Tourist Visa

[Oscar M 0]

Can I Apply for a tourist visa while the K-1 is in Process?

[Jesse and Hema 2]

you betcha

[Brian&Mel 0]

You can but even if they issue you a tourist visa, you still can be denied entry at your POE.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

You can but even if they issue you a tourist visa, you still can be denied entry at your POE.

A B-2 holder can ALWAYS be denied entry at the POE. Is the risk of entry denial increased due to the K-1 process? Well, that is the risk the OP has to decide if he/she wants to take.

Some of us have done it with no problem at all. IMO, it is worth to give it a try!

[Jesse and Hema 2]

You can but even if they issue you a tourist visa, you still can be denied entry at your POE.

A B-2 holder can ALWAYS be denied entry at the POE. Is the risk of entry denial increased due to the K-1 process? Well, that is the risk the OP has to decide if he/she wants to take.

Some of us have done it with no problem at all. IMO, it is worth to give it a try!

Yup. Won't know if you don't try. The Foreign Affairs Manual has clauses that permits the fiance(e) of an American citizen to enter on a B-2 in order to make wedding plans, meet the American citizen's family, etc.

As Teresa states, all B-2's carry the risk of being turned away at the POE.. Well all visas do, really, but B-2 holders are the most likely victims.

Teresa was able to get a B-2 without problem; same with my fiancee. Every case is different, but I say it's worth a try. The separation isn't always easy.

[Victoria.Blake 0]

I would be very careful if I were you if you want to apply for a Tourist Visa.

Everything I read and everything everyone told me was that it was okay to apply for a Tourist Visa if you've already submitted the I-129F form. This is not entirely true, because my fiance applied for a Tourist Visa last week and was denied after the consulate officer looked at his application for approximately 30 seconds. The reason he was denied was because the officer said he is not allowed to apply for a Tourist Visa if he has already started the K-1 process. And the visa fee was equivalent to one month's salary for my fiance, so you can imagine our disappointment!

I'm pretty sure she was wrong, but obviously you can't argue with the officer once they make their decision.

So even though everyone is telling you it's okay, you might want to be cautious. I would recommend calling the Embassy or Consulate where you plan on applying and asking them directly before you start applying.

[jego ryu 0]

I SUGGEST DONT TRY COZ ....I TRIED ONCE,,,I GOT DENIED ......

Edited March 18, 2008 by jego ryu

[eric_and_teresa 10]

I would be very careful if I were you if you want to apply for a Tourist Visa.

Everything I read and everything everyone told me was that it was okay to apply for a Tourist Visa if you've already submitted the I-129F form. This is not entirely true, because my fiance applied for a Tourist Visa last week and was denied after the consulate officer looked at his application for approximately 30 seconds. The reason he was denied was because the officer said he is not allowed to apply for a Tourist Visa if he has already started the K-1 process. And the visa fee was equivalent to one month's salary for my fiance, so you can imagine our disappointment!

I'm pretty sure she was wrong, but obviously you can't argue with the officer once they make their decision.

So even though everyone is telling you it's okay, you might want to be cautious. I would recommend calling the Embassy or Consulate where you plan on applying and asking them directly before you start applying.

I'm sorry you guys got denied, the reason why so many applicants get a tourist visa denied has little to do with the fact that there is a K-1 process pending, it has to do with not meeting the requirements for the B-2. What the officer said to your fiance is not true, I applied for the B-2 while the K-1 was still processing and stated so on the tourist visa application.

In your fiance's case the fact that his salary is around $131.00 per month was a huge red sign that he does not have enough financial means to travel, nor enough ties to his country. IMO, that is what made him not eligible for a B-2.

OP, if you meet ALL the requirements to apply for a B-2 and you can afford loosing $131.00 I say, it's worth to give it a try!

I don't think calling the Consulate would make any difference.

