Originally Posted by
Mr.Tea
The plot thickens. Thank god I haven't booked anything yet.
In the course of trying to find out who to contact regarding my concern about overstaying, I was looking at my passport and the past dates stamped within it. While bored waiting on hold to Direct Line, I decided to count the days between May 19th and August 17th (the dates stamped in my passport regarding my last trip in the summer).
It's 91 days.
I'm distraught right now as I fear I might just have screwed up any chances of seeing my girlfriend (and America) in the near future. I am positive I counted correctly when booking my flight, and that my original booking from May 19th to August 16th was 89 days.
Is there anything I can do about this? I don't even know who my first point of contact should be in my case. I have written to the US Embassy in London again. Is there anywhere else I should contact?
Thanks again for your replies.
How did you manage to get 2 stamps to figure out entry and exit dates. I thought the CBP only stamped the passport on entry. Since they did away with I-94Ws I do not know how they track when a person leaves the US on ESTA.
If you really did stay 91 days it could be a problem. If the dates are recorded on the computer it will probably show up. What was the reason they grilled you on a previous occasion. It is not a good idea to mention visiting boyfriends/girlfriends. Actually this applies to the UK too. I recall seeing something (I think on the BBC) when I lived in the UK about a US citizen being denied entry to the UK revealing he was there to see a girlfriend. Hopefully you have not mentioned a girlfriend in the past. If you did and you did stay 91 days it could be an issue. Unfortunately the two are not a good combination especially if they have it on record.
On other thing you could try is to apply for a visitor (B) visa. If there is an issue the visa will be denied and you will find out upfront if you may have an issue when you get here. Another thing that people don’t realize about the visa waiver is that you also waive your right to a hearing if the officer decides to deny entry. With a visa you are entitled to a hearing before an immigration official (possibly a judge). So that is one thing you could consider although since you are from a visa waiver country they may question why you are applying for a visa.