Yes, you can visit!

[Dutchster 1,107]

To play it safe, always have your flight itinerary on hand too to show you have plans to travel back. Rental agreement with your parents sounds good. Do you still have a car in your name? Do you still pay for any bills? Most of the time it's also a good tie when you are still paying regular bills. In that case it doesn't hurt to bring some bank statements to show you are still paying bills like rent, car insurance, health insurance, phone bill - any kind. Take NOA2 with you. If they have second thoughts, show the NOA2 and say you are genuinely doing immigration the right way and don't want to violate anything, just here to visit your fiance. 

[Julia80 67]

22 minutes ago, Dutchster said:

To play it safe, always have your flight itinerary on hand too to show you have plans to travel back. Rental agreement with your parents sounds good. Do you still have a car in your name? Do you still pay for any bills? Most of the time it's also a good tie when you are still paying regular bills. In that case it doesn't hurt to bring some bank statements to show you are still paying bills like rent, car insurance, health insurance, phone bill - any kind. Take NOA2 with you. If they have second thoughts, show the NOA2 and say you are genuinely doing immigration the right way and don't want to violate anything, just here to visit your fiance. 

I won't have any rent or bills apart from my car insurance and mobile phone. I own my car outright so I don't have a payment plan or anything. I will have my bank account until I leave for good and a credit card. I'll definitely have my return flight info. I am planning on flying into Toronto and driving over instead of Chicago just in case I get refused, that way I can just chill in Canada until my flight home and avoid unnecessary flight costs to fly home the same day as is the law, and my SO can come over and spend a couple days with me there. Fingers crossed everything works out. 

[Dutchster 1,107]

You won't get refused that easily. I got through CBP three times while my K1 was at the USCIS/Consulate stage. No hassle, nothing. Had to show nothing either. I'm pretty sure you have a car insurance. If you want to play it safe, take a copy of your car insurance payment with you to show you are still paying for your insurance, bank statements etc. Canada border can also deny you entry, it does not matter where your POE is.

[Absolutely 34]

23 hours ago, Julia80 said:

Hi, can anyone tell me what I can take as evidence of ties to my country other than employment and property/rent? As I am planning on leaving my country behind we are currently working on getting rid of all my ties to the UK, my house is on the market and will be sold by the time I come to travel, and I will be living with my parents until the visa is approved. I already gave up my job to spend 3 months with my SO before we put the visa app in so I won't have anything! We'll be on NOA2 when I come to travel. Is there anything I can do?

If possible, get your fiancee to scan and email you their copy of the NOA1, NOA2 and if you have it, the letter from the American Embassy with your case number.

 

I did get pulled for extra questioning due to repeated visits - I presented the second officer my return journey details and the copies my fiancee sent me and it worked wonders. They know the visa process, so if you do get pulled to one side, just explain you have gone through the K1 process in a legitimate manner, and intend to finish it in a legitimate manner; meaning leaving America to go to the medical and interview in due course.

 

Chances are you will be fine, but the more evidence of returning back you can present, the better. The CBP are humans who understand how difficult it is to be away from your SO!

[alicekitty 8]

On 5/10/2007 at 5:39 PM, Michele and Adam said:

The answer is yes, visits are allowed. 

 

Yes, my fiancé visited me twice in the US (from the UK) while our application is being processed (our case was at the USCIS, NVC, and so on). He came under  the ESTA visa waiver program. His visits place before we got to the interview stage at the US embassy in London. If the interview is successful and he gets the K-1 visa, then there will be no more "visits" under ESTA. It's an either/or situation. If you have a K-1 visa, you can't travel to the US under any other visa (such as the ESTA). He would have to come to the US once and for all (and can't travel until we get his travel permit (parole) and file all the paperwork. Hope this helps. 

 

 

 

[KimchiLumpia 315]

Wanted to add my border/travel experience, as my fiance and I were able to cross the US/Canadian border and travel without any problems.  Our I129-F is pending and NOA1 was received on Nov 22, 2016.

My fiance lives in Vancouver Canada and I live in Seattle Washington.  My fiance has a Canadian passport as well.  

This past December 2016, we took a trip to Las Vegas leaving Bellingham International Airport in Washington State.  We drove from her home in Vancouver BC and crossed the US/Canadian border at Blaine.  The US border agent asked us about our travels, requested our passports, requested to see a copy of our travel itinerary, and when we would be coming back.  We did not mention we were engaged, as we were not asked.  We had no trouble crossing.  In the airport, we had no trouble with airport security as well.

