Yes, you can visit!

[beautifulplaces 0]

Hi everyone,

This issue is something I was really panicked about when I booked my flight to the US so I thought I'd share my experience with others in the same mode of panic.

I was last in the US Nov 2012 to Jan 2013, we applied for the K1 the first week I was home in Jan and I'd got as far as the NOA2 when I booked my flight back here. I arrived at LAX on June 3.

The POE person I had was a female (whether that makes a difference?). She asked me the purpose of my visit, I said to visit my fiance. She asked how long I intended to stay, I said 8 weeks. She asked what I did at home, I said I was a duty manager in a shop and a university student. She asked whether my fiance and I had discussed where we were going to live after we got married, I said the 5 year plan was America mostly because my fiance and his dog couldn't be separated but after that the plan is Australia. She said have a great stay in the US! Easy!

And I will note that I worked ski seasons over here for 7 years on J1 and H2B visas, and since they became harder to get have visited twice on the ETSA visa waver as a tourist for 2-3 months each time. So I have a relatively long history of trips to the US, I worried that might hinder my entry this time but clearly had no problems.

Hope that helps any of you panicking out there! Good luck.

[LadyPiret 6]

thank you so much, beautifulplaces for your story!

Edit: yeah, sorry for being quite stupid, but I am just wondering, if any of you travelled to the US after getting your NOA2??

[beautifulplaces 0]

thank you so much, beautifulplaces for your story!

Edit: yeah, sorry for being quite stupid, but I am just wondering, if any of you travelled to the US after getting your NOA2??

Hello, it's me again I've got another question, what if I get my NOA2 while being in the US for summer? I won't be back till August 24... if that happens, should I call my embassy or USCIS or??

I travelled about a week or two after getting my NOA2. The only problem is that now I'm in the US I've recieved my Package 3 which includes things that have to be done back home, like the medical and finger printing. I'm currently trying to decide whether to cut my trip here short or just do everything I need for Package 3 as soon as I get home. I was planning on returning home August 3.

For me Package 3 arrived about 2-3 weeks after NOA2, which was faster than I expected.

[LadyPiret 6]

I travelled about a week or two after getting my NOA2. The only problem is that now I'm in the US I've recieved my Package 3 which includes things that have to be done back home, like the medical and finger printing. I'm currently trying to decide whether to cut my trip here short or just do everything I need for Package 3 as soon as I get home. I was planning on returning home August 3.

For me Package 3 arrived about 2-3 weeks after NOA2, which was faster than I expected.

I will be travelling a week after I've received my NOA2. And I know I will get a letter from my embassy while being in the US already. I was told that we have 4 months do to everything after our petition was approved, so I think we should be just fine.. because I am also planning on coming back home August 10 or so.

Did you have any problems at the port of entry? Did you inform them that your petition was approved?

I am leaving in a week and I am getting so nervous...

Thank you so much for your post!

Edited June 16, 2013 by LadyPiret

[littlej 23]

Hi everyone,

This issue is something I was really panicked about when I booked my flight to the US so I thought I'd share my experience with others in the same mode of panic.

I was last in the US Nov 2012 to Jan 2013, we applied for the K1 the first week I was home in Jan and I'd got as far as the NOA2 when I booked my flight back here. I arrived at LAX on June 3.

The POE person I had was a female (whether that makes a difference?). She asked me the purpose of my visit, I said to visit my fiance. She asked how long I intended to stay, I said 8 weeks. She asked what I did at home, I said I was a duty manager in a shop and a university student. She asked whether my fiance and I had discussed where we were going to live after we got married, I said the 5 year plan was America mostly because my fiance and his dog couldn't be separated but after that the plan is Australia. She said have a great stay in the US! Easy!

And I will note that I worked ski seasons over here for 7 years on J1 and H2B visas, and since they became harder to get have visited twice on the ETSA visa waver as a tourist for 2-3 months each time. So I have a relatively long history of trips to the US, I worried that might hinder my entry this time but clearly had no problems.

Hope that helps any of you panicking out there! Good luck.

thanks for all that info beautifulplaces, i'm heading to the US in a month and am obviously nervous about all of this like everyone is! But good to hear it was all fine for you getting in

[beautifulplaces 0]

I will be travelling a week after I've received my NOA2. And I know I will get a letter from my embassy while being in the US already. I was told that we have 4 months do to everything after our petition was approved, so I think we should be just fine.. because I am also planning on coming back home August 10 or so.

Did you have any problems at the port of entry? Did you inform them that your petition was approved?

I am leaving in a week and I am getting so nervous...

Thank you so much for your post!

So it sounds like we're in almost the same position then. Nice to know someone going through everything at the same time as I am.

