> Hello, I am a 25 yr old Australian citizen with a girlfriend who is a
> U.S citizen. I have used the Visa Waiver Program to visit her in the
> U.S on four separate occasions. They are as follows:
>
> October 30th 2005 for 3 weeks
> November 02 2005 for 3 weeks
> February 08 2006 for 6 weeks
> April 25 2006 for 15 weeks
>
> During my last visit I was pulled aside by an Immigrations Officer and
> basically told that I was visting the U.S too often under the VWP and
> not spending sufficient time in my own country (I understand that it
> may look bad - like I'm a potential illegal alien, however current
> circumstances have allowed me the luxury of travelling whenever I want
> to - lax job, no children etc). I was told that I should wait 5 or 6
> months before I come back, although they let me in anyway. However,
> during that last visit I overstayed the VWP by 18 days (my girlfriend
> was unwell).
>
> Now I want to return to the U.S again (only a couple of months after
> my last visit). I am aware I must apply for a visa and have recently
> applied for a B2 visitor visa. How likely is it that, based on my
> history, I will be denied a visa at the interview? Is my 18 day
> overstay on the VWP going to cause problems? Is the immigration
> officers suggestion that I wait several months before returning to
> the U.S a hard and fast rule? Will a visa make any difference to
> that? What is the chance that I will still be refused entry even if I
> obtain a visa?
>
> Any suggestions, tips, similar experiences etc would be greatly
> appreciated
>
> Thanks
I'd be interested in the answer to the "how many (visits under VWP) is
too many?" question too, although I know there's not going to be a
definite answer! I'm leaving tomorrow for a 3-week stay with my fiance
in the US, and am a bit worried about not being let in after the
interrogation/suspicion (even though the immigration officer was
friendly enough, he gave me a thorough grilling and said that any of his
colleagues might well have not let me in!) I got at the POE when I
arrived for a 4-week stay in June. Prior to that, I'd been to the US for
10 days in April 2005, 10 days in Sept 2005, 10 days in Nov 2005... and
that was it (well, unless you want to count 7 days in 2003 and 10 days
in 1997!)... so I'm having a bit of a mild panic that they might think I
have 'immigration intent' and turn me away.
Anyway, after all that rambling - I just wanted to say - how did you go
to the US for 3 weeks from Oct 30th 2005, followed by 3 weeks from Nov
2nd 2005? That can't be right!
Good luck...
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