Visiting Visa While IR1-CR1 Is Pending

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Hey I entered the US on the 16th! had no problems at all! in fact didn't even need the proof of ties. the officer asked me about my husband etc, didn't even ask about immigration. I was very scared coz I don't even have a job or lease or car registration. but I guess I was lucky to get a sweet imm office, who just said "enjoy the holidays"

btw I entered with a return ticket for after 1.5 months.

Yay!

I said in this thread earlier I'm too afraid to even try it, but it's now been over a year since I've seen my husband. I'm flying out on August 8th under the visa waiver program for 15 days and my POE will be Newark. I'm going to straight-up tell the officer I'm visiting my husband and see where it goes from there.

I'll report back here with what happened whether it's good or bad. The way I see it though, trying is better than just staying here moping.

[MaybeBaby 0]

I'm so grateful Mahimuks shares her experiences! Good luck with your flight on Aug 8th. Please keep us posted. Om planning to fly out end of August with my tourist visa that is valid until 2020 and my POE will be San Fransisco.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I'm so grateful Mahimuks shares her experiences! Good luck with your flight on Aug 8th. Please keep us posted. Om planning to fly out end of August with my tourist visa that is valid until 2020 and my POE will be San Fransisco.

Yes, I will definitely post back. It's encouraging to see good stories, and we have to remember also there are thousands of trans-Atlantic/Pacific couples who do this all the time and aren't active in online communities.

When people do get denied entry, they tend to leave out important info in order to make themselves look like the victim and the IO like Hitler reborn, when in actuality, they probably did/said something dumb and are too proud or embarrassed to admit it. Maybe once in a while they happen to encounter a bad IO though lol but even Saylin has admitted the first time she was denied entry, way before even knowing anything about immigration law, it was because she told them she would adjust status on a B2 and obviously the IO didn't like that!

[MaybeBaby 0]

You're absolutely right, Ketsuban! That really puts it into perspective for us. All the best and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that united with your beloved soon.

[Lanke 0]

Hello guys, first I want to commend this site and the people behind it, its been a great source of information.

I will like to know if it is wise for me to apply for a tourist visa to the USA for the firsy time while my cr1 is ongoing, I am from Nigeria and a February filer awaiting my noa2. My wife has been pressing me to apply for the visa as her own friend entered the USA successfully for the first time last December while her immigrants visa is on going.

Your advise will he of good help to me.

[zelia913 0]

Hello everyone! This thread has been a huge source of comfort to me, as I have been the most concerned about being denied entry to the USA while awaiting a green card.

Does anyone have any experiences with their US citizen husband or wife living outside of the country with them and travelling to the US? My husband and I both live in Canada, and he will soon be filing an I-130 petition for a green card for me so we can move to the US sometime next year. I have plans to travel to the US with my mother in September, and again in December for Christmas with my husband's family (this time he'll be travelling with me). We both have jobs, cars, and our mortgage here in Canada. I would think that him living outside of the US would raise less suspicion at the border, because why would I want to stay there without him? But who knows the thought processes of border officials. We've travelled numerous times to the US in the past six years we've been married with no issues, but with filing the I-130, things may change. Can border officials see that you have applied? Just wondering if anyone here has had similar experiences?

Thanks in advance!

[TargetNovember14 41]

I don't know if this helps…but my partner is in NYC and i live here. I have been going every other weekend since last october from montreal….never once have i been stopped…actually i know all the customs officers now…i don't know about other places…but most of them on montreal airport are pretty cool and nice.

i am at the NVC stage right now and all the while through I 130 process i went through from nov to may…never had a problem...

i hope his helps.

oh yes i have always carried extra documents --- like employment letter, taxes information, my apartment lease etc..but NEVER have shown them or been asked.

Hello everyone! This thread has been a huge source of comfort to me, as I have been the most concerned about being denied entry to the USA while awaiting a green card.

Does anyone have any experiences with their US citizen husband or wife living outside of the country with them and travelling to the US? My husband and I both live in Canada, and he will soon be filing an I-130 petition for a green card for me so we can move to the US sometime next year. I have plans to travel to the US with my mother in September, and again in December for Christmas with my husband's family (this time he'll be travelling with me). We both have jobs, cars, and our mortgage here in Canada. I would think that him living outside of the US would raise less suspicion at the border, because why would I want to stay there without him? But who knows the thought processes of border officials. We've travelled numerous times to the US in the past six years we've been married with no issues, but with filing the I-130, things may change. Can border officials see that you have applied? Just wondering if anyone here has had similar experiences?

Thanks in advance!

