Shell Shocked

[Liam and Kara 6]

The best advice is to file your K-1 as soon as possible...

The border is being extremely vigilant with all the illegal immigration that is happening now and unfortunately if ANYTHING seems suspicious they will turn you back... This should not affect the application process since it seems like you were honest about the whole situation so not to worry! you will be fine!

thanks for the reassurance, today we pick ourselves up dust ourselves down and get on with the business of filing for the I-129 which i am gathering leads to the K1 visa application.

As for the not being truthful i am sure in the long run it will serve us well, maybe i was naive in my thought of sailing through immigration, we will put it down to experience. Kara is going to make the trip over here in december.

thanks again for your kind words. Liam

[Liam and Kara 6]

This shouldn't hurt your filing at all, if anything during the interview they may ask you why you were denied entry. At that point tell them you were HONEST about your reasons for visiting the US, and the officer thought you were a risk to overstay your visa in the US, so he denied you. Once you tell them that, the interviewer might respect your honesty, so even though this sucks, it could actually help you!

thanks for your kind words....ye a few people have saidthat to us already that honesty is the best policy and i know maybe i was over indulgent with the facts but hey you live and learn....we have today started the process of getting the correct visa in position.

When the did ask my purpose of visit i did say pleasure and visiting friends i guess because i had the visit booked for 88 days it aroused their suspitions although i had a letter from my employer stating i had unpaid absence of leave and myreturn to work date. but no point in dweling on the negatives what happened happened we move on from here and concentrate 100% on getting the filing process started.

[Speeditup 0]

Hi Liam, i just wanted to say the same thing happened to me. Which airport did you fly to just out of curiosity? although im sure they are all as bad as each other.

I was just as naive as you, even more so since it is actually my husband who is a USC so as soon as they heard that they might aswell of not listened to anything else i had to say as they didnt believe me.

When i think about it now im like 'how could i have been so stupid to say that'....but i didnt realise i was doing anything wrong to be quite honest - didnt do enough research. BUT now when i think about it i kind of see the goodness in it that i was (mostly) honest because if i lied i think that would cause even more problems in the future.

Its been 3 months now and just trying to get on waiting for the paperwork to go through, its really bad that i cant go and visit him over there now, as he has work which he cant get much time off from, so have to wait another couple months til see each other again

but yes we learn from our mistakes and things happen for a reason!!

take care

[Liam and Kara 6]

Hi Liam, i just wanted to say the same thing happened to me. Which airport did you fly to just out of curiosity? although im sure they are all as bad as each other.

I was just as naive as you, even more so since it is actually my husband who is a USC so as soon as they heard that they might aswell of not listened to anything else i had to say as they didnt believe me.

When i think about it now im like 'how could i have been so stupid to say that'....but i didnt realise i was doing anything wrong to be quite honest - didnt do enough research. BUT now when i think about it i kind of see the goodness in it that i was (mostly) honest because if i lied i think that would cause even more problems in the future.

Its been 3 months now and just trying to get on waiting for the paperwork to go through, its really bad that i cant go and visit him over there now, as he has work which he cant get much time off from, so have to wait another couple months til see each other again

but yes we learn from our mistakes and things happen for a reason!!

take care

thanks for your reply, hey i am not alone then...haha i was devestated yesterday coming back home after no sleep for 24 hours was a blurr.

I flew into Newark Airport, i had explained that i was there just to visit family and my fiance(which i should never have mentioned)

I was then taken to interview where they went through all my stuff and phone. i got the impression after a few hours, the guy had already made his mind up i was going o where after about 5 minutes of discussion, that he was not interested in what i had to say even though it made perfect sense i was there with the best wishes of my employer and when i would return, but again nothing seemed to matter to this guy. so i guess it is just a case of getting the visa started and we take it from there.

[Madwoman 2]

Based on my own experiences and reading the experiences of others, I've never really understood the questioning and logic of immigration officers. I'm sure it is a hard job and I should give them a break, but it seems like the system and method they are using have huge gaping holes.

