Apply for (B-2) tourist visa while waiting for K-1

[P A U L 14]

my fiancee and i are waiting for adjudication of our K-1 petition... i was wondering if it would be a bad idea for her to apply/interview right now for a B-2 tourist visa... would it negatively affect the K-1 process, or vice versa?

i know she's allowed to come see me and all, but i was just wondering...considering she isn't from a country that is eligible for the U.S. visa waiver program and will need to be interviewed first...

Edited December 10, 2012 by P A U L

[Cathi 5,747]

She can apply, it is up to the CO to decide if she will actually get the visa.Make sure she tells the truth, tell them you have a pending k1. She may be refused because the CO may view her as having immigration intent with a pending k1. If you get it, great, if you are denied it will not effect the pending k-1 in an adverse way.

And just to add your fiance must show very strong ties to her home country or she will not get a visitor visa.

Edited December 10, 2012 by mimolicious

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It will not make a difference on your K-1 is she if denied for a B2. Go ahead and see what happens.

Edited December 10, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Hypnos 6,576]

Filing the K-1 demonstrates immigrant intent, so a visitor's visa from a country like Russia is going to be difficult to obtain.

[baron555 934]

Filing the K-1 demonstrates immigrant intent, so a visitor's visa from a country like Russia is going to be difficult to obtain.

Can't really say that....The Moscow Embassy is a bit easier than in past years....depends on her travel history, has she been out of Russia traveling a lot? That helps a lot. Won't hurt to try, worst is she is denied and you lose your fee for that visa. Don't count on it though.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Russia can be a difficult case or an easy case. It isn't an easy as London, for example, but isn't as hard as the Philippines or Nigeria. It seems to fall into the middle, which means it depends more on personal circumstances than your citizenship.

Certainly it cannot hurt, and any denial would have no bearing on the pending K-1.

[P A U L 14]

And just to add your fiance must show very strong ties to her home country or she will not get a visitor visa.

how exactly would someone show strong ties to their home country? what kind of evidence would the U.S. be looking for?

Filing the K-1 demonstrates immigrant intent, so a visitor's visa from a country like Russia is going to be difficult to obtain.

right, i was thinking that. but why risk blowing the K-1 by messing around with a B-2? but then i realized the U.S. isn't going to see it that way, they'll just see it as someone that potentially may overstay the visa.

Can't really say that....The Moscow Embassy is a bit easier than in past years....depends on her travel history, has she been out of Russia traveling a lot? That helps a lot. Won't hurt to try, worst is she is denied and you lose your fee for that visa. Don't count on it though.

wellp, as soon as she got her russian visa about 6-7 years ago, she left for korea and overstayed her visa until November 2012. her passport expired while in korea. her new passport does not have the overstayed korean visa on it. she also will be applying for the B-2 at Vladivostok. the K-1 will have to be at Moscow since there is no choice. Vladivostok can handle a B-2.

[1HappyGuy 45]

my fiancee and i are waiting for adjudication of our K-1 petition... i was wondering if it would be a bad idea for her to apply/interview right now for a B-2 tourist visa... would it negatively affect the K-1 process, or vice versa?

i know she's allowed to come see me and all, but i was just wondering...considering she isn't from a country that is eligible for the U.S. visa waiver program and will need to be interviewed first...

You are experiencing the same loneliness we all went through while waiting for the K-1 process to move forward. According to the time line you should be through by late March. As tough as it is, why not use the money you would spend to prepare for her eventual arrival, your marriage and honeymoon. You will have lots to do in preparing for her arrival and being sure she is comfortable and happy. We have all been through the agony of waiting but some how it passed and our SO arrived. Just think how great it will be this spring when you shower her with flowers, gifts and attention from missing her so much. It is frustrating but it does pass. Remember, you are planning for a life time commitment. Show some practicality and patience.

[AmyWrites 593]

I can't see how she'd be approved with previous overstay in another country, but I can't see how they'd find out.

It's not a very difficult embassy so I'd apply if I were her. Just tell her to get there EARLY. It gets ridiculously full.

Edited December 11, 2012 by AmyWrites

[P A U L 14]

You are experiencing the same loneliness we all went through while waiting for the K-1 process to move forward. According to the time line you should be through by late March. As tough as it is, why not use the money you would spend to prepare for her eventual arrival, your marriage and honeymoon. You will have lots to do in preparing for her arrival and being sure she is comfortable and happy. We have all been through the agony of waiting but some how it passed and our SO arrived. Just think how great it will be this spring when you shower her with flowers, gifts and attention from missing her so much. It is frustrating but it does pass. Remember, you are planning for a life time commitment. Show some practicality and patience.

i can wait. SHE wants to come to ME

rather, even if she forced me to go there, i would, 'cept i can't get time off work... i was gonna save that time to go to her on the week of her interview.

Edited December 11, 2012 by P A U L

[1HappyGuy 45]

i can wait. SHE wants to come to ME

rather, even if she forced me to go there, i would, 'cept i can't get time off work... i was gonna save that time to go to her on the week of her interview.

You have probably told her about the winters in L.A. Wait until she finds out that there are only two seasons in So. Cal., the rainy season and the rest of the year.

[P A U L 14]

You have probably told her about the winters in L.A. Wait until she finds out that there are only two seasons in So. Cal., the rainy season and the rest of the year.

haha, pretty much. i told her there's hot and not so hot..

[P A U L 14]

oh geez, upon further reading it is sounding like it would be difficult to receive a tourist visa approval for my fiancee....

she barely returned to russia after overstaying her visa in korea... she put money in her bank account borrowed from her sis... her parent's home and car are being put under her name... would any of that help to prove "strong ties"?

i mean...i already filed for a K-1, and i wouldn't want to jeopardize that by having her come here and executing anything near immigration fraud... she just wants to visit and return (with me) to moscow for her interview so we can legally re-entry the U.S. for marriage under K-1 provisions....

[Hypnos 6,576]

The fact that all of these ties would be appearing extremely recently may count against her.

Edited December 14, 2012 by Hypnos

[P A U L 14]

The fact that all of these ties would be appearing extremely recently may count against her.

that's what i was thinking

what if i wrote a letter for her to take to her interview explaining that we are engaged... have filed I-129F, understand U.S. immigration laws, and will not do anything to prevent for us to legally be together... heck, i even have a good job that requires TSA clearance and all that and iw ouldn't want to jeopardize my job and life by violating laws that would screw it all up..

:crying: :crying:

geez...i was born July '85 and received a permanent green card that never expires August '85... what happened to those days?!

Edited December 14, 2012 by P A U L