K1 Visa question for UK citizen

[Mattmc1986 0]

Hi,

I am currently completing the DS-160 form. However, I have a couple of questions I wanted to know prior to sending it off.

Firstly, I am going to the US for the first two weeks on holiday and wondered if I was to apply for my Visa appointment now, would I most likely get my passport back before June?

Also, If i then get my passport with the K1 visa in it, am I still able to go to the US on a tourist visa? I am marrying a US citizen in late August and so would be looking to go out in August for the wedding thereby using the visa status in a later trip.

Any help is much appreciated.

Regards

Matthew

[Lilay 87]

Hello!

1. Yes, if you get the interview soon, you would definitely get your passport with the tourist visa in it by June. Mine took only a week to get it after the interview.

2. As far as I know, after you get your fiance visa, you can't use your tourist visa. But when you use your fiance visa when entering the US, you don't necesarily have to get married immidiately, you have 3 months to get married to your fiance.

But have you filed for a K1 yet?

[Mattmc1986 0]

Thanks Lilay.

Yes I have filed for a K1 and had the letter last week in regards to the next step of completing the DS160 and the embassy appointments etc.

So if I am unable to use a tourist visa whilst owning a fiancé visa, then I assume my best bet would be in holding off until mid june to go ahead and submit the DS160?

[Lilay 87]

Thanks Lilay.

Yes I have filed for a K1 and had the letter last week in regards to the next step of completing the DS160 and the embassy appointments etc.

So if I am unable to use a tourist visa whilst owning a fiancé visa, then I assume my best bet would be in holding off until mid june to go ahead and submit the DS160?

You can get your tourist visa and travel to the US before actually getting your K1 visa. But after you get your fiance visa on the passport, you can't travel to the US with the tourist visa.

I'm sorry but I didn't really understand what you want to do. Do you wish to go to the US with the tourist visa after getting your K1? And when do you think you'll get the K1 visa? It takes about 7 to 9 months to get everything done.

[Mattmc1986 0]

Essentially we started filing for the K1 visa last November. We have had our petition approved and am currently awaiting completing the next stage of the process, i.e. the embassy appointments/ DS160 etc.

My issue is that since I will be going to the US in June for a couple of weeks, I didn't know whether it was best to hold off completing this form and having the actual visa in my passport until I was back from my visit in June as I didn't know if I would be able to hold the K1 visa in my passport yet not use it in my visit in June as I will not be looking to use the K1 until August.

[Lilay 87]

Essentially we started filing for the K1 visa last November. We have had our petition approved and am currently awaiting completing the next stage of the process, i.e. the embassy appointments/ DS160 etc.

My issue is that since I will be going to the US in June for a couple of weeks, I didn't know whether it was best to hold off completing this form and having the actual visa in my passport until I was back from my visit in June as I didn't know if I would be able to hold the K1 visa in my passport yet not use it in my visit in June as I will not be looking to use the K1 until August.

I'm not entirely sure about this, but I think you can't have two different visas on your passport. When you get the K1, the tourist visa should automatically be cancelled, because Fiance visa starts counting down for your wedding upon your arrival to the US.

[broe 4]

Once you have your k1 visa you cannot travel as a tourist, you have to enter using the k1. You don't get the option.

You have the ds-160, medical and notification of readiness to complete, plus getting your supporting documents together. You could complete the ds-160 and then arrange your medical once you get back to the uk and send in the notification of readiness.

I travelled multiple times to the states while going through the k1 process without a problem (except last time, that was more to do with my amount of visits and length of them).

[baron555 934]

My issue is that since I will be going to the US in June for a couple of weeks,

Not necessarily a given...that you'll be allowed to use the tourist visa. They will see the K-1 in the system and you could be turned away.

I didn't know whether it was best to hold off completing this form

Probably best bet....as long as waiting to submit the form will extend beyond the period within which you have to do so.

and having the actual visa in my passport

If you attempt to enter the US< the K-1 WILL be used, you don't get a choice.

until I was back from my visit in June as I didn't know if I would be able to hold the K1 visa in my passport yet not use it in my visit in June as I will not be looking to use the K1 until August.

