VWP

[Rachie07 4]

Hey guys

Can anyone share their experiences of flying into Washington (DC) on VWP whilst applying for CR1? I know each POE is different and the deal with travelling on VWP but just wondered if anyone had any positive or negative experiences?

Thanks all

[Derek & Rita 6]

Hey guys

Can anyone share their experiences of flying into Washington (DC) on VWP whilst applying for CR1? I know each POE is different and the deal with travelling on VWP but just wondered if anyone had any positive or negative experiences?

Thanks all

Can't do it.

VWP is for people who are not intending to stay. Filing a CR1 clearly states you do intend to stay. I don't think they will allow it. If you do manage to get by passport control, it will only be by sheer luck. Don't risk it.

[Rachie07 4]

Im visiting for 12 days....

[Moomin 292]

Can't do it.

VWP is for people who are not intending to stay. Filing a CR1 clearly states you do intend to stay. I don't think they will allow it. If you do manage to get by passport control, it will only be by sheer luck. Don't risk it.

It's perfectly legal to travel on VWP with a pending petition. Not "sheer luck", some are still capable of demonstrating strong ties to their home country, some aren't even asked to show the ties, while others can show 20 different documents and still be refused entry. I'd advise to bring them anyways if OP decides to travel. The only thing to lose at this time is not being admitted and having to return, and not being able to use VWP again. For some, that's a risk worth taking.

I hope OP gets advise from people having gone through that airport but remember that CBPs are all different, and look at your situation, not everybody else's when you're standing there.

[max+patricia 24]

Can't do it.

VWP is for people who are not intending to stay. Filing a CR1 clearly states you do intend to stay. I don't think they will allow it. If you do manage to get by passport control, it will only be by sheer luck. Don't risk it.

You absolutely can do it. Many threads here discuss this in-depth.

The danger is that CBP will view you as very high-risk being that your spouse is a major reason to stay. Proof of ties to your home country are essential, and even then they aren't at all a guarantee of admission. Bringing any paperwork about your pending CR-1 would likely be helpful. You'll have to convince whatever CBP officer you come across that you intend to return.

IIRC, the airport in Dublin has an immigration checkpoint - meaning you would know if you're admitted or not before crossing the pond. If that's an option it might save you some time, stress and money if it doesn't work out as you hope.

[Rachie07 4]

It's perfectly legal to travel on VWP with a pending petition. Not "sheer luck", some are still capable of demonstrating strong ties to their home country, some aren't even asked to show the ties, while others can show 20 different documents and still be refused entry. I'd advise to bring them anyways if OP decides to travel. The only thing to lose at this time is not being admitted and having to return, and not being able to use VWP again. For some, that's a risk worth taking.

I hope OP gets advise from people having gone through that airport but remember that CBPs are all different, and look at your situation, not everybody else's when you're standing there.

I have no overstays, never stayed longer than a month, came and left again on time pretty much. Have lots of ties to uk and money too. I came over in Feb for a week (school holidays) and left on time. I work in a school so I have to pretty strict on when I return. I know its no illegal and some have more success than others but I just wanted to know what it is like going through Dulles.

Thank you for the positive reply.

You absolutely can do it. Many threads here discuss this in-depth.

The danger is that CBP will view you as very high-risk being that your spouse is a major reason to stay. Proof of ties to your home country are essential, and even then they aren't at all a guarantee of admission. Bringing any paperwork about your pending CR-1 would likely be helpful. You'll have to convince whatever CBP officer you come across that you intend to return.

IIRC, the airport in Dublin has an immigration checkpoint - meaning you would know if you're admitted or not before crossing the pond. If that's an option it might save you some time, stress and money if it doesn't work out as you hope.