I didn't have any problems at the point of entry, I think you saw my conversation with the officer above. I had lots of documents to prove I was going to return home but they weren't necessary, she didn't ask for proof. She never asked about the NOA2 and I didn't offer the information. I think the advice I read somewhere on this forum was to answer everything they ask honestly, but don't give them more information than they're asking for.

[Amber and Peter 0]

Peter just left yesterday from his 3 week visit and all went well when I picked him up at the POE. Officer gave him no problem, just asked how long he was staying for and sent him on his way. However, he was prepared with letters and documents from home, just in case.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Amber and Peter

[Jo Amelia Finlay 20]

Despite going to some lengths to have evidence to support the fact I would be coming back to the UK after this trip was over (to clarify: I am absolutely am!), when it came to the crunch and the officer asked me the purpose of my visit, I said "summer holiday" and left it at that. I think if she had asked whether I was visiting anyone, or something like that, then I would have been up front of course, but in that split second the words to come out of my mouth went along with what you read on here about not volunteering more information than you need to - and calling this a summer holiday is not a lie, obviously. She then asked me how long I was staying, and that was all the questions I had. I've actually had more of a grilling when I wasn't involved with the visa process or in a relationship with an American But like most things I suppose it depends on the POE and the officer you get.

When I had to do the fingerprint thing I clocked my engagement ring and suddenly thought "Oh!" but she didn't say anything (or see it, for all I know). It took a little while for her to get something up on her screen which freaked me out ever so slightly, but then she just stamped my passport and sent me on through.

I think possibly my last min decision was to do with the fact I was worried about time between flights. My long haul one left and therefore landed late, so I only had about 2hrs to clear immigration, find case, re-check case, go through security and find my terminal/gate. As I am sure you're aware, this is completely doable until you hit long queues and then it gets a bit stressful (for me, anyway !). So I dunno, maybe I took the easy option because I knew it would be quicker. It was a gamble that paid off.

This was at NY, JFK by the way. Anyway now I'm just going to relax and be thankful I'm here after what felt like an eternity of counting down to it!

[Hanselmann 0]

My fiance has visited three times, each time for around the 90 days. He spent the summer with me (I am a teacher and am off during that time) and the holidays.

Strangely, he had the most trouble the first time. Customs interviewed him three times, finally happy when he showed his travel insurance.

The second time he was questioned several times, but was prepared for it, so it wasn't a big deal.

This time, with the Visa processing, we expected a very long interrogation. He went through in minutes and had to wait for us! (We allotted an hour.) Just happy to have him in my arms for a little while till the next long goodbye.

[crashsle 4]

I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but I'd had one entry (before getting engaged) where the POE wasn't very pleasant. Thankfully I got let through and that was the trip my fiance had been planning on proposing as it turned out! Anyway, as I didn't want a repeat of it again I sent a few emails to the cbp and didn't get too much in the way of help, aside from one kind officer who sent me this scan of a letter and a checklist of things they like to see as ties to your home country. When I re-entered as a fiancee I printed it out and made sure I had one of most of the things on the list, or at least anything I could get hold of. As it turns out, I had all the evidence and got waved straight through, but I thought I'd upload it in case it helps anybody else! It's reassuring to see what they are looking for


Intentions_and_Ties.pdf

[ROM3000 1]

I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but I'd had one entry (before getting engaged) where the POE wasn't very pleasant. Thankfully I got let through and that was the trip my fiance had been planning on proposing as it turned out! Anyway, as I didn't want a repeat of it again I sent a few emails to the cbp and didn't get too much in the way of help, aside from one kind officer who sent me this scan of a letter and a checklist of things they like to see as ties to your home country. When I re-entered as a fiancee I printed it out and made sure I had one of most of the things on the list, or at least anything I could get hold of. As it turns out, I had all the evidence and got waved straight through, but I thought I'd upload it in case it helps anybody else! It's reassuring to see what they are looking for

Intentions_and_Ties.pdf

Thanks for the checklist.

[LadyPiret 6]

Hello everyone!

So.. I made it! It's my second day in the US. Wasn't as easy as I expected, but I was completely honest and sure about my answers, even though I had 3 interviews. The very first one during my stop in Amsterdam, then 2 in Seattle. I was so nervous and almost freaked out, but I made it somehow heh. I am going to share my experience soon, I will describe every interview I had.

Good luck to everyone who's planning on visiting their loves!

[ArianneChris 6]

Hello everyone!

So.. I made it! It's my second day in the US. Wasn't as easy as I expected, but I was completely honest and sure about my answers, even though I had 3 interviews. The very first one during my stop in Amsterdam, then 2 in Seattle. I was so nervous and almost freaked out, but I made it somehow heh. I am going to share my experience soon, I will describe every interview I had.

Good luck to everyone who's planning on visiting their loves!

Please do share.

