Going to the US and not activating a K1 visa

[Flames9_RN 358]

wow, you come to a site for assistance and we pass on our experience and you blow it off. Maybe you should do a search and find all the posts of people firing their lawyers for wrong information.

As stated from many, POE officers interpret the rules differently. So it may work out for you, or it may not. And yes there have been other k1'ers that have done this with success. people here are just trying to make you aware of everything. When it comes down to it, none of us are going to loose any sleep if it doesn't work out. Just ensuring ur aware of everything.

A bit different situation than urs, but there was a gal from Canada, that came in on a K1 , got married, and left to go back to Canada without AP. She was able to do this a few times with success, then on one visit WHAM, she got denied entry, as she didnt have AP. So she was stuck in Canada and then went the K3 or cr-1 route!

best of luck in crossing, as stated others have done it with success, but just be aware that their is a possibility the POE officer may deny you, and even his supervisor, the worst thing you could do then is get take an attitude!!

[KathrynP 0]

I've read all of the other threads I could find, once I had some names I could search for (ex. zyggy). You guys are also reading my previous post a lot more snarkily than I was intending it to be when I was writing it. I was actually curious why zyggy thought his was the right interpretation when other people, in the same position as him, are interpreting it differently. Shouldn't this all be standardized?

And I am listening to what you're saying... I have a backup plan now that doesn't involve me leaving the country. Obviously you didn't read my last post before posting.

[Carlawarla 1]

Well... if I get through that would be great (and regardless what zyggy is saying, given who else I've talked to and even from some other people on this forum there is a good chance I can go) and if not I've come up with a backup plan. He flies into Chicago and then drives and crosses the border in Detroit and meets me in Canada there. No border crossings for me and we still can see each other. So, at least all of the negative responses have led me to come up with something.

2.5 months is way too long. I'm stressed and cranky.

Yes, agreed it would be nice if you get through and we hope you do! The negative comments (whatever that means), was to ensure that you know it could go either way and we wanted to prepare you for the possibility. If anything, it's allowed you to have a "back-up" plan. The US POE is in Toronto, so you won't be in the US looking for a way back, you'll already be in a Canadian city, so that's a good thing.

Anytime without your significant other is too long. We also all know what stressed and cranky is. Cheer up! You've got your visa!

[KimandRuss 0]

if I was the supervisor on duty, I would send you packing...

= negative comment. That doesn't assure her of anything... either way and there was no need for it.

OP.. you are well prepared and I hope you have a wonderful time with your fiance!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I dont think the above was a negative comment, He (being a former POE official) was stating what he would have done, and probably some others !! Zyggy has provided this forum tons of useful information over the years! And yes it his only his opinion, as others POE officials may do different. I think thats the main point, many of us are making--POE officials each interpret the rules/laws differently.

If I was in ur situation would I risk it? ya i probably would, and its good that you have a back up plan! Best of luck

[KathrynP 0]

I really need to work on making myself understood on this forum. When I said "negative responses" I didn't mean that in a bad way, I was just using it as a shorthand for the people who were warning me that there was a chance I wouldn't be allowed into the US.

We'll see next Friday. Fun weekend in Chicago or... what is on the Canadian side of Detroit?

[Leafgal 3]

Winsor is on the Canadian side.

[Flames9_RN 358]

And I do recall a person asking this question at their time of interview in Mtl, and the consular person stated it was a possibility! I need more coffee to wake up!!

[Texanadian 10]

Personally if it's April now and you're heading across permanently on the K1 in May, I'd just skip the visit. You're going to need to save up as much money as you can after you cross due to the non working part, wedding bills, daily cost of living bills.

I asked the border at BC/Washington about would it have been possible to cross the border without using the K-1 and they flat out said no. No thinking about it, no wellll. Just a flat out no. (This was on the day I was activating mine). I think immigration is stressful enough without adding to it with the possibility of getting denied at the border or being forced to come over when you really didn't want to.