[TargetNovember14 41]

you are correct….99.999% you will NOT have a problem. FOr the 0.001%, if you really really get unlucky with one of those werido customs officer who give you a hard time..one of the most rational explanation you can use is --- listen if i had to become illegal don't you think i would do it before i went through the legal channels of going to uscis and now NVC …. … and even now i am legally entering the country..and disclosing all the truthful information. just an idea..

Yes, I will definitely post back. It's encouraging to see good stories, and we have to remember also there are thousands of trans-Atlantic/Pacific couples who do this all the time and aren't active in online communities.

When people do get denied entry, they tend to leave out important info in order to make themselves look like the victim and the IO like Hitler reborn, when in actuality, they probably did/said something dumb and are too proud or embarrassed to admit it. Maybe once in a while they happen to encounter a bad IO though lol but even Saylin has admitted the first time she was denied entry, way before even knowing anything about immigration law, it was because she told them she would adjust status on a B2 and obviously the IO didn't like that!

[NewOrleansJerry 12]

Thank you for starting this topic, it is very helpful for most of us.

My wife has been fulfilling a 2-year home residency requirement in Ukraine, and over a year ago filed for a tourist visa to visit family within the United States. She has made two visits to the States on this visa, for a period of about 3 months in total (these three months do not count toward the 2 year requirement). The visits have been a family saver!

It is very helpful to have this forum, finding this information is not straightforward. Our attorney also confirmed that the tourist visa was possible, but not guaranteed.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Hello guys, first I want to commend this site and the people behind it, its been a great source of information.

I will like to know if it is wise for me to apply for a tourist visa to the USA for the firsy time while my cr1 is ongoing, I am from Nigeria and a February filer awaiting my noa2. My wife has been pressing me to apply for the visa as her own friend entered the USA successfully for the first time last December while her immigrants visa is on going.

Your advise will he of good help to me.

Hi Lanke

You can certainly try to apply, but it tends to be almost impossible to get a tourist visa while you have an immigrant visa pending. You can try as many times as you like, and as long as you don't lie to the consular officer or on the application at any point, the denials won't affect your CR-1 application.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I was reading a story on here from 2011 of someone who was denied entry on the VWP after saying they were visiting their boyfriend and had no money on them. Well, when reading their signature, it showed they were denied their CR-1 a few months later because they had a 3 year bar for an overstay! Uhhh maybe that's why they were denied entry?

[Namaenai 3]

My spouse is another one who had no problem coming to visit (LAX was the POE). We had prepared for the worst and had all kinds of proof of intent to return to Sweden (letter from work, return ticket, Comic-Con registration/hotel reservations, even emails from the cat-sitter talking about how long she was watching the cats, etc.). None of that ended up being necessary (tho I still think it was good to have, just in case).

As I understand, the conversation went something like this:

Agent: What is the purpose of your visit?

Spouse: To go to Comic-Con. My friend is here too. *pointing to friend in another line*

A: Who are you staying with?

S: Family?

A: What kind of family?

S: My spouse.

A: Ok, have a nice visit.

[canadianmeghan 1]

Hi all,

have been reading too many posts and it seems just when I begin to feel good about my visit I read a bad one .. I just wanted to share my story and see what y'all think!

I am Canadian, husband is UCS currently in MN. We are waiting for our NOA2 currently and the plan was for me to remain in Canada and work until it's done but we have been missing each other terribly and I am now planning a visit to the US. I was going to do a week or two and then that just seemed like not enough so I was hoping to go for a few months. Max 4 .. I live with my parents here, so I don't have rent. I will be quitting my job but will hopefully get a letter from my boss that says I'll be able to return to work when I am back, and I have my car insurance/title, credit card bills, bank statements, and return ticket of course! What are the odds of me being aloud to go for say 4 months?

I plan to be polite and smile and all that jazz too!

Thanks all!

[mjardine 12]

Happy Thursday everyone! Guess what? My husband is here!!!!!!! Flew in from Australia to LAX and said immigration was a piece of cake and actually pretty fast. I don't have the details on questions or anything, but I'm just so excited to see him!! He is here for the length of the VWP - 3 months. We are in the NVC stage, have submitted the AOS package and are waiting for IV fee. He carried with him NOA1, NAO2, cover page docs from AOS submission, letter from work stating his leave of absence, car rego/insurance receipts, and return ticket.

So for those of you contemplating and missing your other half as much as I was, I say take the risk!

[docfrost 6]

Greetings everyone,

We are filing the I130 tomorrow and I plan on visiting in a couple of weeks. We just want to make sure that this won't mess up the application. Should we fill out the "If your relative is currently in the U.S."? Sounds like based on everything here that we should be okay and I will need to bring a copy of the NOA1 and all of that other good stuff.

Thanks everyone

Brent