Visiting the US while NVC process

[avw 8]

HI,

My family and I live abroad and we are going to the US to visit my husband's family for Thanksgiving and to check out schools, areas, apartments etc... We have applied for the IR-1 visa and we should have our IIN this week or next week. Has anyone entered the US just to visit during the NVC stage or other stage. Is there any document I should file before flying? How did it go at the customs? We will be able to prove that we will only stay there 10 days as we will have to proof of the return ticket

Thanks

AVW

[cristina16 81]

I did using my B2 Visa. Our petition was approved in Sept. 2 (K1) and I went to the US on Sept. 23 for 2 weeks. No problem with CBP at all. I was asked the normal questions - purpose of visit, where I am staying, for how long, why too short, well I said that's the only time off I got from work; that's it. nothing was asked about my petition.

I was prepared however and I brought with me proof of ties to my home country and copies of I-129F and our NOA2.

[mallafri76 1,012]

I have visited many times during the visa process and have never had any problems. Mind you, my husband (the USC) is living in the US and I have a long track record of flying to the US and leaving well within the allowed 90 days on the VWP. It might be a little trickier when the USC is travelling with family to the US. Just make sure you bring plenty of ties to France, a return ticket doesn't prove anything, you need letters from your employers in France, mortgage deed/rental agreement for your home in France etc.

I would pay the AOS fee as quick as possible and bring with papers that show you have an approved I-130 and that you've paid the AOS fee and is now processing at NVC. In my mind, the more fees you've paid already in your visa process, the less likely you are at doing adjustment of status once in the US. But that's just my opinion.

Good luck and hopefully you should have a smooth visit home.

[Jovi&James 14]

Hi, I have visited my husband too... we're CR1 and I have been with him at the beginning of this month, 5 days before NVC gave us our Case Complete ?. ..

I had my flight ticket with the return date and copy of my NVC documents but the officer was very kind and didn't ask me for any document, I had no problems to get into the USA.

[avw 8]

I just came back from our trip, the officer just asked me if I had an ESTA visa and the purpose of my trip. That is all!