Marrying on esta POE advice

Hello everyone!

I apologise straight away if this is the wrong place for this but I figured that people on here would have the experience to be able to help.

I'm due to fly out to the US on Saturday to marry. I'm going to be staying for 3 weeks. My nerves are absolutely shot. I've barely slept or eaten since Monday. Most people may chuckle but I'm so nervous about arriving at the gate.

I have got a letter from work saying that I'm permanently employed and the dates of my authorized leave, a copy of my return ticket and a copy of my travel insurance.

I am so nervous about having to convince the CBP officer that I plan to leave. I'm afraid I've been reading horror stories on Google.

I am having to take my decree absolute with me to show the people when obtaining the marriage license. Because I have this I feel that I should mention that I'm getting married when asked the purpose of my visit. Most people online advise saying "visiting my fiance" and only mentioning marriage if specifically asked but I don't know if I should say that having the decree in my luggage in case they find that and think i was trying to hide it.

I hope I've been clear enough, I also hope people can share advice and experience to maybe calm my nerves.

Thank you in advance.

Alex

Really, there’s nothing to be nervous about. Remember, people enter the US as visitors to get married every single  day. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing and actually, the US government TELLS you to enter on the ESTA if you want to marry but not live in the US after the wedding:

In fact probably won’t even ask you to show any evidence at all. You’re only taking it as a ‘just in case’... so that if they do ask for it, you will be prepared and will have it to hand.

Chances are, your conversation with the immigration officer will go something like this:

IO: What is the purpose of your trip?
You: To visit my fiancé
IO: How long are you planning to stay?
You: 2 weeks
IO: What do you do in the U.K.?
You: (say what you do)
IO: And what are you planning to do during your visit?
You: We’re going to get married
IO: Congratulations/Good luck/etc. Have a great trip
(IO stamps your passport and you walk through)


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It's nothing to fear! As ksand said, they'll ask you some basic questions, just be honest. My husband and I married in the States and they asked him why he was visiting, how long he was staying and told him congratulations. Took less than a minute. Try not to worry and congratulations!

Yep, my husband did this two months ago (through Dublin). The officer asked the purpose of his visit, he said to get married, how long he's staying - four days - then congratulations and a stamp. He said it was actually quicker than when he was visiting me before getting married!

Really, there’s nothing to be nervous about. Remember, people enter the US as visitors to get married every single  day. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing and actually, the US government TELLS you to enter on the ESTA if you want to marry but not live in the US after the wedding:

In fact probably won’t even ask you to show any evidence at all. You’re only taking it as a ‘just in case’... so that if they do ask for it, you will be prepared and will have it to hand.

Chances are, your conversation with the immigration officer will go something like this:

IO: What is the purpose of your trip?
You: To visit my fiancé
IO: How long are you planning to stay?
You: 2 weeks
IO: What do you do in the U.K.?
You: (say what you do)
IO: And what are you planning to do during your visit?
You: We’re going to get married
IO: Congratulations/Good luck/etc. Have a great trip
(IO stamps your passport and you walk through)


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Yep! Exactly this! My husband had zero issue (he was more concerned with the rocky landing they had that literally caused everybody to applaud because they thought they weren't going to make it!). From what I can remember about the process, he told me they just asked similar to the above and it was really casual and the person just congratulated him/wished him luck on the wedding and that was that.

Best of luck to you! Hope you have a fantastic wedding!

We weren't even asked (entered together).  But yeah.  Comments will range from "Congratulations!" to "It's not too late to change your mind."     Absolutely nothing to worry about.  Think about how many people fly into Vegas to get married. 

We did it this way as well, and it was fine.  DH did get interviewed in one of the little rooms, but the questions were all the typical ones (what do you do for a living, where are you staying during your visit, how long are you staying, etc).

He said the interviewer was actually more laid back and friendlier than the usual IO you encounter at the desk.  Apparently, in addition to the travel and marriage questions, they talked in great length about growing tomato plants.

You wont have any problems with this. Lots of people get married on an ESTA. It's good you're prepared with documents tying you to UK though as that will make you feel more confident knowing you have that. British people aren't considered high risk so the likelihood of being taken to secondary is minimal, and even then you would be fine. I'm not sure about other airports but LAX has a separate line for VWP travelers and the guys on those desks ask much less questions.
I'd seriously recommend those people travelling to the US a lot for relationships etc to apply for Global Entry. It's the best $100 I've ever spent and I've not had to speak to an immigration officer in two years now apart from a greeting (and even a smile!).

I'm due to fly out to the US on Saturday to marry.

You will be fine! Have a great time!   

Well!

What a lovely thing to come home from work and to see.

You guys have REALLY taken a weight off of my mind. I've been absolutely terrified!! The thought of secondary makes me feel sick.

Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it. I'm glad that there are so many good stories.

I will be sure to post once I'm in and had my Wendy's!

thanks again.,

Alex

I will be sure to post once I'm in and had my Wendy's!

You spelled "Taco Bell" wrong! :p

You spelled "Taco Bell" wrong! :p

It’s actually spelled Chickfila.

You spelled "Taco Bell" wrong! :p

I’m pretty sure it’s spelled Carl’s Jr.


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Don't listen to them, Wendy's for the win!

Ill be brutally honest...

Last time I was there I cooked ONCE.

Everything else I ate was the fast food variety.

Oink.