Help! Visting with my finace' and awaiting for NOA2

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Hello, VJ'ers.

I am here for your help please.

I have seen this topic posted quite a few times, so I am going to read as much as I can, but obviously there are some issues that are unique to me concerning traveling to see my fiance' while in the K1 visa process.

Okay, we are 3 months in and awaiting for the NOA2. I am thinking about going to stay with my fiance' on a visitors visa for up to 3 months.

I know it's important to prove that you have ties to coming back to your own country in case border control get heavy. My issues are that I am working for a temping agency and would leave without a job to come back to.

I am living in shared accommodation, so I would give up my tenancy here and plan to stay with a friend on my return while I complete the process.

My 16 year old son would still be in the U.K - I will be applying a K2 visa for him as well as my K1.

Do I just travel as I have every time before and not mention the visa stuff?

I would really like your views, experience or knowledge in going through with visiting him.

Thanks so much everyone.

[K&E2009 71]

Hello, VJ'ers.

I am here for your help please.

I have seen this topic posted quite a few times, so I am going to read as much as I can, but obviously there are some issues that are unique to me concerning traveling to see my fiance' while in the K1 visa process.

Okay, we are 3 months in and awaiting for the NOA2. I am thinking about going to stay with my fiance' on a visitors visa for up to 3 months.

I know it's important to prove that you have ties to coming back to your own country in case border control get heavy. My issues are that I am working for a temping agency and would leave without a job to come back to.

I am living in shared accommodation, so I would give up my tenancy here and plan to stay with a friend on my return while I complete the process.

My 16 year old son would still be in the U.K - I will be applying a K2 visa for him as well as my K1.

Do I just travel as I have every time before and not mention the visa stuff?

I would really like your views, experience or knowledge in going through with visiting him.

Thanks so much everyone.

Hey! I wrote this just last week. Take a look...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/327595-poe/page__p__4881124__fromsearch__1#entry4881124

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Hey! I wrote this just last week. Take a look...

http://www.visajourn..._1#entry4881124

Wow! That's a great story. Gosh, I hope it would be that easy for me. Did you take any proof of ties to Ireland etc just in case?

Congrats, on successfully traveling.

[K&E2009 71]

Wow! That's a great story. Gosh, I hope it would be that easy for me. Did you take any proof of ties to Ireland etc just in case?

Congrats, on successfully traveling.

Thing is, I have ZERO ties... no job, mortgage, car, I'm living at home... Only my family there!

So, no, I didn't bring proof of ties.

I DID bring... my copy of the initial I-129f package... the entire package (proof that you are going about the whole thing LEGALLY, and are not going to jeopardize it by overstaying). I brought the Fed-Ex receipts that show when and where I sent it. I brought my fiancees phone number ( i have heard of the CBP agents calling the US citizen to confirm that they have an actual relationship with the person arriving in the states). I brought my return ticket, too.

What's your POE?

never asked for ANY of it though. Good to have, just in case!!

Thing is, I have ZERO ties... no job, mortgage, car, I'm living at home... Only my family there!

So, no, I didn't bring proof of ties.

I DID bring... my copy of the initial I-129f package... the entire package (proof that you are going about the whole thing LEGALLY, and are not going to jeopardize it by overstaying). I brought the Fed-Ex receipts that show when and where I sent it. I brought my fiancees phone number ( i have heard of the CBP agents calling the US citizen to confirm that they have an actual relationship with the person arriving in the states). I brought my return ticket, too.

What's your POE?

never asked for ANY of it though. Good to have, just in case!!

Oh and a bank statement, to show enough funds to support myself while here. Again, not asked for it!

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Thing is, I have ZERO ties... no job, mortgage, car, I'm living at home... Only my family there!

So, no, I didn't bring proof of ties.

I DID bring... my copy of the initial I-129f package... the entire package (proof that you are going about the whole thing LEGALLY, and are not going to jeopardize it by overstaying). I brought the Fed-Ex receipts that show when and where I sent it. I brought my fiancees phone number ( i have heard of the CBP agents calling the US citizen to confirm that they have an actual relationship with the person arriving in the states). I brought my return ticket, too.