 

Upon our return into Canada, the Canadian border agent asked the standard questions: How long will I be staying in Canada, do we have any fruits, vegetables, or firearms, etc.

 

So for my Canadian visajourney folks, as long as your fiance has a valid Canadian passport, you make no mention of your engagement (if not asked), and you normally have no problems crossing the US/Canadian borders - there should be no problem.  

If for some reason the border agent asks if you are engaged, then I recommend to ALWAYS tell the truth when asked.  At this point, I see no reason one would be refused entry, but, it would be under the discretion of the board agent.  

 

  

Edited January 17, 2017 by KimchiLumpia

[Stagnant Sloth 5]

I thought I'd share my experience.

 

I've entered the US multiples since becoming engaged to my fiance and have spent a little under six months in the US during the last year or so. During the last year, I've entered the US several times with extremely minimal ties to Canada - probably almost non existent ties in the eyes of the border agent.

 

It's been good and bad for me in terms of questioning. Half of the time I've been extensively questioned and the other half it was the routine questions. The last time that I went for a long visit, I was asked probably close to 30 rapid fire questions that came quickly one after the other. During that time, it seemed like a denial was coming when she basically told me I had almost no ties to Canada, that she wasn't sure if I'd leave the US, and was pointing out how long I had already stayed there previously and started asking if I had any idea how long I could legally be there (which I did). But, in the end she let me in. I was honest and confident in my answers. I had nothing to hide and knew I would be leaving the US, so I just  hoped that my honesty would shine through. I was also questioned quite a bit while entering the US recently to go to the Buffalo/Niagara airport to drop my fiance off. I was never brought into secondary questioning, though.

 

I always carry documents of the minimal ties I have. But, I've only ever been asked to show my return information, which has been every time, except for when I drove there for a brief time in a rental car.

 

I've been asked how much money I have for every long term visit, but never asked to show my financial documents. I've always had a fairly decent amount of money available in my bank account when going. So, this may have made my lack of ties situation slightly better when I would tell them how much money I had. If you go there with minimal ties and also broke, it could bring up more issues.

 

I had even quit my job a couple weeks before going there for three months and told them that when they asked. I know now that it could have been seen as a huge red flag to them. But, I was honest with all their questions and never had any issues getting through after answering everything.

 

 

[Kathryn Baer 1]

Thought I would share my experience on here since I know how much I love reading other peoples experiences. Just a little background; I am a Canadian Citizen, my Fiance is a US Citizen.

 

Received NOA1 November 28, 2016

First trip to USA since filing for K-1: December 10 - December 19, 2016

POE was Vancouver, BC. Was asked the following questions;

"Where are you going?" Boise, Idaho. "Who are you seeing?" My fiance. "Where will you be staying?" With my fiance & his family. "How long are you there?" December 10 - December 19. 

Second Trip to USA: December 31, 2016 - January 3, 2017

POE was Edmonton, AB. Was asked the following questions;

"Where are you going?" Boise, Idaho. "Who are you seeing?" My fiance. "Where will you be staying?" With my fiance & his family. "What's the address?" [told the location] "How long are you there?" December 31, 2016 - January 3, 2017. "Why are you going?" Last minute trip to spend New Years with my fiance.

 

My next trip is February 5 - February 19, 2017 so we'll see how it goes then. I do bring a package containing evidence of ties to Canada just in case they ask for them.

The package includes;

- A letter signed from my boss stating a date that I am required back at work (example: "Kathryn is required back at work on Tuesday, February 21, 2017." 

- Most recent pay stubs (previous two months)

- Bank statements for previous two months

- Most recent Credit Card bill

- Signed letter of support from parents stating that I live with them (since I do not rent a place). I do have my own place but it is a tiny house that needs to be officially set up on a piece of land yet.

- Copies of Bill of Sale & Insurance/Registration Policy for my vehicle 

- Copies of my flight itineraries showing my return flight information

 

Some people face lots of issues when trying to visit their fiance, others not so much. I think it really also depends on who you talk to when at the POE. Some of the security/border control people are easy going and understanding, others not so much. Best of luck to all of you!

[Anna Grant 169]

The potential draft executive order limiting entry from certain countries is troubling:

 

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5888fe00e4b0024605fd591d

 

But this sentence jumped out as a surprise:

 

Suspend the visa interview waiver program indefinitely and review whether existing reciprocity agreements are reciprocal in practice.

 

I do hope this is not true or is just a short term thing to analyze the countries on the list. I am already in the US but I worry about people travelling here.

[Dutchster 1,107]

This has nothing to go with VWP Europeans travel on. It's an interview waver for  renewal of a tourist visa. Not the same thing. 

