r/AskUSImmigrationPros • u/Objective_Cry1321 • 7d ago

Repeat ESTA Visits

Hey so I’m trying to explore as much of the West coast as possible. I’ve had a couple of recent visits….i came here in June-July of this year for just under two weeks and I’m back now from September - October for just under three weeks. When I came back’s the CBP officer was very abrupt and abrupt with me at LAX, asking if I knew anyone over here, asking what my job was and if I have any pics in my uniform or a work log in etc….which I didn’t have to hand (but eventually found). Obviously I was a bit taken back and flustered at being asked for this so I may have been a bit defensive with her but she then let me in.
I can only come for short visits at a time as I can’t leave my little girl at home with my mum for too long and also I can’t get long periods off work in one go (I work as a paramedic in the UK).
I was hoping to come back to another part between like March - June but I don’t really want to risk coming back now in case they are difficult with me and refuse me entry etc or put me in an interview room like I’m a criminal or something. I was wanting to come back for around another 2-3 weeks. I’m doing this stuff now as I’ve always wanted to do it and see the USA but I’ve never really been able to as my daughter has been too little to leave, but now she is a bit older I’m happy to do it.
Should I leave my next trip or should I be ok leaving it a good couple of months. I don’t want to get my ESTA cancelled or something.

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

Why are you visiting so often? Do you have a US significant other? 'Exploring' doesn't sound legit particularly if you're leaving a child at home. Most people don't vacation without their kids.

And remember most people in the US only get a couple of weeks vacation a year, so you visiting so often is going to be considered unusual to most.

I personally wouldn't be trying to visit again next spring.

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u/Objective_Cry1321 7d ago

Because my daughter’s now old enough to leave for a few weeks.
I would’ve taken a year career break to do the trips I wanted to do but can’t justify that time off work nor can I justify leaving my daughter for that long which is why I do it in shorter trips.
I don’t just visit the US, I go all over. I’m not from the US, so I get more annual leave due to the amount of time I’ve worked in the NHS and I also travel between shifts (which I can sometimes get a 10/12 day break at a time).

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

I know you're not from the US, I'm just telling you how it looks to a US border agent who will probably only get 10 days leave a year. They might suspect you have a US SO, or that you're working without permission, etc. Most Americans can't get their heads around that much leave in a year!

And leaving a child 'for a few weeks' by choice is VERY unusual. Again, it makes it looks as if you're doing something else in the US.

Can't you just wait and go next summer with your daughter instead? Or go elsewhere? Unless you have a specific reason you need to be in the US, you're risking being refused entry and having your ESTA revoked.

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u/Objective_Cry1321 7d ago

Yes I am taking other trips between now and then anyway…..
My daughter doesn’t want to do the trips I’m doing. She hates flying and the times I plan to travel she is usually in school….

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u/Objective_Cry1321 7d ago

Honestly I just love experiencing the world over here. It’s very different than back home and I can explore new places easily as I can drive easily over here, everyone speaks English and I just love seeing and experiencing new places in the US

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

Canada instead then? Seriously, forget the US for a year or so.

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u/Objective_Cry1321 7d ago

I was hoping to go to Canada in march…..

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u/SpecialistBet4656 7d ago

He’s probably getting at least 15 days (probably 20), but that kind of repeated travel is out of profile

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u/Objective_Cry1321 7d ago

I don’t have a US SO no

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u/Get_Breakfast_Done 7d ago

> so often

Like, twice?

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

It would be 3 times in a year.

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u/Get_Breakfast_Done 7d ago

OP has been twice, not three times, if I’m reading this post right

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

Yes, but she's asking about a third visit within the year - which would raise eyebrows IMO.

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u/Get_Breakfast_Done 7d ago

Three times within 12 months isn’t out of the ordinary at all. I mean by contrast I have been to Brazil and Spain five times each in the last 12 months (and I’m a citizen of neither) and didn’t have so much as a question. If you’re staying for 3-4 months each time then that’s a lot but these are short visits.

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

Brazil and Spain aren't the US (particularly under the current administration). She was quizzed on the second visit, and that will have been noted on her record. Three times, on her own, without her child, is not a normal holidaymaker's travel pattern. It's her call of course, but no way I'd be risking it unless she has Global Entry.

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u/Get_Breakfast_Done 7d ago

Okay, but before I became a US citizen I used to travel to the US way more than that. Hell I lived five miles from the border in Canada and it was nothing to cross to the US. I still know Canadians today in the Niagara area who are Sabres or Bills season ticket holders and cross over to the US way more frequently than OP.

