Petit point rapide sur ma situation. Je souhaiterais rendre visite à ma petite amie (américaine) en septembre. Nous sommes ensemble depuis 2 ans et j'ai toujours eu cette angoisse du passage aux douanes.
Voilà le topo. Pour "faciliter" les choses, on a tendance à se voir en France ou aux Etats-Unis, voire même au Québec. Cependant, pour ma première visite au Québec il y a quelques mois, je suis tombé sur un agent qui a fait un peu de zèle et qui m'a demandé ce que je venais faire tout seul au Québec. Pour la faire courte, il m'a posé toute sorte de questions et a découvert que je venais pour rencontrer ma petite copine ("pourquoi vous n'allez pas lui rendre visite directement là-bas ? pourquoi vous ne me l'avez pas dit au début ? etc. - j'ai dit que je venais seul à la base ce qui est vrai) et cela a duré presque 10 minutes avant que je passe. J'ai fait une fixation depuis alors que je n'ai rien absolument rien à me reprocher.
Bref, je me suis rendu 4 fois aux US depuis ces 2 dernières années, toujours pour des petits séjours de 2 semaines voire moins à chaque fois. La dernière fois j'en suis parti début janvier. J'avoue que depuis mon passage au Québec, je suis un peu angoissé. Je me dit que peut-être ils indiquent des choses dans leur système et j'ai lu que Québec et les USA partageaient les informations entre eux. Je suis surement un peu parano mais peut être que le gars à mis que je mentais ou que sais-je... Encore une fois, je n'ai vraiment rien à me reprocher mais j'ai peur que cette fois ci on me demande pourquoi je reviens aux US, ce que je souhaite y faire, etc. Surtout que l'aéroport d'arrivée est à quelques exceptions près le même. Même si cette année je ne suis resté que 10 jours sur le sol début janvier. Je n'aime pas ce passage aux douanes, je dirai encore une fois que je viens pour visiter ce qui est totalement vrai mais ce passage au Québec m'a quelque peu choqué.
Je ne réponds qu'aux questions qu'on me pose à chaque fois mais je me demande pas si cette fois ils ne feront pas allusion à cette visite de petite amie. J'ai un logement et un travail en France mais bon, disons que cette "épisode-Québec" m'a un peu refroidi. Qu'en pensez-vous ?
Autre question mais j'ai déjà en partie quelques éléments de réponse. Si jamais j'envisage de partir vivre aux Etats-Unis, que devrais-je faire en priorité : demander une carte verte bien que cela va prendre plus de deux ans si jamais j'ai de la chance ? essayer de trouver une entreprise française qui permette de s'expatrier (cela veut dire surement bosser pour cette société pendant au moins 12 voire 18 mois avant de pouvoir demander un poste d'expat' ? Le coup de la fac pour obtenir un visa mais cela va me coûter un bras et cette solution n'est pas très pérenne ? Si vous avez des pistes de réflexion je suis preneur. Je pourrai ainsi commencer à y réfléchir très sérieusement.
Merci par avance de m'avoir lu et bons voyages à toutes et à tous.
J.
Dans ta situation, faire des allers retours France États-Unis 2 fois dans l'année n'est pas anormal,
de plus tu ne restes pas longtemps sur le territoire US en espaçant tes départs , il ne vont pas forcément soupçonner un travail illégal. Les agents de l'immigration américain posent de toute façon toujours les même questions, il veulent être sur que tu ne vas pas rester illégalement . Parfois c'est un peu la lotterie, un agent sera plus tatillon qu'un autre.
Il n'est de toute façon pas interdit d'avoir une copine américaine , il vaut donc mieux dire la vérité et dire que c'est un projet en cour. Ça les fait sourire en général, Ils aiment bien plaisanter.
Si ta situation devient sérieuse et que tu veux la rejoindre là-bas. Il te faudra d'abord un visa ( la carte verte c'est après). Je te conseille le visa K1 de fiancé. Il est beaucoup plus rapide à obtenir (4 à 6 mois), Une fois obtenu, tu pourras ensuite te marier aux États-Unis, tu as 90 jours.
C'est une fois marié que tu peux déclencher la demande d'adjustment of satus et demander la carte verte.
Voilà, bon courage
Tu n'as pas a t'en faire, je fais régulièrement des voyages aux États-Unis et une fois j'ai eu droit à la fouille complète, un jeune zélé qui voulait sans doute prouver je ne sais quoi.
Ça m'indifférait complètement je n'étais pas pressé. Il m'ont évidemment admis aux États-Unis.
Par la suite ça ne m'est jamais arrivé et j'ai appris que j'étais classé comme voyageur "fiable" et j'ai même sauté des inspection de sécurité.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Ce qui m'embêtait surtout c'était cette histoire au Québec où le type avait fait énormément de zèle. J'espérais qu'il n'avais pas indiqué un drôle de truc à mon sujet sur son système parce que quand je suis reparti du territoire, l'hôtesse a passé mon passeport sur une borne à zip avant de monter dans l'avion (un peu comme une carte bancaire qu'on swift pour lire la piste magnétique) alors qu'elle ne le faisait pour personne avant moi et elle m'avait regardé d'un drôle d'air alors qu'elle regardait juste les passeports et les redonnaient.
Enfin bref, je suis surement parano. Comment as-tu su que tu étais un voyageur fiable ? Merci encore pour vos messages.
Ouais un peu parano. On est jamais à l'abri de contrôle plus poussé , ça fait parti du travail de ces agents, faut pas s'en faire.
Les voyages en avion ( les attentes, les contrôle de sécurité, l'immigration ect ) c'est l'enfer. Un fois que tu sais ça et que tu l'acceptes, t'arrête de t'en faire .
Je résume; au contrôle l'agent m'a invité a sauté des étapes et je lui en ai demandé la raison.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
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