Getting through customs on a visit

[Oh Its NASA 0]

Hello,

I didn't see this topic posted, so I'll try my luck in asking.

I'm a June filer, so hopefully our NOA 2 is coming up soon-ish. I started a new job in Feb and next month is my first opportunity for paid time off. And since I haven't seen my fiance in 8 months I thought I'd pay him a visit.

There are a ton of topics dedicated to the beneficiary visiting the petitioner in the US, but are there any issues with me visiting him? When visiting him previously (before petitioning) UK customs always gave me a hard time about why I was there. I told them anything from visiting a family I stayed with while studying abroad (well, it is true), to visiting a friend because I was so afraid of sending up a red flag.

Is there anything I should be cautious about? By the time my trip rolls around, it will have been 5 months since we got our NOA 1, and, though I hear VSC is slow, may be time for our second notice.

Thanks

[MADforMEGHAN 0]

I know what UK customs can be like i had to argue with them for the release of my fiancée (girlfriend at the time) when she got pulled over to be secondary questioned. I am worried about the next time she comes to visit but personally the fact that we are now engaged and have applied for the K1 gives me more confidence about her being admitted, because apart from the evidence I always tell her to bring i.e. payslips bank statements etc. (she didn’t listen last time though) now she will also be able to say yes I am visiting my fiancé but I clearly have no intention of staying as we have applied to get married and for him to live in the U.S.

Along with evidence of commitments in the U.S. and a copy of your NOA1 they shouldn’t have any grounds for denying entry.

I always think its a bad idea to lie to customs/boarded patrol although don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t, and I don’t advise you to volunteer information to them. Just say you are visiting friends of the family or family (not really lying either way) and only answer the questions they ask. What I have mentioned above would be my advice if they take you into secondary questioning.

But I wouldn’t worry too much as long as you've been out of the U.S. before and especially to the U.K. you shouldn’t have a problem. unless you mean by "a hard time" as secondary questioning in which case ive been told by them that they will hassle you again.

Just my opinions and experiences i hope it helps

[Nik+Heather 121]

The way to get into the UK is a lot like the way you get into the US. Bring proof of ties - a letter from your supervisor with the dates you have off of work, a copy of your lease, your itinerary showing your return ticket.

You may find a copy of NOA1 may be helpful - it shows that you two are planning to settle in the US instead of the UK.

Unfortunately entering into an engagement means you aren't "just a tourist" any longer, so the burden increases, but it's not unmanageable.

Last time I visited over the holidays I said I was here for 15 days to visit my fiance's family, and wasn't asked to show anything so...In my experience (both ways) honesty has always been the easiest way. It's when you get evasive and then later the truth comes out that they get all suspicious.

Edited September 10, 2009 by Nik+Heather