Visa Waiver - Reentry after going to Bahamas

[serendipitous]

Hi everyone, this is my first time here and it seems like you guys are a knowledgeable group of posters and would like some advice or insight to the question I have.

I'm an American citizen and I live in the States, but my boyfriend from Australia (australian citizen/passport holder) is going to be visiting me in a couple of months for approximately 2 months. He'll be visiting here with the visa waiver and we were going to plan a trip to the Bahamas while he is here.

My question is, if he's on the visa waiver and we go to the Bahamas for a week, will he be able to re-enter the US without any problems? Or would he be asked to fill out another waiver form and have additional steps to do.
Will he even be allowed back in?

We only plan to stay in the Bahamas for a week and he isn't intending to stay for more than 3 months in the states and will be traveling back to Australia after the 2 1/2 months that he's plan on staying.

Any advice/insight will help greatly because the visa waiver page isn't really clear about re-entry after visiting for a short period in the bahamas.

Thanks much guys!

[chellekat]

Sounds a lot like my situation - except I'm the Aussie and my fiance is the American. We're going to the U.K. for two weeks - I'm staying a about a month, then we go to the U.K., and then I plan to re-enter with him for a month and a half.. so it's about 2.5 months like your boyfriend will be staying. Sorry but I don't know the answer - I am looking for one myself! Hope someone can help us both!

I leave 6th September and am trying to figure out if I need to tell the immigration people that - or if I just state how long I'm staying the first time. I want to be completely honest and we're marrying in Australia in Feb '07 so I have no intention of staying.

All the best to you and your boyfriend. If I get any answers I'll let you know as it may help you. The Immigration site isn't clear, I agree, so it's difficult. I believe from what I read that both your boyfriend and I would get a visa waiver each time we enter (last time I entered the States was for 90 days last year) so we may be at the mercy of whatever officer we get.

[serendipitous]

wow! I'm going to be marrying my bf in 2008 in Australia as well!
What a coincidence hehe.
I hope everything goes well for you! Congrats

And if I find out info I'll let you know as well.

[chellekat]

From what I've been reading, I'm fairly certain The Bahamas and any adjacent islands and Canada are classified as being part of the one trip - so long as the full amount of days (days spent in USA plus Bahamas) is not over 90 days, then I think your boyfriend will be fine getting in. (For me, it's different, as the UK is classified as leaving the USA and I go back in on another waiver).

I believe it states this on the US immigration site - don't have the exact link right now as am at work (and rushing to pack etc as I leave tomorrow!) but I'm fairly sure someone here will clarify. Also, the British Expats forums are great with help (they helped me) - http://britishexpats.com/forum/

All the best to you and your boyfriend and your wedding in '08 in Australia! That's such great news! We are marrying in Feb '07 in Sydney - I'll be thinking of you too. Hint: get a fiance visa organised for you to marry him here if you can - apply 6 months or so ahead. The fiance visas for Australia are being processed quicker than for the States at the moment - but it depends on where you want to settle. My advice is to start looking into it on immi.gov.au or the US immigration site, depending. A fiance visa is less hassle than a spouse visa and I've had friends seperated from their new husbands for almost a year because they didn't apply for a visa to marry first. Our fiance visa is in process so fingers crossed it'll be granted by Feb.

If you ever want to, you can email me: chellekat@hotmail.com. It's always nice to chat with someone in a similar situation.

[serendipitous]

Hey!
Thanks for the insight/advice Greatly appreciated!!

I added you to my msn messenger Hope to chat with you one day or another. Goodluck to you!
Keep me updated on your trip hehe, it all sounds so exciting!