Left after daca, lied on esta(?), what is my standing?
Hello,
As the title suggests, I am posting here because I have questions on my standing.
Context: I came to US in 2002, got daca in 2012(or 2013 I don’t remember), and left US in 2013 after graduating high school for personal reasons. I was 18 years old. In 2025, I applied and received ESTA because of flight transfer in USA. During the application process, I checked all the ‘no’ boxes, which I now recognize may count as lying. I stayed in US for less than 24 hours.
I am well settled in my current country now, but I have started a serious relationship with an American man which has made me want to know if my actions have hurt any possible chance in a possible future in US with my partner. This doesn’t mean we will (nor do I particularly want to atm) but considering my partner has family in America and we don’t know what the future hold in the next 10-20 years, I would like to know my standing.
So my questions:
- Did I lie on ESTA and have that hurt my chances at a possible future settlement in the US?
- If I want to travel to US in the future to visit family, would I need to apply for tourist visa instead?
Thank you in advance! US and immigration seem to cause a lot of fear right now, and I hope your endeavors work out smoothly!