Taking niece to America while she is unemployed

Hey.. as long as you have return tickets and money I can not imagine anyone will care.. they just want to see that you have money to support yourselves while there and a ticket to return. Doubt they will ask if she is employed. She can just say student.. no one will care.. its all about money and tickets.

They may well ask what she does (I've been asked).

It's never a good idea to tell an outright lie to US immigration but as long as she is just there as a tourist and will leave the country it won't be a problem.

I wouldn't worry about it. She doesn't need to be employed to visit America. You have funds and tickets. I have never been asked if I am employed during my visits to Europe. I actually lost my job 4 months ago so I am unemployed but I fly to Spain on Saturday. No one will care.

While you should never lie to an immigration official, you should also never volunteer information that isn't asked. So, if she is not asked her occupation, she should say nothing. If she is asked, she can say what she is looking for work as. She can then explain (again if asked) that you are paying for the entire trip (I'm sure she isn't the first person coming to the US who couldn't have afforded the trip without help).

Although my brother's girlfriend did get turned around and put on the next flight back to London when she admitted that she was unemployed. But that was 30 years ago.

sam did she have sufficient funds? a hotel reservation? a return ticket? there is more to that story, being employed has never been a requirement to enter a country.. having proof you don't plan on being a burden is..

Hi thanks for your replys. Sound like they won't be any problems

It also depends from which country and if they perceive high likelihood of staying in this country. Scotland - no problem. Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Albania, Kosovo, etc. could be different.

I would think twice before I said I was looking for work. The officer might think she is looking for work in US.

Certainly don't take along any documents that are job seeking related - cv/resume, certificates etc.

The customs officers can ask anything they want. It's important to only answer the question they have asked. Don't volunteer any other information. My dd has been asked where she works on numerous occasion crossing into the US and I know for a fact that the Canada border service do ask that same question. It's all about non-citizens trying to "sneak" into the country and working illegally.

eddy,

I doubt that you'll be asked, but they may ask for proof of your financial resources for the trip, as that happens here on occasion. As the others have said, answer each question truthfully but don't volunteer any information they didn't ask for.

Do your Passports have the electronic chip? Be sure to check the expiry dates. If you're both citizens of the U.K., you should be able to travel on the Visa Waiver Program. You may have to submit information for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) (I'm not sure, so you'll have to check).

If either of you have any convictions for offences such as DWI / DUI, that could be a problem.

Yes, I think the key thing is to be relaxed, answer all questions, and don't volunteer answers to questions not asked.

Hi thank again for the replys. As I am traveling on a visa which I got a 5 year multitrip. Would that cause any concern. Maybe I'm being paranoid

What countries are your passports? If you have an EU passport you shouldn't need a visa unless you are planning to work.

If you can prove you have some money to cover your expenses, should they ask, a return ticket, not an exceeding amount of luggage for the amount of time you'll be there, and the two of you traveling together, you won't have a problem.

As stated, the immigration officers are looking for people who want to break the law by either causing trouble or trying to work without a visa. It doesn't sound like you will have any reason for the officers to be suspicious. You don't need to be employed to visit the U.S. We just want you to have enough money to spend and leave here so that the government doesn't have to raise our taxes.

Yes, I think you are being too paranoid. :)

Back in 1999 I went on a road trip from South Dakota to Calgary, Alberta and my friends and I were stopped at the Canadian border. We were held for several hours and questioned separately. All of the questions amounted to how we expected to pay for things and if we were expecting to stay indefinitely. After we assured them that we were only visiting for a week and had cash and credit cards to pay for things, we were finally allowed to continue on our journey.

I certainly got grilled about my work when going to the other way (flying into Manchester in 2013). The guy questioned us for a very long time. What we did for a living, where, what education was required, how long staying, how can you possibly afford that, do you have intentions on not returning home, let me see your return ticket, show me reservation confirmations. And so on. I think without the return ticket, I'd have been sent right back.

Surprisingly, the most grilling I ever had was by American Airlines a few weeks ago at LHR. I had to check a bag and was flying home after a long trip.

I was asked who bought my ticket, why was I traveling, what I did for a living, why I did it, what was there for a tourist to do at my destination, who was I visiting, and so on. The "interview" took at least 5 minutes. He said it was AA's new policy for people who checked bags.

It was ridiculous.

Hi thanks for the replys, Frank the reason that in had to get a visa was due to my past convictions. I was supposed to be there today on holiday in new York bur had to cancel plans due to fathers health

so did your niece go?

Hi I'm planning on taking my niece next year as it's her 25th birthday. It was only me it was supposed to have went yesterday

maybe she will have found a job by then.... then the question will be moot.