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KathrynP

Going to the US and not activating a K1 visa

By KathrynP in Canada

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raymaga Mentor

raymaga   25

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I (K-1) as well as my daughter (K-2) had no problems entering the U.S. (by car) without activating our visas. We simply told the border officer that we were going to visit my fiance, but were not wanting to activate our visas yet, and we were let in without any problems.

This was by car, not plane, so I can only comment on the land crossing part.

I think if you state that you are just visiting, and need to return to Canada to tie up all the loose ends before you move to the U.S., you have a pretty good chance of being let in.

Good luck.

"THE SHORT STORY"

KURT & RAYMA (K-1 Visa)

Oct. 9/03... I-129F sent to NSC

June 10/04... K-1 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

July 31/04... Entered U.S.

Aug. 28/04... WEDDING DAY!!!!

Aug. 30/04... I-485, I-765 & I-131 sent to Seattle

Dec. 10/04... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport stamped)

Sept. 9/06... I-751 sent to NSC

May 15/07... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Sept. 13/07... N-400 sent to NSC

Aug. 21/08... Interview - PASSED!!!!

Sept. 2/08... Oath Ceremony

Sept. 5/08... Sent in Voter Registration Card

Sept. 9/08... SSA office to change status to "U.S. citizen"

Oct. 8/08... Applied in person for U.S. Passport

Oct. 22/08... U.S. Passport received

DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!!

KAELY (K-2 Visa)

Apr. 6/05... DS-230, Part I faxed to Vancouver Consulate

May 26/05... K-2 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

Sept. 5/05... Entered U.S.

Sept. 7/05... I-485 & I-131 sent to CLB

Feb. 22/06... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport NOT stamped)

Dec. 4/07... I-751 sent to NSC

May 23/08... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Mar. 22/11.... N-400 sent to AZ

June 27/11..... Interview - PASSED!!!

July 12/11..... Oath Ceremony

We're NOT lawyers.... just your average folks who had to find their own way!!!!! Anything we post here is simply our own opinions/suggestions/experiences and should not be taken as LAW!!!!

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~Laura and Nick~ Mentor

~Laura and Nick~   5

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
Cool, where are you crossing Laura? I'm in Oakville, I think I'll drive over Queenston-Lewiston... I hope they give it there!

I'm probably going to cross at the peace bridge..maybe rainbow..I'm not sure yet.

I'm in Brantford. :)

Let's Keep the Song Going!!!

CANADA.GIFUS1.GIF

~Laura and Nicholas~

IMG_1315.jpg

Met online November 2005 playing City of Heroes

First met in Canada, Sept 22, 2006 <3

September 2006 to March 2008, 11 visits, 5 in Canada, 6 in NJ

Officially Engaged December 24th, 2007!!!

Moved to the U.S. to be with my baby on July 19th, 2008 on a K1 visa!!!!

***10 year green card in hand as of 2/2/2012, loving and living life***

Hmmm maybe we should move back to Canada! lol smile.png

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KathrynP Apprentice

KathrynP   0

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

I'm in Chicago!

I showed up at the airport very early in case I ran into trouble, which turned out to be a good thing because it took me forever to get my boarding pass from United!

Then I got into the US line.

CBP Lady: Why are you going to the US?

Kathryn: To visit my fiance for the weekend.

CBP Lady: How do you have a fiance in the US? (Starts flipping through my passport) Oh, you have a K1 visa.

Kathryn: Yes, but I don't want to use it at this time.

CBP Lady: Why not?

Kathryn: Because I'm not ready to move yet. I just want to visit for the weekend.

CBP Lady: Do you have your package?

Kathryn: No, it's at home. I didn't bring it since I don't want to use my K1 visa today.

(CBP Lady starts typing but since she's typing a lot and only using two fingers this is taking forever.)

Kathryn: That's the most anyone has ever written.

(CBP Lady ignores me, scribbles on my customs form in red, sticks it and my passport in a yellow folder.)

CBP Lady: Go to secondary.

So I go into secondary processing. I wander in and there are two people sitting down and two CBP guys. I go up to the first CBP guy.

CBP Guy #1: Are you applying for a TN visa?

Kathryn: No, I have a K1 visa but I don't want to use it at this time so I was sent in here.

CBP Guy #1: We need to get your fingerprints.

Kathryn: Okay

(Fingerprinting insues.)

CBP Guy #1: And a picture.

(Poses for that camera.)

CBP Guy #1: Okay, go sit down. We'll try to get you out of here as quickly as possible.

(This sounds promising, he's not saying I can't go.)

CBP Guy #2: Kathryn?

Kathryn: Yes.

CBP Guy #2: Do you have your visa form filled out?

Kathryn: What visa form, I didn't think I needed anything special since I'm just trying to go as a visitor.

CBP Guy #2: You're not using your K1 visa?

Kathryn: No, I'm just trying to go for the weekend.

CBP Guy #2: What do you do?

Kathryn: I'm a software engineer.

CBP Guy #2: For who?

Kathryn: I work for XXX in XXX.

CBP Guy #2: Can I see your itinerary?

(Hands over itinerary.)

Kathryn: I have a letter from my work that they expect me back on Monday if that helps.

CBP Guy #2: Sure, I don't need it but I'll look at it since you had them make you one.

(Hands over letter.)

CBP Guy #2: Okay, go sit down. We'll try to get you out of here as quickly as possible.

CBP Guy #2: Kathryn?

Kathryn: Yes.

CBP Guy #2: I've stamped your passport. When you come home get a courtesy stamp from Canada so that when you do come in with your K1 visa we'll know that you went home on this trip when you said you were going to go home.

Kathryn: Okay. Thanks.

CBP Guy #2: Have a nice day.

This took about half an hour from getting into the first line. The border guards were really nice but I can see it taking a lot longer if there are a lot of other people they have to deal with.

Darius just got out of the shower so I'm now off to find breakfast and then go visit the aquarium!

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Glad u got through!!! Enjoy Chicago

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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Krikit Grand Master

Krikit   1,164

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted

Whooo! :dance: You obviously got different CBP officers than I did. I felt terrible for the young girl who was being processed at the same time. She was returning to school in the US, a Canadian citizen, but born in Iran, and she was being raked through the coals. She couldn't understand why they were messing with her because she had been in Canada almost since birth and she only wanted to go back to school. :(

Congratulations on getting through, Kathryn. Excellent report for the archives!

iagree.gif
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Ontarkie Grand Master

Ontarkie   14,222

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Glad it worked out for you kathryn, enjoy your trip.

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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