Visiting US "after" K1 issued

[Soulmates513 3]

Hi Everyone,

Once you have your K1 Visa I know you have I believe it's 6 months to enter the US to live and get married. Question: Can you go and visit and NOT use the visa at those visits? And then come back to Canada and then go with the Visa? Or during those 6 months you simply can't enter the US on just a passport visit? Hope I've explained this properly .. haven't had my coffee yet this morning. Thanks.

[bigdog 376]

You can't enter on your k1 until issued, and then cannot leave until your AP is granted after your marriage. Other Canadians seem to travel back and forth as they were, but the IO at the border might see it different now that you are on k1.

[Barbara J 115]

Hi Everyone,

Once you have your K1 Visa I know you have I believe it's 6 months to enter the US to live and get married. Question: Can you go and visit and NOT use the visa at those visits? And then come back to Canada and then go with the Visa? Or during those 6 months you simply can't enter the US on just a passport visit? Hope I've explained this properly .. haven't had my coffee yet this morning. Thanks.

If you don't show it then I can't see why you can't visit just on your passport. The CO does not know you have a K1 visa to use. Not sure why you want to wait though when if you have the K1 in hand why you don't want to come and get married to your loved one. Why the wait?

[Soulmates513 3]

If you don't show it then I can't see why you can't visit just on your passport. The CO does not know you have a K1 visa to use. Not sure why you want to wait though when if you have the K1 in hand why you don't want to come and get married to your loved one. Why the wait?

I want that more than anything, I'd go tomorrow if I could and planned on going right after the visa is issued. But then we started looking at the health insurance. We're in the midst now of looking at medical insurance. I have to get my own individual and i didn't realize how difficult it is. I'm over 50 with a few minor health things - most in the past (but within their 10 year window). I'm just waiting to hear back now but I've been googling (not good sometimes for the soul) and the stories about insurance declining for individual insurance is pretty high even with some of the things I have or have had. So it was just a back up plan if I needed to visit but didn't want to actually leave (or give up my health insurance here)... until we could find a policy for me. I am just sick about this, I can't tell you and I hope to hear from the insurance broker by week's end if she can help me get a policy in place - I'll pay for it - just want one.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I want that more than anything, I'd go tomorrow if I could and planned on going right after the visa is issued. But then we started looking at the health insurance. We're in the midst now of looking at medical insurance. I have to get my own individual and i didn't realize how difficult it is. I'm over 50 with a few minor health things - most in the past (but within their 10 year window). I'm just waiting to hear back now but I've been googling (not good sometimes for the soul) and the stories about insurance declining for individual insurance is pretty high even with some of the things I have or have had. So it was just a back up plan if I needed to visit but didn't want to actually leave (or give up my health insurance here)... until we could find a policy for me. I am just sick about this, I can't tell you and I hope to hear from the insurance broker by week's end if she can help me get a policy in place - I'll pay for it - just want one.

Have other CANADIANS done it? yes. But once again, it is up to the POE officer!! No 1 can say yes, it will be fine or it won't be.

[hikergirl 277]

I know there was discussion on the forum with regards to health insurance not too long ago. I believe the consensus was to get travel insurance before you go down to cover you until you get married and then get health insurance. They also said something special to do with the new coverage because you are currently covered by insurance (albeit government not private).

I'll see if I can find the thread. If not hopefully someone more knowledgeable with regards to this comes along.

[Barbara J 115]

I want that more than anything, I'd go tomorrow if I could and planned on going right after the visa is issued. But then we started looking at the health insurance. We're in the midst now of looking at medical insurance. I have to get my own individual and i didn't realize how difficult it is. I'm over 50 with a few minor health things - most in the past (but within their 10 year window). I'm just waiting to hear back now but I've been googling (not good sometimes for the soul) and the stories about insurance declining for individual insurance is pretty high even with some of the things I have or have had. So it was just a back up plan if I needed to visit but didn't want to actually leave (or give up my health insurance here)... until we could find a policy for me. I am just sick about this, I can't tell you and I hope to hear from the insurance broker by week's end if she can help me get a policy in place - I'll pay for it - just want one.

