my GF got yanked at Seattle airport and sent back to Thailand

[azmarkd 6]

She had a visitor visa and had been here 2 times prior. This time her ticket was to stay 5.5 months. I get a call from immigration when she landed in Seattle asking me if I'm expecting a visitor tonight? who it is? how long I knew her? etc. I ask him what this is about and he tells me I am not to ask questions, he will ask the questions! He than goes on to tell me they are screening for terrorists! At this time I'm freaking out as she is nothing of the kind! He asks me if I am her fiancé (I am not but we intend to live together someday) I tell him yes. He asks if we are going to get married,I tell him yes. He asks when, I tell him don't know. I am answering all this because I'm thinking it must be "quota" time and he needed to pull someone and I did not want her to be suspected of a terrorist. The guy was a complete a..hole the whole time. I'm looking at the clock and ask if she will get on the plane as she has 7 minutes, he tells me not to worry about the plane. Tells me to be by phone in case anymore questions. I don't hear back and go to the airport to pick her up and she's not there! check with airline and she is not registered! I call Seattle immigration and they say they are sending her back to Thailand and I need a K1 visa for her.

They have taken her visa!

My question is will this affect us getting her a K1 visa?

Thx

[daigo 39]

My question is will this affect us getting her a K1 visa?

No.

[Unlockable 7,314]

Did she overstay any out the previous visits? What was the duration and times in between prior visits?

Seems strange they mention terrorist screening.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

This may sound harsh, but they did the right thing. Extended visa, Girlfriend of a USC, from a 3rd world country. She's a huge risk to stay and adjust. What was written on her passport? Was it an expedited removal or did they allow her to withdraw her application for entry?

Did she overstay any out the previous visits? What was the duration and times in between prior visits?

Seems strange they mention terrorist screening.

Remember IO's are allowed to lie. They could've just expected them to get married and used this as a dodge Edited May 9, 2016 by Transborderwife

[azmarkd 6]

I think the mention of terrorist was to throw me off my game as it did. Then he just laid out the questions to get what he wanted.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

You added up to the drama. You said your gf but you said she is your fiance. which is which? That made the officer believe that she could be coming here under the visitor visa to get married. If that was an actual interview at an embassy, your gf would have been denied visa.

You lied to the officer but he is the a**hole.

[Boiler 45,525]

K1 requires you to get married.

[templeton 120]

I would speculate it had much more to do with perceived immigration intent than terrorism, especially since they suggested K-1.

- Fiancee of USC.

- Her being able to be away from home for 5.5 months would certainly suggest on its surface that she doesn't have much in the way of ties to return to.

- Return ticket far enough away to be easily cancelled.

- You were wishy-washy about when a marriage was to take place (not saying you were dishonest, but definitely a warning flag. Most engaged couples have some idea of a marriage timeline).

- You don't say how long she visited the two previous times, but if this trip was significantly longer, that would be another red flag.

Certainly enough to worry CBP that you two might be trying to circumvent immigration laws.

But to answer your question, it doesn't disqualify her from a future K-1, though she will have to indicate she's been previously refused entry on the application.

[azmarkd 6]

To answer all, we do plan to marry. This trip was for her to travel and study english. I had set up a school for her to start this week. We would look into what paper work needed to marry while here. At the time I did not know anything about a K1 visa. She was planning to go back home after the 5 months. Knowing now about the K1 it would have been easier to have her here to get the information needed. Now that she is 8600 miles away it makes it more difficult. The last thing we would want was for her to be here illeagaly as she wants to work in a professianal environment.

[Boiler 45,525]

What is her profession?

[KierenHby 899]

It's all water under the bridge now. You petition her for a K1.

[Unlockable 7,314]

Remember IO's are allowed to lie. They could've just expected them to get married and used this as a dodge

Ah, make sense now.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

So sorry, as someone who has been denied entry to the U.S. I know how humiliating and unfair it seems. But looking back, it seems like her denial, and mine, were justified.

Because of all the reasons laid out, the CBP officer did the right thing. I'm sorry it happened but now you must move forward.

How long had she stayed the previous 2 times she was in the U.S.? How recently ago was this?

Good luck

[templeton 120]

The last thing we would want was for her to be here illeagaly as she wants to work in a professianal environment.

That wasn't what they were worried about. A visitor can immediately apply to become a green card holder through marriage to a USC as long as they entered the US legally and didn't arrive with the INTENTION of immigrating - basically circumventing the whole K-1 process. The problem is, though every gf/fiance(e)/spouse wanting to visit obviously says they don't have the intention of staying and converting to a resident, some have an amazingly convenient change of heart once they get through customs. Clearly that's what CBP was worried was going to happen.

[Unlockable 7,314]

That wasn't what they were worried about. A visitor can immediately apply to become a green card holder through marriage to a USC as long as they entered the US legally and didn't arrive with the INTENTION of immigrating - basically circumventing the whole K-1 process. The problem is, though every gf/fiance(e)/spouse wanting to visit obviously says they don't have the intention of staying and converting to a resident, some have an amazingly convenient change of heart once they get through customs. Clearly that's what CBP was worried was going to happen.

Agreed.

A lot can happen in 6 months that can trigger "mind change" of returning home. (Example: pregnancy)