I am flying out tomorrow for 3 weeks with reasonable layovers but will be tight if I get interviewed (3 hr 15 mins layover in LAX POE), then connecting flight with 2 hour layover in Dallas, final destination Orlando, FL.

I'm bringing our NOA1, Return tickets and flight itinierary, 129F documents (g325, intent to marry, etc), my letter of acceptance to my Masters Degree (I am graduating this December, so this coming semester will be my last semester), Student ID, tuition fee printouts, bank account statement, Student membership certificate as a member of a professional organisation (New Zealand Speech Language Therapists' Association - I just wanted to prove that I am indeed a graduate student and couldnt' really find any hard evidence).

Will that be enough through customs? I am really hoping to not get interviewed to not miss any of my connecting flights.

What else could I possibly bring?

Thanks.

[LadyPiret 6]

Please do share.

I am flying out tomorrow for 3 weeks with reasonable layovers but will be tight if I get interviewed (3 hr 15 mins layover in LAX POE), then connecting flight with 2 hour layover in Dallas, final destination Orlando, FL.

I'm bringing our NOA1, Return tickets and flight itinierary, 129F documents (g325, intent to marry, etc), my letter of acceptance to my Masters Degree (I am graduating this December, so this coming semester will be my last semester), Student ID, tuition fee printouts, bank account statement, Student membership certificate as a member of a professional organisation (New Zealand Speech Language Therapists' Association - I just wanted to prove that I am indeed a graduate student and couldnt' really find any hard evidence).

Will that be enough through customs? I am really hoping to not get interviewed to not miss any of my connecting flights.

What else could I possibly bring?

Thanks.

Hello !

I think that all the stuff you're bringing are great and for sure are the proof of the ties to your country. Especially the fact you're a student helps a lot. And yes, definitely bring your NOA1, the officer that is going to interview you will appreciate it, and will be so happy that you're doing everything legally. And that's also a proof, that you have to come back, to finish all the paper work and schedule a date of your fiance visa interview

Besides, maybe you're able to bring a letter from your employer, or maybe a letter from your landlord?

I've never had a stop in the US, because I never wanted to have more than 1 interview ;/ but you will be just fine, do not worry!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[LadyPiret 6]

So, this is going to be a quite long story about my interviews. I had the very first one during my stop in Amsterdam, which actually made me a bit surprised and I didn’t expect it. I got interviewed when I found my gate, the officer asked me about my passport and my plane ticket and told me to stand next to the table behind her and wait, and that made me a little nervous. She asked a lot of questions, like even more than I got at the POE. So she asked for how long I was going to visit, who I was going to visit, who paid for my plane tickets and why… she also asked about my occupation on Poland and my fiance’s occupation, and if he knew that I was coming to visit him.. then some other questions about my luggage and that was it.

When I arrived in Seattle, I spent about 40 min in a lane, and when I finally got a chance to talk to the officer, he just asked the same question, who I was going to visit and for how long. When I mentioned “my fiance” he just gave me that look, made a funny sound “uuuuu fiance, huh?” and handed me a huge, red piece of paper and told me to go to another place for a second interview… So yeah, I got so nervous.

The second officer made me wait a little longer, so actually my 2 interviews lasted 50 minutes. At the very beginning she said “you better tell me the truth so it would be faster for both of us”. So yeah, you can imagine how I felt, almost like a criminal lol. But I did, I was honest and very sure about my answers. She asked me about the purpose of my trip, how long I have been together with my fiance, what he does in the US, etc. Then she asked if I had any papers I could show her. I said yeah, a lot of papers, so she just smiled. But she only looked at my NOA1 and NOA2 and said she was so happy and that gave me a huge benefit that we were doing everything the right way, legally. I felt so much better after she said so. Then she just told me that I shouldn’t visit on my tourist visa anymore, since there’s a chance I may not be guaranteed an entry next time, and I just should wait, because I would get married so soon and get my green card so it would be easier for me to travel and to stay in the US. I said that I knew that already, and that trip was the last one I decided to have on my tourist visa. She stamped my passport and wished me a good time in America.

I picked up my luggage and finally saw my babe after 5 months of being apart!!

Now it’s my 4^th day in Seattle. All I can say to you guys, just be honest about every question and bring as many papers proving your ties to the country you come from, as you can, just in case. I had a huge briefcase with me, and got only 2 papers checked, but you never know.

And don’t be afraid to travel, after getting your NOA2! J I am still waiting on my papers from the embassy, so I hope to make everything on time. Right now I am trying to get all the things needed from my fiance, and I have already started filling out some other papers that my embassy requires me to have with me.

Just hope I didn’t make you bored guys hah, good luck for everyone who is planning on visiting their loves in the US and for those, who are still waiting on their NOA2!