UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[BryterMoon 30]

Got my interview letter today, interview is 22nd June at 1 pm.

Not too far away, but still quite far.

I came back from a 8 week visit, 3 weeks ago, im considering going to visit her while i wait the 3 weeks for the interview. Would this be too risky?

[ChasUno 101]

Got my interview letter today, interview is 22nd June at 1 pm.

Not too far away, but still quite far.

I came back from a 8 week visit, 3 weeks ago, im considering going to visit her while i wait the 3 weeks for the interview. Would this be too risky?

It's hard to say, but you are so close to the interview, very shortly after which you should expect to have your K1 visa and can then enter the USA with that. You don't want to rock the boat after getting so close and risk causing any issues.

I feel for you having your pregnant partner needing you, though we are talking government bureaucracy here where rational decisions and timely responses do not apply. As you've only recently come back from a trip to the USA, you may get scrutinised by the DHS going back in again so soon, even though you are in the process of gaining the K1.

Put it this way, we all know how temperamental some of those DHS passport officers can be and how they can single handedly deny you entry. I know someone who made frequent trips to the USA to be with his USC partner (using the visa waiver programme), and after one 90 day VWP expired he and his partner went over the border to Canada to stay with friends over there for a couple of weeks, then tried coming back. The non USC partner was questioned, and the DHS officer decided to deny him entry due to his frequent visits. End result was that he was barred from re-entry to the USA for 5 years, and even though he has since married his partner in Scotland, UK, he still requires a visa to travel to the USA as he is not eligible to be part of the VWP any more. Even that is complicated because he and his partner came all the way down to the London Embassy to apply for a travel visa, but it was still denied because the Scottish partner was currently unemployed (the Embassy never told them he needed to be employed to be allowed a visa, so they ended up wasting time and money for nothing).

I don't mean to scare you, but as you are so close to getting your K1 visa I feel it would not be wise to risk causing any problems at such a late stage in the process. You may get straight in with no issues, or you may get stopped by the DHS officer from Hell who has the potential power to wreck your entire visa application and future prospects with regards to being in the USA with your partner.

I guess the critical question is - when is the baby due? If it is a good few weeks after you expect to get your K1, then I would hold off travelling until you get your visa. There just seems to be so much at stake here to risk going over beforehand.

[BryterMoon 30]

It's hard to say, but you are so close to the interview, very shortly after which you should expect to have your K1 visa and can then enter the USA with that. You don't want to rock the boat after getting so close and risk causing any issues.

I feel for you having your pregnant partner needing you, though we are talking government bureaucracy here where rational decisions and timely responses do not apply. As you've only recently come back from a trip to the USA, you may get scrutinised by the DHS going back in again so soon, even though you are in the process of gaining the K1.

Put it this way, we all know how temperamental some of those DHS passport officers can be and how they can single handedly deny you entry. I know someone who made frequent trips to the USA to be with his USC partner (using the visa waiver programme), and after one 90 day VWP expired he and his partner went over the border to Canada to stay with friends over there for a couple of weeks, then tried coming back. The non USC partner was questioned, and the DHS officer decided to deny him entry due to his frequent visits. End result was that he was barred from re-entry to the USA for 5 years, and even though he has since married his partner in Scotland, UK, he still requires a visa to travel to the USA as he is not eligible to be part of the VWP any more. Even that is complicated because he and his partner came all the way down to the London Embassy to apply for a travel visa, but it was still denied because the Scottish partner was currently unemployed (the Embassy never told them he needed to be employed to be allowed a visa, so they ended up wasting time and money for nothing).

I don't mean to scare you, but as you are so close to getting your K1 visa I feel it would not be wise to risk causing any problems at such a late stage in the process. You may get straight in with no issues, or you may get stopped by the DHS officer from Hell who has the potential power to wreck your entire visa application and future prospects with regards to being in the USA with your partner.

I guess the critical question is - when is the baby due? If it is a good few weeks after you expect to get your K1, then I would hold off travelling until you get your visa. There just seems to be so much at stake here to risk going over beforehand.

I really appreciate your input, the baby isn't coming till Sept, so there's no rush in that sense. I am so close to it now, and l agree that its not worth the risk at this point to go for a visit. I'll hold off on it and keep myself busy for the interview. I feel better knowing theres a date to aim for, a week ill be going home for good. The wait is hard, but its all worth it.

Thank you for your post, it helped.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Got my interview letter today, interview is 22nd June at 1 pm.

Not too far away, but still quite far.

I came back from a 8 week visit, 3 weeks ago, im considering going to visit her while i wait the 3 weeks for the interview. Would this be too risky?

Well there you go! Not seven weeks after all. Perhaps your little plea worked to your favor.

If you visit, take your interview letter to show you have a big reason to return. The concern with CBP is that you won't leave and will seek employment illegally in the US. If you should be given extra questions, you can tell them your fiancé is pregnant and having some problems AND that you have an interview for your fiancé visa in three weeks that you will not be missing.

On the other hand, it is costly to fly back and forth so much when you have only been home three weeks. You've got a visa fee yet to pay, and $1070 for adjustment of status, a wedding, a baby, and your own health insurance to purchase.

Who wins...head or heart?

[BryterMoon 30]

Well there you go! Not seven weeks after all. Perhaps your little plea worked to your favor.

