Yes, you can visit!

[mamba 2]

My fiancé is Mexican, and we're are planning on filing the i-129f soon. She currently has a valid tourist visa, but we've been told by somebody else that went through the process that once we start the process for the K-1 visa that her tourist visa will automatically be invalid and she will not be able to visit the U.S. until the process is complete. Is this true?

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 hour ago, mamba said:

She currently has a valid tourist visa, but we've been told by somebody else that went through the process that once we start the process for the K-1 visa that her tourist visa will automatically be invalid and she will not be able to visit the U.S. until the process is complete. Is this true?

Not true.

[KurtDarryl23 14]

1 hour ago, mamba said:

My fiancé is Mexican, and we're are planning on filing the i-129f soon. She currently has a valid tourist visa, but we've been told by somebody else that went through the process that once we start the process for the K-1 visa that her tourist visa will automatically be invalid and she will not be able to visit the U.S. until the process is complete. Is this true?

Hi, you can still use a tourist visa if you already have one to visit the US during the K1 process. 

 

Just make sure they bring some documents to prove strong ties to home country when travelling incase border control ask for it.

 

 

[Boiler 45,390]

3 hours ago, mamba said:

My fiancé is Mexican, and we're are planning on filing the i-129f soon. She currently has a valid tourist visa, but we've been told by somebody else that went through the process that once we start the process for the K-1 visa that her tourist visa will automatically be invalid and she will not be able to visit the U.S. until the process is complete. Is this true?

We have this mega thread that says otherwise.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,088]

3 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Not true.

Yeah. @mamba should note that when the K-1 is issued then other US visas should be canceled (and usually are, and even if they aren't explicitly, don't chance them not being canceled), but that's at the end of the process, not the start of it.

[SalishSea 17,766]

6 hours ago, mamba said:

My fiancé is Mexican, and we're are planning on filing the i-129f soon. She currently has a valid tourist visa, but we've been told by somebody else that went through the process that once we start the process for the K-1 visa that her tourist visa will automatically be invalid and she will not be able to visit the U.S. until the process is complete. Is this true?

This thread literally is titled "Yes, you CAN visit."   

[baze92 33]

@Jsmith2019 What country is your fiance from?

 

@Lucky Cat Can you link me to the cases where people were denied?

[Boiler 45,390]

7 minutes ago, baze92 said:

@Jsmith2019 What country is your fiance from?

 

@Lucky Cat Can you link me to the cases where people were denied?

Denied for what, visa, entry?

[baze92 33]

@Lucky Cat said many have been denied k1 visa because they stayed in the USA for long visit on Tourist visa

[Boiler 45,390]

29 minutes ago, baze92 said:

@Lucky Cat said many have been denied k1 visa because they stayed in the USA for long visit on Tourist visa

Not to my knowledge.

[baze92 33]

Which is why I was asking them for proof 

[Boiler 45,390]

There would be no proof even if this was true, which I am sure it is not, often we see people blame odd things when the real reason is usually much more obvious.

[Crazy Cat 41,662]

10 hours ago, baze92 said:

@Lucky Cat said many have been denied k1 visa because they stayed in the USA for long visit on Tourist visa

I think you misunderstood.  I have never said I have seen a K-1 visa denied due to the beneficiary's visiting the US too long.  I have heard of people (not many) being denied entry into the US as a visitor because the CBP officer  thought they had been trying to "live" in the US instead of just visiting.  They were not K-1 visa holders.

I have heard of only one K-1 visa holder being denied entry into the US.  When the CBP officer asked "Do you plan to marry within 90 days?".....the K-1 holder said "Maybe. Maybe not".........He was denied entry.

Edited May 1, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Limey 551]

2 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

I think you misunderstood.  I have never said I have seen a K-1 visa denied due to the beneficiary's visiting the US too long.  I have heard of people (not many) being denied entry into the US as a visitor because the CBP officer  thought they had been trying to "live" in the US instead of just visiting.  They were not K-1 visa holders.

 

This almost happened to me - I'd done a long trip a few months before (about 6-7 week trip) and then a few months later returned for one month, left for one month and then returned. CBP officer game me the "you're trying to live here on a tourist visa" argument. I did get in eventually, but my visits were much less frequent after that (even did one meet in Canada to avoid another US entry on my record).

The irony is that when it comes to the K1 visa, far from being a negative on your record, these frequent or long trips are excellent evidence that you're a genuine k1 applicant with a genuine relationship.

Edited May 1, 2020 by Limey

[baze92 33]

Thanks for the clarification. Basically We are trying to decide if my fiancé should come to America on her tourist visa right now. With interviews closed , it’s probably a few more months until she will be able to do that. We’ve been apart five months now and I can’t enter Thailand either. 
 

I guess it really comes

down to how big of a risk it is during our interview when they see she was in America for three months on tourists visa visiting me.