Entering the states while pending K1..

[Linababe 0]

Ok this is something that baffels me... If waiting for the K1 the foriegn fiance visits the states I have read in so many posts that when entering, try not to give out too much information... dont mention "visiting fiance", always have alot of information to prove that you intend to return to your own country. Thats all good information but what gets me is - If one normally goes on vacation anywhere in the world you have a return ticket and you just go and get on the plane and fly and go through immigration, normally one isnt thinking they would be turned away, hence they dont normally carry things like rent aggreements, employers letter stating when you return to work etc. So isnt having all the information with ties to own country on your person look suspicious to the Immigration officer? I mean why would a visitor carry that stuff? unless they are either hiding the fact that they are coming to visit fiance, if these docvuments are found on your person after further interogation then when saying originally you are visiting friends would have been a lie. I dont know where I am going with this it was just a thought that came to mind. I was stopped for further interrogation on my last visit December 2005 - I guess I looked supicious plus the fact I get anxiety attacks and it was due time for me to take my pills, the officer was very kind to get me some water:) Luckily this time i said visiting friends and we had not started our K1 yet but I got grilled all the same about who this friend i was staying with, once he found out it was a man the questions came flying.. "how long have you known him? is he your boyfriend? will you be marrying this man? "etc etc. Obviously in my case I told him the truth - yes we considered it and are talking about it but we broke up prior to my trip and we decided to make a go of things again hence the visit and if we did decide to marry then we would go through the fiance visa route and do everything leagally Obviously I had no information with me to show my ties to UK, except the fact that I told him I was on benefits, when asked what I did for a living and the money went straight into my account and was willing to log onto my online account if he would give me access to a computer LOL. He seemed pleased with the interogation and didnt seem to think that I was doing anything illlegal, good for me:) But when it was all done I had a little chat with him, told him he made me feel like I was doing something wrong and intimidated me when all I was doing was visiting the states as I love America (infact that was the only place i went on vacations in the past lol), He seemed very friendly and he said it was his job to look intimidating but he meant nothing personally lol.

Well sorry to go on about this I was just thinking about this and thought I would make my thoughts be known , does anyone else think the same?

Lina (UKC)

[aussiewench 9]

I think sometimes knowing too much can make one paranoid hahaha I know when I first went to the US to get married I had no idea about carrying anything on me to show ties to my home country and I had no problems on entry. The thing is though, anyone regardless of whether one has a petition in progress or not, is looked on as an intending immigrant. This is how the CBP officers are instructed....so at any time when one is visiting the US, if one is pulled aside and cannot satisfy the officer that they are indeed returning, then they can be denied entry. A visa of any discription does not guarantee entry. We had a young girl in the paper here recently who had saved up for a long time to travel to the US on a holiday and was denied simply because she was carrying nothing on her to show ties to australia. I dont think this is common, but it can happen to anyone.

[zyggy 9]

Ok this is something that baffels me... If waiting for the K1 the foriegn fiance visits the states I have read in so many posts that when entering, try not to give out too much information... dont mention "visiting fiance", always have alot of information to prove that you intend to return to your own country. Thats all good information but what gets me is - If one normally goes on vacation anywhere in the world you have a return ticket and you just go and get on the plane and fly and go through immigration, normally one isnt thinking they would be turned away, hence they dont normally carry things like rent aggreements, employers letter stating when you return to work etc. So isnt having all the information with ties to own country on your person look suspicious to the Immigration officer? I mean why would a visitor carry that stuff? unless they are either hiding the fact that they are coming to visit fiance, if these docvuments are found on your person after further interogation then when saying originally you are visiting friends would have been a lie. I dont know where I am going with this it was just a thought that came to mind. I was stopped for further interrogation on my last visit December 2005 - I guess I looked supicious plus the fact I get anxiety attacks and it was due time for me to take my pills, the officer was very kind to get me some water:) Luckily this time i said visiting friends and we had not started our K1 yet but I got grilled all the same about who this friend i was staying with, once he found out it was a man the questions came flying.. "how long have you known him? is he your boyfriend? will you be marrying this man? "etc etc. Obviously in my case I told him the truth - yes we considered it and are talking about it but we broke up prior to my trip and we decided to make a go of things again hence the visit and if we did decide to marry then we would go through the fiance visa route and do everything leagally Obviously I had no information with me to show my ties to UK, except the fact that I told him I was on benefits, when asked what I did for a living and the money went straight into my account and was willing to log onto my online account if he would give me access to a computer LOL. He seemed pleased with the interogation and didnt seem to think that I was doing anything illlegal, good for me:) But when it was all done I had a little chat with him, told him he made me feel like I was doing something wrong and intimidated me when all I was doing was visiting the states as I love America (infact that was the only place i went on vacations in the past lol), He seemed very friendly and he said it was his job to look intimidating but he meant nothing personally lol.

