Help Needed!! Urgent!

[Lucy NY 1]

Morning guys,

I am really hoping to get some help/ advice on what I should do next.

The last few days have a been a rather rocky road for me and the OH. We have agreed that I will fly out there next month over the thanksgiving and Xmas holidays whilst my K1 visa is going through. I am still waiting for the NOA2. This is to reinforce things as things have been difficult for various reasons of which I wont go into but we need to spend some time together. This isnt an option I take lightly for various reasons but one that is neccessary if we are to last and see this through. I am not asking for opinions on our relationship - only advice on what I should do regarding POE.

So, I have spoke with both employers and they say that they will hold the positions open for me for when I return In January. I am going for a period of 8 weeks. What I am concerned about is port of entry and whether they will turn me away due to pending visa. I have visited twice since last year, and have never overstayed and only been there for like a week at a time. I am concious of the fact they will question me hard on my intentions.

So what do I need to get me through POE? So far:

1) My return ticket on the 6th January

2) Letter from both of my employers to say they expect me back on the 6th?

I dont have any renters agreements as still stuck at home with the rents Maybe a letter form them too to say they expect me back on the 6th also?

Would appreiciate any input and any more ideas?

Thanks

Luc

Edited October 6, 2010 by Lucy NY

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Your return ticket and your letters from both employers are good, What about bills that you have pending (utility bills, cell phone bills? credit card bills)? Do you pay your parents any sort of rent? A letter from them would be good of when they expect you to return.

While visiting is not a guarentee, the more prepared you are, the better chance you'll have at admittance.

Oh, don't forget a copy of your K-1 packet

Good luck

[Lucy NY 1]

Your return ticket and your letters from both employers are good, What about bills that you have pending (utility bills, cell phone bills? credit card bills)? Do you pay your parents any sort of rent? A letter from them would be good of when they expect you to return.

While visiting is not a guarentee, the more prepared you are, the better chance you'll have at admittance.

Oh, don't forget a copy of your K-1 packet

Good luck

Yes I still ahve bills to pay here - such as phone and loan - but how do prove that I will still be paying these? Also, copy of the whole packet we sent or just our NOA1??

[JoannaV 174]

If you have a phone contract, then I guess you could bring that.

The NOA1 from the K1 packet should be sufficient. The fact that you have applied for the K1 should work in your favour because if you were planning on entering the US and then staying, you would've not wasted your money on applying for it...

Personally, I was always successfully admitted to the US with just my return ticket. Having letters from your employers should certainly be more than sufficient. Yes there are no guarantees, but in essence: if you have the really bad luck of meeting that one in a million official who won't let you in, then nothing will help. So try not to think/worry about that possibility. There is no need to produce any evidence unless they ask for it. It should however give you peace of mind having it with you.

[CareBear 18]

Havent got anything to add in terms of further evidence required - just wanted to send OP huge hugs in her time of stress. Chin up

[Lucy NY 1]

Aw thank you so much, very stressful but also relivied that we are doing something about it. I cant just sit back and watch it fall apart without trying

I have the most supportive friends, family and bosses ever of which I am truly thankful

I shall make sure i bring as much stuff as I can to ensure I have done the best to my ability - I am just trying to think what else I could take!!

[thatbritishlass 2]

I went to visit my other half between my NOA2 and interview, and went armed with the similar stuff - return ticket, reference from my company's HR saying I was still employed, and letter from my line manager stating when she was expecting me back.

On previous trips I'd just said I was visiting friends, that time around I specifically stated I was visiting my fiance and actually had an easier ride. When did I last visit, when was I leaving? That was it. If you have a good departure record, which it sounds like you do, you shouldn't have a problem.

Best of luck - me and my fiance have hit a couple of rocky patches along the way, long distance is hard work. Hope it works out

[Nik+Heather 121]

Nik visited me during the processing, and the K-1 NOA1 really helped us. He only had a copy of it, so no need to try to send the original around the world. He also had a letter from his employer stating the date he was expected back. He was living with family too, and although he was paying rent, they didn't have any agreement etc, so he didn't ask them for any letters. I don't think it's that surprising that people like to visit loved ones over the holidays, so I wouldn't expect to be questioned TOO closely...

[brian89 2]

Personally, I was always successfully admitted to the US with just my return ticket. Having letters from your employers should certainly be more than sufficient. Yes there are no guarantees, but in essence: if you have the really bad luck of meeting that one in a million official who won't let you in, then nothing will help. So try not to think/worry about that possibility. There is no need to produce any evidence unless they ask for it. It should however give you peace of mind having it with you.

What airport did you go trw? I heard good stories about Chicago?

Edited October 6, 2010 by brian89

[Gingerpants 8]

I have nothing to add to what's already been suggested but I just wanted to say good luck and enjoy your time together.

[JoannaV 174]

What airport did you go trw? I heard good stories about Chicago?

