Visiting Visa While IR1-CR1 Is Pending

[ayumi1486 1]

Hi all! Really appreciated that this thread is in place...it really helps me easing my mind!

I decided to have my husband visit while waiting for the NVC process. Husband is Japanese and on VWP. Entry/transfer point is Honolulu, which already gets tons of Japanese tourists. Have NOA 2 and return ticket ready to present to the officer.

He's going to transfer at Honolulu and then fly to San Jose. But he has to pass immigration in Honolulu.

Will keep you guys updated!!

Entry point: Atlanta

Applicant is Japanese

I can't say how thankful I am for this thread. We applied to the NVC two weeks ago and, just yesterday, flew to the US on a tourist visa. We spoke with the agent that we were in town to visit family and do a small wedding. She didn't ask anything about our application at the NVC and said have a nice vacation.

Hi jshoe1984, my husband is Japanese and will visit in May. Finger crossed that he can pass the border (in Honolulu) without any hassle!

Did the applicant bring any documents/NOA 2/ties to Japan?

[Katyusha.russia 12]

Hi guys. I want to share my experience. I hope it helps somebody.

I flew to the US in December 2014 on a tourist visa to visit my husband for Christmas and New Year while waiting for our I-130 to be approved. I had prepared for my trip (letter from my employer with the statement that I was a current employee and was on vacation in that period, my property certificate, my car title documents+translations).

I worried a lot not just because we started the immigration process but also because I had to renew my passport before my trip as I took my husband's last name and my old passport was going to expire in December. So, my tourist visa was issued on my maiden name and it was in the expired passport. As I found an info on the US Embassy site in that case you need to have with you both passports (old and new) and your marriage certificate (in case of your last name change). But Delta Airlines representative who was checking me in to the flight from Germany to the US didn't want to do that because my visa was issued on my maiden name. I was lucky to get an assistance of another Delta airlines security officer. He found the US Embassy representative right at the airport, who checked my documents and in 2 seconds said "OK". I didn't know that in big airports like Frankfurt they have Embassy representatives who can resolve problems like mine.

I was very nervious during my 9 hours trip to the US. But once I was at the Point of entry in Chicago the CBP officer asked me:

1) What is your purpose of visit? I said I was visiting my husband.

2) Where does your husband live? I said in the US

3) Where do you live? I said in Russia. Then he just noticed "Oh, it must be hard to have a long distance relationship". I answered "Yes, it is. We are travelling back and forth to see each other".

4) How long will you stay in the US? I said "Untill January 31".

I noticed I could show him my marriage certificate cause my current last name didn't match my visa info? He just waved (meaning he didn't need it) and told me "Welcome to the US"

That was it!

[JCV 5]

Hi guys. I want to share my experience. I hope it helps somebody.

I flew to the US in December 2014 on a tourist visa to visit my husband for Christmas and New Year while waiting for our I-130 to be approved. I had prepared for my trip (letter from my employer with the statement that I was a current employee and was on vacation in that period, my property certificate, my car title documents+translations).

I worried a lot not just because we started the immigration process but also because I had to renew my passport before my trip as I took my husband's last name and my old passport was going to expire in December. So, my tourist visa was issued on my maiden name and it was in the expired passport. As I found an info on the US Embassy site in that case you need to have with you both passports (old and new) and your marriage certificate (in case of your last name change). But Delta Airlines representative who was checking me in to the flight from Germany to the US didn't want to do that because my visa was issued on my maiden name. I was lucky to get an assistance of another Delta airlines security officer. He found the US Embassy representative right at the airport, who checked my documents and in 2 seconds said "OK". I didn't know that in big airports like Frankfurt they have Embassy representatives who can resolve problems like mine.

I was very nervious during my 9 hours trip to the US. But once I was at the Point of entry in Chicago the CBP officer asked me:

1) What is your purpose of visit? I said I was visiting my husband.

2) Where does your husband live? I said in the US

3) Where do you live? I said in Russia. Then he just noticed "Oh, it must be hard to have a long distance relationship". I answered "Yes, it is. We are travelling back and forth to see each other".

4) How long will you stay in the US? I said "Untill January 31".

I noticed I could show him my marriage certificate cause my current last name didn't match my visa info? He just waved (meaning he didn't need it) and told me "Welcome to the US"

That was it!

wow, that has put my mind at ease! hopefully my trip is as easy and welcoming as yours in 2 weeks!! enjoy the time with your husband

[Katyusha.russia 12]

I would recommend you to get as much papers as you can anyway. Just in case they ask you. It's better to have extra and not to be asked than the other way round.

Good luck!

[sk23 7]

I'd definitely agree with these! Smiling and giving a cheerful greeting helps to hide any nervousness too even if you don't get a smile back.

A quick note on that from rich personal experience. US border officers often use intimidation techniques (as in "being a j*rk") as a tactic to bring up the worst in you. They hardly ever smile back, and don't usually laugh at your jokes (in fact, joking is the fastest way to get in trouble). They may ask the same stupid question several times, and speak condescendingly. They may act like they can't hear you and make you scream on top of your lungs from your car.

You should never take such behavior personally. It is not directed at you, it's just a tactic - and it works because people who do have something to hide are very easily destabilized by this behavior. Your best bet is to be calm, collected, serious, have respect for yourself and for them as officers. And no, you shouldn't smile too much, otherwise they think you're weak and nervous.

Of course, it also depends on your profile. An older lady can smile as much as she wants, and will be taken as cute. For a younger male, the "Yes, sir!" style seems to work best.

[JCV 5]

Oh, it was "how long are you staying?"

