PSA: I was given wrong information about visits with pending K-1.

[Kiwinyc 62]

Sorry for your troubles OP. It really does seem to depend on where you're coming from. It seems they give Canadian's quite a hard time. And citizen's that normally need a visa's to visit the U.S. I myself visited multiple times while our K1 was in process, entering via Newark, Houston or Dallas and never had a hint of any issue. I never carried any evidence with me and answered truthfully who i was visiting ('my fiance and other friends'). I also came in for 6 weeks to wait for my interview date and flew back to London once notified of it.

I think you were particularly unlucky on this occasion.

[GabsUSA 19]

I had booked a flight from Halifax to Boston, and was going through customs in Halifax. I got to the customs officer. He asked the purpose of my visit, "Visiting my fiancé". He asked how long I was staying "A week". He asked if i have had trouble crossing the border before. "Yes, I was denied entry and able to retract my application for entry in February."

First of all, very sorry to hear about your troubles. Having a pending trip to visit my USC Fiancee two things jumped out at me I'm surprised no one has asked...

1) You say you booked your "flight", singular... did you purchase a round trip fare?

2) Why were you denied back in February?

Hang in there, you'll be together soon!

[JandZ 1]

Sorry to hear about your experience.

FWIW, my K-1 was approved in 4 months; interview was in Montreal. It might have been turned around a few weeks faster if I had gathered some of the required documents in advance. During that period I visited the US twice, by car, entering at a Nexus-only crossing. No problem at all. Ironically, it was on my last visit prior to filing the I-129F that I was grilled, at that same crossing. In that case I think I was screened by a trainee CBP officer who had to demonstrate something to his supervisor, but that is just speculation.

I've never been asked if I have ever been refused entry to the US, and I can't help wondering why they asked you that. You probably did the right thing by answering honestly.

[loladolly 51]

I am so sorry to hear that OP.

I have once been denied entry before the K1 (for a complete different reason as i tried to enter on the VWP that i could no longer use because of a small overstay). It was in Toronto for me, after an 8 hour flight with my son who was a year old at the time. Worst day of my life, good thing Canada let me in so i could go somewhere while waiting to be put on a flight back to France. At least you didn't board the plane which make the experience even more frustrating.

FYI some CBP officers don't know what they are talking about ! I can tell you different stories where i knew better than them what was going on, like that one time where the officer who gave me back my passport when i entered with my K1 that i had to go home after getting married and AOS from France (lmao, i swear....). Also, a couple weeks ago when i came back from France whith my AP card while my GC had been approved while i was out of the country (of course...), the primary inspection officer almost swore to me that i would not be paroled but admitted as an LPR once they check my status. Well my passport had a "paroled in" stamp. This happened in chicago everytime so i am thinking that some POE need to teach their IO how to do their job!

Sorry again and i hope you get your K1 asap...

[raven52 233]

Sad, some are allowed into the country of choice, and some are not, and there does not seem to be a solid reason,..,just depends on the officer, most of the time.,.,it seems.