Well sorry to go on about this I was just thinking about this and thought I would make my thoughts be known , does anyone else think the same?

Lina (UKC)

The difference is that most people who come to the US do not have a significant tie to the US that could cause them to think about violating the terms of their status...

ANd it is the job of the CBP officer to be intimidating. People who have something to hide do not willingly volunteer information. When under pressure, most people don't have time to craft responses and tend to let things slip. The truth will always come out when one is under pressure, either through words or body language... It's a common interrogation tactic.

Obviously, the answers you gave and your demeanor satisfied the officer that you weren't planning anything that would go against the terms of your visa.

Edited June 27, 2006 by zyggy

[Linababe 0]

I think sometimes knowing too much can make one paranoid hahaha I know when I first went to the US to get married I had no idea about carrying anything on me to show ties to my home country and I had no problems on entry. The thing is though, anyone regardless of whether one has a petition in progress or not, is looked on as an intending immigrant. This is how the CBP officers are instructed....so at any time when one is visiting the US, if one is pulled aside and cannot satisfy the officer that they are indeed returning, then they can be denied entry. A visa of any discription does not guarantee entry. We had a young girl in the paper here recently who had saved up for a long time to travel to the US on a holiday and was denied simply because she was carrying nothing on her to show ties to australia. I dont think this is common, but it can happen to anyone.

yes that is what my fiance tells me - as I always want to know everything and it does sometimes get me into trouble lol As to that girl who saved the money to travel to the states... it doesnt really give her a good impression of the states when she really wanted to travel and got denied. It sucks big time, but you are right it can happen to anyone it just doesnt seem to be right:( but then again there are alot of illegal immigrants going to the states which really gets my blood boiling and are allowed to stay etc but thats another topic which I dont want to go into now lol because I dont want to get angry and abusive lol

The difference is that most people who come to the US do not have a significant tie to the US that could cause them to think about violating the terms of their status...

ANd it is the job of the CBP officer to be intimidating. People who have something to hide do not willingly volunteer information. When under pressure, most people don't have time to craft responses and tend to let things slip. The truth will always come out when one is under pressure, either through words or body language... It's a common interrogation tactic.

Obviously, the answers you gave and your demeanor satisfied the officer that you weren't planning anything that would go against the terms of your visa.

Man i was shitting my pants, as a child I used to lie alot but found out later in life that i could no longer lie, everytime I do I start stuttering, go all hot and flustered etc and really stick out like a sore thumb lol. Another thing about me is I do sometimes talk too much and I tend to explain everything in detail, my fiance keeps telling me to get to the point instead of blabbering lol but yes I always tell the truth and do not like doing things in life ilegally - I AM A GOOD GIRL LOL

[1daysoon 0]

The best thing is to just answer the questions you get asked dont elaborate on the answer but DO NOT LIE....... once you have applied for the K1 you are in the system ( or so I am led to believe) ..... Deff have as much proof with you that you DO NOT intend to stay in the USA on this visit and that you have to return home to work and other such things.......

My son and I passed through with no probs at all and didn't even have to produce our proof of ties, but I was sure glad I had it with me just in case

Ange