Yes, you can visit!

[edenjames 6]

Landed at LAX about 2 hours ago and had no problem. I was asked why I was here - pleasure. Had I been to the US before - yes a couple of times. How long was I staying - 15 days. Then have a nice trip!!! Now waiting for a connecting flight to San Francisco and then into my fiances arms

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I just submitted the I-129f form and my fiancee is coming to visit next month! we are of course very nervous when she gets to customs, but as a backup plan I am going to be writing a letter just in case she needs to show something to the customs agent. will this work?

Dear Sir or Madam at the United States Customs Office,

My fiancée, ---- -----, will be visiting me on the Visa Waiver Program and will be staying within the 90 day period. During her stay, we will not be getting married or breaking any immigration laws. We have already filed the correct forms for her to immigrate legally for the K-1 visa and it is in process. She will be staying at my home and I will be supporting all costs of her trip during her stay. I have attached copies of my recent pay stubs, a lease of my home, flight itinerary with return ticket booked, copy of I-129F form intended for the K-1 visa, and a document showing that our I-129F form has been submitted and K-1 visa is in process. Please feel free to call me with any questions.

Sincerely,

---- -----

I added that I will be paying everything because she has no job, no payments, and lives with her parents so she doesn't have enough "ties" to prove that she needs to go home. I hope this works and all feedback would be great!

Skip this letter. It's a bad idea. You do not get to vouch for her, she vouches for herself. Presenting this letter will just make things look very fishy. Really bad idea.

BTW, customs and immigration are different things. The customs agent doesn't care about her immigration status.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I just submitted the I-129f form and my fiancee is coming to visit next month! we are of course very nervous when she gets to customs, but as a backup plan I am going to be writing a letter just in case she needs to show something to the customs agent. will this work?

Dear Sir or Madam at the United States Customs Office,

My fiancée, ---- -----, will be visiting me on the Visa Waiver Program and will be staying within the 90 day period. During her stay, we will not be getting married or breaking any immigration laws. We have already filed the correct forms for her to immigrate legally for the K-1 visa and it is in process. She will be staying at my home and I will be supporting all costs of her trip during her stay. I have attached copies of my recent pay stubs, a lease of my home, flight itinerary with return ticket booked, copy of I-129F form intended for the K-1 visa, and a document showing that our I-129F form has been submitted and K-1 visa is in process. Please feel free to call me with any questions.

Sincerely,

---- -----

I added that I will be paying everything because she has no job, no payments, and lives with her parents so she doesn't have enough "ties" to prove that she needs to go home. I hope this works and all feedback would be great!

I'd skip the letter too. As long as she has a return ticket itinerary she should be fine. A copy of the I-129F form might be advantageous, but a document stating that you're not going to be getting married or breaking any laws is not needed.

[SweetheartSarah 3]

At the point of our process where we have our interview date, I entered the US for a six week vacation with my fiancé. I should mention the fact that this would be the thurd time I am in Colorado this year, the second time being in August. This time was end of September, so they had reason to be questioning our intentions. Here's how it all went down:

We got to the airport, checked in, checked our suitcases. Once we were going through customs, they asked the standard question, took my ID and fingerprints and we got taken to and held in the customs room.

After waiting 10-15 minutes, we were seen by a customs agent who took me [the Canadian] to the back and went through my purse, phone [incl. e-mail, text messages, etc.], and asked me a ton of questions.

1. Why are you going into the US for so long?
   

"Visiting family and friends, leisure."

• Why do you have so much baggage?
  

[i had two suitcases checked, one large, one medium and two carry ons- my laptop bag, and my purse. I would think that's a normal amount for a six week trip, but meh.]

"I've packed the necessary for me, for my six week stay, as well as some of the stuff he's left behind from his work Visa term that just ended. He s bringing his stuff back home."

At this point I mentioned the Visa process and that I did have the paperwork on me to prove it, as well as a return ticket. He asked to see it.

He sent me back to my seat. About 10 minutes later, he called on us and told us that if we didn't have our Visa paperwork with us, this may not have gone as well as we had hoped. He said there's concern about people coming to the US and staying indefinitely with no real intent on going back, without a Visa of any sort.

He went over all of the Visa processes with us and made sure we were aware of the terms and sent us off to catch our flight. We were late for our flight, however the plane was waiting for us, and someone came looking for us at the customs office to bring us to our flight! [We were those people everyone hates because they have to wait for one more person to board the plane! However, there was one other person after us, so it wasn't all our fault! ]

Any questions, please feel free!

[Novembro 1,763]

After reading this thread, I am now all sorts of worried about my fiance's upcoming trip! I will be traveling to England for ten days to spend Christmas with him and his family. Our plan was to come back on the 29th and for him to stay out the 90 days of a tourist visa under the VWP. Now I'm wondering if that's too long. I haven't seen him in nine months and we were hoping to spend a good amount of time together.

Another concern is that he will be returning to the UK from Korea a few days before I arrive. This means that he will not have any sort of letter from an employer to show customs that he has to return. He will literally just have finished his employment right before this trip. Could it be played off as a holiday/visiting fiance/leisure? Is a return ticket and our NOA1/Evidence packet enough for this to be legit?