What's your POE?

never asked for ANY of it though. Good to have, just in case!!

Oh and a bank statement, to show enough funds to support myself while here. Again, not asked for it!

Yer, I am pretty much in the same situation as you. My POE would be Chicago, that place always makes me nervous anyway, ha, ha.

I don't think I would volunteer the visa stuff, but if questioned I would be honest. I would take a copy of return ticket too, and proof that my son is still here, and the visa stuff just in case. I think what I am learning is that there are no official yes or no answers, it's down to me and my fiance' whether we take the risk.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Vicky and Larry

[K&E2009 71]

Yer, I am pretty much in the same situation as you. My POE would be Chicago, that place always makes me nervous anyway, ha, ha.

I don't think I would volunteer the visa stuff, but if questioned I would be honest. I would take a copy of return ticket too, and proof that my son is still here, and the visa stuff just in case. I think what I am learning is that there are no official yes or no answers, it's down to me and my fiance' whether we take the risk.

ya, don't bother mentioning it, but if it comes up have the copy in the bag just in case.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

ya, don't bother mentioning it, but if it comes up have the copy in the bag just in case.

Thanks for your advise.

Good luck with the rest of your journey.

[K&E2009 71]

Thanks for your advise.

Good luck with the rest of your journey.

You're welcome!

All the best with yours too! :thumbs:

[nastja 0]

It is very weird how some people are lucky enough. It really depends so don't just think you won't have problems because some people did not.

June 28th was the day I landed in Atlanta and went through the customs for the very first time. I wasn't nervous at all, I answered all their questions, but they put me in custody anyways.

After an hour of waiting they started asking me questions about my trip, what we're going to do, how much money I have, what I do in my country and stuff. Then they told me not to work in the US and let me in the country. And it was my first time here, no visa stamps, I'm not in K-1 process or anything.

So just be careful, you really don't want to be sent back home, have enough proof and be prepared for anything. It really depends on the customs officer.

Anyways, good luck on your way of becoming a citizen! I wish you all the best.

Edited September 7, 2011 by nastja

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Your disadvantage is going for 90 days. That could prompt questions like job or responsibilities to return to or if you have a boyfriend in the US. How can you afford to go on holiday for 3 months? Don't you have a job? Who are you staying with?

Your advantage is your age. If you've got a 16 year old son, then you probably don't look as suspicious as a 19 year old with no job, no money, no reason to go back.

Look like a tourist. Don't fill your bags with things that look like you are moving to the US now like your whole music or book colection. Don't put in things that would make them suspect you will be job hunting like CV, job applications, etc. Pack appropriate for a person strictly on vacation.

Dress smartly. They will believe you more than if you look like a rag-tag bum. I got this straight from a CBP officer I had a long chat with. He further said when we see people that look like bums who don't appear they could afford a cup of coffee, much less a 3 month holiday, we ask a lot of questions. Have a credit card and a bank statement to show you have ample funds to pay for a long holiday.

And you've got it right that it depends on the day and the officer. So look relaxed and smile to win him over.

[JoannaV 174]

All you can ever do is bring what evidence you have. Whether you have a mountain of evidence or nothing at all there is never a guarantee.

Personally I visited my boyfriend/fiance/husband several times within one year, the longest trip being for three months. And the only thing I was ever asked for was my return ticket. Which was good because I didn't have anything else. I was a student then ex-student just bumming around England whilst waiting to move to live with my husband. (The Canadians asked me how I bought my ticket, and I said student loans LOL.)

I was scared every time I visited though. But it's not like I had any alternative to trying.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Your disadvantage is going for 90 days. That could prompt questions like job or responsibilities to return to or if you have a boyfriend in the US. How can you afford to go on holiday for 3 months? Don't you have a job? Who are you staying with?

