Awaiting I-129F approval but wanting to travel before it

[TrinitySnow 10]

I am a Canadian citizen applying for the K-1 Visa and I received my NOA1 a few weeks ago. My estimated I-129F approval based on VisaJourney's estimate is May 12, 2020.

However, I want to attend a Data Science Conference in NYC (where my Fiance lives too!) that is being held on between May 8-9, 2020.

I would be funded by my University as a student (graduating first week of June, 2020) attending the conference and will probably fly back to Canada back May 10-11, 2020. 

 

Will this affect anything in my K-1 visa journey? I've read that the customs officer has control over whether I am allowed into the states or not, but since I have a return ticket (I should probably get something more solidifying of my return to Canada like a letter from my employer) and attending as a student, would it be enough proof that I am returning to Canada?

 

Thanks!

[geowrian 22,338]

17 minutes ago, TrinitySnow said:

Will this affect anything in my K-1 visa journey?

No. Visiting is fine. Just don't stay.

 

17 minutes ago, TrinitySnow said:

I've read that the customs officer has control over whether I am allowed into the states or not

Correct. This won't change unless/until you become a US citizen.

 

17 minutes ago, TrinitySnow said:

but since I have a return ticket

Nearly every single person who has overstayed, violated status (e.g. illegal work), or adjusted status within the US who came in by plane had a return ticket.

 

I doubt you'll have an issue...they aren't particularly strict on Canadians unless you've been spending a lot of time within the US.

I'm just pointing out that a return ticket means nothing about intent to return.

[JacobP 186]

My Canadian fiance traveled to the US on three separate occasions before we received the NOA2. One time wasn't even to see me. Zero trouble with customs on every visit, just like before we filed. Your mileage may vary, of course. We always seem to have good luck, hell I tend to get more flack from the Canadians when I come in than she gets from the Americans. I doubt she used the word "fiance" when referring to me though, she still hardly uses the word even when talking to friends or family.

 

Feel free to bring a letter from your employer and/or anything from your university solidifying your intent to return if it makes you feel better. Chances are, they won't even look at it before letting you in, but it can't hurt.

Edited February 11, 2020 by JacobP

[EllaC 190]

7 hours ago, geowrian said:

No. Visiting is fine. Just don't stay.

 

Correct. This won't change unless/until you become a US citizen.

 

Nearly every single person who has overstayed, violated status (e.g. illegal work), or adjusted status within the US who came in by plane had a return ticket.

 

I doubt you'll have an issue...they aren't particularly strict on Canadians unless you've been spending a lot of time within the US.

I'm just pointing out that a return ticket means nothing about intent to return.

May I ask you what "spending a lot of time in the US" means?

Edited February 11, 2020 by EllaC

[geowrian 22,338]

4 hours ago, EllaC said:

May I ask you what "spending a lot of time in the US" means?

Generally, spending more time within the US than out of it. The suggestion s to spend at least twice as long outsise as inside.

This is not a strict rule, but it is a guideline to avoid having CBP suspect that you are using visiting privileges to live in the US, or otherwise violating status or intend to do so.

[Zaraliaya 122]

Youll be fine. I've been through to the US mulitple times. Guess it depends if the customs dude is in a good mood. But having a return ticket, or something from work/school is good too. 

 

A few days stay they probably won't ask many questions. If it was like a few months, that's another story. 

 

Don't stress too much!

[arae 81]

Visiting is fine. It's been discussed at length throughout this forum.

 

My fiance is Canadian and visits the US about 4 days per month, sometimes more or less. Our I-129F was filed in Sept. 2019, he's traveled many times since then with no issue.

 

Have documentation that you plan to return to Canada after your visit.

[sl1pstream 551]

15 hours ago, TrinitySnow said:

I am a Canadian citizen applying for the K-1 Visa and I received my NOA1 a few weeks ago. My estimated I-129F approval based on VisaJourney's estimate is May 12, 2020.

However, I want to attend a Data Science Conference in NYC (where my Fiance lives too!) that is being held on between May 8-9, 2020.

I would be funded by my University as a student (graduating first week of June, 2020) attending the conference and will probably fly back to Canada back May 10-11, 2020. 

 

Will this affect anything in my K-1 visa journey? I've read that the customs officer has control over whether I am allowed into the states or not, but since I have a return ticket (I should probably get something more solidifying of my return to Canada like a letter from my employer) and attending as a student, would it be enough proof that I am returning to Canada?

 

Thanks!

I don't think they even have your info. I visited last month and literally the only question they asked me after I said I was "just visiting" was if I tried some special chocolate chip cookies because some other person traveling from Belgium told them about them.

 

We were 2 months into the process when I visited.

Edited February 11, 2020 by sl1pstream

[TrinitySnow 10]

1 minute ago, sl1pstream said:

I don't think they even have your info. I visited last month and literally the only question they asked me after I said I was "just visiting" was if I tried some special chocolate chip cookies because some other person traveling from Belgium told them about them.

I'm not sure how many times you've visited but they definitely have my info because every time I am at customs they ask me when I'm going back to Canada, when was the last time I came and for how long, my occupation, etc. And the way their eyes move I can tell they are asking the questions to confirm whatever is on the screen haha

[sl1pstream 551]

1 minute ago, TrinitySnow said:

I'm not sure how many times you've visited but they definitely have my info because every time I am at customs they ask me when I'm going back to Canada, when was the last time I came and for how long, my occupation, etc. And the way their eyes move I can tell they are asking the questions to confirm whatever is on the screen haha

Once since we've started the process, once before.

I've been to the US about 20+ times before that though.

Edited February 11, 2020 by sl1pstream

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[SalishSea 18,072]

On 2/11/2020 at 11:51 AM, sl1pstream said:

I don't think they even have your info.

Oh, they do.  It is all in your electronic record.

[sl1pstream 551]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Oh, they do.  It is all in your electronic record.

Even if you're not at the NOA2 stage yet?

[SalishSea 18,072]

2 minutes ago, sl1pstream said:

Even if you're not at the NOA2 stage yet?

The discussion was regarding the frequency and durations of visits into the US as a visitor.

[sl1pstream 551]

15 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

The discussion was regarding the frequency and durations of visits into the US as a visitor.

Obviously they have that. I thought it was referring to the application.