Various ones: Newark (x2), Ottawa, Charlotte, and Washington Dulles.

If anyone's interested:

Newark to see boyfriend for a week: was asked a lot of questions about how I knew my boyfriend before finally being allowed in. The officer was very friendly, just seemed to want to be sure I was safe and wasn't gonna end up being murdered by some guy I'd never met before!

Newark to see fiancé for 3 weeks: Friendly officer, just asked if he could be invited to the wedding lol.

Ottawa to see fiancé for a month: Went ok, can't remember anything specific about US immigration. The Canadians wanted to know where I, a student, got my money from though

Charlotte to see husband for 3 months: female officer let me in just fine, but told me I might want to spend longer in the UK if the visa process took a long time as it might cause problems in the future. (Didn't specify if she meant problems with visiting America or problems with getting visa. She didn't actually know the difference between K1, K3, and CR1, so her advice was probably more scary than useful. But did result in me waiting 5 weeks before coming back for Christmas.)

Washington Dulles to see husband for 6 weeks: officer just said "oh won't you be glad when all this is over with!" (As in, the CR1 visa process.)

(JFK with CR1: went without a hitch. (Although made negative comment about immigrants from 3rd world countries.) Toronto after 2 weeks trip in UK: fine except officer was rude about UK food and asked my husband about 4 times how long we'd been in UK for.)

Some airports probably have a better culture than others, that is a bad atmosphere will just create an even worse atmosphere so there are probably some airports which you might want to avoid. Having said that, your chances of having a friendly officer or an aggressive hateful officer are probably impossible to entirely plan for.

[BlueBonnet 84]

When I went for a visit while the K1 was at VSC, I took:

3 months worth of bank statements, showing my morgage payments, insurance payments ( on house and car )

I took my most previous bills - cable/phone/credit cards

I had a letter from my employer

I had a court order showing my ex has the children for x amount of time

I took emails of my ex and talking about the time split

I had my return airfare.

So I proved that I was tied by my home, work, and children. I was coming home.

The only thing they asked me, was did i have a job - I opted to show the letter.

He asked for the return ticket - I showed him my itinery

I was good to go. I would rather be over prepared than not have something they want.

[brian89 2]

I'm planning to see my fiance (im in the K1 process) during Christmas, new years and my birthday.

I've thought about what to bring and this is what I could get:

- Proof of enrollment at my university in Amsterdam

- Letter from my internship that I will start in January

- Letter from my student-job that I will be back in January

Will this be enough? Because I do not pay rent and don't really have a payment agreement somewhere.

[thescreecher 0]

Hi Lucy. Sorry to hear things are difficult at the moment. This process is so stressful

I'm also worried about POE and was planning on taking:

Return ticket

NOA1

Letter from employer

Bank statement to show sufficient funds to support myself

Some photos & emails (proof of ongoing relationship)

Police check from UK (I thought I'd have my NOA2 by now)

Car registration certificate (to prove I own a car & will return home to sell it)

Letter from my mum (don't know if that'll mean anyting!)

Letter from wedding dress shop saying my dress will be ready to collect on my return

Invitation to my brother's wedding in March

I know some of these aren't very official but I'd rather have as much proof as possible that I'm coming back, which I am!

When are you flying over? I'm off on Nowvember 15th and staying for 87 days (hopefully).

[Lucy NY 1]

Hi Lucy. Sorry to hear things are difficult at the moment. This process is so stressful

I'm also worried about POE and was planning on taking:

Return ticket

NOA1

Letter from employer

Bank statement to show sufficient funds to support myself

Some photos & emails (proof of ongoing relationship)

Police check from UK (I thought I'd have my NOA2 by now)

Car registration certificate (to prove I own a car & will return home to sell it)

Letter from my mum (don't know if that'll mean anyting!)

Letter from wedding dress shop saying my dress will be ready to collect on my return

Invitation to my brother's wedding in March

I know some of these aren't very official but I'd rather have as much proof as possible that I'm coming back, which I am!

When are you flying over? I'm off on Nowvember 15th and staying for 87 days (hopefully).

Hi Hun,

I know this is process is so stressful, we are ok but having some issues and we both need some time together before this process goes any further. I am sure we will be fine but things are difficult and I find if I dont go then things will only get worse and ultimately wont work. Desperate times I guess.

I am hoping to leave on November 9th and come back early January - where you flying from? I know im worried about JFK as heard some horror stories. Plan was to take, similar to you:

1) Return Ticket

2) Money statements showing my bank balances to support myself

3) Letter of employment saying im due baxck to work on blah blah

4) Car insurance and car reg which I have only just bought

5) Mobile phone bills and loan payments which I am still making until next year

6) NOA1

7) NOA2 - obv only if received by that time

8) Police cert also as i ordered mine super early also

9) letter from my parents saying they are expecting me to return - although not very official lol!!

Lets hope for a smooth ride