Past run-in at JFK, should we worry?

[ECWilloughbys 7]

Hi all, I just posted this in the "Yes, you can visit" thread, but realized maybe some wise person here might know if my fiance IS somehow flagged or on a list somewhere (read below), or if this will come up in his interview at the embassy in London? If so, that's fine, he'll just tell the truth, but he wants to be as prepared as possible. Thanks in advance for any helpful info, this site and forum is a godsend:

Before we were engaged, my English fiance visited me three times in New York last summer. He never stayed more than a few weeks at a time, and followed all the rules: we (obviously) didn't get married, he didn't try to work illegally, etc. But entering at JFK for his third visit, he got pulled aside and taken to an interview room, where the guy behind the counter was really aggressive and rude to him, yelling and asking him what he was doing coming back and forth so much. Fair enough, but no reason to yell. My fiance kept his cool and told the truth, said he was visiting his girlfriend, he did freelance work so he saved up money to come, etc. The man was a real jerk about it, and told him he was abusing the tourist visa program. My fiance was upset about that, because this whole time, we thought we'd been USING the tourist visa program, not abusing it. He'd never stayed for anywhere close to 90 days or anything.

Anyway, the official let him in the country, but told him he didn't want to see him back in the country again for another year. My fiance (who had a ring in his suitcase and was actually coming to propose!) asked if he'd be allowed back within a year if he had a fiance visa, and the man begrudgingly said yes, that was allowed.

I have no idea if he's flagged on a list anywhere, or if this could come up in his interview. They stamped his passport like normal, no notes or anything, but he hasn't risked coming back since, and instead I've been taking advantage of the much longer UK visa waiver program, where I can stay up to six months while we wait to be approved.

We have a friend who works in visas, and she said that he didn't really do anything wrong, but this was unfortunate, and just our luck of the draw that he got this particular guy. It was discouraging for him to be treated so roughly, and hasn't improved his opinions of jumping through the U.S. government's hoops now that we're in the K-1 visa process.

[ms2474 0]

- This shouldn't cause any problems whatsoever with the K-1 visa process. When he arrives at the port of entry with his K-1 visa he will be fine to enter the country, like the man begrudgingly said. It also shouldn't be mentioned during the interview process either. Your fiance did nothing wrong.

- If the U.S. has has actually "flagged" his passport, which is extremely unlikely, all it means is that if he comes again with a tourist visa he might have to show why he is coming so often. If it is mentioned during the interview, which is also extremely unlikely, all your fiance will have to do is tell the truth and it wont cause any problems.

You should not have any problems, whether "flagged" or not, with the port of entry or the interview.

[pushbrk 12,883]

Hi all, I just posted this in the "Yes, you can visit" thread, but realized maybe some wise person here might know if my fiance IS somehow flagged or on a list somewhere (read below), or if this will come up in his interview at the embassy in London? If so, that's fine, he'll just tell the truth, but he wants to be as prepared as possible. Thanks in advance for any helpful info, this site and forum is a godsend:

Before we were engaged, my English fiance visited me three times in New York last summer. He never stayed more than a few weeks at a time, and followed all the rules: we (obviously) didn't get married, he didn't try to work illegally, etc. But entering at JFK for his third visit, he got pulled aside and taken to an interview room, where the guy behind the counter was really aggressive and rude to him, yelling and asking him what he was doing coming back and forth so much. Fair enough, but no reason to yell. My fiance kept his cool and told the truth, said he was visiting his girlfriend, he did freelance work so he saved up money to come, etc. The man was a real jerk about it, and told him he was abusing the tourist visa program. My fiance was upset about that, because this whole time, we thought we'd been USING the tourist visa program, not abusing it. He'd never stayed for anywhere close to 90 days or anything.

Anyway, the official let him in the country, but told him he didn't want to see him back in the country again for another year. My fiance (who had a ring in his suitcase and was actually coming to propose!) asked if he'd be allowed back within a year if he had a fiance visa, and the man begrudgingly said yes, that was allowed.

I have no idea if he's flagged on a list anywhere, or if this could come up in his interview. They stamped his passport like normal, no notes or anything, but he hasn't risked coming back since, and instead I've been taking advantage of the much longer UK visa waiver program, where I can stay up to six months while we wait to be approved.

We have a friend who works in visas, and she said that he didn't really do anything wrong, but this was unfortunate, and just our luck of the draw that he got this particular guy. It was discouraging for him to be treated so roughly, and hasn't improved his opinions of jumping through the U.S. government's hoops now that we're in the K-1 visa process.

If asked, explain candidly.

[ECWilloughbys 7]

- This shouldn't cause any problems whatsoever with the K-1 visa process. When he arrives at the port of entry with his K-1 visa he will be fine to enter the country, like the man begrudgingly said. It also shouldn't be mentioned during the interview process either. Your fiance did nothing wrong.

- If the U.S. has has actually "flagged" his passport, which is extremely unlikely, all it means is that if he comes again with a tourist visa he might have to show why he is coming so often. If it is mentioned during the interview, which is also extremely unlikely, all your fiance will have to do is tell the truth and it wont cause any problems.

You should not have any problems, whether "flagged" or not, with the port of entry or the interview.

Thank you so much! We both know we were on the up and up, but just want to be as prepared as possible for anything. It's a relief to hear you think it shouldn't be an issue.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Nik was grilled in Secondary for all but one entry. Was never mentioned in the K-1 process. As you say, you followed the rules and didn't overstay. There should be no problem at all with the K-1 visa.

[Damian&Kelly 16]

This happened to my husband on one of his visits, and it didn't affect him coming to visit again or give him any problems at all with his K-1.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

they always yell at me at JFK and I'm a USC

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I've been refused entry (long before I was naturalised to US--or even had GC) at Calgary's PFI before--and they do keep records on refusals.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I don't anticipate any problems for him. It was just one bad encounter which he mastered by keeping his cool. If the CBP Officer had been given any reason to stamp his passport, he would have.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Effectively the guy was just trying to threaten your fiance because he didn't like what he saw, but it was an empty threat.

[woki1986 1]

I wondered about that... If at the POE they could question you on why you're coming in. As far as I know, your K1 or whichever one you're on is your 'Golden Ticket.' You've done all the hard work to get to this point, so in you jolly well go There shouldn't be any problems.