Answered above,

[Mattmc1986 0]

Thanks all for the replies.

Baron555: I have travelled to the US three times since we started the K1 process last year and have had no problem getting through immigration, so was hoping it would be the same in June and thereafter complete the interviews in London once i returned.

As far as I can tell from the replies I have received, I will hold off on completing the DS160 in June.

Regards

Matthew

[Kiwinyc 62]

Thanks all for the replies.

Baron555: I have travelled to the US three times since we started the K1 process last year and have had no problem getting through immigration, so was hoping it would be the same in June and thereafter complete the interviews in London once i returned.

As far as I can tell from the replies I have received, I will hold off on completing the DS160 in June.

Regards

Matthew

I have read on here of people entering with a K1 visa in their passport and NOT USING IT by explaining that they are returning for their wedding at a later date and entering instead temporarily on the VWP (Visa Waiver Program).

In your situation I would submit the DS-160 NOW, with a cover letter saying that you are travelling outside the UK during the dates x & y in June and to please schedule your interview immediately after your return in mid-June.

If you want until mid-June after you get back to submit the DS-160 you may not get an appt until early August (4-6 weeks from submission of DS-160) which leaves you biting your fingernails hoping to get your interview and passport back in August just before you're due to get married. Remember that things slow down at the Embassy over the Summer due to vacations and get very busy as well in August due to students needing visa's to start school in Sept.

Submit the DS-160 now and ask for the appointment to be schedule for after you get back from your holiday and you're covered.

[Kiwinyc 62]

I have read on here of people entering with a K1 visa in their passport and NOT USING IT by explaining that they are returning for their wedding at a later date and entering instead temporarily on the VWP (Visa Waiver Program).

In your situation I would submit the DS-160 NOW, with a cover letter saying that you are travelling outside the UK during the dates x & y in June and to please schedule your interview immediately after your return in mid-June.

If you want until mid-June after you get back to submit the DS-160 you may not get an appt until early August (4-6 weeks from submission of DS-160) which leaves you biting your fingernails hoping to get your interview and passport back in August just before you're due to get married. Remember that things slow down at the Embassy over the Summer due to vacations and get very busy as well in August due to students needing visa's to start school in Sept.

Submit the DS-160 now and ask for the appointment to be schedule for after you get back from your holiday and you're covered.

Just a thought, i would also plan on doing your medical before you go to the US in June. London will not schedule an interview appt until they have your Medical so you should complete that sooner rather than later.

[ChicagoSarah 127]

From what I have read, it is up to the IO at the border if you can enter on VWP or must use your K1. I would hold off one submitting the readiness form. Or, request a later interview date. Will someone be checking your mail while you are away in case something arrives?

I'm not really clear on how far out London interviews are being assigned right now. I'd check the timelines and mail in your readiness form accordingly. And I agree with above poster...I would do the medical before the trip.

[Mattmc1986 0]

I am away for two weeks in June and someone would be checking the mail in any case.

So if I try and schedule my medical appointment, and get all other paperwork together prior to me going away in June, then I should also complete the DS-160 and try to schedule an appointment with the embassy for some time later in June if possible?

[ChicagoSarah 127]

I am away for two weeks in June and someone would be checking the mail in any case.

So if I try and schedule my medical appointment, and get all other paperwork together prior to me going away in June, then I should also complete the DS-160 and try to schedule an appointment with the embassy for some time later in June if possible?

As I said in my earlier post, I really don't know how quickly the Embassy is running from submitting form of readiness submission to granting K1 interviews. But I would expect your interview to be about a month (or so) from submission of the readiness form.....but that's just a guess.

[Kiwinyc 62]

London Embassy are really good at trying to accommodate requests - they do what they can and they will work within or around dates you give them IF YOU ASK nicely.

Do your medical

Submit your readiness form, tell them the dates you're away and ask for an interview date after your return

Go on holiday