Yes, you can visit!

[Arinlars 19]

Thank you!!

[Laurka 65]

She should not bring loads of clothes with her for a short visit. That will ring all kinds of alarm bells with customs/immigration. Especially if she brings unseasonal clothes e.g summer clothes when visiting in March.

When I came in for 6 weeks in December, I traveled reasonably light - just under the allowed weight. Customs did look down at my luggage as if to ascertain whether it was appropriate for a 6 week visit over Christmas - see my full report at beginning of December in this thread. I am still here as we still have not got our NOA2 despite it being 6 months tomorrow since we got our NOA1 from CSC.

Oh c'mon! One can't tell a WOMAN not to travel with a suitcase full of clothes for different occasions even if it's a short stay. 2 big bags for 5 days maybe would be suspicious but not if she plans on staying 2 weeks! Relax :-)

[Supergirlfriend 1]

I filed k-1 beginning of December, so not expecting NOA-2 until early May at best, we decided to visit another time while waiting. My fiancee is self-employed and is winding her business down, so can afford the time off better than I can, so she will be coming to see me in the US.

She's self-employed, as I mentioned, and lives with her parents, and her car is in their name (I think - didn't think to ask until now), so there's not much to prove "ties" should that come up. She was also thinking about bringing a bunch of clothes and things so she would have less to bring/ship when she moves here.

I can see from past experiences by members that what she encounters could range from getting waved through to having to answer a hundred questions, to being kicked out. I also see we would be lacking quite a bit of the backup evidence others have brought with them.

I plan to have her bring a hardcopy of the NOA-1, and relationship evidence on her laptop, as well as a copy of her itenerary with receipt for return ticket (only a 2 week visit). I advised her to answer everything truthfully, but not to volunteer any "extra" information when just talking to the agent in line.

Do you think it would be inadvisable for her to bring extra clothes to leave here as it might rouse suspicion? She doesn't seem worried about it in the least.

Any additional suggestions?

It won't be until the end of March, so I have time to arrange anything. I'll post back with full results afterwards.

[Supergirlfriend 1]

Dont worry you will be fine, i went to US last semptember and they dont see our luggage when they are checking the passport in the imigration part, she can take as much as chothes she wants too, also the guy asked me what i was gonna do in US and i said visit my fiance for 2 months, he did not ask for anything to prove or return ticket although i had my NOA1 just in case.

PS= i was in washignton international airport

Good Luck

[Anna Grant 169]

Dont worry you will be fine, i went to US last semptember and they dont see our luggage when they are checking the passport in the imigration part, she can take as much as chothes she wants too, also the guy asked me what i was gonna do in US and i said visit my fiance for 2 months, he did not ask for anything to prove or return ticket although i had my NOA1 just in case.

They don't see your luggage when you go through Passport Control BUT they do see it when you hand in your customs form as that screening is after you pick up your luggage. They have the right to refuse you entry into the US.

I really, really suggest that people do not bring in loads of luggage for a two week visit. You have already indicated that you want to enter the US permanently by submitting a K1 Visa petition. US Immigration will be trying to ascertain the likelihood that you may want to enter the States permanently on this visit and, if they they have any doubts, they have the right to deny you entry and send you back.

Why bring in too much luggage or unseasonal clothes and give the suggestion that you are staying for more than two weeks? I know what I saw when I entered the US and the US Customs guy did look down at my case as if to say 'Is that reasonable luggage for a 6 week stay?'

And to Laurka who said 'One can't tell a WOMAN not to travel with a suitcase full of clothes for different occasions even if it's a short stay. 2 big bags for 5 days maybe would be suspicious but not if she plans on staying 2 weeks!' You can suggest to a woman that she not travel with a suitcase of clothes for different occasions and explain the reason why. Most airlines will charge extra for a second case (my airline charge $100) - so a second case is likely to ring alarm bells.

Why risk things for a few extra clothes?

[His karma 20]

We have been fortunate so far. Mind you we haven't filed the K1 yet. That is next month.

I flew down a year ago September for the first time meeting him. I was asked the standard questions and when I metioned I was meeting a friend they joked about being sure if he was who he said he was. I was told to be safe and have fun. - Going through Calgary international.

July this year, my fiance flew up here to Canada with no problems. Coming in at Calgary

This Christmas, my finace was asked what he was coming for and he told them, a job interview and to visit his fiance. They pulled him into a room, checked online and saw a criminal conviction. after askng a few questions about that, they told him, another two years he would be deemed rehabilitated and would have no problems if he keeps his nose clean. Then he was told to enjoy his visit and welcome to Canada.

Things have changed as we need to get his conviction issue cleared up before he can apply for PR or a job here in Canada so we are going to go the other direction. We will have atleast one more visit before I come down to get married so we will remember to have the package and all the other documents with me if I go down.

This is invaluable information for anyone going through this.

thank you

[Jeikun 65]

The extra clothes thing turned out to be a moot point for me. She knew what she was talking about. She simply meant since she would be bringing warmer clothes (California vs Hokkaido) that she would just leave them when she went back. Not that she would bring extra. So it was my misunderstanding. She will just bring 1 checked bag. I think it's prudent too.