Before my fiance and I got engaged, he applied for and was denied a visitors visa--they didn't look at any of his letters of support/recommendation from his employer and colleagues, the round trip ticket, the letters of support from myself and my family--as soon as he mentioned how much he made, they flat out denied him. When I went back to the Embassy just to get some answers, the immigration officer stated my fiance probably wasn't assertive and confident enough in his answers (he didn't mention the financial disparity which I thought was the reason, and still suspect is). My fiance is shy and comes from a culture that does not look people in authority in the eye, he was taught to speak quietly, and respectfully. The officer was sympathetic but stated, "in the end, support papers don't matter, it's all about the interview. We are specially trained to detect immigration fraud and whether or not a person is being truthful." I didn't say this, but I thought "well, obviously, since my friend was denied, your training is flawed!!"

It is the well-intentioned, honest people who end up getting "caught," while those who are smooth-talking liars have a much easier time

You were naive (I probably would have done the same thing), but honest and well-intentioned. I'm sure your body and facial expressions conveyed that. Why an immigration officer "specially trained to detect fraud" would think that you would be trying to smuggle yourself into the country to stay illegally is beyond me.

....thanks for letting me vent!

[Terri and Seb 0]

Awww, that's so heartbreaking. Welcome to visajourney. If you need any UK specific advice, don't hesitate to send me a message. The guides here are incredibly helpful and the people are really friendly.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Are you suggesting they lie? That is a very bad idea.

99.9% of the time, you'd be right. This however, was the 0.1% of the time that the OP should NEVER have said what they said, truth or not - it was asking for denial. L&K, how I wish you'd found VJ before you went. If you had just said, "I'm on holiday visiting my other half" you would have been fine. Just fine. And it wouldn't have been a lie, either.

I tip my hat to you for your honesty, L&K, but this is a classic example of offering too much information at the POE - tough break, but learn from it.

I re-read what they said. Didn't realise he basically said he might be staying.

I think the phrase is being economical with the truth.

[Liam and Kara 6]

Awww, that's so heartbreaking. Welcome to visajourney. If you need any UK specific advice, don't hesitate to send me a message. The guides here are incredibly helpful and the people are really friendly.

hi and thanks for the kind words, we are now doing our letters what we are usure of is mention in our letter about me being turned away

i mean will that hurt us being truthfull or not. we are just worried about not fdoing the wrong thing again,

we suspect that they will have a record of this anyway and that by over riding the issue will seem like we have something to hide....

you thoughts would be appreciated.

Liam & Kara

[Liam and Kara 6]

Are you suggesting they lie? That is a very bad idea.

99.9% of the time, you'd be right. This however, was the 0.1% of the time that the OP should NEVER have said what they said, truth or not - it was asking for denial. L&K, how I wish you'd found VJ before you went. If you had just said, "I'm on holiday visiting my other half" you would have been fine. Just fine. And it wouldn't have been a lie, either.

I tip my hat to you for your honesty, L&K, but this is a classic example of offering too much information at the POE - tough break, but learn from it.

I re-read what they said. Didn't realise he basically said he might be staying.

I think the phrase is being economical with the truth.

i said that i was there for a long visit but would be going home after 88 days to file in London but ye the long term plan was to file and move,

ye i know it was maybe a bit silly but i was not saying anything wrong or have anything to hide.

lookig back i should have been a bit more ecconomical with the whole tth and purpose of my intentions. LESSON LEARNT, THANKS GUYS

[chuckb 0]

What a tough break, my sympathies.

I totally agree with telling the truth to any Immigration Officer. If you don't, it may bite you someday, but it's only what you tell them that can hurt you. If they don't ask, you don't need to tell. Be it right or wrong, this is true in almost any situation.

I know, some people think that this is the same as lying, but we all do this in some way or another. You have to know where to draw the line, your self interests are at stake. Be truthful, but don't tell all you know, especially if it will likely hurt you, as it did in this case.

If they ask a direct question that hurts your situation, then so be it. Likely, an honest answer will earn you respect, and maybe a chance, because you aren't hiding anything. You just demonstrated that.

As PSHBRK said, there is "truth", and then there is "truth."

[ginger1981 0]

I'm terribly sorry to here this. Unfortunately, the US visa process leaves little freedom to let you go through the motions of a relationship that is most comfortable for yourself and your partner. I wish you two the best in the next stage of this process...I hope it goes quickly.