If you visit, take your interview letter to show you have a big reason to return. The concern with CBP is that you won't leave and will seek employment illegally in the US. If you should be given extra questions, you can tell them your fiancé is pregnant and having some problems AND that you have an interview for your fiancé visa in three weeks that you will not be missing.

On the other hand, it is costly to fly back and forth so much when you have only been home three weeks. You've got a visa fee yet to pay, and $1070 for adjustment of status, a wedding, a baby, and your own health insurance to purchase.

Who wins...head or heart?

I'm happy it wasn't the 7 weeks. I don't want to risk causing issues at this point in the process, and as you rightly say its an extra expense.

I wasn't expecting a letter today, there was no change on the dates of my CEAC staus updates, and I always thought that changed on being given a interview date.

[ChasUno 101]

Received my confirmation letter from the London Embassy yesterday

Trying to complete my "timeline" details - where do I find the dates for "NVC Receive" and "Consulate Receive"? I assume those have both already happened seeing as the NVC has passed our case to London and that London has issued a letter!

[swji89 41]

Very exhaustive, good stuff!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I'm happy it wasn't the 7 weeks. I don't want to risk causing issues at this point in the process, and as you rightly say its an extra expense.

I wasn't expecting a letter today, there was no change on the dates of my CEAC staus updates, and I always thought that changed on being given a interview date.

I don't see how a visit is a risk to your visa in any way. Is that what you think?

The thing about CEAC search and the oft asked question of "how long" is there is nothing consistent that you can count on.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Received my confirmation letter from the London Embassy yesterday

Trying to complete my "timeline" details - where do I find the dates for "NVC Receive" and "Consulate Receive"? I assume those have both already happened seeing as the NVC has passed our case to London and that London has issued a letter!

Those are only known if you stalk NVC by calling and asking the date received and date they sent it out. Then using the date sent out, track with the old DHL trick to find a package that left for London that date, and guessing it has your petition in the box. Continued DHL tracking will show date received at embassy.

Not that important for you timeline.

[BryterMoon 30]

I don't see how a visit is a risk to your visa in any way. Is that what you think?

The thing about CEAC search and the oft asked question of "how long" is there is nothing consistent that you can count on.

I'm just worried about getting a grumpy border officer, being turned away for visiting too much, and getting issues from that.

[UKPaul 12]

I'm just worried about getting a grumpy border officer, being turned away for visiting too much, and getting issues from that.

As far as I understand, being turned away doesn't reflect poorly on your visa application it's just a pain. The risk is financial/emotional on you. As long as you understand you may be turned away, and have to deal with that if it happens. You can fly via Ireland with aer lingus (they do pre-clearance there, so if you were denied you only have to fly back from Ireland). Maybe someone else could clarify, if I am mistaken?

[ChasUno 101]

I'm just worried about getting a grumpy border officer, being turned away for visiting too much, and getting issues from that.

I feel there's always a risk of that, especially as the Officers don't seem to be accountable to anyone in respects of any decisions they make and that those decisions are final, plus you cannot appeal a CBP decision. The chances are that you would be OK, but... there's always that risk that you get an officer who's hell bent on making people's lives a misery. They don't always seem to be consistent in their decisions so it's still a gamble.

Logically, and financially, it would make more sense to wait for your K1 visa. Your interview is barely 3 weeks away, and then it's a matter of days before you get your visa and can travel to the USA permanently with no likely issues. Save yourself some money, make sure everything is prepared and ready for the interview, and also ensure you have everything sorted out in the UK for you to leave it permanently. I suspect those 3+ weeks will go quickly and before you know it, you'll be on that flight over to be with your fiancée/ future wife

[yuna628 9,676]

I'm just worried about getting a grumpy border officer, being turned away for visiting too much, and getting issues from that.

There are instances of being turned away, but my guy has never been turned away once in all the years he's been coming here (and that's a lot!) - whether I was girlfriend or fiancé, the length of stay, or even if he was a student, unemployed, or employed. Always make sure you have proof with you and a return ticket. They also seem to like travel insurance. If you have spent 90 days here or close to it, then you go home for a week or two, and then try to re-enter, well they don't seem to like that. They like you to spend at least as long as you have spent in the country as you have spent out of it.

That being said, you're close to interview time, and you'll have a ton of expenses coming up. It's probably logical to wait it out.

[ChasUno 101]

I don't see how a visit is a risk to your visa in any way. Is that what you think?

I agree Nich-Nick, though bear in mind that the official US Government website advises people NOT to travel whilst awaiting a K1 visa. We know that we CAN visit, but officially, they advise us not to. It's almost a disclaimer on their part indicating that they are not ruling out any potential penalties for those travelling before they get their visas. I haven't been with my partner since January, and it's looking likely that the earliest I will get to be with him again will be late July. It's hard, but the wait will be worth it plus having the knowledge of everything being above board and I'll be immigrating with a clean slate.

[ChasUno 101]

Those are only known if you stalk NVC by calling and asking the date received and date they sent it out. Then using the date sent out, track with the old DHL trick to find a package that left for London that date, and guessing it has your petition in the box. Continued DHL tracking will show date received at embassy.

Not that important for you timeline.

Thanks Nich-Nick. I've made some "guestimates" going by the official case progress dates that I know of. I might be out by a few days or a week, but the dates I put in are near enough to give a fairly accurate time line for those visa stages.