[Anna Grant 169]

After reading this thread, I am now all sorts of worried about my fiance's upcoming trip! I will be traveling to England for ten days to spend Christmas with him and his family. Our plan was to come back on the 29th and for him to stay out the 90 days of a tourist visa under the VWP. Now I'm wondering if that's too long. I haven't seen him in nine months and we were hoping to spend a good amount of time together.

Another concern is that he will be returning to the UK from Korea a few days before I arrive. This means that he will not have any sort of letter from an employer to show customs that he has to return. He will literally just have finished his employment right before this trip. Could it be played off as a holiday/visiting fiance/leisure? Is a return ticket and our NOA1/Evidence packet enough for this to be legit?

What is his housing situation in the UK? Has he ties to the UK which show that he has to go back?

Although it's slightly ironic. I'm trying to break my ties in preparation for moving to the US to be with my love next year but that may be held against me when I try to enter the US on Saturday!

[seafoodman 0]

Im confused about visiting my american fiance for xmas and the new year,ive read other posts and how others have visited while their visa is being processed,but my fiance e mailed US immigration to ask if i could visit just to be sure,and she had an immediate next day response that strongly advised against me visiting while pursuing the K1 process,their reasons were it may delay the application due to futher checks having to be done ?,and also there is no guarantee i will be allowed entry,

i cannot see why me visiting my fiance would cause such a delay ? i have a mortgage and two vehicles in the UK so i can prove i have ties so i dont understand why they may refuse entry either ? nevertheless ours is not to reason why, ours is to do and not fly ! we have decided not to risk me flying over for the xmas/new year holidays and the visa being delayed for longer than is necessary,i will say it is painful as i have two weeks off work and so has she but we cant spend it together,

im not sending immigration a xmas card

[Novembro 1,763]

im not sending immigration a xmas card

Definitely not!

[Shalom O 0]

Thanks for this post. I just joined VJ. I apologize if this is a n00b question, but does anyone know if it's possible to get a tourist visa to visit the US if you've been denied entry to the US because the immigration officer found out that you're in love with an American? I ask on behalf of my German fiancee. Thanks.

[newguy99 0]

Great forum, thank you for taking the time to help those of us new to this.

My question is entering on a business vs. as tourist visa, is one less likely to cause trouble?

While we are waiting on the K-1 visa, my fiancee can seek to visit on business, to attend a trade show in her industry or we can just seek a tourist visa. Is there any thought that the business visa would be better? She would go to the trade show but this way at least we can see each other for a couple of weeks while she is here. I haven't seen discussion here on the merits of a business visa--thanks.

[shashonie 6]

How long are most of you wanting to visit your fiance(e)s? If you can show strong ties to your home, there should be no problem with you getting through customs, as long as you have a passport. It makes no sense to penalize people for visiting each other for a short time. I'm personally going to Canada for 2 weeks because I have Winter Break (teacher) and see no reason to stay home that whole time. I'm not anticipating, nor worried about crossing the border. I have something, definitely to come back to.

[Anna Grant 169]

I thought I would update people on my experience yesterday at Chicago O'Hare at 3:30pm and hope it helps other people. Before I start the story, just to say I got in.

We are still waiting for our NOA2 and I have come in for 6 weeks. I was made redundant and left my employer on 23 November, so have no job and only have a room in a flat as I have sold my flat in preparation for my eventual move to the US. Better to sell it a reasonable leisure than sell it in a hurry!

So. I brought a folder showing all my ties to the UK and our lawyer provided us with a letter saying that I was only coming for 6 weeks and then leaving again. Our lawyer has constantly told me 'do not come back to the US without the K1 Visa in your passport'. So it was good of him to provide the letter - I expected to only provide one saying that he was acting on our behalf.

I was nervous at passport control but controlled the nerves well.

All he asked me was:

What are you here for?

Answer: holiday

How long are you staying?

Answer: six weeks - I return on 12 January

And then it was the usual - 4 fingers - one thumb routine and I was through.

Collected my luggage and made my way to the customs guy with my completed form. This has always been quick - hand the form and through. However, this time he had questions. As I had bought my fiance's children a couple of London t-shirts and mugs, I declared them although it was under $100, which I know is the limit. I did this last time too. He saw the total on the front and then turned over the form and saw the items.

He asked:

Who are you here to visit?

I was thrown as I didn't expect him to be asking that question - I expected that from passport control.

I said 'pardon?' He didn't repeat the question - he just looked at me.

I said 'My fiance'

He asked 'When are you getting married?'

I said 'March or April, whenever the K1 Fiancee visa comes through.'

He asked 'What visa are you on now?'

I replied 'An ESTA'.

He said 'You know you're going to have to go home, don't you?'

I've said 'No!' and as my heart fell through the floor. My fiance is just yards away from me - waiting for me at the other side of the door I can see.

He said 'You can't stay until April'.

I said 'I don't want to. My return flight is on 12 January.'

He said 'OK. Have a nice day.' and waved me through! He didn't even ask to see my return ticket!

