Yes, you can visit!

[Friend16 7]

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 didnt 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 fiances 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 shouldnt visit on my tourist visa anymore, since theres 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 its 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 dont 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 didnt 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!

Thanks for sharing your experience !

I've got a question: how do you think , do POE officers have some info about pending K1 visa in their computers or not?

[LadyPiret 6]

Thanks for sharing your experience !

I've got a question: how do you think , do POE officers have some info about pending K1 visa in their computers or not?

Hello, Friend16!

You're welcome!

Hmm...honestly.. I don't really think that they have any info about pending K-1 visa in their computers. But I may be wrong, I just think this way, because the very first officer that interviewed me in Seattle was kinda surprised, when I said I am visiting my fiance and never asked about anything, just sent me to another officer. I think they just deal with the visitors, and they don't really know anything about what you're doing, like if you're getting another visa or so.

But the other officer, that lady, I think she kinda deals with people like us, or she just knows, once you're sent with that red piece of paper to talk to her, she just knows you're in process of K-1 or some other immigrant visa.

Anyway, I do think it's totally okay (and you should do that!) to mention your K-1 visa. It makes you look so much better and they know you're a good and trustworthy person It's nothing illegal or wrong to visit your fiance, while your K-1 is in process. I wasn't sure about it too, but right now I am. I guess it would be worse, if you were engaged and if you actually mentioned it to the officer, but your K-1 wasn't pending at all. That would be really suspicious and you could be accused of willing to marry your fiance illegally.

Edited June 26, 2013 by LadyPiret

[Friend16 7]

Hello, Friend16!

You're welcome!

Hmm...honestly.. I don't really think that they have any info about pending K-1 visa in their computers. But I may be wrong, I just think this way, because the very first officer that interviewed me in Seattle was kinda surprised, when I said I am visiting my fiance and never asked about anything, just sent me to another officer. I think they just deal with the visitors, and they don't really know anything about what you're doing, like if you're getting another visa or so.

But the other officer, that lady, I think she kinda deals with people like us, or she just knows, once you're sent with that red piece of paper to talk to her, she just knows you're in process of K-1 or some other immigrant visa.

Anyway, I do think it's totally okay (and you should do that!) to mention your K-1 visa. It makes you look so much better and they know you're a good and trustworthy person It's nothing illegal or wrong to visit your fiance, while your K-1 is in process. I wasn't sure about it too, but right now I am. I guess it would be worse, if you were engaged and if you actually mentioned it to the officer, but your K-1 wasn't pending at all. That would be really suspicious and you could be accused of willing to marry your fiance illegally.

Thank you very much!

In several days we will see what questions officers will ask from me:)

Hope everything will be fine!

[LadyPiret 6]

Thank you very much!

In several days we will see what questions officers will ask from me:)

Hope everything will be fine!

Are you going you New York??

Good luck and let us know !!!

[Friend16 7]

Are you going you New York??

Good luck and let us know !!!

Yeah, I'm flying to New York, JFK airport:)

I will write a review As soon as I make it:)

[Friend16 7]

Are you going you New York??

Good luck and let us know !!!

Oh, forgot to ask:)

You have a tourist visa, right?

For how many months did they allow you to stay in the us ?)

[ArianneChris 6]

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!

Thank you!!!

I brought all the documents, and I also brought a letter from my landlord for a rental agreement that goes up to 2014

I got to Orlando with no hassles! Even though I brought a whole folder of ties to home, a copy of our NOA1 and a copy of the entire 129f. I flew from Auckland->Sydney->LAX->DFW->MCO. (I was so scared I would get interviewed at every US airport!) My POE was at LAX, and I have a tourist visa as I have a Philippine passport but residence in New Zealand. The customs only asked the purpose of my visit and what I did back at home. All I said was that I was going on vacation for the intersemester break and that I'm a graduate student. and that was it, he took fingerprints and a photo. He stamped my passport with a B-2 stamp that says "December 2013", so I assume that means I can stay until then? I'm only staying for a month though. The whole thing lasted 2-3 minutes.

It doesn't seem that they have a flag for those who apply for K1 visas cause he never asked anything about it. Although, we are still waiting for our NOA2, maybe it's different once you have your NOA2. I've been to the US on a tourist visa before (January 2013), but this was my first visit after getting NOA1.

All the best for everyone who are going to visit their loved ones!

