Tourist trip to USA while girlfriend works there - what to expect at border check?

Tourist trip to USA while girlfriend works there - what to expect at border check? - Serious diverse couple searching way on map

I was wondering the following: My girlfriend will be going to the USA with a J-1 visa for about 10 weeks to work there as part of an exchange program. I am planning to join her on this trip, but won’t be working, so obviously I’d enter visa-free. We would be renting an apartment for that time period through Airbnb or similar.

So I would mainly stay in the city where my girlfriend works, but would explore the neighbouring area / states during the week. I’d also attend some conferences and events related to my profession.

So I would tell border immigration officers truthfully that I wouldn’t be working, and will be taking some time off while my girlfriend is doing her internship, but I wonder how much I should provide proof for this time off.

Someone warned me to be careful, because they knew a person that was sent back in a somewhat similar situation (although I don’t have the full details on the story). I know that’s a pretty vague precedent, but it got my worrying none the less.

Should I be worried about this? Should I bring proof that I don’t intend to stay in the USA after the 10 weeks are over (e.g. proof of home ownership, proof of having a self-employed business back home, bank statements that I have money to live there & return)? Or will this only raise more (unwarranted) suspicion that I might be expecting trouble? Does anyone have any other tips of what I should mention or (not) bring along, to avoid trouble?

Thanks a lot!






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Tourist trip to USA while girlfriend works there - what to expect at border check? - Serious stylish businessman in elegant white shirt and purple jacket holding leather bag and coat in hand standing on platform on railway station and waiting for train
Tourist trip to USA while girlfriend works there - what to expect at border check? - Focused young man pointing at map while searching for route with multiracial friends in Grand Central Terminal during trip in New York
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Can my girlfriend travel to USA?

If your boyfriend/girlfriend has come to the US under the Visa Waiver Program, then he or she is only allowed to stay up to 90 days at a time, visa-free. For the government to issue her any visa, there must be an advantage to the U.S. government.

Can u bring your GF with visa to USA?

A. As a U.S. citizen, you can bring your girlfriend here on a fianc\xe9e or fianc\xe9 visa. The alternative is to marry her abroad and then petition for her to get an immigrant visa. For the fianc\xe9e visa, you must prove that you had a face-to-face meeting in the two years prior to filing the petition.

What do they check at US immigration?

The officer at primary inspection will verify your identity and check your name against various computer databases. The officers are on the lookout for people who might be a security risk or who are using a tourist or other nonimmigrant visa to gain entry to the United States for illegal purposes or a permanent stay.

How do I get my girlfriend from the Philippines to the United States?

He or she must be petitioned by the American spouse and apply for a visa to enter the United States. The Filipino spouse may enter the United States on a K-3 nonimmigrant visa, CR1 immigrant visa or IR1 immigrant visa. These three spouse based petitions are issued to qualified beneficiaries of American citizens only.



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