Travel to the USA with US Spouse

c6ysaphjvqw41k · 13-11-2018 1:57pm #1

Heading to the US next week with my US spouse for a holiday. First time going since we got married. We both live and work in Ireland. Going through Dublin Airport pre-clearance. Anyone married to an American and been through on the VWP before with their spouse? Was there any issues proving you don't intend to stay, or any questions asked? I guess using the VWP is still the right way to go and not a visa, since we are only going for two weeks? I hope so! Going next week so its a bit late!

coylemj · 13-11-2018 5:25pm

If you think there may be complications, there is no obligation on you to mention that you have a US spouse. And if you're only going for two weeks, a visa would be OTT since ESTA approval will suffice for travel under the VWP.

randomname2005 · 13-11-2018 5:27pm

Same situation, with kids and no problems. Now, next flight will be first with pre clearance, but have had no issues stateside, have return tickets handy.

c6ysaphjvqw41k · 13-11-2018 6:10pm

coylemj wrote: »

If you think there may be complications, there is no obligation on you to mention that you have a US spouse. And if you're only going for two weeks, a visa would be OTT since ESTA approval will suffice for travel under the VWP.

Spouse will be with me so will be hard to hide I imagine! We are visiting in-laws for thanksgiving. I figured visa would be OTT though.

coylemj · 14-11-2018 12:14am

Noel Round Plaza wrote: »

Spouse will be with me so will be hard to hide I imagine!

Your spouse is just another person in the queue. He or she could even join another queue, why do the US officials need to know that you are travelling together? You are travelling under the VWP in your own right and not relying on his/her US citizenship so there is no need for the two of you to present together.

I haven't done pre-clearance here for a few years but when I travelled to Chicago (from Heathrow) a few years ago, myself and a friend were on the same airline booking but we passed through immigration in Chicago in separate queues and none of the CBP officials asked either of us who we were travelling with.

c6ysaphjvqw41k · 14-11-2018 9:12am

coylemj wrote: »

Your spouse is just another person in the queue. He or she could even join another queue, why do the US officials need to know that you are travelling together? You are travelling under the VWP in your own right and not relying on his/her US citizenship so there is no need for the two of you to present together.

I haven't done pre-clearance here for a few years but when I travelled to Chicago (from Heathrow) a few years ago, myself and a friend were on the same airline booking but we passed through immigration in Chicago in separate queues and none of the CBP officials asked either of us who we were travelling with.

You do have to tell them if you are travelling with family members if they ask and are meant to go to the desk together. A friend is different than a family member. A friend of mine traveled earlier this year with her husband and was their first time. They went to separate lines without realizing. She got yelled at and was told to go get him and bring him to the desk with her.

endofrainbow · 14-11-2018 4:00pm

randomname2005 wrote: »

Same situation, with kids and no problems. Now, next flight will be first with pre clearance, but have had no issues stateside, have return tickets handy.

No need to have return tickets handy - they'll already have access to your API provided by the airline.