[arcticrobot 11]

Me and my fiance are planning her visit here to the US. She has documents showing that she partially owns apartment in Moscow, car, has a full time job and family ties. We are also going to fully disclose our plans to marry and she will bring NOA1 and other documents to the interview. I want her to stay here with me for 90 days. Has any one been successful in staying for such prolonged period of time? We want to approach it honestly and show consular and immigration officer that we can't risk our future and proceeding legally with applying and waiting for K1. The main reason for her to visit me is to make marriage arrangements.

Thank you.

[mchizek 2]

This is super!

I've never been asked any questions while going to visit my fiance in France.

My fiance however, has had some questioning while coming to visit me since our engagement.

The first time they looked twice at him was when he was proposing to me. He had the ring in his bag, and I guess the customs officer asked him "does she know?". Cute. Sort of.

His first trip to the US after our engagement, I did my best to inform him of what was going to happen when he went to customs. After telling the customs officer that he is coming to visit me, he was told "you can't get married on this trip" and he suitably informed them that he didn't intend to at this time... blah blah blah. We hadn't yet filed any of the paperwork because this was still over a year before we intend to get married.

Then 1 year prior to our hopeful wedding date arrives and we submitted the K-1 packet.

The next time he came to the US primarily for a work meeting. Since we happen to be in similar lines of work, I attend some of the same meetings. It works out conveniently for us. They asked purpose for visit and he told them it was for business. Not much in the way of questions.

His last trip to visit was over Christmas. He got a few more questions this time and explained to them that we were in the process of applying for K1 visa and he's currently got a job in Brazil, but they didn't ask for proof of anything.

Here's to hoping we can get one more visit in before we hopefully get married this summer!

(And curses on USCIS if a year isn't enough time for them to process our paperwork!!!)

[Anna Grant 169]

Me and my fiance are planning her visit here to the US. She has documents showing that she partially owns apartment in Moscow, car, has a full time job and family ties. We are also going to fully disclose our plans to marry and she will bring NOA1 and other documents to the interview. I want her to stay here with me for 90 days. Has any one been successful in staying for such prolonged period of time? We want to approach it honestly and show consular and immigration officer that we can't risk our future and proceeding legally with applying and waiting for K1. The main reason for her to visit me is to make marriage arrangements.

Thank you.

I stayed for 89 days last summer (left on 17 Oct) and am just coming to the end of my second 89 days (arrived on 1 Dec). However, I am from the UK and come in on the ESTA. Movement between the UK and US is easier and the UK is a low immigration fraud country.

Your fiancee has far greater ties to Russia than I have to the UK. Just ensure that she brings documentary proofs of those ties with her. Family ties are not a good tie as she will be leaving her family to live with you permanently eventually anyway - her job and her apartment are her main ones. Can her employer give her a letter showing that she is an approved leave of absence and is expected back at work on a particular date?

[steveg7003 0]

I called USCIS and asked this very question. I was given a good solid yes as long as her passport is valid and she has a valid tourist visa. She has both, she gets to Boston this coming Sunday. If for some stupid reason she's turned away....neither of us will be happy.

I'll be sure to add a post Sunday night and let you all know what happens.

Hey everyone, Chris got in with no issues at all. Customs didn't even mention or ask about our pending K1. Just to be safe she hand carried all the documents but didn't need any of them, other than ESTA and passport. Like I said in my December post, USCIS told me there is nothing stopping a person from visiting.

[A&P_Germany 8]

Thank you!!

She made it in! However she got GRILLED with questions and most of them were the same ones over and over. They asked how long we were going out and if we were engaged, then she was told she can not stay. She showed them proof that she has ties still to Germany (school papers, school schedule showing she is on vacation). She was then asked well what she claims a thousand questions. I sent her a copy of the NOA1 to bring and they kept it (hopefully this does not cause problems later). She then went to customs and the lady must have thought she was immigration also because she asked all the same questions and then sent her over to a second screen. They grilled her more about what she does when she is leaving and what not. She showed them proof told them the other immigration officer has the NOA1 and she was FINALLY let in. All of these questions took 30+ minutes... she walked out and said she is never coming back without the K1 visa...

So she did make it in... was not a pleasant experience though. Good luck to everyone else!

[Arinlars 19]

Awe I will travel on Monday. Wish me luck ^^

[Jeikun 65]

She made it in! However she got GRILLED with questions and most of them were the same ones over and over. They asked how long we were going out and if we were engaged, then she was told she can not stay. She showed them proof that she has ties still to Germany (school papers, school schedule showing she is on vacation). She was then asked well what she claims a thousand questions. I sent her a copy of the NOA1 to bring and they kept it (hopefully this does not cause problems later). She then went to customs and the lady must have thought she was immigration also because she asked all the same questions and then sent her over to a second screen. They grilled her more about what she does when she is leaving and what not. She showed them proof told them the other immigration officer has the NOA1 and she was FINALLY let in. All of these questions took 30+ minutes... she walked out and said she is never coming back without the K1 visa...

So she did make it in... was not a pleasant experience though. Good luck to everyone else!

Just curious, what was her point of entry?

[A&P_Germany 8]

Just curious, what was her point of entry?

Detroit