Retired UK spouse visiting USA

Hi, I've searched other threads but am interested if anyone has recent experience (and please refer me elsewhere if I've missed something).

My civil partner and I live in the UK. I am a US citizen and she is British. We've traveled to the USA a number of times together, always for a week or two to visit my family and friends. She's never had a problem although we've always entered the US through separate lines (we thought we had to, but now it seems we should travel together, but that's a different story).

Recently my partner retired, so she no longer has a job in the UK. We are planning sometime in the near future to take a longer trip which would involve up to 90 days in the US (obviously no more, since her ESTA wouldn't allow it). I would not at that point be in full-time UK employment--I'd plan to take a "career break."

What issues might there be with this, to ensure US border that our home is in the UK and we will both be returning here? She won't be returning to a job, obviously. We could demonstrate home ownership although the house is in her name; could this be taken as evidence that I *won't* be returning to the UK and thus, that she might overstay in the US? What other evidence might they want to see, to prove that we are just coming for a longer visit and she has no intention of working or overstaying?

I'm just trying to think things through before we make some big error. She has always had pleasant experiences at the border (unlike myself!) and I would hate for us to plan a dream trip, only to turn into some nightmare of being turned back.

When I was still living in US, DH came frequently for extended visits even after he was retired.  I wouldn't say he had no problems because there was always some kind of a problem depending on which airport he came through -- but no one ever commented on his being retired.

Thank you, BostonDiner. I guess I was worried that neither of us would be able to demonstrate jobs in the UK, but surely if we are both coming back to a house here, and can show financial ties, they wouldn't suspect her of wanting to overstay. We'll have onward tickets to show as well.

He used to get a lot of guff like "Why doesn't your wife move to Britain?" from the immigration officers    He did get put in the sin bin once but got cleared pretty quickly.  He found they tended to be less stroppy if he could comment on how the Red Sox (insert local sports team) were doing!

I think as long as she has the ESTA there shouldn't be a problem.  I know it is nerve-wracking though.  Good luck.

He used to get a lot of guff like "Why doesn't your wife move to Britain?" from the immigration officers    He did get put in the sin bin once but got cleared pretty quickly.  He found they tended to be less stroppy if he could comment on how the Red Sox (insert local sports team) were doing!

I think as long as she has the ESTA there shouldn't be a problem.  I know it is nerve-wracking though.  Good luck.

Thanks. We'll be traveling together, so hopefully that will make things easier--or at least not harder!