Hi,
I am a frequent traveller to the US as my current girlfriend is a US citizen and I visit her as much as I can. I am living in ireland, and we got together last year when she was studying abroad here in Ireland. We have decided to go long distance until we can work out a more permanent solution.
This means that I travel to the US about once every 8 weeks, under the Visa Waiver program. I have done so four times so far, without any problems. I have been completely honest with immigration officials as to the purpose of my visit, and they have been satisfied.
As we are trying to work out a permanent solution, I have become quite knowledgable of the US immigration system. I often am concerned that my departure will not be recorded (my I-94W) or that it may be lost in processing. This appears to have happened to a friend of a friend, who was wrongly accused of overstaying his visa the last time he was there, and was basically refused entry. He had to go to the embassy in Ireland and provide work records to prove that he had been here in Ireland since he departed the US. I have read similar stories online of lost departure records. However, I always make sure my I-94W is taken from me when I leave.
I am always extremely careful to abide by all immigration regulations, as if I was ever refused entry to the US, it could be disasterous for my girlfriend and I.
I am aware that the ESTA system will soon replace this, however, they are still asking for I-94Ws during the transition period. This should be more reliable. However, regardless of the system being used, I would like to maintain an "insurance policy" of sorts if I ever find myself in such a situation. I would like to collect additional evidence of my departure each time I go, so that I can present this to officials if they question me. Along these lines I have been thinking of using such things as outgoing boarding passes, school records which show I have been attending university here in Ireland, credit card statements showing that I have been using my credit card here in Ireland and other things. I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything else to use for such evidence of departure?
Also, I would like to compile evidence of my reationship which my girlfriend, if they ever question that. We have many, many photographs together from many countries around the world (including ireland and US), birthday cards, valentines presents etc, hotel bookings with both of our names on them etc. Could anyone suggest anything else?
Perhaps I am being silly. Maybe there is really no point to this, but I would love to here some suggestions. Or maybe there are people out there that have had to prove a departure when they were wrongly accused?
Thank You,
Mike
I am a frequent traveller to the US as my current girlfriend is a US citizen and I visit her as much as I can. I am living in ireland, and we got together last year when she was studying abroad here in Ireland. We have decided to go long distance until we can work out a more permanent solution.
This means that I travel to the US about once every 8 weeks, under the Visa Waiver program. I have done so four times so far, without any problems. I have been completely honest with immigration officials as to the purpose of my visit, and they have been satisfied.
As we are trying to work out a permanent solution, I have become quite knowledgable of the US immigration system. I often am concerned that my departure will not be recorded (my I-94W) or that it may be lost in processing. This appears to have happened to a friend of a friend, who was wrongly accused of overstaying his visa the last time he was there, and was basically refused entry. He had to go to the embassy in Ireland and provide work records to prove that he had been here in Ireland since he departed the US. I have read similar stories online of lost departure records. However, I always make sure my I-94W is taken from me when I leave.
I am always extremely careful to abide by all immigration regulations, as if I was ever refused entry to the US, it could be disasterous for my girlfriend and I.
I am aware that the ESTA system will soon replace this, however, they are still asking for I-94Ws during the transition period. This should be more reliable. However, regardless of the system being used, I would like to maintain an "insurance policy" of sorts if I ever find myself in such a situation. I would like to collect additional evidence of my departure each time I go, so that I can present this to officials if they question me. Along these lines I have been thinking of using such things as outgoing boarding passes, school records which show I have been attending university here in Ireland, credit card statements showing that I have been using my credit card here in Ireland and other things. I was wondering if anyone could suggest anything else to use for such evidence of departure?
Also, I would like to compile evidence of my reationship which my girlfriend, if they ever question that. We have many, many photographs together from many countries around the world (including ireland and US), birthday cards, valentines presents etc, hotel bookings with both of our names on them etc. Could anyone suggest anything else?
Perhaps I am being silly. Maybe there is really no point to this, but I would love to here some suggestions. Or maybe there are people out there that have had to prove a departure when they were wrongly accused?
Thank You,
Mike