The interview will probably only take 1 minute.

5 tips for the OP:

1. Be well rehearsed in all of the correct answers.

2. Show no nervousness or fear.

3. Yawn a lot and comment on the longest trip imaginable. (Yes, yawning works wonders since nervous people won't be yawning)

4. Be friendly and honest.

5. Never over-answer question as this indicates fiction.


I've been successfully yawning at the last 60 entry interviews ever since I reacted nervously to a question many years ago. Oddly, it was about being on a farm in Germany since we ate at a restaurant on a "farm"! This resulted in a detour to a second interviewer. Never again.

This^ +1

its not the "usual" case that people are worried about... :)

Honestly, what will probably happen is the CBP officer will take one look at your passport see that you're Australian, ask you why you're coming to the US, stamp you passport before you can even finish your response, and in you'll go. There's not really a huge problem of Australians migrating to the US illegally. :D

For residents they do also take your picture with a little webcam type device right at the booth which takes about 2 seconds though I'm not sure if they do that for internationals.

Just stay relaxed, honest if you're questioned about anything, and make sure you have money/credit cards, etc just to show that you're able to fund yourself on the trip in the event that someone asks. There is nothing illegal or questionable about what you're planning to do, so you really have no need to be concerned.

This is what you should do. You can "expect" your interview will take a) one minute or less, or b) longer than it should because you don't follow these simple rules. Having proof of funds, proof of return, etc. will help in the event it turns poorly to (b). A polite hello followed by confident, concise answers to all questions generally makes it closer to (a). I dealt with this nonsense between Canada and USA for quite some time and got it down to a science.

Picture and fingerprint capture are done for visitors to the U.S. too. The OP should expect that as part of the routine process for a tourist to the U.S.

One of the lst things they ask us (l) How long are you staying in the US? Then,
(2) What date are you returning?
(3) What is the purpose of your visit?
Be truthfull. If you are visiting a 'pen pal' and his family, tell them. If they want further info they will ask for it.
They will always take your photo and fingerprints so the next time you enter the US, they will have your details on the system. Never OVERSTAY. Don't return on the 90th day under the VWP. Planes get delayed sometimes for a day and, I believe they record when the plane successfully leaves the tarmac, not when you board at the Gate. I have gotten off the tarmac and been returned to the Gate. It's OK if you only travel occasionally but if you visit more often you need to watch the dates.

Most importantly, you have a return ticket.
Only answer the questions they ask, don't supply more detail than they need.
Have a good vacation.

Agreed

Hope for the minimum encounter and be prepared for the lengthy secondary. Bear in mind that CBP's concern is that you will overstay and become a burden on the US (no different for the USN entering Canada, UK, Australia or any of a host of other countries).

The only reason the boyfriend issue matters is that you might be tempted to overstay.

Thus, have clearcut documentary proof of your intent to return when scheduled, funds to support your stay and contact information for the boyfriend and relatives.

Whatever you do, do not lie. Lying includes withholding details which a reasonable person knows are significant and it also includes playing word games. Lying becomes the basis to pop you on the next flight back, so don't do it.

There is nothing to be nervous about and there is no reason to seat this. Just have the stuff ready if you are asked, but don't start pulling it out until challenged on it.

Remember, although there is all kinds of snark above, this is not a policy debate. Maybe it ought to be easier to move between countries, but it isn't.

I don't try to take power trips over people who have just spent 12 hours in an economy seat. I get that sometimes this is part of the job and it occasionally works.

> be truthful

+1

> Never OVERSTAY.

+1

... and for gawd's sake, if you are claiming to be a tourist/visitor, do not get married during this visit. Immigration looks really dimly on such seemingly spontaneous acts of affection/devotion.

Boy friend sounds too close to marriage ! ? ADD to above....
Say you are visiting at the family's invitation. Spend time with them and visit some sights ( prepare to throw out a couple of local tourist sited, maybe Las Vegas if budget permits etc ?

Too too glib and well prepared may raise suspicions .....

Forget to mention that last time I was arriving at LAX they were just opening the automated entry counters. Not a single question by the guy stamping my passport after that :-).

When initially asked "purpose of trip", aren't "business" or "pleasure" acceptable answers unless further pressed?

As some who's done long distance for a long time, and someone who's traveled to the US many times for long periods (literally 3 months on the day), I've got a few pointers for you.

1 - Never ever ever have someone else book travel for you. Always make sure to book flights and travel on your own credit card. Even if your parents, his parents or he himself want to pay for it just tell them to give you the money afterwards or upfront. They can immediately see that the travel was booked with someone else's credit card and you will get a second interview just based on that if you're unlucky. I'm speaking from personal experience, so never doing that again.

2 - If you have a pick, pick the opposite sex when walking to a customs officer. It sounds weird, but my fiancee and I have experimented with this and across the board it seems to smoothen things up a little bit.

3 - Carry every piece of documentation they could ever ask for. Travel itinerary, hotel stays, car rental, even print outs of plans you have like visiting specific cities or sights can help if they doubt your purpose of visiting.

4 - Tell the people/family you're visiting beforehand that they could receive a phone call from customs in the worst case scenario. Walk them through the situation and tell them a few things about what they should and should not say. I've heard of instances where this happened and the person picking up the phone playing it off like it was just a short visit, which ended up backfiring since the person in question was staying for three months.