I think I'm set?

[Jango]

Ok, so I fly to the US on the 10th Nov, and i plan to stay for 3 weeks.
I intent to visit under the visa waiver programme (vwp)

I have my ESTA, which is approved, which I shall print out and keep handy.
I have bank statements showing my funds, to show I will be supporting myself.
However I can't say i have proof to prove I will be returning. By job cant provide that, and i still live at home so i cant show that i pay bills and all that.

Am I all set with this?

Do I literally walk up to the immigration officer and tell him I'm visiting under the Visa Waiver programme? haha

Yes I'm very paranoid and nervous.
I'm even scared I'll fill in the wrong form on the flight over there!

[SoFarAway]

Well, what happens is fairly simple and not as intimidating as you think it will be. This is what's going to happen. While on the plane, the flight attendant will hand out two forms. One is green, the other one is blue. The green form is for the immigration officer where you pretty much answer the same questions that were on your ESTA form when you filed it online, but not as many. The green form shows the immigration officer that you travel as a tourist. You give that form plus your passport to the immigration officer when you arrive. He will ask you a couple of questions and that's it. He might want to see your reservation for your return flight, but you will NOT need any financial forms or lease agreements or bills or payments. Finally, he will take a picture of your pretty face and take some finger prints.

However, do NOT tell him that you are going to visit your SO!!! The reason why you travel to the US is for vacation!!!

The blue form is for customs. You will need that aft immigrating and then picking up your luggage. I highly recommend to be honest with what you are putting down there because your luggage might have been per-scanned. If you lie and the customs officer catches you in the act then it might get uncomfortable and expensive. The form is pretty self explanatory. Just avoid bringing perishable food with you. Let me know if you need anything else.

Be excited! And enjoy your trip!

[Oldblighty]

The last time I went over which was in February this year I was only given a customs form to fill in on the plane. Due to your ESTA being applied for online, border control will already have a record of this. You don't need to tell the immigration officer anything. Just pass him/her your passport and whatever forms you needed to fill on the plane. They will probably ask you a few questions. Like what is the reason for your visit? Say for a holiday to see friends NOT your girlfriend!! How long you intend on staying. I would suggest you print up your flight details so they can see you have a return flight booked. Then like SoFarAway said he/she will take your photograph and fingerprints. It should all go swimmingly Jango, so don't worry too much. Last time I went over, which was for two months I got through ok, even though when the immigration officer asked me who I was staying with I responded with 'family friends' and he replied 'You mean your boyfriend' I replied 'No as I stated previously I'm staying with friends of the family'
I think what we have to realise is that these immigration officers sit there for hours checking passports and asking questions, so there not going to be the happiest of people. I certainly wouldn't want to do that job day in, day out!!!

[Adora]

I had no problem. I just handed the ESTA form and the wee blue form they give you to fill out on the plane. Took my fingerprints and photo and that was it. No problems whatsoever. Yeah dont say your living wiht yuor girlfriend cos that could start them asking all sorts of questions that you dont need. Just say family.

[radioandy]

Ok, so I fly to the US on the 10th Nov, and i plan to stay for 3 weeks.
I intent to visit under the visa waiver programme (vwp)

I have my ESTA, which is approved, which I shall print out and keep handy.
I have bank statements showing my funds, to show I will be supporting myself.
However I can't say i have proof to prove I will be returning. By job cant provide that, and i still live at home so i cant show that i pay bills and all that.

Am I all set with this?

Do I literally walk up to the immigration officer and tell him I'm visiting under the Visa Waiver programme? haha

Yes I'm very paranoid and nervous.
I'm even scared I'll fill in the wrong form on the flight over there!

Hi! All my experience has been with O'Hare in Chicago, which I've since been told is one of the tougher ones for immigration control, so your experience might not be quite like this.

You shouldn't need to take any of the bank stuff if you're travelling from the UK. I never have. You've registered your passport number with ESTA, and when you go through immigration, they'll take your passport, scan it, their computer will show that you're registered, and that'll be it for documentation. They take your fingerprints, and a photograph, and send you on your way.

Do be aware that they can be incredibly rude and surly, just answer their questions (learn your return date and partner's address by rote, any hesitation pisses them off) and resist the temptation to backchat, even if they make sarcastic comments. US immigration and customs staff are, on the whole, pretty dreadful. It's just a hurdle you have to get through to get into a wonderful country.

The blue customs form is also really easy. (More often than not, I get it given to me at the UK airport before I even fly.) They generally want to know how much stuff you're going to be leaving in the US - for me, it's always been $0, because I've just got my own clothes and stuff packed, which I'm bringing home with me.

Hope this is useful and above all, have fun in an amazing country - don't let the US immigration-bots piss you off! It makes me remember how scared and excited I was the first time I went to the US - it was my first flight ever, too, so it was double nerve-wracking! Worth it in the end, though. <3

[Dezface]

It's funny how everyone says don't say you're visiting your girlfriend. I agree, better to play it safe. But when my SO came over, he said he was visiting his girlfriend and she asked where we met and he said the Internet and she said ok and let him on through!

[Haley53]

It's funny how everyone says don't say you're visiting your girlfriend. I agree, better to play it safe. But when my SO came over, he said he was visiting his girlfriend and she asked where we met and he said the Internet and she said ok and let him on through!

