Visting US while waiting for NOA2...EASY!

[HAAA 0]

I have read lots of people wondering if it is possible to visit their loved one while waiting for the next stage, so thought I would share my experience.

I have gone to US twice this year, both on VWP, once in February for a week, and have just come back from a two week visit.

I flew direct to Phx in Feb, waited in the POE line very nervous after reading lots of people on here saying they got stopped or advising against going. When I got there it was really easy. Finger prints (all of them, on both hands), photo, 5(ish) questions...When was the last time you were in USA? How long was your visit? purpose of this visit, "to see a friend" Where did you meet? "online" Have you met them in person before? "Yes, at Christmas" have a nice stay...in, bag claimed, yay!

Visit in April, flew through Chicago...very nervous after hearing and reading how tough Chicago can be. Sat as near to the front of the plane in the cheap seats I could, got off plane super fast, was one of the first in line for POE passport control, didn't even have to wait in line. Only one hand, fingers only, no photo taken. Even fewer questions. Purpose of trip? "visit" Are you staying with friends? "yes" Have a nice trip! Almost jumped and sang for joy, way easier than I could have imagined, especially as the two visit's were so close together!

Hope this helps anyone who is worried about traveling. I can't promise it is always that easy, but for me it really was that simple

[Gwen & Wouter 0]

Agree. Just say you are visiting a friend or your girlfriend.

They don't need too know you are visiting your fiancé. I had it easy everytime

[Alex B 9]

Agree. Just say you are visiting a friend or your girlfriend.

They don't need too know you are visiting your fiancé. I had it easy everytime

From my wife's visit down to Seattle from Vancouver last weekend...

First question - where are you going?

To see my husband

Where does he work?

HP

What visa is he on?

He doesn't have a visa

DING DING - she said she could see the bells going off inside the POE officers head

Why doesn't he have a visa?

Because he doesn't need one

Why not?

Because he's a USC

DING DING DING - more bells

Then they got into, "are you going to stay?"

No it's a weekend visit but he's filed an I-130. Here are my latest pay stub, mortgage statement, utility bills, copy of petition etc.

Then he says he can see she's well prepared, starts lamenting with her how long the process takes and have a nice weekend...

I sometimes get the same when I go up to Canada. Usually as soon as I point out that we've applied for her to come to the US they're fine too.

[joe and korda 1]

I have read lots of people wondering if it is possible to visit their loved one while waiting for the next stage, so thought I would share my experience.

I have gone to US twice this year, both on VWP, once in February for a week, and have just come back from a two week visit.

I flew direct to Phx in Feb, waited in the POE line very nervous after reading lots of people on here saying they got stopped or advising against going. When I got there it was really easy. Finger prints (all of them, on both hands), photo, 5(ish) questions...When was the last time you were in USA? How long was your visit? purpose of this visit, "to see a friend" Where did you meet? "online" Have you met them in person before? "Yes, at Christmas" have a nice stay...in, bag claimed, yay!

Visit in April, flew through Chicago...very nervous after hearing and reading how tough Chicago can be. Sat as near to the front of the plane in the cheap seats I could, got off plane super fast, was one of the first in line for POE passport control, didn't even have to wait in line. Only one hand, fingers only, no photo taken. Even fewer questions. Purpose of trip? "visit" Are you staying with friends? "yes" Have a nice trip! Almost jumped and sang for joy, way easier than I could have imagined, especially as the two visit's were so close together!

Hope this helps anyone who is worried about traveling. I can't promise it is always that easy, but for me it really was that simple

It is very easy for you because you are from England. If you were from Thailand, like my fiance, you would be denied at passport control and sent back.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

From my wife's visit down to Seattle from Vancouver last weekend...

First question - where are you going?

To see my husband

Where does he work?

HP

What visa is he on?

He doesn't have a visa

DING DING - she said she could see the bells going off inside the POE officers head

There's another correct way to answer that first question.

Where are you going?

To see my husband To Seattle for the weekend

Maybe the questioning and the bells going off would have gone differently.

[shazj1 2]

So wait..I am visiting my fiance in 2.5 weeks but I am absolutely nervous about POE interrogation. Should I not mention that he is my fiance? I will be staying with him. I have my ties to UK paperwork in order but I don't think I have much to go on. Just a letter from my employer, return ticket, driving test confirmation and travel insurance for 2 weeks. I don't even know if this will suffice but hmm...any advice? My POE is in dublin by the way.