I think my mistake was putting anything on the customs form. Everyone else was being waved through. I only did it as I had left the tags on the presents to give to the boys. In hindsight, that wasn't really necessary as I'm not going to be able to return them as I'm in the US for 6 weeks! I should just have removed the tags and not declared anything.

There's also another possible explanation for the questions. If I did show up at passport control as having applied for a K1 visa, passport control might have tipped the wink to customs whilst I was getting my luggage to ask me more questions. The customs guy did look down at my luggage as if to assess how much was there - I was about 3kg under the 23kg allowed and had my carry on bag and laptop. However, I have a brand new passport, so no stamps in it - I would think their computer system will link my new passport to my old one but I don't know what detail it would show.

I walked out into the arrivals hall and into the arms of my fiance and just wanted to cry. He said 'You're shaking but you're here and that's all that matters'.

[Ralph and Meghan 19]

Going to visit my fiancee on december 13th. Bringing my mortgage papers, return ticket and a letter from my job with me. Staying there for 4 weeks so hope it's just a quick one at passport control

Reading this topic gives me good hope for it at least.

Edited December 2, 2012 by Ralph and Meghan

[Myke + Kerry 0]

I thought I would update people on my experience yesterday at Chicago O'Hare at 3:30pm and hope it helps other people. Before I start the story, just to say I got in.

We are still waiting for our NOA2 and I have come in for 6 weeks. I was made redundant and left my employer on 23 November, so have no job and only have a room in a flat as I have sold my flat in preparation for my eventual move to the US. Better to sell it a reasonable leisure than sell it in a hurry!

So. I brought a folder showing all my ties to the UK and our lawyer provided us with a letter saying that I was only coming for 6 weeks and then leaving again. Our lawyer has constantly told me 'do not come back to the US without the K1 Visa in your passport'. So it was good of him to provide the letter - I expected to only provide one saying that he was acting on our behalf.

I was nervous at passport control but controlled the nerves well.

All he asked me was:

What are you here for?

Answer: holiday

How long are you staying?

Answer: six weeks - I return on 12 January

And then it was the usual - 4 fingers - one thumb routine and I was through.

Collected my luggage and made my way to the customs guy with my completed form. This has always been quick - hand the form and through. However, this time he had questions. As I had bought my fiance's children a couple of London t-shirts and mugs, I declared them although it was under $100, which I know is the limit. I did this last time too. He saw the total on the front and then turned over the form and saw the items.

He asked:

Who are you here to visit?

I was thrown as I didn't expect him to be asking that question - I expected that from passport control.

I said 'pardon?' He didn't repeat the question - he just looked at me.

I said 'My fiance'

He asked 'When are you getting married?'

I said 'March or April, whenever the K1 Fiancee visa comes through.'

He asked 'What visa are you on now?'

I replied 'An ESTA'.

He said 'You know you're going to have to go home, don't you?'

I've said 'No!' and as my heart fell through the floor. My fiance is just yards away from me - waiting for me at the other side of the door I can see.

He said 'You can't stay until April'.

I said 'I don't want to. My return flight is on 12 January.'

He said 'OK. Have a nice day.' and waved me through! He didn't even ask to see my return ticket!

I think my mistake was putting anything on the customs form. Everyone else was being waved through. I only did it as I had left the tags on the presents to give to the boys. In hindsight, that wasn't really necessary as I'm not going to be able to return them as I'm in the US for 6 weeks! I should just have removed the tags and not declared anything.

There's also another possible explanation for the questions. If I did show up at passport control as having applied for a K1 visa, passport control might have tipped the wink to customs whilst I was getting my luggage to ask me more questions. The customs guy did look down at my luggage as if to assess how much was there - I was about 3kg under the 23kg allowed and had my carry on bag and laptop. However, I have a brand new passport, so no stamps in it - I would think their computer system will link my new passport to my old one but I don't know what detail it would show.

I walked out into the arrivals hall and into the arms of my fiance and just wanted to cry. He said 'You're shaking but you're here and that's all that matters'.

Chicago is always my POE, and I have only ever been asked the basic "who are you seeing, how long are you here for" questions - even when I offered further info!

[khutchi1 0]

Hi all!

I would really appreciate any thoughts on our situation!

My fiancé (Switzerland) and I thought we were almost finished! We have our NOA2, and he has even had his medical exam in preparation for the consular interview. However, we just found out that they want him to get police reports from several countries where he worked. We are both humanitarian aid workers, and he worked in two places for more than a year. So- we are now trying to figure out how to get these documents! It's going to take a while...

In the meantime, he just left 3 weeks ago after spending 89 days in the US on the VWP (August-November). Before that, the last trip to the U.S. was in February for 2 weeks.

He is not employed in Switzerland - just waiting to move here, which we thought was about to happen. He is staying with his parents, so no lease. We would love to see each other again!

So I have two questions:

1) Is it too soon for another visit? If he says he's coming for a shorter time would that be OK?

2) Our case is at the State Dept, and I heard something about it NOT being a good idea to cross the border during that time- is that true?

3) If he did try to cross, and got denied, would that count against us once we do have the G-D K1 visa?

Thanks very much!