I couldnt find any flights via Dublin, working in a school and travelling is a nightmare. There is slim pickings in choice of airport ( i like going via toronto) and the prices are sky high

[*Snowdrop* 604]

I visited my husband many times both before, during and after we were married and had filed the petition. My visits ranged from a weekend trip to nearly three months. I usually flew into Dulles airport and it was always fine. At least 5 times during the CR1 process

Of course you can't guarantee entry, but I always told them I was visiting my husband and they never once asked whether I was in the process of immigration or had any intent to stay. Usually the only 2 questions I had were when are you returning (I always had a ticket) and what I did for a job. I had quite an interesting job and that usually interested them enough to ask a couple of questions about that and then they always stamped my passport and told me to have a nice trip. Actually sometimes they asked me what my husband did for a job too and that always seemed to satisfy them.

I always had a packet of evidence to show I was going to return to the UK - lease letter, letter from my boss etc but I was never asked for it.

[pushbrk 12,886]

Can't do it.

VWP is for people who are not intending to stay. Filing a CR1 clearly states you do intend to stay. I don't think they will allow it. If you do manage to get by passport control, it will only be by sheer luck. Don't risk it.

Poppycock. Please don't post such nonsense.

[Moomin 292]

I have no overstays, never stayed longer than a month, came and left again on time pretty much. Have lots of ties to uk and money too. I came over in Feb for a week (school holidays) and left on time. I work in a school so I have to pretty strict on when I return. I know its no illegal and some have more success than others but I just wanted to know what it is like going through Dulles.

Thank you for the positive reply.

You're welcome - I think your question deserves to be answered with the possible outcomes and not just a warning because none of us know what your travel pattern is like, your ties to home country or if you'd want to take the risk/chance anyways.

Besides that, when the question is specific down to the airport experience, it sometimes might help to use the search feature on Visa Journey. Not all members with that experience are still active. Try searching for keywords like Dulles VWP fiance denied experience - some combinations are better than others. Good luck

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Tourist Visas forum; topic is about using the VWP and not about the spousal visa process. The Tourist Visas forum is a more appropriate place to discuss VWP procedures.

[GandK 168]

Can't do it.

VWP is for people who are not intending to stay. Filing a CR1 clearly states you do intend to stay. I don't think they will allow it. If you do manage to get by passport control, it will only be by sheer luck. Don't risk it.

That's a lot of BS.

I have filed for K-1 fiance visa and I'm sitting at Newark airport right now.

I just got pass the immigration control an hour ago with zero problem, came with VWP.

I handed the custom form and my lassport to the CBP officer.

He only asked two questions.

"How long are you gonna stay in Hawaii?"

( 3 weeks, he saw I wrote Hawaii as the address in the custom form)

"Is your connecting flight tomorrow?"

( yes, arrived in Newark at 10 pm, flight to Hawaii at 6.30 am next day"

And for the background, I also came to the US in Xmas for two weeks, that's less than two months ago I was here last time.

p.s. I had a ton of proof of ties which was never asked for (letter from school, work, pay stubs etc) I just dumped them in the trash near the baggage claim lol.

Edited February 24, 2012 by GandK

[Rachie07 4]

Thanks guys so much, I have probably in the US about 68 days altogether since the start of last April when I got married. I hope I dont have any problems but you never know. Thanks guys for all your help.

[Moomin 292]

Thanks guys so much, I have probably in the US about 68 days altogether since the start of last April when I got married. I hope I dont have any problems but you never know. Thanks guys for all your help.

Every person going through immigration is unique. But 68 days - to put things into perspective, visitors traveling on VWP are allowed a maximum of 180 days of stay throughout a rolling year. I'd prefer to say they'd like for you to have been in your home country for 180 days or more to at least prove the ties to home country. It's not a magic number however, some get turned away even when they have spent less days(or none) in the US.

I spent more time than you in the US scattered over 10 months and 3 trips and was never denied or pulled aside. Again, it's up to you. When you read about people being denied, remember to add to the equation the ones who never had problems. There are far more people successfully going through immigration - you just don't see their story that often. If your car started everyday, you're less likely to search for information on cars that wont start.

Good luck on what you decide to do