. 

Please wish me luck!

13 minutes ago, Boiler said:

PS still do nt see why you do not need a C/D

Yeah the manifest on the boat did state who were passengers and who were crew. When the CBP were questioning me, they said 'we know about this boat.' They didn't get into detail but I guess the boat has had problems before.

In terms of the C/D, most yachts only require crew members to have a B1/B2.

3 hours ago, KierenHby said:

I'd too ignore that.. in favor of Sint Maartin. 

I was a guest on a boat trip to the Bahamas and arrived back into Miami by boat. The CBP suspected I was working on the boat (which I wasn't) and moreso demanded to go through my phone.

Just now, Boiler said:

Sint Maarten

Yes, you're right! If I'm not granted a visa however, my boat may just leave me in Sint Maarten until they come back :/ 

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

As has been mentioned going through phones etc is not normal so no doubt there is a sigificant back story.

 

On the plus side you have an option to avoid the issue.

By option do you mean a C/D visa?

2 minutes ago, jan22 said:

I edited my original post because of the Canadian angle while you were posting this...you're right,  it's  B1 status that's  needed.  But, having already been documented by immigration at a POE of already having worked in the US illegally, getting that granted at a POE is unlikely, IMO.

So I guess I do have to apply for a physical one then? I'm so worried that I won't be able to get one

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

Canadians dont normally apply for US visas.  We're granted a b1/b2 visa when we enter. 

True. But when I was at CBP office, they told me that because my application for admission was withdrawn, my B1/B2 has been cancelled and now I'll need a physical one. It doesn't make sense to me though because if the stamp means I cancelled my stay in the US and was sent back to Canada, then why would I need a physical B1/B2? I should be able to just try and enter again, I think.

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

You do not have a ban, you are flagged. Nobody can tell you what will happen if you seek entry.

Ah, got it! Thank you!

17 hours ago, Transborderwife said:

You do not need to apply for a b1/2.  I've been in a similar situation and never had to apply for a visa after withdrawing an application.  Something sounds off

So I can travel to the US still? This whole thing is confusing for me.

15 hours ago, KierenHby said:

Something sounds off.. more to the story. 

CBP does not go about browsing contents of a phone unless they've established doubts at Primary. And "losing" a passport with a stamped revocation is an old trick. 

 

All you do is apply with the US embassy. Perhaps a C/D crew member visa? 

Thank you. I've considered a C/D visa but most boats only require a B1/B2, so I figured I'd start with that.

Hello all!

I'm wondering what my chances are for getting a new B1/B2? I'll give you the back story as my situation is complicated:

For New Year's Eve, I went on a boat trip to Bahamas, the boat left Miami and came back to Miami. Once we got to the immigration office, the officers went through my phone and saw that I had done a one off job (a no-no, I was given bad advice which is why I accepted it) and gave me an 'admission for application withdrawn' which was stamped onto my passport, they took my fingerprints and photo and sent me back to Toronto (I'm Canadian). The officer that escorted me to the airport told me that I will need to apply for a new B1/B2 if I want to enter into the US again. He told me I'll need to bring my paper work that has the interview with the border officer and he said to be honest.

Here's where it gets messy: on my way home from the airport, I lost my passport. I know. I'm currently in the process of getting a new one.

I was just offered a permanent job on a yacht that is based in Sint Maarten but is currently docked in Fort Lauderdale and the captain wants to fly me to Fort Lauderdale (it's cheaper) to join the boat. The boat will be based mainly in Sint Maarten but will make occasional trips to Miami, only for 2 weeks at the most. My captain is willing to give me boat papers, crew list and an official job offer letter. I know that the B1/B2 interview involves proving my ties to my home country, however, I will be living in Sint Maarten on this boat so I have zero plans on immigrating to the US. I just want to be able to come into the US to join the boat and be able to go on trips.

What are my chances of me getting a B1/B2? Some people have been saying I'll have a hard time, others say I'm Canadian and will be on a boat in another country so I should be fine. 

Thank you!