Your advantage is your age. If you've got a 16 year old son, then you probably don't look as suspicious as a 19 year old with no job, no money, no reason to go back.

Look like a tourist. Don't fill your bags with things that look like you are moving to the US now like your whole music or book colection. Don't put in things that would make them suspect you will be job hunting like CV, job applications, etc. Pack appropriate for a person strictly on vacation.

Dress smartly. They will believe you more than if you look like a rag-tag bum. I got this straight from a CBP officer I had a long chat with. He further said when we see people that look like bums who don't appear they could afford a cup of coffee, much less a 3 month holiday, we ask a lot of questions. Have a credit card and a bank statement to show you have ample funds to pay for a long holiday.

And you've got it right that it depends on the day and the officer. So look relaxed and smile to win him over.

Thanks for this....you made me laugh with your 'bum' comments. I get what you mean, though. However, by the time I have caught the 3 hour train to Heathrow and then the 8 and a half hour flight to Chicago to then go on to St.Louis I think I always look like a bum, but just dressed in nice clothes, ha, ha, ha.

You have given me some great advice, which I will follow to the letter if I go? We are still deciding. I will just tell them my savings are paying for my trip.

I hope I get a nice officer? Chicago always makes me a little nervous, but I always answer the same way, "to visit with my boyfriend." the last time I was there was last December came back in the New Year.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

It is very weird how some people are lucky enough. It really depends so don't just think you won't have problems because some people did not.

June 28th was the day I landed in Atlanta and went through the customs for the very first time. I wasn't nervous at all, I answered all their questions, but they put me in custody anyways.

After an hour of waiting they started asking me questions about my trip, what we're going to do, how much money I have, what I do in my country and stuff. Then they told me not to work in the US and let me in the country. And it was my first time here, no visa stamps, I'm not in K-1 process or anything.

So just be careful, you really don't want to be sent back home, have enough proof and be prepared for anything. It really depends on the customs officer.

Anyways, good luck on your way of becoming a citizen! I wish you all the best.

Thnaks for this! It's really helpful to get a balance of positive and not so positive experiences.

All you can ever do is bring what evidence you have. Whether you have a mountain of evidence or nothing at all there is never a guarantee.

Personally I visited my boyfriend/fiance/husband several times within one year, the longest trip being for three months. And the only thing I was ever asked for was my return ticket. Which was good because I didn't have anything else. I was a student then ex-student just bumming around England whilst waiting to move to live with my husband. (The Canadians asked me how I bought my ticket, and I said student loans LOL.)

I was scared every time I visited though. But it's not like I had any alternative to trying.

Maybe I will dress in one of my work suits? Ha, ha, ha.

Congrats on getting through everything.

[Vicky and Larry 27]

Your disadvantage is going for 90 days. That could prompt questions like job or responsibilities to return to or if you have a boyfriend in the US. How can you afford to go on holiday for 3 months? Don't you have a job? Who are you staying with?

Your advantage is your age. If you've got a 16 year old son, then you probably don't look as suspicious as a 19 year old with no job, no money, no reason to go back.

Look like a tourist. Don't fill your bags with things that look like you are moving to the US now like your whole music or book colection. Don't put in things that would make them suspect you will be job hunting like CV, job applications, etc. Pack appropriate for a person strictly on vacation.

Dress smartly. They will believe you more than if you look like a rag-tag bum. I got this straight from a CBP officer I had a long chat with. He further said when we see people that look like bums who don't appear they could afford a cup of coffee, much less a 3 month holiday, we ask a lot of questions. Have a credit card and a bank statement to show you have ample funds to pay for a long holiday.

And you've got it right that it depends on the day and the officer. So look relaxed and smile to win him over.

Sorry, Nick-Nick I didn't see that was you.

I appreciate you posting and giving your experience. I will let you know what we decide.

[Casprd 167]

You may want to look at flying through Dublin and do your POE there. That way if CBP does have an issue, it isn't such a pain and expense to fly back to the UK.