F1 process at P.O.E.

Hello,

I just have a quick question. I will be going to school in august and will be crossing the P.o.e. with my I-20, passport, SEVIS receipt and financial documents... if my I-20 states that a friend is providing me with free room and board, and the friendship developed through past visits to the U.S., is this not satisfactory? I am only concerned as with prior visitor visits to the U.S., I am often asked how I have friends to begin with in the States.. Thanks.

I had an F1 back in the late 90s and while that was pre-9/11 I still think it's pretty straightforward for Canadian citizens.

Why are you concerned about having friends in the USA? Assuming your past visits to the USA were legal, I'd say meeting people and becoming friends isn't a big deal. Likewise, your American friends could have come to Canada on a trip and you met there. Just be honest with the CBP folks - I'm sure they have friends in Canada too so they know the deal.

If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

Hello,

I have not done anything wrong but the friend who is sponsoring my room and board happens to be the mother of the individual I am dating (although he will not be living there at the same time I am), so Im not sure how well this would go over with customs?

I don't think you'll have any problems. However, I wouldn't mention the dating part - just say you are staying with a family friend.

I think the main concern is that you can't show an intent to immigrate to the USA. Of course, being a college student, nobody would be surprised if you were dating an American but why offer them more info than is necessary? If they ever did find out that you were dating an American, they might ask you something like "Are you going to marry them" and if you say anything positive - boom - you look like you have an intent to immigrate. As long as you have ties to Canada, you should be fine. I assume you still have family there and if CBP ever asks, tell them you intend to move back to Canada when you are done with school.

In my experiences with CBP, the less info you provide, the better. I'm not suggesting that yoy lie but don't volunteer up a bunch of info either. Just answer their questions and move on.

ok thanks for this advice... so when i cross just tell the U.s. customs that this is a family friend and dont get into details...? Wont it come to light that I am dating this "family friend's" son when they ask how I know the family friend to begin with ? I was thinking of saying that me and her son are just close friends, not dating one another.

I would just say you have know them for a long time. It's not illegal to date someone in the USA, the CBP just wants to be sure that your stay is temporary and you aren't intending to immigrate their permanently. I think you'll be fine.