I've been rejected at the border before for a different reason. Much waiting around is the result while they type about 10 paragraphs into their computer. Then they ask you to come into the back room while they snap on some white gloves. (eek). It wasn't what I thought it was though. They just wanted to fingerprint me and take my picture (which of course just added to the nerves of later coming across the border with the K-1 to activate)

Edited April 13, 2008 by Texanadian

[Krikit 1,164]

Personally if it's April now and you're heading across permanently on the K1 in May, I'd just skip the visit. You're going to need to save up as much money as you can after you cross due to the non working part, wedding bills, daily cost of living bills.

Sorry. Had to laugh at the financial advice. Did you know that some people can afford not to work?

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Why doesn´t Darius just fly out to see you? Would save you lotsa hassle

[Flames9_RN 358]

Personally if it's April now and you're heading across permanently on the K1 in May, I'd just skip the visit. You're going to need to save up as much money as you can after you cross due to the non working part, wedding bills, daily cost of living bills.

Sorry. Had to laugh at the financial advice. Did you know that some people can afford not to work?

Its all about find the right sugar momma!!

[Krikit 1,164]

Its all about find the right sugar momma!!

u bad.

[KathrynP 0]

Personally if it's April now and you're heading across permanently on the K1 in May, I'd just skip the visit. You're going to need to save up as much money as you can after you cross due to the non working part, wedding bills, daily cost of living bills.

Money isn't the issue. A weekend together will not come close to jepordizing our budgets. But thanks for worrying about us. I'd be willing to pay a lot more than I'm spending to see him before May.

Why doesn´t Darius just fly out to see you? Would save you lotsa hassle

While money isn't the issue, time is. He lives on the west coast and I live on the east coast with no direct flights in between and he's just started a new job and with time off for the wedding, time together when I get there, he doesn't have that many vacation days. If we meet 'in the middle' we'll get to spend more time together which is why we picked Chicago. Cheap flights for both of us and not too much of a time change for either of us.

[Texanadian 10]

I've been in the USA since August 2007. I got my green card in February 2008. Got the EAD a week after that. During this time of zero income I've paid for wedding, honeymoon, year's car insurance, the $1000 green card fee, Christmas presents for everybody, health insurance (can't use my wife's plan), shipping of multiple Christmas presents back to Canada, and daily living.

Of all those mentioned, I would say that daily living is the biggest cost of all. It's amazing how fast you can deplete your savings. Things you never really thought of as costing money. Like grocery shopping. It's such a common practice that you never budgeted for it. Or thought about how big the bill is.

I don't care how well off you are. When you go from a full time income to zero, it's a shock. That's why I recommend not traveling when you're 1 month away from making the K-1 activation. What happens if your car breaks down 3 weeks after you've crossed the border? Unexpected stuff like that. Heck, I wasn't planning on paying $250 for a new tire after paying $1,000 for the set of four just three months earlier. (I had a tire blowout on the highway during my K-1 drive across the country. Ironically I had bought the set of four prior to leaving because I wanted a safe new set of tires on the car)

Don't count on EI paying you right away either. When I sent them my green card, they put me on a 2 week waiting period before any payments were issued. And then it takes them a week to mail the card to TX and another week for it to get back. And they mail the cards out basically at the end of the 2 week cycle. So the EI payments ends up coming about a month after the date on the cards if not more. My green card was approved Feb 6th. My first EI payment came March 20th. I just got my second cheque from them last week. And I do direct deposit.

Granted, I haven't paid attention to where you live. Ontario/Maine couples can visit a lot cheaper than BC/TX couples like myself. (Oh how many times did I wish she lived in Seattle instead of Houston) But by the time I'd factor in a week's visit (lost wages from taking time off, the airplane tickets, shuttles, taxis to the airports etc, it was bare minimum $1,000 for a visit.

A weekend together shouldn't be too bad. Although that makes the travel to visit time ratio a bit steeped. It's up to you. But just remember, the first few months you're in the US, it's expensive.

Edited April 13, 2008 by Texanadian