[JustJanis 2]

So wait..I am visiting my fiance in 2.5 weeks but I am absolutely nervous about POE interrogation. Should I not mention that he is my fiance? I will be staying with him. I have my ties to UK paperwork in order but I don't think I have much to go on. Just a letter from my employer, return ticket, driving test confirmation and travel insurance for 2 weeks. I don't even know if this will suffice but hmm...any advice? My POE is in dublin by the way.

I recommend being honest but brief in your answers. In March I came to the US on a B2 visitors visa with no ties back to Canada (quit my job and moved out of my apartment and am "living" at mom's), my return ticket was showing that I am staying 7 weeks - until May 18th originally but now I'm changing my return date to stay a month longer. I told them I was visiting my fiance while we wait for our K1 and he had a few questions about how we met and when we will get married (once we are approved was my response), he then wished me luck and and sent me on my way. Easier than I had anticipated, he was very nice and friendly, although in case I needed it I printed out an email my fiance wrote me saying that he wanted me there with him while we wait, and to quit my job and he will support me - but I didn't need to show it.

Key is not to be nervous.... coming back into Canada after getting engaged in Seattle at New Years, right when I got to the the desk I got all sweaty after getting of the bus and having 2 jackets on, maybe having a hot-flash - LOL. The POE lady - who seemed to have a chip on her shoulder - thought and actually said I looked nervous and was hiding something and pulled me in. She patted me down, went through my carry on, iPod pictures and text messages on my phone, grilled me with questions and when I let her know I had just gotten engaged and my fiance had high level military clearance and he was mailing off our K1 package that week (I had copies of everything but she didn't ask to see them) she finally let me go. Not a great experience but I stayed calm and was honest.

Good luck on an easy entry and have a wonderful visit.

[Max1gk 68]

yea I didn't have any problems as well,I came back today from NJ. When I got there on April 18 the CBP officer asked me only what was the purpose of my visit to which I replied "to spend the easter holidays with my fiancèe and her family" and when I was coming back..that's all..no ESTA,no return ticket no additional questions. So..don't stress out too much for those of you that want to visit while waiting for NOA2 It's good to be prepared for the eventual and rare nasty officer but trust me,be confident,honest and everything will go just as smooth as it deserves to go

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So wait..I am visiting my fiance in 2.5 weeks but I am absolutely nervous about POE interrogation. Should I not mention that he is my fiance? I will be staying with him. I have my ties to UK paperwork in order but I don't think I have much to go on. Just a letter from my employer, return ticket, driving test confirmation and travel insurance for 2 weeks. I don't even know if this will suffice but hmm...any advice? My POE is in dublin by the way.

First of all, a short trip isn't as suspicious as people who go for 90 days and after a month go back for another 90 days. There's so many differences in people and their trips and individual CBP officers that it's hard to predict with one exact answer.

Answer questions truthfully and briefly. Example:

What is the purpose of your trip?

1.) I'm on holiday

2.) I'm visiting my fiance and we're going to get married in august and I'm going to move here and I hope it doesn't rain on my wedding day and I hope I get a job quickly......

#1 answered the question. #2 is volunteering information.

#1 might get the response "Have a nice trip." and that's it.

If they ask you directly if you have a fiance, then of course tell them. And relax and smile. Nervous people look suspicious. And don't pack more than is appropriate for your holiday. Don't bring things that would look like you're moving or job hunting.

Edited April 28, 2011 by Nich-Nick

[Alex B 9]

There's another correct way to answer that first question.

Where are you going?

To see my husband To Seattle for the weekend

Maybe the questioning and the bells going off would have gone differently.

You're quite right. But... she's never been turned away and I can imagine the alternative scenario...

So where are you staying?... and so on.

I also think they're getting to know her. We've been switching up weekends for about 2 years now and I'm quite sure all that shows on his computer when he scans the passport.

The other thing we do, if anything needs bringing into the US, I do that on my weekends because then it's just about customs and allowances etc., not being turned away.

[TBoneTX 45,064]

It is very easy for you because you are from England. If you were from Thailand, like my fiance, you would be denied at passport control and sent back.

Si, man. These are very high-class problems that are being talked about in this thread. Most potential beneficiaries from non-VWP countries have no prayer of visiting.

[KiwiBird 132]

He visited me while we were waiting for our NOA2.

"What's the purpose of your trip?"

"To visit some friends."

"Have fun!"

That was it. He was visiting me, but... managed to see my friends here, too. So yes, he was just visiting friends.