Visiting Visa While IR1-CR1 Is Pending

[FluffyBalls 52]

On 8/22/2018 at 11:25 AM, Jon & Cha said:

Hi everyone I am a Taiwanese national, and my husband is USC. We have a pending I-130, our PD is March 30th... Looking at the approval in Sep/Oct (hopefully...yayyyy!)

 

He came to visit me previously, we had a wonderful time together. I also plan to visit him in the states next week, Really looking forward to the trip and hopefully everything goes smoothly . I have read lots of your experiences in this thread,  thank you all for sharing and that I decide to make this trip!

 

I quit my overseas job previously and back to my home country to do the CP, so of course no job and back to my lovely childhood house..but I will prepare my bank statement, insurance bills, and return tickets. I am indeed anxious a little, I will try not to faint and give my shiniest smile...and be honest and polite... I also want to grab the chance to prepare the documents for next stage while we are together, so my little silly question here is, if I bring documents (related to the NVC stage) with me, will they lift their eyebrows and give me hard time? Any advise or personal experience? Thanks a million!

 

 

When my wife (girlfriend at the time) from mainland China came to visit me on a B2 visa, she was cleared in like 60 seconds lol even after telling the officer she was coming to visit her boyfriend. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't know as much about the immigration/CBP process at the time because I would've been freaking out before hand (she had recently been laid off and didn't have a ton of funds) - I honestly thought they let everyone in. They only asked her where she was going, who she was visiting, how long she'd stay, and if she was bringing in any food and they were very friendly to her. She had no letter, bank statements, etc. on her since we didn't know this was recommended ahead of time.

 

If she made it in without any problems, you should be more than fine.

Edited August 29, 2018 by FluffyBalls

[Invisigoth 16]

On 8/20/2018 at 10:00 AM, MissMyHusband said:

Last week my husband and I received our I 130 approval...yay! I was in Canada visiting him. He is a Canadian citizen, I am USA.

As I was coming home yesterday, I asked the USA CBP officer if my husband could come and visit me, that we would be able to show that he would need to be back in Canada to conduct medical and interview. He said he wasn't sure, so he was kind even to leave his booth and walk me over the his supervisor. His supervisor said he would not be admitted because he would be considered an undocumented immigrant. 
So, anyone can try it, but that is more than likely the response you can get. 

This has never been my experience in all the times my husband and I have come back and forth across the border NY/Ontario - which is 2-3 times per month.  See all my previous posts.  Border guys/gals have always been nice.  And even ask how our immigration process is coming along!   Sorry if you haven't had the same positive experiences we have had.  😕

[SierraTenTango 37]

Hello everyone. Just out of curiosity for how long they usually stamp your passport? I know, usually, they just stamp 6 months and I am wondering if any of you guys had other experiences.

[ykowalski 11]

On 8/20/2018 at 8:40 AM, Bethany123 said:

You can get a letter from your supervisor, too. As long as the letter says something about how you work for them, and are returning to work at a specific date, that will be fine. Also, have your return flight information handy. Whenever I crossed I made sure I also had any immigration paperwork that I had on me (such as receipt of notice for the petition) to show them I was in the process. They just want to know if you're doing it the right way. Good luck!

Got married last week, crossed over to the US from Canada, CBP asked us what our plans are, I told him the wife will petition I130 for me, I also told him I have documents to show that I have ties in Canada and I am only seeking entrance to the US to drop off my wife at home. He told me good job to have researched everything prior to coming and let us ago two minutes later. 

[FluffyBalls 52]

On ‎9‎/‎7‎/‎2018 at 10:48 AM, SierraTenTango said:

Hello everyone. Just out of curiosity for how long they usually stamp your passport? I know, usually, they just stamp 6 months and I am wondering if any of you guys had other experiences.

I have by now probably seen thousands of these posts, and everyone got six month except for one Colombian national who was given an extensive secondary grilling. He had stayed in the US for 11 out of the last 12 months and they were suspicious he was working. So they gave him one month and told him to <term removed> for at least a year afterwards if he wanted to avoid problems.

Edited September 13, 2018 by Ryan H
Reason for edit: to remove profane acronym.

[SierraTenTango 37]

5 hours ago, FluffyBalls said:

Ithey gave him one month and told him to <term removed> for at least a year afterwards if he wanted to avoid problems.

2

Dude, you just made my day with this answer. 

Anyway thanks!

Edited September 13, 2018 by Ryan H
Reason for edit: to remove profane acronym in quote.

[Diachka 66]

Hey everyone! I'm curious if anybody tried to visit their husbands in the US with a valid tourist visa on the maiden name? How did it go? Does it raise even more questions as I would need to show two passports (on the old and new name) and marriage certificate I guess. The old passport isn't valid anymore as they cut out a piece of it when I received a passport on my new last name. Thank you.

[KN2018 18]

I have perused this thread and I haven't seen anyone talk about this yet. It seems like people are mostly concerned about CBP stopping you at Point of Entry when visiting a spouse on a tourist visa/ VWP. In my experience, I haven't had any problem at CBP travelling from Canada to the US to visit my husband. I also have NEXUS so that probably helps. I am curious though, on my DS - 260 I have to declare the past five times I have visited the US and I wonder if the issue of my visits to the US would come up during my Visa Interview at the Consulate. Is there any chance that they would have a problem with my visiting history at the interview or is this primarily a CBP issue? I am not overstaying my visitor visa and I maintain strong ties to Canada. Just wondering if this could be a basis for denial of the immigrant visa?

[Boiler 45,498]

Did you overstay?

[KN2018 18]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Did you overstay?

No. 143 days of 180 possible days in the past year.

[Boiler 45,498]

11 minutes ago, KN2018 said:

No. 143 days of 180 possible days in the past year.

So what is the issue?

[KN2018 18]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

So what is the issue?

Are you saying there should not be an issue? Just saw someone posting that I should not be travelling under a non-immigrant visa (visitor) while immigrant visa (IR1) is pending. Worried that I would be in violation of 214 or something https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/waivers.html

 

[Boiler 45,498]

Well would not the thread title then be No you can not visit?

 

63 pages of people who have visited.

[Jon & Cha 5]

Hi, quick update about my experience

 

I entered the states with no problem! Maybe it was just my day, but I seriously think you will not have a problem entering. I had my return ticket/insurance bill/bank statement/NOA1 with me. It was a female officer at my turn. She did not even ask me to show those documents nor I-130 petition being mentioned. She was friendly, looked at my passport and asked me couple questions about stamps in my passport. That's all. No question about immigration process (as well I always think LAX airport is friendly). I think I was overthinking a little before my trip 😬... I agree with many who shared their experience in this thread previously, the general principle is as long as you have a valid tourist visa/ESTA and no bad visa history, you should be more than fine. Even the CBP officer asks any questions including immigration process, just be honest and provide whatever necessary documents (ex: return ticket, NOA1 and so on). I seriously don't see any problem of visiting your loved one during the long wait... If you can work out with time and ticket cost, I hope my experience can help and calm your nerves down a little

 

Glad we got to prepare and complete the NVC package together and just received I-130 approval notice couple days ago. Yayayyyyyyyy!

 

Wish you all smooth processing x

[olegoleg90 3]

My experience. My parents petitioned for me back in 2011. Ever since that time till now I've visited states more than 20 times in total without any problem. All you have to show them is that you have a very well paying job back home or a business, and the rest is not a problem at all, trust me.