Tell me your experience, particularly if you were denied entry upon arriving so we know what not to do! Please share as much detail as you can. Tell me everything you know about the topic! Give me links! I need it all! Everything I have found is very vague and slightly confusing.
I met my boyfriend online. We’ve not met in person yet. He lives in New Zealand & myself in NJ. He’s been approved for a visa waiver. He has never visited another country.
We’re hoping to have him visit ASAP and stay as long as possible, and of course want to make absolutely sure that we do EVERYTHING involved in the process correctly so he isn’t denied entry.
I would particularly like to have two of the requirements cleared up for me.
The first is having proof you have sufficient funds to cover all expenses while in the US. In our case, he’ll be staying with me and I will be providing him with pretty much everything he needs. I think it’s safe to assume they aren’t going to just take our word for it that he’s going to be taken care of, especially as I have no savings.
So, what exactly is he supposed to be covering and how much do they think he will need? Should he make a list of anticipated expenses and how much he has allocated for all of them? I’ve read about affidavits of support, will it at least be accepted that I will be providing him with a place to stay? If so, how do we prove this?
Secondly, he needs to show that he has ties to his home country in order to prove he will return. He has no property, care, or pretty much anything along those lines, and he is not attending school. However, his entire family lives in NZ. Are we likely to have a problem with this? How can we prove that he plans on going home within the required timeframe?
Another detail – I stated I have no savings. However, our parents have a bit of cash they can “loan” us in order to meet the requirements, if necessary. It just won’t be in a bank account in either of our names.
It’s a provisional authorization to enter the States on the waiver system. Get him to print out the authorization when he gets it and take it with him in case immigration asks for it (they probably won’t).
I’ve never had anyone ask me for proof that I have enough money to support myself or proof that I have ties to my home country. Just show them that he has a return flight booked, that should be enough right?
Really? As far as I know, the only proof he needs, once he’s received authorization online, is an onward ticket that shows he’s going to leave the US within 3 months (or however long he’s allowed to stay in the US).
ETA: the funds and the ties to the home country are usually only required for things like student visas and such.
I used it last year, but when I was on the plane they told me to fill out the green visa application anyway, just like it used to be before. As far as I know the idea bhind the visa waiver program is to speed things up and pre-approve visas, instead of everybody filling the thing - with resulting mistakes and all - in on the air plane. I’ve never considered it to be anything but a formality - as long as you are a westerner I guess - where they just ask you why you came to the US and how long you are staying.
In some countries you had to apply for a visa before you left the country, which was a great big pain in the ass (standing outside the embassy in line for a good half hour if you’re lucky, and the process took a few days from application to actually getting the visa). The VWP is a godsend - few minutes online, and Bob’s your uncle.
I’ve never actually made use of the program (I will this June) but from what my friends tell me, if you’ve been approved online, all they really want to see is a ticket showing that you’re going to leave the country within 90 days.
PS - they can still deny you entry, of course, but unless the OP’s boyfriend has been involved in human trafficking or has a contagious disease he should be okay.
And make sure he leaves when he is due to leave…a friend of mine (Dutch) toured the US about 10years ago with an orchestra. She, for whatever reason, ended up leaving the US two days after her 90 days. At the time she didn’t think any of it - fast forward to last year. She had to travel to the US again with an orchestra and was denied a visa because she over-stayed by 2 days 10 years earlier…while it did not seem like a biggie at the time but it ended up having repercussions way after
I have been SO stressed out about this. Everyone I’ve talked to who has gone through this (extended stays, but with visas) has told me they are very strict about the rules. In addition to that, I know two people (from the US) who tried visiting European countries only to get sent back home as soon as they landed, so I’ve been very worried.
I’m very glad to hear that this likely isn’t going to be nearly as hard as we’ve been thinking. Huge weight off my shoulders.
He’s coming mid-June… hopefully everything will go well and I’ll soon be starting a thread asking ten million questions about fiance visas.
Again, thanks for everyone’s help & advice. I’m so excited!
What they want to know are really that:
(1) He will return to NZ when he is supposed to;
(2) He won’t work while he’s in the US (and that would include working as a journalist for a newspaper or magazine in NZ).
(3) He won’t marry while he’s in the US.
When he gets interviewed by the immigration person, he should not lie, but he should avoid saying anything that gives the impression that any of those three things might be an issue.
Questions that he might be asked, and that he should have an answer ready for, are:
(1) Why are you visiting the US?
(2) How long are you staying?
(3) Where are you staying?
(4) Do you have any friends or relations in the US?
In addition, he should look as neat and presentable as is possible after the 12-hour flight from Auckland. That’s partly because the better dressed and tidier you are, the more likely it is that you have enough money to support yourself, and partly because the immigration person (like anyone) is basing his/her decision on his/her general impression of you as a person.
Yes, if they ask him why he’s visiting, he shouldn’t say that he’s here to see a girlfriend he met online. He should say he’s here to see a friend and not offer more details unless asked.
Or he could just say he’s here to be a tourist.
He should NOT say that he’s going to be dependent on you for funds, although I doubt they’ll question him in detail about his finances.
Final note - if you do think a fiance visa could be in your future, it’s a good idea to have documents that prove you two have met in person. He should save his ticket stubs, for example, and if the two of you go see a movie or do anything together that leaves a paper trail, save all of that. It will be useful later, should you choose to apply for a visa on behalf of your SO.
