Visiting US after K-1 is approved

[Dan and Ali 3]

I visited the US with my K-1 visa in my passport before I actually did my official POE. I told the officer that I was visiting and I made sure I had strong proof of ties to Canada with me -- I had a letter from my employer and some bills etc. I made it through no problem!

[Justine+David 218]

Wow...well, there are a lot of other countries that don't require visas either to visit the U.S. I guess the big difference would be that if you flew over from the UK and were denied, you'd have to fly all the way back.

Can they activate your visa without telling you? Or would the people looking at your AOS paperwork see that you entered the U.S. after your visa was approved be suspcious? That would be really bad because then if you left the country you wouldn't know and then would have to start all over again.

[CQ & CS 2]

wow haven't logged in for 1 days and see so many replies for this topic. Thanks guys for giving suggestions and sharing past experience. I will definitely ask the officer in US consulate if I can send in my passport when I'm ready. Otherwise my plan B would be just wait till Oct when my fiance pick me up and help me move.

[Pauley 2]

Can they activate your visa without telling you?

You'd know, as you'll have the USCIS endorsement stamp, usually on the visa itself or on an adjacent passport page. If you check your passport after you leave POE, you should be pretty sure on what grounds (visitor, K-1, etc) you've been admitted.

[Peachey 10]

You'd also know cause you have to hand them your big fat "DO NOT OPEN, DO NOT PACK" envelope.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Good point Peachey!! If it were I, i would try entering without them activating it--and just have a back up plan if they say no!!

[CQ & CS 2]

I entered the US after my Visa was issued, but i brought proofs that i was gonna return back to Canada. I said: I don't want to activate my visa now. They were suspicious, asked me a lot of questions, but they let me enter the US without too many problems.. But be sure you seem honest in your answers and bring some proofs you want to come back to Canada. It's all up to the guard at the border.

Hi AandB, did you tell the CBP upfront when you passed them your passport? I'm quite sure I'll be sent to secondary area as I was detented a year ago. I visited US 2 times after that and was sent to secondary area both time. Fortunately they let me in as I brought a lot of document to prove that I would come back as promised. So I'm not sure if I should tell them upfront when I pass the passport to the first office or when I'm to the 2nd officer. Thanks!

[Undefined 4]

Wait im more confused now. Can I visit my Fiancee in the U.S? I have only recieved the confirmation #. Is this too soon? I have no immigration forms yet only the I-129F form is that one of the immigration forms? advice please. thanks.