Edited January 27, 2017 by Dutchster

[Anna Grant 169]

2 hours ago, Dutchster said:

This has nothing to go with VWP Europeans travel on. It's an interview waver for  renewal of a tourist visa. Not the same thing. 

Sorry. My bad.

[Dutchster 1,107]

Understandable that it can confuse a lot of people.

[MapleLeaf29 247]

On January 26, 2017 at 4:47 PM, Kathryn Banman said:

Thought I would share my experience on here since I know how much I love reading other peoples experiences. Just a little background; I am a Canadian Citizen, my Fiance is a US Citizen.

 

Received NOA1 November 28, 2016

First trip to USA since filing for K-1: December 10 - December 19, 2016

POE was Vancouver, BC. Was asked the following questions;

"Where are you going?" Boise, Idaho. "Who are you seeing?" My fiance. "Where will you be staying?" With my fiance & his family. "How long are you there?" December 10 - December 19. 

Second Trip to USA: December 31, 2016 - January 3, 2017

POE was Edmonton, AB. Was asked the following questions;

"Where are you going?" Boise, Idaho. "Who are you seeing?" My fiance. "Where will you be staying?" With my fiance & his family. "What's the address?" [told the location] "How long are you there?" December 31, 2016 - January 3, 2017. "Why are you going?" Last minute trip to spend New Years with my fiance.

 

My next trip is February 5 - February 19, 2017 so we'll see how it goes then. I do bring a package containing evidence of ties to Canada just in case they ask for them.

The package includes;

- A letter signed from my boss stating a date that I am required back at work (example: "Kathryn is required back at work on Tuesday, February 21, 2017." 

- Most recent pay stubs (previous two months)

- Bank statements for previous two months

- Most recent Credit Card bill

- Signed letter of support from parents stating that I live with them (since I do not rent a place). I do have my own place but it is a tiny house that needs to be officially set up on a piece of land yet.

- Copies of Bill of Sale & Insurance/Registration Policy for my vehicle 

- Copies of my flight itineraries showing my return flight information

 

Some people face lots of issues when trying to visit their fiance, others not so much. I think it really also depends on who you talk to when at the POE. Some of the security/border control people are easy going and understanding, others not so much. Best of luck to all of you!

This list is very helpful.  Thank you!

[queencee 0]

On 5/11/2007 at 5:39 AM, Michele and Adam said:

I'm sure all the vets on this board are tired of this daily question, but keep in mind that dozens of people are just starting this process every day, and the "can I visit while the application is pending?" question is one, if not the, most pressing matters to most of them.

Information about this is all over this site, but scattered. I for one am a person who likes to hear personal experiences too, so I can make a decision based on what others in my similar situation have gone through.

The answer is yes, visits are allowed. But whether you will actually be admitted lies entirely in the hands of the officer questioning you upon entry. And face it, hearing you've got a sweetheart you're intending to/have married waiting for you in the US is going to set off a "he/she is just going to stay here forever" bell to that officer. It's your job to convince that officer that you have a life back in your home country that you fully intend, and will, go back to.

Anyway, I'm hoping people will post their experiences visiting the USC before and during the visa journey. I'm sure that all of us do visit legally, and do leave when we're supposed to. So, is there anything that worked for you? Hindered you? If you were ever denied, why? Were you able to remedy the situation and try again?

Going through customs can make your stomach turn, and make you feel like a criminal even though you've done nothing wrong. So, let's try to calm each other down and tell each other our experiences. I think we'll find that most of us are admitted (albeit with a little hassle, perhaps).

Vets, maybe this will cut down on having to answer the question 5 times a day!

Michele

hello michele adam need some help , i had my interview last january 24, 2017 and they put me in 221g case to submit my police clearance from taiwan before my visa got release. so i went to taiwan embassy to request police clearance but it took so long time to wait (6weeks) to release. if someone had the same case too. pls help and free to reply. thanks god bless

[SocratesJohnson 6]

Hello, I'm a new member, joined after hours of researching what to expect through this entire process, specifically the visiting question. I'm currently in the UK, where I've been on a Visitor's Visa between here and traveling Europe since May, leaving next month back to the states. My boyfriend and I will most likely begin the K1 process then, and I just wanted to say that reading all of your border crossing stories has given me a lot of comfort, as I had no idea what to expect when he comes to visit (an 8 month separation is just far too long!) It seems as though the majority of you crossed with varying degrees of hassle, but were able to cross nonetheless. I'm really happy I found this positive, informative community! Cheers❤️