Visiting Fiance in US!

[jingo 38]

Hey,

Just thought I'd share this info for all you who are worried about visiting their significant others while in the k1 process.

I just flew into SFO yesterday with a file full of evidence about home ties (school letter, job letter, bank statement etc). I didnt need to show any of it.

The guy at customs asked me questions like:

- how are you?

- why are you here? i said holiday.

- are you alone? why arent you on holiday with friends? i said my friends live here.

- when were you here last? you have a j1? - i said i studied here for a year in '09

- do you have a boyfriend? what does he do?

- which school do you go to?

- how did you pay for this trip?

- did you bring gifts for people? not even a box of chocolates?

- do you live with your family?

- 'so you're just visiting your boyfriend for holiday. ok'

then he put a stamp in my passport and was like 'okay.'

He was friendly enough, looked kind of tired, had an accent that I didnt understand that well, but let me through quickly enough. In the k1 process, we are between the noa1 and noa2 stages. He didnt ask anything about it, so I doubt its on their system.

Hope this gives people hope, I think the possibility of being denied entry is kind of a horror story and very rare

[ABandIG 2]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

I am tempted to try to enter into the US also, while we're waiting on our NOA1 but the only tie to home I would have is letters from my bosses (I currently have two jobs).

So you said "boyfriend" and not "fiancee"? (kind of stoopid question..Just curious to understand why they didn't ask you about the k1 visa petition.

But again thanks for sharing

[jingo 38]

I said my boyfriend because right now is the first time we have seen each other since beginning the k1 process so we havent made it official yet in person ie. I have no ring. Just felt more genuine to say boyfriend. They clearly had no idea anyway. USCIS takes months to even look at applications, what makes you think they'd be organized enough to alert the DHS of people's names who have sent them petitions? Yeah but they didnt ask about any evidence, just took my word I was still a student.

[ABandIG 2]

Very true..

By the way, I'm very happy for you. Bless you both!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I asked the CBP guy at the airport point blank if they had information about fiance petitions on that computer he was looking at. He said NO.

The people who encounter the most problems tend to be the ones who come often and stay the full 90 days. Short typical 2-3 week holiday or vacation visits are usually fine.

[jingo 38]

Yeah last time I entered the US was January '10 and i'm only staying for 4 weeks so I guess it was fine. Didnt ask if I had a return ticket though. And didnt put one of those white forms in my passport, I wonder why.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

And didnt put one of those white forms in my passport, I wonder why.

I think the Visa Waiver entries are mostly paperless now that ESTA is fully functioning. I know Continental Airlines (now United Airlines) quit passing out paper I-94W forms sometime last summer.

[smasbreuk 0]

good for you

i was try to visit my fiance around last dec but cos i am telling i am gonna visit my fiance for xmas holiday and already in k1 process so they rejected me, but not because of negative things, but cos we already process the K1 and i can't travel to visit him

[ABandIG 2]

i was try to visit my fiance around last dec but cos i am telling i am gonna visit my fiance for xmas holiday and already in k1 process so they rejected me, but not because of negative things, but cos we already process the K1 and i can't travel to visit him

Did you have proofs of ties to your country? (letter from your employer, mortgage..)

[smasbreuk 0]

Did you have proofs of ties to your country? (letter from your employer, mortgage..)

i bring everything like sponsor letter from company, bank, and sponsor letter from him but they didnt ask at all, actually the interview very easy not like most of ppl said kinda difficult

they just asked what for going to USA, how long and stay with who, nothing else

[petite soleil 2]

i bring everything like sponsor letter from company, bank, and sponsor letter from him but they didnt ask at all, actually the interview very easy not like most of ppl said kinda difficult

they just asked what for going to USA, how long and stay with who, nothing else

And did you tell them you are already in the K-1 process? Or did they had this information...

[smasbreuk 0]

And did you tell them you are already in the K-1 process? Or did they had this information...

yes i told her, cos kinda worry that they will find out bout this information so better to be honest hehehehe and she said thanks for telling us and be honest and she wish me luck for k-1

[JoannaV 174]

I think it's possible to come across an official who thinks you can't travel whilst a visa application is in process. It is also true that some officials will be more willing to accept people from some countries than other countries. It's that idea that America is a very very attractive country to live in and try to stay in, but that, for example, people who get to hobnob with the Queen in London wouldn't be so likely to overstay.

[Casprd 167]

I said my boyfriend because right now is the first time we have seen each other since beginning the k1 process so we havent made it official yet in person ie. I have no ring. Just felt more genuine to say boyfriend. They clearly had no idea anyway. USCIS takes months to even look at applications, what makes you think they'd be organized enough to alert the DHS of people's names who have sent them petitions? Yeah but they didnt ask about any evidence, just took my word I was still a student.

Not to nitpick, but by filing the K1, you have made it official in the eyes of the US government. Regardless, visiting a boyfriend or a fiance when you are coming from the UK is quite a bit different than trying to visit when you come from a country in East Europe, Asia or the Middle East/Africa. Happy for you that you get to visit your SO for a time while waiting for the process to complete.

[Max1gk 68]

When I went there last time (my POE is always Newark) and I mentioned that I was going to spend the x-mas holidays with my fiancèe and the family,he asked me if I was going to move there soon or later and I told him "yes we're gonna apply for a K-1 visa in early spring" and he said "ok,cool"...I also asked him if I could visit with the K-1 pending and he said there weren't problems cause I'm on VWP - he made it clear that a citizen from a non VWP country wouldn't be allowed to do that though..

Edited April 1, 2011 by Max1gk