Yes, you can visit!

[wbeem 568]

I am in the US for a 7d visit. Easiest entry I ever had - zero questions this time, none!

Didn't need any of my evidence. POE was Newark.

Enjoy every second!

EWR in December was also my easiest POE, ever. They didn't even ask the purpose of my visit.

I've just booked an impulsive trip to go visit William on Tuesday. It's just a 6 day visit, but I'm so excited about it. POE this time is Orlando International. I've been through that airport more times than I can count, but this is the first time since we filed our petition. I'll post a review when I'm home and let you know how it goes.

[wbeem 568]

Thanks. My lawyer made it sound a lot worse than it appears to be. I intend to just be honest, bring some proof of my intended return to London and hope for the best.

This seems to be a trend with lawyers. I think they just want to play it safe.

I emailed the London embassy after we filed to get the 'official' take on it and although I posted this before months back, I'm going to re-post it because it may put your mind at rest.

Thank you for your email.

You are not prohibited from traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) whilst your K-1 visa application is being processed, provided you are otherwise qualified. However, you will be required to show that your visit is temporary and that you have a residence outside the United States that you do not intend to abandon. However, if there is a pattern of frequent travel, the strength of your ties outside the United States could be questioned. If the immigration officers at the U.S. Port of Entry are not satisfied you are a bona fide visitor, you will be refused admission. Please note that as each case is different, there is no set documentation required as proof of your ties outside of the United States.

Sincerely,

Consular Information Unit

U.S. Embassy, London

CONS/CIU/AT

Hopefully this will allay some concerns you may have. There are some couples who are unable to visit at all. If you are able to spend the time together, do it. It's so worth it.

[Henley1989 10]

Thank Wbeem.. Fingers crossed, i head out in 3 weeks

[wbeem 568]

Flying out on Tuesday to spend a week with my sweetheart. I can't wait. I will post my review of POE at MCO when I'm back.

Taking proof of ties, even although I wasn't asked for them last time.

Round trip ticket

Letter from employer confirming I have a week of leave and will be returning to work the following week

Letter from daughter's school (she's staying here with my parents next week as she still has to go to school - to her utter disgust )

Printout of bank account listing standing orders and direct debits for insurances, cell phones and other bills

I may look into prebooking my transfer from the airport when I get back here as additional proof of intention to return.

All of a sudden I'm wanting the 7 days following Tuesday to go very slowly, haha. Only other time I've said that since we filed was when we were there for Christmas.

Happy travels to anyone else preparing to head out.You just can't put a price on time together

[TabeaK 517]

Have fun! You guys need it with your crazy wait times. I hope you can celebrate NOA2 together - it is past due!

And we can only bear the process by making sure we have the follow up trip scheduled - I.e. We know when we will see each other again. Saying goodbye is still a nightmare in the airport, but at least I know my love will come over here in May by which time we will already be in the waiting process for 4.5 months...

Fingers crossed your POE goes as smoothly as mine!

[wbeem 568]

Have fun! You guys need it with your crazy wait times. I hope you can celebrate NOA2 together - it is past due!

And we can only bear the process by making sure we have the follow up trip scheduled - I.e. We know when we will see each other again. Saying goodbye is still a nightmare in the airport, but at least I know my love will come over here in May by which time we will already be in the waiting process for 4.5 months...

Fingers crossed your POE goes as smoothly as mine!

Thank you

The last month or so has been rough, watching as we were skipped over, while the rest of our month was approved. Still nothing, but this visit is an opportunity for a few precious days together and I'm not focused as much on the lack of approval. All I can think about is being with William. Less than two days from now I won't be able to wipe the smile off my face

Thank you for your kind wishes. I hope there is some change that eases the workload at TSC to your beneift so that you don't have to wait as long as this. Meanwhile for us, it justified another visit. Silver lining.

[kaisara 28]

Thank you

The last month or so has been rough, watching as we were skipped over, while the rest of our month was approved. Still nothing, but this visit is an opportunity for a few precious days together and I'm not focused as much on the lack of approval. All I can think about is being with William. Less than two days from now I won't be able to wipe the smile off my face

Thank you for your kind wishes. I hope there is some change that eases the workload at TSC to your beneift so that you don't have to wait as long as this. Meanwhile for us, it justified another visit. Silver lining.

I am thinking good thoughts for you! Enjoy your visit and I hope you hear something soon. The wait is bad enough, let alone feeling skipped over.

[caphoto 10]

Just thought I'd add to this topic! I visited my fiance over the weekend, entering through customs at Toronto Pearson Airport. The customs officer couldn't be more disinterested. He literally just asked, 'why are you going to the states?' and I said 'vacation' and that was it! I even had booked my tickets as 2 one way tickets because it was cheaper, so asked if he wanted to see proof of my return flight and he said no! Super easy! He didn't ask me any questions about who I was going to see, or mentioned anything about the K-1 visa, so I'm assuming it doesn't pop up in the system.