MMMM ya poor thing I understand as I to am over 50 but I came here with travel insurance and then when we married I joined my husbands. I also don't have any ailments so not sure what you can do there but I wish you the very best and hopefully you can just get travel insurance and come and get married .

[Harsh_77 718]

I guess you are asking if you can enter as visitor and not activate your K1 visa, I think you can do it legally there is nothing that should stop you from doing it.

Only thing would be convincing the officer on the border most likely he would be interested in knowing why you are doing that.

[hikergirl 277]

Found a few threads for you to look over and hopefully some will help you:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/291549-health-insurance-proof-of-coverage/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283343-temporary-health-insurance/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/304284-health-care-after-poe/

[Guinness 3]

Thanks I could use this also.

The over 50 crowd is growing.

But like a fine wine, We get better with age ;-)

Found a few threads for you to look over and hopefully some will help you:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/291549-health-insurance-proof-of-coverage/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283343-temporary-health-insurance/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/304284-health-care-after-poe/

[Casprd 167]

The CO does not know you have a K1 visa to use

This statement is totally incorrect. First off, the CO won't be the person you deal with when crossing the border. The CBP will be the person to deal with and don't count on them not knowing you have a K-1 or a pending visa even. As for the CO at the consulate, you can count on them knowing about every visa you have ever had and/or applied for.

Best bet is, if you are driving across, call the CBP and ask them if it is possible. You can talk to the people at the actual crossing you will use.

[SapphireDreams 71]

It's really up to the individual border guard. I asked about this when I got my visa back in 2009 and the person who interviewed me at the consulate told me that I was not allowed to enter without using the K1 visa, so i didn't. But, others have done it, so you could potentially try if you live near the border and can drive across for your visit. I never risked it since I always flew for visits and didn't want to waste the money if I wasn't going to get in without using the visa.

It's really one of the negatives to the K1 visa for sure.

Good luck with finding insurance!

[tracy&david 2]

Wen you are waiting for your K-1 Visa you cnanot enter into US until you have you visa attached on you passport.You nay cross the board but if they check your passport or you say that you are visiting your fiance you will be rejected. if you are rejected once you will not allowed to enter into us at any port as you will get your finger prints and your photo and they will be showing everywhere.

After you got you K1 visa you can only enter to us once with this visa.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Wen you are waiting for your K-1 Visa you cnanot enter into US until you have you visa attached on you passport.You nay cross the board but if they check your passport or you say that you are visiting your fiance you will be rejected. if you are rejected once you will not allowed to enter into us at any port as you will get your finger prints and your photo and they will be showing everywhere.

After you got you K1 visa you can only enter to us once with this visa.

Again, maybe you should do a search. There has been Canadians visit their spouse while the k1 process is ongoing AND their have been Canadians that have entered the USA after their K1 interview AND not use the visa! It quite simply boils down to the POE officer if he allows it or he does not. If you have been honest with them, most likely they are just going to deny you entry, which is no big deal! It is when they ban you, it becomes a huge deal. But if u have ur stuff with u and be polite, more than likely they will be firm, polite back to u!.

Your entitled to ur opinion of course and if you read the actual policy, it most likely says no entry, but in reality, it all boils down to the POE officer

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Wen you are waiting for your K-1 Visa you cnanot enter into US until you have you visa attached on you passport.You nay cross the board but if they check your passport or you say that you are visiting your fiance you will be rejected. if you are rejected once you will not allowed to enter into us at any port as you will get your finger prints and your photo and they will be showing everywhere.

After you got you K1 visa you can only enter to us once with this visa.

Ok, that info is entirely WRONG. While waiting for my K1, I visited my fiance twice a week (lived in a border city). Told them exactly who I was going to see & had no problems.

It all depends on the POE officer, but you can visit while waiting for your visa.

Once you HAVE the visa, again, like Flames said, it all depends on the border guard, there is no "yes" or "no" answer to that.