Entering on a VWP

This is rather convoluted and now I am not entirely sure you're not intending on overstaying your allotment of time. keep it short and sweet and honest.
You are a tourist visiting for pleasure. Give your 'partner's' address as your intended location. Stay the alloted time. leave when you're supposed to. Simple as that.

I have not intentions of overstaying at all. I'd be an idiot to do so cause that would result in getting banned from re-entering in the future. My partner will be there for another year and I'd be very, very stupid to get myself into trouble with HS.
All I want for now is to stay there for 3 months and then be able to visit him whenever I have a vacation and as a teacher I have quite a few of those.
A LDR is difficult enough allready and the last thing I need is to be banned for several years because I overstayed a tourist visa.

The ESTA I think I will fill in asap cause if I don't get approved I'm also screwed cause I don't live in my country of origin. I can't apply for a visa here.

Yes, you can. You can apply for a visa in any country, although doing so in your own country increases your chances of getting one (easier to show proof of ties).

The Netherlands, like all Schengen countries, have exit controls. That means you must go through immigrations as you leave, as well as when you enter.
Also, when you board a plane, the airlines want to make sure you are eligible to enter the US, because they can face consequences.

I have not intentions of overstaying at all. I'd be an idiot to do so cause that would result in getting banned from re-entering in the future.

The length of the ban is determined by the length of the overstay. However, you must always apply for a visa afterward, as you would no longer be eligible to use the VWP.

Wait... you're a teacher? Do you have proof of that? If you do, bring it. Any proof of a job helps.

I know everything sounds bad, but it's not a good situation to be in. That's the way it is. You may get in, or you may have to buy a very expensive seat on the next plane to where you flew from, or the airline may not even let you on to fly over in the first place. It's unknown, and we can't tell you with any certainty which it'll be. We can only tell you it's not looking good.

My current contract ends in august and I don't have a new one, so I'm not sure if that will be of any help. But seriously, who carries around an employment contract, rental contracts and thinks like that when you simply go travelling?

"The Netherlands, like all Schengen countries, have exit controls. That means you must go through immigrations as you leave, as well as when you enter."
They people who did the security check where not from the Dutch immigration. They were wearing uniforms of a private security company but did have access to the HS data base. I wonder whether they worked for the airline or if they were connected to HS. Just out of curiousity.

Out of curiousity, how many of those who answered have had personal experience with VWP or applying for visas?

Edited by: siduri

#6 --

You don't say anthing more. You don't need to.

Well, not unless you're asked. Then it's probably best to answer, as I think you will agree.

If you have some technique to prevent being asked, you should share it.

Out of curiousity, how many of those who answered have had personal experience with VWP or applying for visas?

With both.

I think the key is not to get freaked out. You are not intending to overstay your visa, so you have nothing to hide. Bring proof of funds, an onward ticket, and be sure you can articulate your plans for after you exit the US. (Do you have a new job lined up? If not, do you have specific plans to find a new job, in a particular location? Etc. They may ask about that.)

For what it's worth, I entered the US yesterday, from Amsterdam. They did indeed have security there asking some questions, and I saw they questioned some people a bit further, but they were not hostile, just trying to get an idea of what the person is going to do in the US.

And for what it's worth #2, even with a visa you have to pass homeland security, and they will still question you. Since your trip's goal (tourism) and length (90 days or shorter) are not such that they are not allowed under the VWP, I don't think you have much to gain by applying for a visa.

Shilgia, maybe I was just unlucky and that über-bitch who questioned me had a bad day or was on power trip.
At least I know what to expect, so that is a plus and as you mention the key thing might be not to get freaked out.

I have entered the US multiple times through VWP, on a student visa, and then as a green card holder. There seems to be huge variance in terms of how the DHS border guards treat you.

Here's my 2c in terms of advice:

Be prepared, be confident, be sober and be honest when you approach border control. Bring paperwork - copies of your teaching contract, rental agreement, plane ticket out of the US, anything that will back you up. Unless you are a very good liar, honesty is the best policy. That said, tailor your story to assure DHS of what they want to hear. Basically, they want to hear:

1) that you are not intending to marry your partner and remain in the US. This is something they suspect of people visiting their significant others in the US, and it's unpopular with immigration (it's a no-no to enter on a non-immigrant visa or waiver with "immigrant intention" - I have been through seven types of sh*te on this one). It's quite likely they will ask something relating to this, and it's best for you to have previously decided how to answer this question. Something like "we're not planning a wedding yet, and if we did get married we'd live in [the Netherlands (eg)] to be near my family" - any country apart from the US! This is where proof of ties (family, job, etc) to a non-US country will help you out. Ask a friend or relative in the country you lived in most recently if you can use their address as your "home country" address.

2) that you have enough money for your trip. I've been caught out on this one before, arriving into Washington with very little cash but plenty of plastic money. You can help this one by appearing to be financially well-off - dress nicely, have various credit/debit cards/travelers checks available to show them, and if you really want to make sure, consider doing this before you leave: get a large short-term loan (from your bank, family or friend(s). Literally over a weekend. Bung the loan into your bank account, order a bank statement showing that you have a chunk of cash in the bank. Pay back the loan. Take the bank statement with you as proof of funds. They will not bother calling your bank to verify current balance.

Also, I'd plan beforehand what to say when they ask about work. They would much rather hear something like "I work as a teacher, and after this visit I'm planning to return to work teaching in [Manchester, England (or wherever - non US!)]" than "I don't know". Because that will raise suspicions about working illegally in the US.

Good luck!

jvb, thanks for that answer. Very helpfull!
You wrote lots of things that I allready thought about for instance not to answer 'I don't know' but have a sensible answer ready.

There is one thing I wonder, when you go on a holiday for leisure who on earth travels with a copy of their employment contract, rental agreement, etc.? I've travelled quite a lot but never came up with something like that.
The cash part makes perfect sense, the onward ticket,too. There are other countries who require that.