Yes, you can visit!

[Rachylou 0]

Hi.....fab thread...

ok Ive visited once for 2 weeks ...and have to say was not a good experience at POE, all the usual questions why was I there for how long etc ect...i was as honest as honest could be and as Jay and myself hadn't meet at that point I said meeting a friend....was asked have you been to America before answer NO.... so how do you know this person ....oh my life ....well when I said on the Internet you could see the look in his eyes .....anyway after about 20 mins of question after question I was allowed thru....

I fly out again in 2 weeks time ....and have to say was quiet worried about entering again as its for a period of 3 months.... I spoke to Michelle and Adam about Adams last experience and that really helped.....

So what am I taking with me well the list is quiet long and I'm really hoping in not over doing it...

I have my contract of employment, with a letter from my boss saying I'm on leave and expected back on such & such date....

my rent lease, various documents that show i have a teenage son....my bank account details and hoping to get a recent statement a couple of days before I leave...

my CRB form that shows I have no crimnal recored and that I am a volunteer youth worker, and after talking with Michelle have gone with the letter of where I am staying ...which is with Jays mom, she has stated that I am staying at her house I will not be required to pay anything to wards my up keep that I arrive on flight ***** on such date and leave on flight **** on such date she has even gone to the great length of having signed by a notary(if thats how its spelt) she has stated her job and so one ....hope this helps....

I also have to carry a company credit card with me at all times my job requires its and even tho I'm on leave I will still have to do some work...which is not stated in my letter i didn't think that was a hot idea...but not sure if the credit card will help my case at all but hey ill show it if i have to ....Jay will also be waiting for me at Boston which is where I fly into ...so if asked about him it wont be a phone call they can go and talk to him face to face....

Ill let you guys know how it goes once I'm there....but if anyone can think of anything else I should take them pls feel free to do so....

and after saying all that i am still quiet nervous of the whole thing ...but if its the only way in ...I'm going in feet first....

[AndreaK 1]

Guess I'll chime in on this thread once again...

Left on Tuesday (the 15th) to come see my honey for a couple weeks to do some last minute planning for the move and wedding once our visa is approved. Had a bunch of info with me to prove I was returning to Canada (letters for doctor appointments, bills, copy of our email for the NOA2, etc). Because I had been grilled when I flew to Wichita in March, I knew I would be in the system as soon as they scanned my passport, so I was ready for the questions but still quite apprehensive about possibly not being allowed through.

I was questioned briefly by the initial agent, then was asked - again - to go to the back room where I waited for what seemed like an eternity (probably only about 5 minutes) for the next agent. I think it was the same lady I talked to back in March, actually. lol She asked me some questions about the visit, what our plans were, etc. I answered briefly and honestly, but each time a question was asked that could potentially pertain to the visa - or us trying to do things illegally, such as "Have you set a date for the wedding?" - I reiterated "once our visa is approved", or the like. She only asked to see my flight itinerary showing my return flight, left the room for a few minutes, stamped my passport, and said I was free to go and to have a good time. No request other than that to prove I was returning, no carry-on search or pat-down. I was stressed, but I was through and am typing this from my fiance's computer.

[Canuck78 0]

My experience was quite a while back (December '03) but this is how it went.

We had sent application for the K1 in Oct. and I went to visit David for the holidays. I was very nervous, but had a few things with me just in case. Officer asked me where I was going, why and for how long. Told him I was going to visit my fiance in Oklahoma for the holidays and that I would be coming back in 2 weeks. He asked to see my return ticket and asked if I had any other documents. I was ready to list every piece of evidence I had (letter from employer, copy of lease, bank statements, schedule from work for the week after my return), but he stopped me when I said I had a letter from my employer (on letterhead) and asked to see it. I gave it to him and he stamped my passport and that was it. As I was walking away, he said "you are going to end up marrying this guy aren't you?" And I said "Not this time!" We both laughed and that was it. I did not have to go to secondary inspection, but my suitcase was searched. That was it though.

***BTW that was at the Dorval airport.

Melissa

[G&A 1]

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing

[HannahP 119]

Belatedly --

I never even thought that I'd have a problem getting into Canada from the US. (I'm the USC.) Although from reading the site, I knew that we'd run into problems if he tried to cross into the US.

So I just ambled through customs.

It wasn't any different from the dozen or so times that I've visited him, pre K-1.

"Why are you here?"

"Who're you coming to visit?"

"Have you been here before?"

(I did mention the k-1 being filed and I got a "Congratulations!" and "Good luck!")