To be fair, they were expecting 1700 people in the queues about 10 minutes after she was there. She said they looked like they were just trying to get people through as quickly as possible to handle the tidal wave coming in. So a little luck was on our side this time.

so glad to hear this, i will be entering Atlanta too

[fmizan 4]

Hi All,

So my spouse and I got married in January 2015 here in Bangladesh. When she went back to the states, I went with her as I had a valid B1/B2 visa and visited her for 2 months. After I returned, she filed the I-130 for me and it's currently being processed; we have already received our NOA1.

After reading this thread, I have thought of visiting her again as it is a lengthy process and her limited holidays per year don't really help. I have my own business here and as a result am more flexible with my holidays.

I will be applying for a new B1/B2 visa as the previous one has expired. I know that the chances are very slim of me being able the pull through with the visa but I figured that $160 is well worth the risk. However, my spouse is worried that if I am refused a visa/entry or even if I enter, it might adversely affect our immigration petition. Is that a concern? I was under the impression that NIV and IV visas are separate to the extent that one does not affect the other.

Also, I have visited the US 10 times so far and 8 times just with my last visa and never overstayed or anything. Does that really give me a better chance at getting a new visa? I visited after the wedding and came back on time too, does that help?

Please do tell us if there is anything for us to be concerned here and any help is greatly appreciated from all you experienced folks!

[Ryan H 3,812]

Hi All,

So my spouse and I got married in January 2015 here in Bangladesh. When she went back to the states, I went with her as I had a valid B1/B2 visa and visited her for 2 months. After I returned, she filed the I-130 for me and it's currently being processed; we have already received our NOA1.

After reading this thread, I have thought of visiting her again as it is a lengthy process and her limited holidays per year don't really help. I have my own business here and as a result am more flexible with my holidays.

I will be applying for a new B1/B2 visa as the previous one has expired. I know that the chances are very slim of me being able the pull through with the visa but I figured that $160 is well worth the risk. However, my spouse is worried that if I am refused a visa/entry or even if I enter, it might adversely affect our immigration petition. Is that a concern? I was under the impression that NIV and IV visas are separate to the extent that one does not affect the other.

Also, I have visited the US 10 times so far and 8 times just with my last visa and never overstayed or anything. Does that really give me a better chance at getting a new visa? I visited after the wedding and came back on time too, does that help?

Please do tell us if there is anything for us to be concerned here and any help is greatly appreciated from all you experienced folks!

A B2 refusal in of itself will not adversely affect the spousal visa process.

[fmizan 4]

A B2 refusal in of itself will not adversely affect the spousal visa process.

Thanks! How about denied entry or even entering for that matter? if the USCIS or NVC find out I have visited after filing, is there anything wrong with that?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Thanks! How about denied entry or even entering for that matter? if the USCIS or NVC find out I have visited after filing, is there anything wrong with that?

No, there is nothing wrong with that.

[lawless2014 0]

I read through the first 12 pages of this thread, and didn't see anyone talking about visiting the beneficiary's country.

Over the years, I've spent a lot of time with my fiance-now-husband in England, and I would really love to spend a couple more months there together before he becomes a U.S. resident. I've grown to love his country and his family, and it's important to us that we make more memories there before the U.S. becomes his home.

Can I go and stay with him legally/without interfering with the CR-1 process?

[Ryan H 3,812]

Can I go and stay with him legally/without interfering with the CR-1 process?

Yes

[JCV 5]

I read through the first 12 pages of this thread, and didn't see anyone talking about visiting the beneficiary's country.

Over the years, I've spent a lot of time with my fiance-now-husband in England, and I would really love to spend a couple more months there together before he becomes a U.S. resident. I've grown to love his country and his family, and it's important to us that we make more memories there before the U.S. becomes his home.

Can I go and stay with him legally/without interfering with the CR-1 process?

yes, my husband has been here with me in england for over 3 months now

[Virtuous45 31]

Hey there, thanks for this thread...It's the closest I've come to finding a case similar to the answers I am seeking.

This is my story:

My husband (the petitioner) and I got married in October 2013 and we've visited each other a few times. My last visit to him was January 2014 and the we filed the papers for IR-1/CR-1 visa in April 2014. We have gone through the process using the invaluable advice and success stories on VJ...one year. How we are grateful for this community.

My interview on May 13, 2015.

All things go well at the interview and I am approved, I've read on here that after the visa has been printed in my passport, I have up to six months in which to travel to the US. Initially, I wanted to leave thirty (30) days after approval, but now I'm thinking that since October would be our second anniversary, I would be better to just wait until after October 13 to enter the US, so I can get the CR-1 green card instead of IR-1.

However, I would like to visit the US before October 2015 to visit my husband and other family members, so my questions therefore are:

i) Could I travel on my Tourist Visa (or would that become void after the interview?)

ii) If my tourist visa remains valid after the interview, can I use it to travel independently of my new status, to visit the US?.

iii) Would this interim travel cause problems for me in October when I plan to enter the US using POE documents?

Hoping someone can relate to my questions and provide some guidance.

[Ryan H 3,812]

However, I would like to visit the US before October 2015 to visit my husband and other family members, so my questions therefore are:

i) Could I travel on my Tourist Visa (or would that become void after the interview?)

ii) If my tourist visa remains valid after the interview, can I use it to travel independently of my new status, to visit the US?.

iii) Would this interim travel cause problems for me in October when I plan to enter the US using POE documents?

Hoping someone can relate to my questions and provide some guidance.

Tourist visa will be voided at the interview (regardless of the result).