Edited June 27, 2013 by ArianneChris

[ArianneChris 6]

Oh, forgot to ask:)

You have a tourist visa, right?

For how many months did they allow you to stay in the us ?)

I went on a tourist visa as well. I think I was allowed 6 months stay on both of my trips this year on a tourist visa. Although I was only planning to stay 1 month for each trip.

Edited June 27, 2013 by ArianneChris

[LadyPiret 6]

Yes, I have a tourist visa as well. But the thing is, I don't know how long I can actually stay... I don't have that white piece of paper in my passport, I thought they changed it, that is what was written on one of the USA tourist webpage. I only have a stamp in my passport with the date of my arrival.. but I told the officer how long I wanted to stay but she never asked for my return ticket. Anyway, I'll follow the rule, that you can stay 90 days as a tourist, and I think I should be just fine.

EDIT: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/03212013.xml here you can check your admission number retrieval. I forgot about it heh. It says I can stay untill December 2013, do 6 months.

Edited June 27, 2013 by LadyPiret

[soapface 16]

I'm flying to visit my boyfriend on Monday (POE will be Chicago O'Hare). I have visited him about 8 times before, but this is the first time since we started the K1 process. In the past I've been taken for a secondary interview twice, once by an immigration officer and once by customs. Each time was not too bad, and I don't recall having to show any actual proof of anything, just answered their questions. I'm a bit nervous about this trip though because this time I have no job and am currently living at my mum's house, so don't have any proof of employment/rent/mortgage.

I am going to take:

Return flight info

Travel insurance documents

Hotel booking for a wedding we are going to in a different state

Bank statements

Emails from USCIS (I don't have the actual NOA1)

Confirmation email for a film studies course I am starting at home in October

Emails regarding a voluntary work placement I have starting the week after I get back

Tickets for a show I am going to the week I get back.

I'm hoping I'll be alright because I've visited so many times before and never overstayed. Can anyone think of anything else I might be able to take to show ties to the U.K.?

I'll let you know how it goes anyway.

[Aklego 1]

Sorry to disappoint you, but probably not enough. There are a bunch of variables that are all against her:

She has an I129-F pending.

She is very young.

Does she have a job? If not, then that's another strike against her.

You can try, the worst thing that can happen is that they deny her the visa and you lose $160. It should not affect the K1 process either way.

You are saying that it shouldnt affect the process, are you sure? I mean as much as usual person can be sure in this

Cause we are going to send I-129f soon and wait is SO terrible that I plan to visit my fiancee in USA after getting NOA, I live in Ukraine, 21 years old, have a job, she is the same age, works for military.

[Aklego 1]

I read lots of posts here and almost every is about entry for the US territory, but you can enter US only when you have a visa, what are the procedures of actually getting tourist visa while having K-1 pending? What are chances of getting it and how consulates behave when they hear the reason of the visit and the K-1 pending?
Would appreciate a share if anyone had experiences in post-USSR embassies for tourist visa

[Nath & Jordan 1]

I visited my girlfriend (now wife) back in May 2011, whilst we were still waiting for my K-1 to be approved. I arrived in Chicago and had no issues. The customs officer simple asked me my reason for visiting, to which I told him "visiting my fiancee" He asked my if I planned to marry on this visit, to which I told him "We are waiting for my fiance visa to be approved, so no" He stamped my passport and told me to have a nice stay.

Obviously everybody has different experiences, but it seems the majority of people don't encounter any issues.

My advice would be to take a few pictures of you and your other half with you in your hand luggage, and details of your return flight on hand. The fact that you have nothing to hide should make it a smooth transition, so fear not people.

Nathan

[Alex+Nastya 11]

I read lots of posts here and almost every is about entry for the US territory, but you can enter US only when you have a visa, what are the procedures of actually getting tourist visa while having K-1 pending? What are chances of getting it and how consulates behave when they hear the reason of the visit and the K-1 pending?

Would appreciate a share if anyone had experiences in post-USSR embassies for tourist visa

My fiance has two B-2 visa's in her life. We tried to extend the last one since she technically qualified for extension. They asked her to come to an interview in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was denied visa during the interview, and they told her to just wait for the K-1.

[Aklego 1]

My fiance has two B-2 visa's in her life. We tried to extend the last one since she technically qualified for extension. They asked her to come to an interview in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was denied visa during the interview, and they told her to just wait for the K-1.

Did she get B-2's while I-129f was pending? What did she say/they said in the embassy?