Edited March 18, 2008 by eric_and_teresa

[Victoria.Blake 0]

All I know is what the Consulate officer said. My fiance actually does have the financial means to travel, and had the bank statements to prove it with him when he went to his interview. The officer didn't even look at any of the documents he brought with him. I've done a lot of traveling and dealing with Visa issues in the past, and in my opinion he had more than enough proof with him that he would return to Indonesia. The money thing wasn't really a problem, it was just kind of a let down. All I'm saying is that Oscar, you should be careful.

I really think calling the embassy just to ask would help. It definitely couldn't hurt. My thinking is that different countries have different ways of dealing with these kinds of cases.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

All I know is what the Consulate officer said. My fiance actually does have the financial means to travel, and had the bank statements to prove it with him when he went to his interview. The officer didn't even look at any of the documents he brought with him. I've done a lot of traveling and dealing with Visa issues in the past, and in my opinion he had more than enough proof with him that he would return to Indonesia. The money thing wasn't really a problem, it was just kind of a let down. All I'm saying is that Oscar, you should be careful.

I really think calling the embassy just to ask would help. It definitely couldn't hurt. My thinking is that different countries have different ways of dealing with these kinds of cases.

It does vary depending on the embassy you are dealing with.. I've read other stories of consular officers denying a B-2 because of a pending K-1, but there's no rule that prohibits it. I think the majority of these attempts get approved, just not all.. A lot of factors come into play.

Either way, worst that can happen is that you get declined for the B-2 or turned away at the POE, which is emotionally tolling, but it won't affect your K-1 case.

[vanessaandbrent 0]

No harm in trying! If you don't ask....you'll never know

There is NO rule saying you can't apply for a tourist visa, or visit while the K1 is in process. That being said, it is always at the discretion of the embassy issuing the visa (if you can prove ties or not) or the interviewing Immigration officer at your POE if they want to approve and let you in. There is always a chance they will say no.

Personally, I travelled to the USA several times (three times if my memory serves me) while our K1 was in process, and was never even ASKED about our K1 petition...

I say try it...

[DA BOMB 1]

Applying for a tourist visa seems suspicious while the K1 is in process unless there's a reason you cant travel on a visa waiver, such as a criminal record or health condition. My husband traveled here just before he recieved packet 3 - he ended up staying, we married, then filed adjustment of status and canceled the K1.

[rebeccajo 14]

Applying for a tourist visa seems suspicious while the K1 is in process unless there's a reason you cant travel on a visa waiver, such as a criminal record or health condition. My husband traveled here just before he recieved packet 3 - he ended up staying, we married, then filed adjustment of status and canceled the K1.

But which way did your husband travel?

On a tourist visa or the visa waiver program?

[vanessaandbrent 0]

Applying for a tourist visa seems suspicious while the K1 is in process unless there's a reason you cant travel on a visa waiver, such as a criminal record or health condition. My husband traveled here just before he recieved packet 3 - he ended up staying, we married, then filed adjustment of status and canceled the K1.

Suspicious? I can't imagine why...not all countries have access to the VWP program and would therefore require a Tourist Visa to travel to the USA as a visitor.

As you can see on the U.S. Department of State page following, Venezuela (the OP's beneficiary's country) is not one of the participating countries.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/....html#countries

[DA BOMB 1]

Applying for a tourist visa seems suspicious while the K1 is in process unless there's a reason you cant travel on a visa waiver, such as a criminal record or health condition. My husband traveled here just before he recieved packet 3 - he ended up staying, we married, then filed adjustment of status and canceled the K1.

But which way did your husband travel?

On a tourist visa or the visa waiver program?

VWP

Applying for a tourist visa seems suspicious while the K1 is in process unless there's a reason you cant travel on a visa waiver, such as a criminal record or health condition. My husband traveled here just before he recieved packet 3 - he ended up staying, we married, then filed adjustment of status and canceled the K1.

Suspicious? I can't imagine why...not all countries have access to the VWP program and would therefore require a Tourist Visa to travel to the USA as a visitor.

As you can see on the U.S. Department of State page following, Venezuela (the OP's beneficiary's country) is not one of the participating countries.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/....html#countries

Oops - my bad - for some reason I thought we were dealing with the UK.