I'm sure that they have a freakin' record of my previous visits. Maybe that's why I got through without a blink?

[Misty1979 0]

My experience was quite a while back (December '03) but this is how it went.

We had sent application for the K1 in Oct. and I went to visit David for the holidays. I was very nervous, but had a few things with me just in case. Officer asked me where I was going, why and for how long. Told him I was going to visit my fiance in Oklahoma for the holidays and that I would be coming back in 2 weeks. He asked to see my return ticket and asked if I had any other documents. I was ready to list every piece of evidence I had (letter from employer, copy of lease, bank statements, schedule from work for the week after my return), but he stopped me when I said I had a letter from my employer (on letterhead) and asked to see it. I gave it to him and he stamped my passport and that was it. As I was walking away, he said "you are going to end up marrying this guy aren't you?" And I said "Not this time!" We both laughed and that was it. I did not have to go to secondary inspection, but my suitcase was searched. That was it though.

***BTW that was at the Dorval airport.

Melissa

You all keep mentioning that they stamped your passports at the when crossing from Canada, but I've never had it happen. (Actually pulled out my passport just now to make sure, hehe.) I did get pulled into secondary once, and grilled by the meanest lady I have met in my life, but didn't get my passport stamped. Now I'm wondering why?

Anyways, all I brought with me to prove I will be returning to Canada again was recent pay stubs from my employer. That seemed to satisfy the lady after she interrogated me some more. However, I have tried and tested a theory I heard, and swear by it now:

They grill you alot less if you cross the border at sea or land. They have to grill you more when you're flying due to 9/11 and everything that has happened since, but even with people with our situations, they seem to worry less about you overstaying for some reason when you cross the border on sea or land. Seems to work very well for me, anyways. Ever since I got interrogated that one time when I flew to see my David, I've visited him everytime since via the Clipper (kind of like a fairy,) and last time, they didn't ask me one single question, they just looked at my passport and let me go

[Tinker 0]

I just got back a few days ago from visting my SO in the States. I have travelled back and forth quite a bit, to go see him, I fly out of Syracuse, and to just go and look at the stores in Watertown.

I was prepared this time, because I had given them my passport number. This time I used my driver's license and BC. Said I was going to Syracuse, flying to LIT, to see my boyfriend. How did you meet, 8 yrs ago on the internet, blah blah blah. This Officer had pulled at least three people immediately in front of me and I was sure he was going to pull me. ( I get random checks all the time ) He just asked to see my itiniary (sp) and told me to have a good time. He did ask " before I put your name in here is there anything you need to tell me?" YIKES, I said no, cause I hadn't done anything illegal.

I cross at the same POE all the time, some of the officers even recognize me, some of them tell me if I'm quiet they'll tell me how to get somewhere

I'm not going to try again, my honey is coming up in a couple months, and hopefully we'll have heard about the visa interview by then.

Less said the better.

All the officers where I enter are great, I have more problems trying to get back into Canada

OH, I have never gotten a stamp and the times I get pulled in, I always ask if I can have one of those I -94's, they always just give me a funny look and say NO

Edited May 17, 2007 by Tinker

[marieke 1]

has anyone have any stories on houston costums? not with arriving K1 but just a visit. i hear its not a nice experience.

[G&A 1]

Just reporting that my fiance came to the US without any problems. the officer asked her about her plans and she metioned that we are researching the K visas and will going through the process. He asked her if she knows how they work and i was a citizen and she said yes and that was it... Then he said 'Welcome to the United States"

[L_n_O 3]

Went last week again for my SO's brother's wedding..

Took my whole file with me and it was a good thing I did...

The first agent (immigration agent) asked if I had applied for a K1 visa and then showed him the NOA1.. Also asked when I planned to move to the States and get married and I told the Officer that I had no plans yet because we're not sure when our visa will get approved. I did have to show him my return ticket and all that jazz..

He stamped my bus ticket - who knows why cuz you just end up giving that ticket to greyhound on the trip back! (I took the greyhound to buffalo and flew from there) and I asked him if he wanted to stamp my passport too.. "Do you want me to stamp your passport?" , "naw, it's alright"

The second (customs agent) saw my engagement and asked me again about the visa.. he then looked through my luggage, x-rayed the wedding gift I had packed and sent me on my way.. It was a bit longer than usual but not too bad b/c I had all my documents.

They weren't rude or anything though.. just thorough.