[Badgerella 5]

i have just returned from the USA today after flying out the the USA last night to be with my fiance for an extended period, for us both to spend some long term quality time together, while there we planned to apply for the K1 visa or talk to someone that could explain in plain english the route to making this transition as pain free as possible.......this as you can gather did not go to plan and i was denied entry, even though i had a return flight booked to return before the 90 day tourist entry visa expired.

As you might imagine this caused plenty of worry and shock and we are now worried this has or could effect our applying for the K1 visa.

Please tell me this has happened to one of you? if so then what you did after the shock wears off and that things will work out? and what steps to do now?

My fiance is now applying for the K1 visa do i need to send original documents to her? grrrrrrrrr think my head is going to explode.

please help my stress levels?

As long as you didn't tell any lies at the POE, relax. This kind of thing happens often. Start by reading the comprehensive guides here.

Your fiance will not be applying for a K1 visa. You will. She'll be petitioning for your privelege to apply. Welcome, you've found the right place to start your journey.

Thanks for your reply, no i was painfully honest about why i was going over, i had planned to go on the tourist visa for near enough the maximum stay and explained why and what the long term goal was, maybe a bit naive i know but though honesty was the best policy.

They said at i was denied entry due to thier suspition that i was planning on living and working in the USA even though had return flight, letter from my employer stating was on unpaid leave for period an when they expected me back at work....ii explained my plan was to go there see how things worked out for both of us and then apply for the visa's required, but they were having none of it....

According to the Embassy in this particular country, or, well, one of the four COs I've talked to in the past 11 months, it's not really a good idea to be honest if you want things to happen the way.... you'd like. Or, well, the way that actually makes sense, too.

Now you'll just have to wait for K1. Heh.

Are you suggesting they lie? That is a very bad idea.

No. Just sharing what I was told last time I talked to a CO.

From experience, being honest has gotten us nowhere so far. We'll see where we'll get.. eventually. Hopefully where we want to be.

[Liam and Kara 6]

Awww, that's so heartbreaking. Welcome to visajourney. If you need any UK specific advice, don't hesitate to send me a message. The guides here are incredibly helpful and the people are really friendly.

hi a question for you or anyone to answer....when Kara files I-129 in USA bo i need to send over my documents to her in original form or photocopies?

[chuckb 0]

Awww, that's so heartbreaking. Welcome to visajourney. If you need any UK specific advice, don't hesitate to send me a message. The guides here are incredibly helpful and the people are really friendly.

hi a question for you or anyone to answer....when Kara files I-129 in USA bo i need to send over my documents to her in original form or photocopies?

Ouch, tough question! Some of them need to be original, and others don't. I'm trying to remember what is required, and the requirements have changed since I filed mine... I helped on one recently, though....

The G-325a can be signed by the petitioner as the petitioner according to the USCIS help line, for the fiance.

Pictures, well I'd think original!

Anything else, I'd think photocopies would be fine. For the I-129f I can't remember any other requirements, till the Interview. Maybe I'm geting old...

Edited October 26, 2008 by chuckb

[msu17 0]

Awww, that's so heartbreaking. Welcome to visajourney. If you need any UK specific advice, don't hesitate to send me a message. The guides here are incredibly helpful and the people are really friendly.

hi a question for you or anyone to answer....when Kara files I-129 in USA bo i need to send over my documents to her in original form or photocopies?

Ouch, tough question! Some of them need to be original, and others don't. I'm trying to remember what is required, and the requirements have changed since I filed mine... I helped on one recently, though....

The G-325a can be signed by the petitioner as the petitioner according to the USCIS help line, for the fiance.

Pictures, well I'd think original!

Anything else, I'd think photocopies would be fine. For the I-129f I can't remember any other requirements, till the Interview. Maybe I'm geting old...

Pretty sure the signing thing is incorrect. It might not be, but their stupid help line DOES NOT KNOW THE K1 PROCESS! They are always telling people incorrect things. I was told that K1's don't go to NVC and had to talk them out of contacting them about my case (I had gotten their letter and it had been sent on to the UK by then). Your fiance may be able to sign the G-325a for you, but I wouldn't risk it especially since the US/UK post is reliable. Make sure that is original, most of us sign it in blue so they don't mistake it as a copy (people have gotten RFE's for this before).