I've never had issues with saying my boyfriend or "boyfriend and friends" (him and his brother + others), either. But hey.

The others have given you some pretty sound advice. I usually deal with immigration by only opening my mouth to answer questions! The only place I have really had issues with immigration was in the UK, and all it was was being bombarded with questions. When I took a longer stay, they wanted to know how much money I had/what happened if I ran out and if I was planning on doing travelling or if I was intending on staying in Dublin, but that's about it, nothing too big. I would guess that it should go fine, especially for only a three week visit.

[lucybelle]

I've never had issues with saying my boyfriend or "boyfriend and friends" (him and his brother + others), either. But hey.

Yeah but you weren't entering the USA!

I've never told border control I was coming to visit/stay with/whatever my SO. And he's never offered up he's coming to see me either. Last time he came to the USA they asked him who he lived with in his country. He said ''my girlfriend'' They said ''why isn't she with you?'' He says ''she's already in the USA.'' Never offering that I'm a citizen, but also not denying it. You see? You don't want to lie, but you don't want to give them reasons to be suspicious either.

Make sure to have your return ticket handy.

[aatje89]

You should be fine. I entered the US under the VWP 6x already in 15 months' time for trips of 4-17 days and never ran into any problems. The only time they gave me a hard time was at the infamous O'Hare in Chicago for my last visit, where they sent me for extra questioning and went through my luggage. But since they couldn't find any incriminating evidence and I never overstayed I guess they didn't have a reason not to let me into the country.

I always tell them I'm visiting friends too and only hand in the blue customs form that I make sure to fill in on the plane. They never asked me for bank statements or other proof of ties to my home country on paper, though I did make sure to bring some for the most recent trip.

[Oldblighty]

You should be fine. I entered the US under the VWP 6x already in 15 months' time for trips of 4-17 days and never ran into any problems. The only time they gave me a hard time was at the infamous O'Hare in Chicago for my last visit, where they sent me for extra questioning and went through my luggage. But since they couldn't find any incriminating evidence and I never overstayed I guess they didn't have a reason not to let me into the country.

I always tell them I'm visiting friends too and only hand in the blue customs form that I make sure to fill in on the plane. They never asked me for bank statements or other proof of ties to my home country on paper, though I did make sure to bring some for the most recent trip.

What is it about Chicago O'Hare? I've landed there from England on three occasions now & everytime they give me a really hard time, so much so I contacted homeland security to get a redress number so they didn't bother me anymore. I wondered whether it was down to travelling as a lone female, looks more suspicious than if your with others? Everytime I've had my bags searched and been questioned for over twenty minutes.....Just wish there was another airport nearby I could land because I dread going there every time

[Jango]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I get so nervous because it will look odd for a 20 year old male to travel alone :P

So is it the blue form I need to fill in?

And i'm planning on staying at my GF's house, her brothers place AND her dorm.
But if I get asked at all, I will say i'm just staying at her house.

[Dezface]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I get so nervous because it will look odd for a 20 year old male to travel alone :P

So is it the blue form I need to fill in?

And i'm planning on staying at my GF's house, her brothers place AND her dorm.
But if I get asked at all, I will say i'm just staying at her house.

It doesn't look odd at all. Trust me, there's allllllll kinds of people traveling. In fact your age is probably more common-students seeing the world and such!

[SoFarAway]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I get so nervous because it will look odd for a 20 year old male to travel alone :P

So is it the blue form I need to fill in?

And i'm planning on staying at my GF's house, her brothers place AND her dorm.
But if I get asked at all, I will say i'm just staying at her house.

You will have to fill out BOTH forms. The flight attendant will ask you if you have a visa or if you are a tourist with ESTA and she/he will give you the right form. And for the address, give them your SO's address and tell them they are friends of the family. That will make it look less odd for you traveling alone. don't panic! All will be fine.

EDIT: I am going to fly into Detroit tomorrow. I will let you know if things have changed since my last ESTA entry into the US.

[Haley53]

Yeah but you weren't entering the USA!

I've never told border control I was coming to visit/stay with/whatever my SO. And he's never offered up he's coming to see me either. Last time he came to the USA they asked him who he lived with in his country. He said ''my girlfriend'' They said ''why isn't she with you?'' He says ''she's already in the USA.'' Never offering that I'm a citizen, but also not denying it. You see? You don't want to lie, but you don't want to give them reasons to be suspicious either.

Make sure to have your return ticket handy.

Okay, my ex never had any issue with it either. My SO uses "friends" because it's easiest, but all my ex said was that he was going on a vacation to see his girlfriend and he still got through.

But I like the idea of the half-lie.

[Verojoon]

Now I'm coming from Canada so U.S. customs is wonderfully easy for me, but I always say I am visiting a friend. My boyfriend is a friend... my best friend actually... I guess if they asked me more details about what kind of friend it was I would have to be more specific... abd decide if I want to lie or tell the truth, but I have honestly never been asked.

Also when I fly, I am far from being the only person flying on my own...

And I think saying you are visiting your boyfriend or girlfriend might be more suspicious for people in their late 20s + than younger people... Because generally, they are more ready to make a life with their partner... But I really don't think you need to worry about it. (I flew in to Chicago O'Hare once but I'm lucky, I never have to deal with US customs since I get to go through pre-clearance out of my home airport... )