Edited May 22, 2007 by liz_legend

[Michele and Adam 55]

Excellent everyone! Very good news to all those who view this that most people are able to get in. You may get questioned, but you get in. And after all, isn't that the important thing?

Here's a poll kind of question, and I'd like some thoughts on it. Adam has been here three times in the past...6 months-ish? One week in November 06, three weeks in January 2007, and three months from February to May, 2007. (he just left May 20, 2007...boo...)

Do you think so many visits is a bad thing? On one hand, they seemed to be concerned the past two times how he could afford to come so much and stay so long, etc. On the other hand, that's three times now that he came and left exactly when he said he would, and within the allotted amount of time on the visa.

Hmm...

We're just trying to decide if we should chance a two month visit around August, and that's the main thing we're concerned about. That'll be around six months he'll have stayed in the US in about 11 months.

Keep posting guys! Everyone feels a tiny bit more safe chancing that visit when they hear more success stories!

Michele

[L_n_O 3]

I don't think the frequent visits go against you but a two month visit has got to be well documented that you're going back... Just see him being given a hard time at customs but should work out fine if he's well loaded with paper =)

[vanee 13]

Do you think so many visits is a bad thing? On one hand, they seemed to be concerned the past two times how he could afford to come so much and stay so long, etc. On the other hand, that's three times now that he came and left exactly when he said he would, and within the allotted amount of time on the visa.

Hmm...

We're just trying to decide if we should chance a two month visit around August, and that's the main thing we're concerned about. That'll be around six months he'll have stayed in the US in about 11 months.

The part about 6 months in the US over 11 months could be a problem. My last visit was my second 2-month visit in 6 months. The customs officer totalled up the time I'd been and would be in the US within the year including that trip (1 week + 8 weeks + 8 weeks = 17 weeks), and he said that it was almost like being a resident of the US, or something like that. When I said that I was planning to attend a conference in the US in July and extend that trip beyond the conference, he advised me to keep it to 2-3 weeks.

I don't think the number of visits is a problem. Canadians living near the border sometimes go back and forth a lot. But in my case at least, they did look at the amount of time I was spending in the US.

A shorter visit might be safer in terms of getting into the US. But I'm going only on my experience.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

[*julez* 124]

Do you think so many visits is a bad thing? On one hand, they seemed to be concerned the past two times how he could afford to come so much and stay so long, etc. On the other hand, that's three times now that he came and left exactly when he said he would, and within the allotted amount of time on the visa.

Hmm...

We're just trying to decide if we should chance a two month visit around August, and that's the main thing we're concerned about. That'll be around six months he'll have stayed in the US in about 11 months.

The part about 6 months in the US over 11 months could be a problem. My last visit was my second 2-month visit in 6 months. The customs officer totalled up the time I'd been and would be in the US within the year including that trip (1 week + 8 weeks + 8 weeks = 17 weeks), and he said that it was almost like being a resident of the US, or something like that. When I said that I was planning to attend a conference in the US in July and extend that trip beyond the conference, he advised me to keep it to 2-3 weeks.

I don't think the number of visits is a problem. Canadians living near the border sometimes go back and forth a lot. But in my case at least, they did look at the amount of time I was spending in the US.

A shorter visit might be safer in terms of getting into the US. But I'm going only on my experience.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

My fiance arrived in the US on 17 May from the UK. This is his 3rd long visit since last July. Last July he was given a hard time coming in through Canada, but was eventually allowed in. He stayed from 9 July through 30 Sept. Flew in the next time to Philly and stayed from 22 Nov through 10 Feb. No questions asked. When he flew into Philly last Thursday he was taken into secondary and grilled for a very long time. The big issue is not that they think he is going to stay (he's always left before the 90 VWP allowance) but they believe that by visiting here so frequently that is actually constitutes his living here. They didn't even look at his evidence. The agent advised him to get a tourist visa if he plans to come again as next time he might not be so lucky to be granted entry to the US on the VWP. **Please note we have not yet filed our I129F**

So, who knows, you can keep tempting fate, just be prepared that it might not have a positive outcome! We're filing the I129F while he's here and plan for this to be his last visit until the K1 is issued. Sigh.

Anyway, good luck to all during these trying times!!!

[Michele and Adam 55]

Hmmm...all good answers. Maybe we'll just shoot for a month then, in August. I hadn't thought about them viewing it like he was residing here, in a way. Grr...why does every single thing about this process have to be so difficult?!?! Haha.

I wish I could just go visit him in England for a while, but alas, my company wouldn't hold my job, and I already used up most of my vacation time. -sigh-