Visiting Fiance during K-1 process

[Coffee-addict 0]

Hi Everyone,

I know this has probably been addresses but i looked through the forum and i could not find anything.

Our timeline: NOA1 9/13 and Alien Registration number change 9/23....just waiting for now!Overall we are mentally planning on having him move august of next year since K-1s usually are a slow and paiful process.

My question is - can he come visit the US while his application is being processed? would border patrol give him a hard time since he is applying for a visa? please let me know we really want to spend the holidays together and itching to buy a plane tickets soon!

[Boiler 45,538]

Shouldn't be a problem, I visited, most do.

[topoftherock2013 23]

Hiya,

Yes, I visited post NOA2 and it was fine. However, I was only visiting for 5 days.

To show 'strong ties to the UK', I took with me:

- My return ticket

- Employer letter of holiday dates and what date I'm due back

- Bank statements (to show I have enough money)

- My NOA1 + NOA2 copy

I had no need for any of those, the Officer didn't ask to see anything at all and only asked me 'What is your purpose for visiting' to which I replied to see my Fiance. That was it, stamped and on my way. Obviously its different for everybody, depending on how long you have visited for in the past and if you are likely to overstay etc.

Here is an VJ checklist, which I found very useful: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1visit

There is also a thread on VJ members experiences here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/

Good luck!

Edited October 10, 2013 by topoftherock2013

[Coffee-addict 0]

Thank you guys!!! i really appreciate your help.

I'll make sure to tell him to bring proof of his ties to the UK.

[sjs87 27]

Even though I think this has been responded to really well, I'll still add my 'two cents worth'.

We are going through this journey with an immigration lawyer (now I know we didn't need one, but c'est la vie!), and she suggested I not cross the border into the United States any more than two times during our K-1 processing (between NOA1 and NOA2). Since we filed in May until now (and we are now post NOA2 waiting on NVC), I have been to the US approximately 8 times.

I live in British Columbia and my fiance lives in Washington State, so it's very convenient and close to visit each other frequently. Because I don't own a house, the strongest "tie" I have to prove my intent to return to Canada is a letter from my employer here, as well as a current work schedule. As well, I always have a complete history/printout of my credit card and cell phone record.

To be honest, I have NEVER BEEN BOTHERED OR HEAVILY QUESTIONED BY BORDER GUARDS WHEN ENTERING THE US. Now, I could just be lucky, but they have only ever asked the standard questions: Where are you going? Who are you going to visit? How long? and then they send me on my way. Only once did a border guard ask me more questions than usual, and NEVER have I ever been asked to show those supporting documents that we K-1ers have to carry with us for "proof" to return to our home country.

All I can say to you and your fiance is good luck! It's better to be prepared than not, and though it's certainly been frustrating to go to all this work (to collect documents) and to never have them even blink an eye at me, it much better to have it and not need it, rather than the other way around.

[Coffee-addict 0]

Yea usually he does not get more than the standard questions when entering the US...glad its legal and we can see each other ! to be honest, i get questioned more when entering the UK than he does when he enters the US!

[FrozenGlitter 1]

Yes, visiting is ok. My fiance just visited me and it was after we filed the petition, and he got in no problem. He'll be visiting again in December. The customs people generally don't have any record you've filed this, but as long as they have a valid passport, esta or tourist visa or whatever their country requires, return plane tickets, and proof of income/residency/etc (ties to their country), it shouldn't be an issue. They don't even ask my fiance anything when he comes here, just why is he here and what does he do in the UK and that's it.

[FrozenGlitter 1]

Yea usually he does not get more than the standard questions when entering the US...glad its legal and we can see each other ! to be honest, i get questioned more when entering the UK than he does when he enters the US!

Ahh, those awesome UK border people. The first time I was to meet him, I went over there to visit. After 9 hours of questioning me about the entire lives of me, my fiance, and our families, they sent me back to the US. They said they had no proof I wasn't going to stay illegally, because I had no job and therefore no ties to America. Despite my entire life in the US and my two kids here, even! I still honestly think it was because I said I met him on twitter and hadn't met him in person yet. Anyway sorry for the rant but I have serious issues with that whole situation.

[Boiler 45,538]

You should have claimed asylum, you would have been good to go.