Fiance getting nervous about IO in America

Expect to get a secondary inspection at immigration - I did when I went over to marry my American wife on VWP.

I don't think you should expect that, it certainly doesn't happen to everyone.  Be prepared for the chance that it might happen, yes, but for heaven's sake, don't worry!

OMG, thank you for that!

How do I know my fiance is eligible to travel under the VWP?  Because he's from England?

Because he has British Citizenship.

Just a quick note though, that just because he has British citizenship it does not definitely make him eligible for the VWP. Most British Citizens are eligible, but if they have a previous visa refusal or any kind of criminal record or arrest (even if not charged), they cannot travel under the visa waiver program and are required to apply for a visitor's visa (which needs to be done about 4 months before travel due to the long waiting times for interview appointments and visa processing).

There was a report in the Metro newspaper a few months ago about a British couple who had won a holiday to Florida in a competition; however, the husband discovered that because he had been caught stealing an apple about twenty years ago (when he was a teenager), he was not eligible to use the VWP and needed a visa. By the time he realised this, it was too late to apply for the visa (the only visa interview appointments available we for after his travel dates) and so they could not go on the holiday .

Thank you thank you thank you all!

And ksand, my fiance has never been convicted or caught doing anything, and has never been refused a visa or entry into the US.

I'll pass along your post to my fiance as well, sequence.

So if he DOES get pulled for a second inspection, would the IO call me at all to verify?  Did they do that with you, sequence?

They didn't need to do that for me - he just took a quick look through my papers, asked a few basic questions, and I was on my way. Of course by this time my bags had been sitting by the side of the carousel.

I would say that during the whole experience you can reason everything is going to be ok, but you still feel very very nervous. I always figure smile, be polite, organized and to the point helps - they don't have an easy job. My wife and I took the same tack when we went to get her ILR at the Sheffield PEO.

I think my fiance is just really nervous because he's flying into Washington, DC and that's also his layover.  He's hoping he doesn't miss his flight to Ohio.

And HOPEFULLY he'll keep his cool. I know the IO when I was in Heathrow this past Oct. was VERY rude to me, and I didn't lose my cool at all.  Explained things to my fiance and he said "Well, you handled it better than I did.  I wouldn't lost it."  That's not very promising to me...lol.

I know when my BF flew into Dulles the IO was really nice to him. He finds the ones at Newark to be really rude, but well, so do I and I'm a US citizen! Of course it depends on who you get that day, but I thought you could just tell your BF that little tidbit to help him feel better! 

my husband has been through more than one secondary inspection while he was adjusting status for his greencard and was travelling on "advanced parole" (basically the thing you have to file for to travel while your greencard app is processing).

It feels really scary while you're waiting in this office off to the side but as the PP poster said, it only took a couple of minutes once seen and was no big deal.

I always went with him into the waiting area. I can't remember if I got to talk to them with him but it was more at a desk inside the waiting room area than a small dark room with only him and an IO there.

If it happens don't worry. It doesn't mean anythign is wrong. They just want to look over your paperwork more and ask you a couple more questions. Definitely doesn't mean you're going to be given the 3rd degree at all. It just makes your airport stay longer. 99% chance though is you'll be just fine, no secondary screening. And they won't bounce you just for planning to get married... as they point out, its legal!

Don't forget he needs to do this pre-registration thing now.

Vicky

I know when my BF flew into Dulles the IO was really nice to him. He finds the ones at Newark to be really rude, but well, so do I and I'm a US citizen! Of course it depends on who you get that day, but I thought you could just tell your BF that little tidbit to help him feel better! 

Too true! Me and my fiance both go through Newark, and while he's never had problems with the IOs, I got yelled at the last time because I accidentally went past the little red line. I was absolutely knackered after being up for 10 hours at that point, and I didn't see it, and I just wanted to get through immigration and I forgot about it So I got scolded for that (y'know, instead of just saying sorry ma'm, there's a red line, can you back up please until I call you forward). And, I got asked if I have a job, and where I work--I didn't think it was their concern since I'm a US citizen re-entering the US, so I could be poor as a church mouse and it isn't much of their concern as long as my passport is clean. But, I was polite, and tired, and weepy, and I know he was prolly just doing his job, but that question kinda surprised me considering they've never asked my fiance the same question when he goes through Newark

Sorry for the wall of text, I just needed to vent when Newark was mentioned

Don't forget he needs to do this pre-registration thing now.

Vicky

And this, most defintely! It won't take long, my fiance sorted his out when they first got the website up and running back last year, but it seems easy to forget about it

Ha!  That's o.k., Kittenfish.

The nicest IOs I've seen were in Detroit, tbh with you.  And the airport is BEAUTIFUL.

Also, about the pre-registration....

.....my fiance was supposed to fly out in December but due to medical reasons, he was advised not to fly by 3 doctors, so he didn't come to visit.  Now, he had his ticket just moved to March.  He went on the website to pre-register once again, and it said that he's already registered and that it's valid for 2 years.  I guess you don't have to give full details about why you're taking the trip, just whether it's business or pleasure.

Is this right, or is there something else he can do?

My guy just walked in and said he was getting married. They never said a word to him. He had a return ticket for two weeks later.

Also, about the pre-registration....

.....my fiance was supposed to fly out in December but due to medical reasons, he was advised not to fly by 3 doctors, so he didn't come to visit.  Now, he had his ticket just moved to March.  He went on the website to pre-register once again, and it said that he's already registered and that it's valid for 2 years.  I guess you don't have to give full details about why you're taking the trip, just whether it's business or pleasure.

Is this right, or is there something else he can do?

He should be okay methinks. My fiance filled it out back last year but didn't put in the information for his flight, since he didn't have those details yet. That's the only thing they want updated if I remember rightly, and maybe an address that he'll be staying at, but the rest of the pre-registration is okay since all that other information has stayed the same in theory

what is pre-registration?
 

what is pre-registration?
 

Pre-registration is the ESTA online form, which all visa waiver visitors to the US must now complete before travelling to the US. It was introduced in January 2009 and it's quick and simple to register, but must be done a minimum of 72 hours before you fly. Once you've registered once, it is valid for 2 years so if you travel to the US again within the 2 years, you don't have to pre-register again.

If you're American or you don't qualify for the visa waiver program and need a visa for the US, then you don't need to pre-register with ESTA.

See here: http://www.visitusa.org.uk/visitors/esta.aspx (some info on ETSA) and here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ (the ESTA registration site... it was down when I clicked on it though)