Difficulties likely faced when travelling regularly to the US border on an ESTA (also for long durations)
Upvote:4
I'll be staying with my girlfriend in a house we've had together for about a year.
That's enough to get you denied entry right there. If you said that to an immigration official that's basically confessing to living in the US, which is not allowed on the Visa Waiver Program however long you are staying.
Upvote:6
Technically you have done nothing wrong and there is no specific reason why you should be denied entry other than "I don't like the way this looks". Unfortunately US CBP officers have an unseal amount of leeway (and an unusual lack of accountability) and they can apply "I don't like the way this looks" for whatever reason they feel like.
It's hard to predict what will happen. You may just sail through, you may get some mild questioning, they may give you a good grilling or even pull you into secondary inspection.
The best way to prepare is to
- Anticipate the questions and prep answers. Rehearse them so you can tell them calmly and with confidence. A lot of this a psychological shell game.
- Make sure you have your return ticket handy
- Have proof of cancellation for your intended return flight in June. "I wasn't planning to stay that long, but my original flight got cancelled and it took a long time to get a new one lined up". Make sure your stories are FACTUALLY CORRECT. If I recall correctly, there was good flight availability in summer so you might get questions around why it took so long.
- Bring proof of "ties to the old country". Proof of employment, bank account statement that shows a good balance and regular pay checks, utility bills, etc. If you have appointments or bookings in the UK after your return, you can show those. Only refer to them if asked, don't go there proactively. If they ask why you are prepared just tell them the truth: "Given how much time I spent here last year, I thought I might get questions around this and I want to make sure I can document my good intent as much as possible".
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