Pre-interview visit?

[neil wood 0]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering if anybody has any information about visiting the US before the interview date.

My fiance gave birth a month early today. The problem is my packet 3 is stuck in processing hell. We sent it out 4 weeks ago this friday and we cannot do anything about it not getting there until that day, and even then we do not know what action the embassy will take. They may just ask us to send it again.

I was wondering if it would be possible to visit just for a week or two. Until i get my interview date. Money isn't an issue i would just like to know if this is possible as i really need/wan't to be there to help out.

I don't really have anything like an apartment contract or a job contract as i am living at home and i'm unemployed at the moment. Is there anything else i can use as proof that i will be returning?

Any help would be wonderful, i really need some information.

Thank you,

Neil

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

If you decide to go You might want to consider flying through Dublin, so you can do immigration there. Saves you having to have an 8+ hour flight and then the cost and hassle of being sent back. Double check your flight though cos not all Dublin flights do immigration in Dublin.

[neil wood 0]

Thanks for the response

I'm not quite sure what you mean.

As far as i know, it's only an issue trying to get into the US whilst you're applying for a Visa there. I don't think any other country would care that i am applying for the K-1 in America. I think the problem is that they are worried i will enter and not leave, so i think i need something that proves i will be returning.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Badgerella 5]

In order to be granted entry into the US as a visitor, you need to prove that you'll be returning to your home country. It could be anything and everything and, quite often, nothing works. You don't have to say that you have a K-1 pending, but they could, at this stage, find it in the records. At least that's how I understand it.

I've been denied a tourist visa four times (I don't come from a VW country, though), even though I had more than enough proof that I'd be returning back to Croatia. Last time I applied, I of course mentioned my fiance on the Dwhatever visa form and they didn't care much about it at all. The application was denied because the fact that I'd have to be back to Croatia to attend my interview meant absolutely nothing to them. They told me to just wait it out.

As far as I understand the mention of Dublin - being from the UK, you don't need a visa, but instead can just hop on a plane, fly to the US and then, right there, be either denied or granted entry. I would assume you can skip the expensive and annoying part of the journey into the unknown by going through the immigration part of the process right there, in Ireland. Which is, if anything, a lot closer to where you are from than any place in the US.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

well I had received my packet 3 and already had a flight booked to go to Texas for Christmas so we delayed sending packet 3 back until after my visit.

I sent packet 3 back on the 7th Jan and got my interview date back and have an interview date for the 6th March, so I think that you will have time for a visit. You can call DOS while in the states and check your status and if an interview date has been given, you can always ask to reschedule it.

You will have proof of your intention to return as you will be able to show your return ticket, take any other informaiton that you have to show your ties to the UK, all I have ever taken is a letter from my boss to show I am coming back and they have only ever asked to see my return flight.

If you do go dont forget to register with Esta it shows that you are eligable to fly on VWP but POE still has the final say.

Some states in the US will let you clear customs in Dublin before you land, so you can check that out if your state is one of them.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby

If I was in your shoes I would go, it is not guaranteed that you will get in but I have never been turned back luckily. If the worst comes to the worst then so be it but it will not effect you getting a visa

Good luck with whatever you decide

[neil wood 0]

Thanks guys

I think i am going to call the Embassy and see what they have to say about it. Then make a decision based on that.

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

Sorry if my reply was confusing. Even though it may not suit you, I feel I should clarify just incase I confused anyone else.

Usually you do immigration in the US, after your flight lands. That's where they decide whether to allow you to enter the US or not. It they don't let you in, you have to pay to get on the next flight home.

Ireland has an arrangement with the US that allows passengers to go through immigration in Dublin (or Shannon) before the flight. For you this would mean having your POE, immigration interview in Dublin rather than in America. If they decided to refuse you entrance, you could just leave Dublin airport and get a flight back to the UK in your own time, which would be much cheaper and less hassle than from the States.

The Dublin POE requires all the same proof of return as an American POE, so you're not making that part any easier. You're just minimizing the issues if you're refused.

As mentioned not all US bound flights do immigration in Dublin, so if you decided to do this, double check with your airline.

[daboyz 36]

Sorry if my reply was confusing. Even though it may not suit you, I feel I should clarify just incase I confused anyone else.

Usually you do immigration in the US, after your flight lands. That's where they decide whether to allow you to enter the US or not. It they don't let you in, you have to pay to get on the next flight home.

Ireland has an arrangement with the US that allows passengers to go through immigration in Dublin (or Shannon) before the flight. For you this would mean having your POE, immigration interview in Dublin rather than in America. If they decided to refuse you entrance, you could just leave Dublin airport and get a flight back to the UK in your own time, which would be much cheaper and less hassle than from the States.

The Dublin POE requires all the same proof of return as an American POE, so you're not making that part any easier. You're just minimizing the issues if you're refused.

As mentioned not all US bound flights do immigration in Dublin, so if you decided to do this, double check with your airline.

Canada does the same thing. You go through immigration at the airport in Montreal. So technically when you go to the gate you are in the U.S.

I'm curious, why are you only slightly bonkers, and not full on bonkers?

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

I'm still in training for my full bonkers status.

[neil wood 0]

Sorry if my reply was confusing. Even though it may not suit you, I feel I should clarify just incase I confused anyone else.

Usually you do immigration in the US, after your flight lands. That's where they decide whether to allow you to enter the US or not. It they don't let you in, you have to pay to get on the next flight home.

Ireland has an arrangement with the US that allows passengers to go through immigration in Dublin (or Shannon) before the flight. For you this would mean having your POE, immigration interview in Dublin rather than in America. If they decided to refuse you entrance, you could just leave Dublin airport and get a flight back to the UK in your own time, which would be much cheaper and less hassle than from the States.

The Dublin POE requires all the same proof of return as an American POE, so you're not making that part any easier. You're just minimizing the issues if you're refused.

As mentioned not all US bound flights do immigration in Dublin, so if you decided to do this, double check with your airline.

Thank you Slightly Bonkers.

Sorry i didn't understand what you meant the first time. I will check that tomorrow, hopefully i can do it.

[Rob&Dawn 1]

I travelled to US after i had sent pkt 3 back, there didn't seem to be anything in the computer. I was just asked std questions - how long staying, visiting who.

As you don't have an employer to get a letter from could you not get a 'rent agreement' from your parents. Anything to show that you will be returning along with your return ticket.

I doubt you will get much sense from the USE the people on the phones only have standard responses and don't have much thought process...DOS seem to have more information and may be the best bet for getting some advise.

Congratulations on the birth of your baby.

[neil wood 0]

Yeah i think i will try the DOS instead. I can tell now how the USE phone call would go. The people on the phones can be quite awful sometimes. I have phoned them many times as my packet 3 isn't on the system yet and they are constantly giving me different information and contradicting what another person has told me before.

Thanks for the help.