Can I Travel To United States While Waiting For K-1?

[Mia Clakre 0]

Hi everyone.

I am a British Citizen, have filed the I-129 form and received the 1st NOA. My fiance, who lives in Illinois, and I are currently waiting for the 2nd NOA. I was wondering whether anyone could tell me if I am allowed to travel to the United States, to visit my fiance for three weeks, while we are waiting for the 2nd NOA? Could I be denied entry if Immigration find out that I am waiting for a K-1 visa to be processed? Would it be better not to visit him at all in case it damages my application?

I would really appreciate it if anyone has any advice!

Thanks.

[MargotDarko 0]

Hi everyone.

I am a British Citizen, have filed the I-129 form and received the 1st NOA. My fiance, who lives in Illinois, and I are currently waiting for the 2nd NOA. I was wondering whether anyone could tell me if I am allowed to travel to the United States, to visit my fiance for three weeks, while we are waiting for the 2nd NOA? Could I be denied entry if Immigration find out that I am waiting for a K-1 visa to be processed? Would it be better not to visit him at all in case it damages my application?

I would really appreciate it if anyone has any advice!

Thanks.

You are allowed to visit. It is possible for them to deny your entry if they believe you will not return to Britian. As far as I am aware, a denied entry, as long as it is simply for thinking you were going to try to stay, should have no effect on the visa process.

If you have a job in the UK as well as other responsibilities, like a lease or mortgage, you should not have much trouble showing proof of ties to the UK. Also, your return ticket (print out the e-mail if if it's an e-ticket) will also show your intent to return to the UK. Lots of couple successfully visit frequently during the process, but some couple do experience denied entries. I would search this site for "visiting during visa process" and variations on that to see all the posts about it.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

This is a FAQ, you can find lots of info. and other VJers experiences here: Yes, you can visit. Not guaranteed you'll get in...

Edited December 14, 2007 by eric_and_teresa

[Mia Clakre 0]

Thank you so much for your answer!

[YuAndDan 153]

FAQ: 4.6)...Can my fiance(e) come to the US to visit me once the visa process is started?

[markjo 0]

Hi everyone.

I am a British Citizen, have filed the I-129 form and received the 1st NOA. My fiance, who lives in Illinois, and I are currently waiting for the 2nd NOA. I was wondering whether anyone could tell me if I am allowed to travel to the United States, to visit my fiance for three weeks, while we are waiting for the 2nd NOA? Could I be denied entry if Immigration find out that I am waiting for a K-1 visa to be processed? Would it be better not to visit him at all in case it damages my application?

I would really appreciate it if anyone has any advice!

Thanks.

Hi there,

Just thought I would let you know my recent experience coming into the US - we are currently waiting for our NOA2.

I flew into the US last week from the UK (my fiancee and I are living and working over there for a year). We flew into Chicago O'hare airport. I got in no trouble at all.

At immigration the officer asked me the following questions:

1. The reason for my visit: I told him vacation - as that, along with attending a friends' wedding was the reason for our travel to the US.

2. How long I was intending to stay in the US: I told him till the 27th, which is when we fly back to Edinburgh

3. He then asked me if I was travelling with anyone else: I said yes, my fiancee - he then asked where she was and I told him she was in the other line as she is a US citizen.

He then stamped my passport etc and said enjoy your stay!

I had been worried about it and had got prepared with a copy of my employment contract in the UK, lease agreement for our flat etc. I guess our situation was not the norm, with us travelling in and out together, but hopefully this gives you some confidence that you can visit.

Good luck.

Mark

[Jeraly 4]

I know you can visit but like always there is no guarantee you get in - it would be interesting to see some stats to see what percentage of people are denied entry during the visa process but I can't imagine it would be too high - as long as you show ties to your home country (or in your case the UK as your place of residence) then you should be ok.

I am intending to go to the US in Feb and I will bring any NOAs I have (hopefully my NOA2 by that time although at this rate!!) as well as a letter from my employer to say that I am returning to work. I don't have any rental agreements as I still live at home and I don't have a car on finance or anything like that either so I don't know if anyone thinks the NOA/letter from employer/return ticket will be enough!?

[gwenneh 7]

I think you'll be just fine with that, Jeraly. In all the times my husband has travelled back and forth while various visas were processing, he's actually never been asked for proof at all. What you have will probably be more than sufficient.

[Jeraly 4]

That's what I am thinking - I would just prefer to be over prepared than not have enough!! I am going to have to pull some strings for the employer letter as it is because I am only temping!! Such a nightmare!