Visiting on a VWP?

[Teddy406 0]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

[no name 1]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

The VWP is a Visa Waiver Program!!!

[Fandango 1,439]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

The VWP is a Visa Waiver Program!!!

I think the OP realizes that...have no clue why you'd need a DS-230.

You need to bring proof of ties back home...mtg, letter from employer, etc. If you're still unsure, perhaps you should fly out of Dublin, because if I'm not mistaken, it's technically a POE of sorts...so if you get denied entry, it's not too much chew to go home.

[garyandkris 0]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

If you qualified for the VWP in the past, there's no reason not to use it now. On the other hand, Teddy, I know it's taking you longer than normal to get an interview date, but are you sure you want to travel before you find out when it will be? What if they end up scheduling it while you're away in the States? It's just something to think about.

Whatever you decide, I hope you get some news about your interview soon.

[Mags 112]

If you want to travel to the States then yes, you can use the VWP, you don't need an additional visa. I visited the States twice on it during the K-1 process. Just remember to bring some proof of ties to the UK along with you, incase they question you about it at your POE.

Utility bills, rental/mortgage statements, bank statement, letter from your employer stating you are still employed by them...stuff like that should be sufficient.

Good luck if you decide to go!

[Teddy406 0]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

If you qualified for the VWP in the past, there's no reason not to use it now. On the other hand, Teddy, I know it's taking you longer than normal to get an interview date, but are you sure you want to travel before you find out when it will be? What if they end up scheduling it while you're away in the States? It's just something to think about.

Whatever you decide, I hope you get some news about your interview soon.

Well, Its been over 9 weeks now, everyone else seems to be getting it back within 2 weeks then about a month till the interview date.

the people being issued interview dates NOW and previously are getting end of may date and we said we were looking at getting married in autumn on the interview request sheet, maybe they are doing the "AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!" people and leaving us for a few months.

I know what you are saying, It could be messy, but both me and my fiancée have reached that "it's hopeless, whats going on?" stage. I think two weeks together would revive our flagging spirits.

I guess we are only bummed because everything else flew through, we were on pace with a couple of other sets of couples here and they have both got pretty prompt interview dates and we've seemingly got a hiccup at the finish line!

The reason the state dept said to get a DS-230 was so i could get a tourist visa to visit, i was like "You already have a DS-230, and nothings been done with it, thats the problem!!"

Teddy

[Teddy406 0]

If you want to travel to the States then yes, you can use the VWP, you don't need an additional visa. I visited the States twice on it during the K-1 process. Just remember to bring some proof of ties to the UK along with you, incase they question you about it at your POE.

Utility bills, rental/mortgage statements, bank statement, letter from your employer stating you are still employed by them...stuff like that should be sufficient.

Good luck if you decide to go!

Well, I still live with the folks (shame, shame) so no housing bills and I havent told my work im thinking of leaving.

All my bills are paperless...I could bring my K1 stuff and a bank statement, i just would feel a little light on the evidence side.

[Mags 112]

Are you 100% sure they received your P3?

[Teddy406 0]

Hello!

I havent seen my fiancée in half a year and am desperate to go see her. She doesnt have the holiday at work to visit me unfortunately so we are stuck.

I spoke to the State Department and they said i had to send a DS-230 to the embassy to apply for a tourist visa and ask for an interview, cant i just go on the VWP? Has anyone else used a VWP to visit?

I know the question of visiting gets asked a lot, but do people go on the VWP or do they obtain a tourist visa?

Thanks

teddy

The VWP is a Visa Waiver Program!!!

Sorry, I should have said it was for a two week holiday, not a "im tired of waiting, lets try it on" method!

Are you 100% sure they received your P3?

Well, they said they have all stuff including medical, they just havent "Qualified" it yet. One dippy person said they didnt have anything for me, but I have the royal mail special delivery receipts and two other people said "yes, we have the DS-230 and the other forms, but they arent "qualified" yet"

[Mags 112]

Well, they said they have all stuff including medical, they just havent "Qualified" it yet. One dippy person said they didnt have anything for me, but I have the royal mail special delivery receipts and two other people said "yes, we have the DS-230 and the other forms, but they arent "qualified" yet"

Okay, so they have it, they've just not processed it for interview yet. Had a thought that there you might be, waiting and waiting, and they hadn't actually received it!

[no name 1]

Well, I still live with the folks (shame, shame) so no housing bills and I havent told my work im thinking of leaving.

All my bills are paperless...I could bring my K1 stuff and a bank statement, i just would feel a little light on the evidence side.

Definitely do not bring the K1 as proof of anything! It would only look like you were immigrating, not visiting.

Dunno what else to tell you....you really should have that work letter if you can.

