What not to say at US preclearance?

Ah the yanks and their self importance. I remember a guy in airport asking me loads of questions but like he was my friend. Asking me about my job and what time I start in the morning, weird stuff, am I in an upstairs or downstairs office

I'm going on my holidays, leave me alone

I'd recommend not starting by shouting "Allahu akbar" at them anyway

Answer the questions asked and don't add to the conversation

Just don't say anything about working remotely. You're visiting your girlfriend. They can't and won't, assume that means you will overstay and deny you entry. If anything that would only cause more issues for a future with her together if you wanted to move there, it would be stupid to do that.

It's actually not that common to get the 3rd degree if you're from Ireland, they sometimes chat to you more simply because American people often like Irish people or have Irish ancestry. But then also the airport cops/homeland security are known to be at the top end of the wanker scale (if you ask a normal cop they will tell you that.)

It is how you phrase things. I have seen people grilled for saying they are 'going for work', which in an Irish sense they mean that their employer is sending them for a short work-related trip. But they interpret it as going to the US on a short visa, but looking for employment.

If you say that you are going for some in-person meetings with colleagues or a conference, they don't bat an eyelid.(For Employment related trips)

As previously stated above, if you are going for a short visit to see your girlfriend, then just say that. If they ask about work, it is to establish that you work in Ireland and will be returning to it, so better not to say that you will be planning to work remotely while vacationing.

I travel with work laptop., iPad and phone..never a problem.

Stop scaremongering.

unless you are a utter ass while talking to the officer it’s 3 minutes to get through.

Main potential issue in theory, if the girlfriend is a yank, would be if they suspect you are going over there with the intention to get married there.

I've been through the US preclearance several times as my wife is from there. On most occasions they just ask me the purpose of my visit and how long I'll be staying for. Take my fingerprints, stamp my passport, and off I go. But there were two exceptions. On one occasion, they asked me where my wife was (she was in the US citizens lane), and also wanted to know where I worked and how much of a salary I was making. The second occasion was when I went over for Christmas just gone. Asked me nothing, took my fingerprints and didn't even stamp the passport!

Have often travelled with a work laptop, phone, etc. and never any issues at all. I did once make the mistake of answering what is the purpose of your trip with saying "going for work" which is a common Irish expression but interpreted differently - I meant spending time at a US branch of my company for work purposes. You are over thinking this, you're going on holidays, visiting a friend. It really isn't as scary as it may sound in this thread!

Good advice.

Here is an online resource verifying what I said

It explains the illegality of entering with intention to marry, and subsequent possible difficulties with trying to regularise that situation. The link shows that the practice would be illegal - not that the OP is doing it.

The OP is not intending to go and marry their gf, but that does not mean he would be able to convince a suspicious CBP Officer that that is the case. As I said, the officer make the decision on the spot and you waive your right of appeal under VWP. The OP does not have to be doing X to be denied - it merely have to be suspected that they might do it.

Where he would be more likely to run into trouble would be frequent and extended visits under VWP if it got to that. After a VWP denial he would have to apply for a visitor visa. In which case traveling to meet a partner would definitely make it more difficult to obtain

Is it likely to arise - no. But would it be impossible for the OP to inadvertently say something stupid that results in their denial of entry - no.

The visa waiver allows you to travel for business. I have entered the States four or fives times a year for the last decade and every time I say "I'm going on business to my company's HQ". They're not going to refuse you entry for checking a few emails.

Just be honest. The absolute worst thing you can do is be nervous and stuttering as you're trying to keep your story straight.

Put the laptop in your checked bag, problem solved.

I used to travel a lot for work - never had any issues.

However, my company suggested that if we were ever questioned on what we would be doing to just tell them it was training

People bring laptops on holidays for a variety of reasons - not just work - so having a laptop shouldnt be an issue. I've friends who wont travel anywhere without their laptop (email, watching films, surfing net, booking things online etc etc)

At the time I went just before Christmas, the person before me was asked something about the contents of his bags but not a thing said to me.

I recently moved to the US, and came back to Ireland for work. When returning to the US, they asked why I was carrying three suitcases. I explained and it was no issue.

Also, I had visited plenty of times for work over the past few years, clearing immigration in Dublin, San Francisco, and LA, and crossed land borders into Mexico dozens of times and and it's never ever been an issue. You are allowed to travel for work, as long as it's for less than 90 days, and you are not being paid by a US entity.

I really doubt they would ask a question like that.

Unless you gave them some reason to in the first place.

I can say that nothing happens.

How aware of your overstay 20 years ago are the US authorities?

You would only have got the 10 year ban if you were caught.

I have not been to the US in years but back 20 years ago they stapled the green slip to your passport on entry and it was then removed by the air line staff (not immigration) when you were leaving.

When overstayers returned to Ireland that green slip was well gone before they even got to the airport

All the green slips were sent to immigration to be tallied as it were.

If there were records where there was a green slip issued but not returned they were obviously flagged.

Did you dump your green slip before checking in for your eventual return to Ireland?

If so when you go to immigration pre clearance next time they might have a record with your name with a non returned green slip flag on it.

Then again it was so long ago they might not.

But you could always go to the embassy, tell them you overstayed 20 years ago and get a visa. Once you can prove that you are unlikely to overstay again they will issue it fairly easily.