I-129f June 2017 filers (merged)

[John & Rose 7,239]

25 minutes ago, KandW said:

Yep. Will be visiting my fiancé in the sates end of the Month for a week. 

I will also be taking proof that I plan on returning like others have mentioned. He will hopefully come to the UK to visit next month. 

 

Is it that easy to get a tourist visa?  I assumed that would be a relatively long process too.

[Hadassah123 523]

20 minutes ago, jwlussow said:

Is it that easy to get a tourist visa?  I assumed that would be a relatively long process too.

UK and NL citizens are under the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA and thus do not require a visa

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, Hadassah123 said:

UK and NL citizens are under the Visa Waiver Program/ESTA and thus do not require a visa

Ah.  I was wondering.  It takes a miracle in some places while others seem very easy.

[DandY 134]

35 minutes ago, jwlussow said:

Ah.  I was wondering.  It takes a miracle in some places while others seem very easy.

It is actually pretty simple. If one is from a poor country with a low standard of living, the U.S. does not trust you and believes you will remain illegally, so they don't let you in. If you are not from a poor country (i.e. Europe as a previous poster pointed out), then traveling to the U.S. for tourism or during the process is not hard because they think there is a very very good chance you will return home because you won't want to get a low paying undocumented worker job in  the U.S.

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, DandY said:

It is actually pretty simple. If one is from a poor country with a low standard of living, the U.S. does not trust you and believes you will remain illegally, so they don't let you in. If you are not from a poor country (i.e. Europe as a previous poster pointed out), then traveling to the U.S. for tourism or during the process is not hard because they think there is a very very good chance you will return home because you won't want to get a low paying undocumented worker job in  the U.S.

That makes perfect sense.  Thank you for the simple and concise explanation.  

[KandW 358]

1 hour ago, jwlussow said:

Is it that easy to get a tourist visa?  I assumed that would be a relatively long process too.

Yeah. Exactly what @DandY said.

i got mine in Feb/ March when I went to NYC. It's only about £12 and is valid for 12 months. 

[John & Rose 7,239]

19 minutes ago, KandW said:

Yeah. Exactly what @DandY said.

i got mine in Feb/ March when I went to NYC. It's only about £12 and is valid for 12 months. 

That is actually reasonable!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

17 hours ago, jwlussow said:

Not yet. It would mean a visitor's visa and the time it takes for that just doesn't make sense right now. If the dates keep slipping who knows. I am going to use some of the vacation I was planning on using when they move here. I have visited them 4 times so this will be my 5 tho and the first time I will stay in their home. I love Hotel H2O and the Whitemoon Bar which is right on Manila Bay. That is the most spectacular sunset on earth. 

Ah, ok. Fortunately, visiting the states from Sweden hasn't been hard on my fiancé, since it's easier for him to visit here than me go there. I've heard there are some truly beautiful places in Manila and nearby. I can't wait to visit someday! Since that's his background, it's almost as important to visit there as it is his home country of Sweden. Good luck on your visit and meeting more family!! That's so exciting.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

14 hours ago, useful89 said:

Please, as someone whose fiancee is not European and cannot easily get a tourist visa for here, have him come to you if at possible! I highly doubt it will affect anything at all, if you can afford it and want to but are only hesitant due to immigration concerns, I'd be highly surprised if USCIS or the embassy in Sweden cares that a Swede came to the US while his case is being processed. 

Yes, our primary concern has been the affect on our process. Only because when starting out, we read a lot about how he wouldn't be able to come stateside while going through the process, and we took that very literally. I think mostly out of fear of making any wrong move and risking a denial, because we can't afford to petition again and pay the application fee for a while if that happened. But as we've done more research in the meantime since filing our petition...I've read about a lot of experiences where the beneficiary has come stateside with no problem. My impression is that the main concern when doing so is showing that they have ties back in their home country and intend on returning, and not staying illegally. Which is no big deal. I'm planning a trip to Sweden soon because there are a lot of family members of his I haven't met yet, and I want to see his home and where he's from. But if the process takes super long, I know one visit won't be enough!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

11 hours ago, ThisGirlsCurls said:

My partner is coming to the UK in September and we’re off to Greece for a holiday. He’ll be back for Christmas too then I plan to move out at Easter after saving some more money up x

That is so exciting! How far along in the visa process are you guys?

[ThisGirlsCurls 32]

Just now, Paul & Mallory said:

That is so exciting! How far along in the visa process are you guys?

We are awaiting NOA2. We got NOA1 on July 3rd.

taking our time to save up and enjoy my time in England where annual leave is good while I still can!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

10 hours ago, Hadassah123 said:

I'm flying out the US for a 2.5 week visit on August 24th (so excited!). I have been reading a lot of stories and advice on that it is possible, so I'm going, but with a lot of proof that I'll return home (return flight, letter from employer, copy of deposit we paid for our wedding in April, etc).

I've heard many more positive stories than negative about visits stateside while waiting. We read a lot in the beginning about how he can't visit here once we start and until it's approved, so out of fear of making any wrong move, I think we were very literal with things we came across. Only in more recent research that we've done since sending our paperwork have we found that it's actually pretty common. Like you said, I think the main thing is having evidence that you intend on returning and not staying illegally, which isn't a problem. I'm planning a trip to Sweden soon myself, but it's nice to know we may have the option of him coming here, especially if things take longer than expected. It's easier for him to come here than vice versa, for work and financial reasons, so that was a big strain.

 

I'm excited for your visit! I know it will go by fast, but I hope you enjoy every second of it (I know you will).

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

3 hours ago, KandW said:

Yep. Will be visiting my fiancé in the sates end of the Month for a week. 

I will also be taking proof that I plan on returning like others have mentioned. He will hopefully come to the UK to visit next month. 

 

I'm so glad to hear how common this is! It's definitely been a concern of ours, since I can't visit Sweden as frequently as he can visit the states for multiple reasons. Good luck in your travels and I know you will enjoy every second!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

3 minutes ago, ThisGirlsCurls said:

We are awaiting NOA2. We got NOA1 on July 3rd.

taking our time to save up and enjoy my time in England where annual leave is good while I still can!

Ah, we are as well. Got our NOA1 on June 12. Feels like an eternity between these steps, but it does lend an opportunity to save up money and prepare. My fiancé has used his time preparing for things, such as what he's doing with his home once he moves and planning on how to get the remainder of his belongings that he's bringing with him over here. There are so many things you don't think about right off the bat until they become pertinent!

[John & Rose 7,239]

7 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

Ah, ok. Fortunately, visiting the states from Sweden hasn't been hard on my fiancé, since it's easier for him to visit here than me go there. I've heard there are some truly beautiful places in Manila and nearby. I can't wait to visit someday! Since that's his background, it's almost as important to visit there as it is his home country of Sweden. Good luck on your visit and meeting more family!! That's so exciting.

This will be my 5th trip but this time I am staying in their home and not in a hotel.  That should be an interesting experience.  

 

There are so many beautiful areas near Manila.  The city itself is very crowded and traffic is 24/7.  The view of the sunset over Manila Bay and the South China Sea is nothing short of spectacular.  There is a hotel very near the US Embassy and it sits out over the water.  It is also adjacent to the Manila Ocean Park.  I absolutely love it there.  The bay is a little polluted but they have made great strides in cleaning it up.  Once in your lifetime you have to experience that sunset.  You will never forget it.