I'm visiting again next month for 3 and a half weeks so I'll let you know how that one goes! Hopefully it's just as easy

[Nadege 0]

Hi there, first post!

My fiance and I just started the Visa application process (We are putting the finishing touches to our paperwork right now before sending it to USCIS), and I got really sad when I learned it was "not advised" to travel while having a K-1 Visa pending, but this thread is so reassuring! I should be visiting him again in June for 3 weeks and I can't wait, I never had any problems at border control before so I hope it continues this way. Thanks to everyone sharing their stories and experiences, it's a big help!

[Limey 551]

Since applying for K1 I've already made one trip for 4 weeks over christmas while waiting for NOA2.

In early March we got NOA2 but aware that interview and medical won't take place for a while I decided to make another 3 week trip to US. I arrived on Monday at Atlanta. No problems at all. Since I'd travelled with ESTA on my machine readable passport previously I used the automated machines at immigration - they then print out a receipt that you take to the immigration officer at the desk. He just asked where I'd be staying and the reason for my trip (I just said "vacation"), and how long I'd be staying, and I was admitted.

I'd brought along my folder documenting the K1 process (to prove that I have no intention of overstaying on this trip, as I'm almost there with the K1 route) and also an itinery of a trip I'm doing in Europe after I return (to show another reason i won't overstay) - but I didn't need either of these.

So just as everyone else here has said, YES you can visit, even after NOA2.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Limey

[Pebbles1989 3]

Limey, that's an interesting posting!

We have already received the NOA1 and expect the NOA2 at the begin of April - I have planned a trip to the USA in middle of April. I prepared a second copy of the whole petition as well as a confirmation of university that I am a student, my student ID card and my current class schedule. But also phone bills, my travel insurance, my leasing contract for my car as well as emails to a wedding photographer we want to visit in April (in this mail my fiancé wrote that we need an appointment soon as I have to leave again). Do you think that this might be enough? Do you all bring translations for these documents? Like my leasing contract or university documents are all in German...

I found that my ESTA is still valid. I used it before we got engaged and thought that I have to renew it, but online it tells me that it's still valid until July. So I will use it again. So I could perhaps use the automated machines as well?!

It is actually recommended to use only as many bags as required, right?

I'd love to take two bags for 12 days which might sound a lot. Well, we plan a camping trip and also are invited to this family celebration. So I need a bit "more" than usual. Also I have a couple (well, quite a lot) of his things in Austria which I'd love to take with me. Do you think that this is a bad idea? If they will ask me for the second bag, I could tell them that my fiancé had a couple of his things at my place and I am taking them with me.. right? Or is this not a good idea? They could even check my bags and would find that I am telling the truth.

[ParisNYC 9]

I should hope one could visit! Especially if is taking a while. I just returned from the US, I am using my B1/B2 visa. I was not hassled but now I am concerned for future visits.

When I am in the US I am always there for business (and now pleasure). Can I continue to do business in the US?

Edited March 20, 2015 by ParisNYC

[wbeem 568]

This is a quick update. I'll write a proper review when I'm back. POE was MCO (Orlando). It all comes down to which officer you end up getting to stamp you in. Last time, no questions. This time, I was there for a while. He also wanted to know if I had proof of employment, etc, (though he didn't ask to see it, he wanted to know what I had), LOTS of questions and cross-questioning. I was there between 5-10 minutes, at a guess, which is a long time. Yeah, I was sweating and trembling by the time I went through. All was fine, he was very nice, but I was glad that I'd prepared. Wouldn't put me off visiting again though.

Lee

[sei&jos 5]

hello every one

i have a question

i'm from Algeria, already apply for K-1visa and waiting

for the NOA-2

can i apply for a tourist visa to the US because i want to spend time with my fiancee there

is that possible or not because i need a visa to get to the US

Edited March 20, 2015 by sei&jos

[SantyAndAllie 155]

I think applying for another visa isn't recommended, since you already have shown your intent to migrate to the US. You're already applying for one visa anyway, so by the time you'd get your tourist visa (which can take a while and is difficult to obtain), depending on your country, it could become invalid to travel on because of your fiancé visa. From what I've heard, it's unlikely that you'll obtain one, so you could waste money applying. You could always try, though. Not sure there's a rule against it per say. Personally I'd say don't waste your time unless you've obtained a tourist visa in the past. It's already difficult to get tourist visas, but I would doubt you'd get one when you applied for another.

Also see http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/327016-attaining-a-tourist-visa-while-waiting-for-k1-visa-processing/

Edited March 20, 2015 by SantyAndAllie