approved visa, could i be denied at airport entry?

[jessicaDiana 0]

hi everyone!

So me and my fiancee were just recently approved for our k-1 visa in mid january. Im coming from canada, vancouver, to go live with my fiance in the USA. My fiance will be picking me up and we will be flying together from the vancouver international airport this upcoming sunday. I am worried though, last year i attempted to visit my fiance for the first time and was denied at the airport for looking like an illegal alien for having waaayyy to much luggage and not enough ties to canada, having no job etc. So security has my photo and my fingerprints and went through a loonng one on one conversation with security . I never even got on the plane that day and was escorted out of customs, and since then i have never attempted to go on a plane and i never have been on a plane my entire life actually nor to the USA. I guess im worried ill be stopped at the airport and denied because of that incident even though I have an approved k-1 visa.

Also, during my interview at the vancouver consulate the interviewer told me even though i have an approved visa, doesnt mean 100% entry into the USA. why would that be? what are some reasons why you would be denied if you have the visa? if i was denied could i just try again the next day or something?

i have no criminal record or anything... so i dont know why you would be unable to not go.

anyone have any similar experiences? ever been denied even with the visa?

please help, im incredibly nervous!!!

Edited March 20, 2012 by jessicaDiana

[SF2007 48]

Take a deep breath and relax. Been there, done that. I withdrew an application for admission over a year ago right before we started the K1 process (same scenario you mentioned, I was in your shoes) and it had no effect on my K1 or AOS in any way. If they ask if you were ever refused entry, be truthful and you won't have any issues. You've been investigated and cleared when they issued your K1. If they thought you were misrepresenting yourself, they would have denied your visa. Needless to say I was also nervous wreck crossing the border with my K1. It didn't even take 15 minutes to be processed in secondary.

A visa is never a guaranteed entry. However, unless you insult CBP officers or carry anything illegal in your luggage, you will not have any issues crossing the border this time.

Congratulations and welcome home

[bigdog 376]

Chances are if you have a K1, a normal amount of clothes and all your papers. you should be OK. Traveling on a regular visa and K1 are two different issues, if you tried to "scam" them before be be ready for some questioning. If you have an unusual circumstances maybe talk to an attorney.

[pocheros 101]

A visa is never a guarantee or "right" to be let in to the country but it's very unlikely that they will give you a hard time as you did not circumvent the process and obtained a visa legally. Many VJers have been turned around at the border before, only to cross the same border with their visa later. As SF2007 said be 100% truthful in all your answers, but you don't have to volunteer information unless they ask for it.

I also had a ton of clothing with me when I POEd (three pieces of luggage plus two purses that were practically exploding) and it wasn't a problem. Air Canada has a deal at the time where the first piece of luggage was free so I brought as much as I could.

Edited March 20, 2012 by pocheros

[Hugglebuggles 60]

You're moving, so having extra luggage is to be expected. Its when you're visiting for a week and have 3 suitcases where things look suspecious.

The only cases I've seen where someone was turned away involved criminal records, which you don't have. Being denied entry once in the past isn't going to cause any problems. Try to relax a little!

[CentaursLady 4]

I had denial at border as well before we did our K1. I was worried about crossing as well, but it was a mute point. Had no issues at all. The POE officer asked me why I had a denial before and I said, "not enough ties".. that was it. End of convo.

My crossing took all of 10 min. Was very painless.

I have to say.. for me, anyway. I thought the female POE's the rudest and the males, easy to get along with. But that was just my experience.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You should be fine. You were denied entry before because you couldn't prove you were not intending to remain in the US rather than just visit and you didn't have a visa to remain in the US. Now, you are intending to remain in the US and you do have the proper visa so it won't be a problem. As mentioned above, you are immigrating so you are allowed to bring over as much of your personal belongings as you wish. Your only limitations will be how much you want to spend on extra baggage fees .

Good luck and congratulations on the visa.