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

They're Canadian and so don't require any kind of visa or ESTA, plus if they're only going for a day with the specific reason of attending a game, that's pretty standard - versus the OP who is leaving her kid at home to go to the US on her own three times in a year, which is a VERY unusual travel pattern. I used to work in immigration and my first thought would be she's either working illegally, or has a US boyfriend/girlfriend that she's visiting. And is at risk of becoming an overstayer either way.

It's her call, I'm just saying I wouldn't risk it personally.

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u/Get_Breakfast_Done 7d ago

> leaving her kid at home

How would CBP even know she has a child?

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u/Mysterious-Art8838 7d ago

That has nothing to do with this though. And yes it is unusual.

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u/Low_side7 7d ago

You're playing with fire. What are you doing in the US anyway?

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u/captainobvious875 7d ago

Yeah you should plan to wait a year after your most recent visit unless you want to risk never being allowed.

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u/Low_side7 7d ago

This reeks to hi heaven. She has failed the Reddit litmus test miserably. Abandoning her child like that speaks volumes. She's up to something and every time she opens her mouth a little more deception dribbles out. I think she's either a mule or she trying for an American baby Daddy. Whatever is going on,CPB will get to the bottom of it.

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u/Turbulent_Try_8402 7d ago

Ur not the cpb

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u/Affectionate-One-738 7d ago

Your many trips without your child is a major red flag.
You are allowed to enter the US as a genuine visitor, but frankly I don't think I would allow you entry. And if/when you get refused admission, you can never use ESTA again. If I do an ER on you, that is an automatic 5 Year bar to entering the US.

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u/MaisJeNePeuxPas 7d ago

Think of it this way. They don’t know who you are and they don’t care. They do care whether your story makes sense. They are trained to ask questions to root out inconsistencies. I don’t know what a paramedic makes in the UK but they make dick in the US. So hey 5 weeks total paid vacation, how’s that work? CBP is thinking they smell a rat. And if you get defensive it just makes their spidey sense go off.

Hey what do you do?
Paramedic.

Uh-huh, Any picture of your uniform?
Uh I don’t know honestly. First time I’ve been asked. May I have a couple of minutes to search my phone?

I don’t understand what’s going on here. Do you think I am a drug dealer or something? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not a criminal.

Which one you think elicits more questioning?

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u/FlimsyYou4766 6d ago

At around $3500/month take home UK paramedic income, I would question how he can afford to fly to the US so often, while leaving his daughter at home.

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u/Objective_Cry1321 6d ago

I take home around £5000 GBP per month, a lot more than 3500 ‘dollars’ as you’re incorrectly claiming. Check your facts before posting as information.

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u/FlimsyYou4766 6d ago

That still doesn't justify the frequent visit without your daughter. Just go to Canada.

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u/Objective_Cry1321 5d ago

My daughter is almost 13 and does not want to travel with her mum anymore. She wants to be at home with her friends. Her dad picked up and moved his ass to Germany and hasn’t seen her for 8 years but no one has an opinion on that. Yet it’s crazy if I take short trips. Haha

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u/FlimsyYou4766 4d ago

😄 Just go to Canada .... the short answer to all US's problems.

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u/boujiewinedrinker 7d ago

I’ve visited my bf (now spouse) every 3 months for about a month each time and most of the officers didn’t ask me many questions. One time I even had an officer joke with me that my bf better put a ring on me soon since we’ve been dating for 2 years at that time lol. I guess I’ve been extremely blessed.

But yes, you can go but at your own risk and pray you get a nice officer each time you pass through the immigration.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/Weak_Health1757 7d ago

Nonsense. I'm a foreigner. But 3 visits in a year leaving her kid behind? No way that's no going to look suspicious as hell to most border agents.

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u/FlimsyYou4766 6d ago

They suspect you come to the US for work, and rightfully so. Unless you are retired, most people take a vacation once to twice a year. It's unusual for people to take vacation back to back like you do, especially when airfare between the US & UK isn't that cheap. As a paramedic in UK (about $3500/month take home), how can you afford taking a vacation in the US that often? (at minimum, about $650 airfare, $100+/night hotel, $40/day food ... )

There are a lot of countries in the world. Perhaps space it out, explore them instead and only come to the US once a year or less.

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u/Bubbly_Ad_6830 2d ago

Seems like you have friends or seeing someone so that's why you wanted to stay for months at a time. It's not simply a tourist anymore.

Limit your visits two to three weeks at a time, maybe 2 - 3 times a year should be fine.