[Mags 112]

Well, I still live with the folks (shame, shame) so no housing bills and I havent told my work im thinking of leaving.

All my bills are paperless...I could bring my K1 stuff and a bank statement, i just would feel a little light on the evidence side.

Definitely do not bring the K1 as proof of anything! It would only look like you were immigrating, not visiting.

Actually, there are quite a few people on VJ who have brought their K-1 paperwork with them and, when the POE Officers have asked them for proof of ties to the UK, it has stood them in good stead.

Why would you spend 6 months of your life, going through the proper channels of American Immigration, only to illegally immigrate a month of so before the end of your journey? It seems a bit silly.

If you wanted to slip through the POE without detection (to immigrate illegally) the last thing you would do it bring K-1 paperwork with you! To actually bring it with you smacks of total honesty! Plus on their little computer screen they have details of everyone's passport numbers (sent to them whilst you are in the air) and your passport number can easily be linked to let them know you have a K-1 in process. So, they'll know anyway, it's best to be honest.

When I visited my hubby during the K-1 process I told the Officer that I had a K-1 ongoing and she was fine about it. Others tell a similar story when presenting K-1 paperwork and details at POE.

Edited May 7, 2007 by mags

[no name 1]

Actually, there are quite a few people on VJ who have brought their K-1 paperwork with them and, when the POE Officers have asked them for proof of ties to the UK, it has stood them in good stead.

Why would you spend 6 months of your life, going through the proper channels of American Immigration, only to illegally immigrate a month of so before the end of your journey? It seems a bit silly.

If you wanted to slip through the POE without detection (to immigrate illegally) the last thing you would do it bring K-1 paperwork with you! To actually bring it with you smacks of total honesty! Plus on their little computer screen they have details of everyone's passport numbers (sent to them whilst you are in the air) and your passport number can easily be linked to let them know you have a K-1 in process. So, they'll know anyway, it's best to be honest.

When I visited my hubby during the K-1 process I told the Officer that I had a K-1 ongoing and she was fine about it. Others tell a similar story when presenting K-1 paperwork and details at POE.

But the OP has already said he has no rental agreement nor job letter to show proof of ties.....just my .02.

[msu17 0]

Why not just tell the employer you are going on holiday for 2 weeks and got hasseled last time, so if they could write you a letter that would be great. No need to mention the visa!

[Mags 112]

Actually, there are quite a few people on VJ who have brought their K-1 paperwork with them and, when the POE Officers have asked them for proof of ties to the UK, it has stood them in good stead.

Why would you spend 6 months of your life, going through the proper channels of American Immigration, only to illegally immigrate a month of so before the end of your journey? It seems a bit silly.

If you wanted to slip through the POE without detection (to immigrate illegally) the last thing you would do it bring K-1 paperwork with you! To actually bring it with you smacks of total honesty! Plus on their little computer screen they have details of everyone's passport numbers (sent to them whilst you are in the air) and your passport number can easily be linked to let them know you have a K-1 in process. So, they'll know anyway, it's best to be honest.

When I visited my hubby during the K-1 process I told the Officer that I had a K-1 ongoing and she was fine about it. Others tell a similar story when presenting K-1 paperwork and details at POE.

But the OP has already said he has no rental agreement nor job letter to show proof of ties.....just my .02.

First of all, you misinterpreted my comment. What I meant was that when an Officer at POE asks you for proof of ties, if you then give them the K-1 paperwork, that has proved sufficent in some cases rather than mortgage statements, utility bills, credit card bills etc etc. After seeing the K-1 paperwork they haven't asked for any additional proof.

Secondly, I realise that Teddy has little to show UK ties wise, but what I am trying to do is show the other side of the story, where people have taken with them their K-1 paperwork and it has had no adverse effects on their entry into the United States. I just don't think it should be dismissed as a bad idea. Teddy should be able to see both sides of the argument.

At the end of the day the choice is up to him. But to make a decision he needs to have all the information, not just part of it.

Personally, I wouldn't just go with only K-1 paperwork BUT taking it with him won't necessarily indicate to an Officer that he intends to immigrate illegally. As I said before, I would have thought it would point to the opposite. If he takes with him his bank statements, maybe a letter from his parents indicating that he still resides with them and is planning on returning back to the UK, and if he could print off the pages of his online bills, that could prove sufficient.

Good luck Teddy, whatever you decide!

Edit: msu17's idea about telling your employer you got hassled last time is a good one. When I visited the States my letter just said I was taking annual leave from X date to X date and that I was returning to work in the UK on X date. It also confirmed that I was a full time employee. I hadn't told my employer that I was leaving at that point either. If they have a good Human Resources Department I think they run these letters off as standard anyway.

Edited May 7, 2007 by mags