UK -> US K1 Visa Workaround Via Mexico?

[quarantino 0]

I (UK citizen) have a valid K1 visa, expiring the start of September. I'm lucky to have it, and must have been one of the last to receive it.

 

The travel ban was imposed the day before I picked up my passport, and I'm stuck in the UK until the restrictions are lifted. There's no end in sight for that as of now.

 

Given the nature of the EO last night, I'm looking at ramping up measures on getting into the US. I called DHS today, where I was told if i'm "present in a country without the travel restrictions for 15 days, I'd be able to enter".

 

The conclusion of the research my partner and I made:

Mexico is currently allowing UK entry.

The US is allowing in flights from Mexico.

 

This is ridiculous, but I'm looking at flying from the UK to Mexico City, staying in a hotel for 15 days, and finally flying to the US from Mexico(SFO to be precise) where in theory I should be allowed entry.

 

Risks

• Travel restrictions changing
• Contracting Corona
• Visa restrictions changing (still a bit unclear on how the EO applies to K1's, but I think they're unaffected).
• The headache of the next steps.

 

Thoughts?

Edited April 24, 2020 by quarantino

[payxibka 10,047]

3 minutes ago, quarantino said:

I (UK citizen) have a valid K1 visa, expiring the start of September. I'm lucky to have it, and must have been one of the last to receive it.

 

The travel ban was imposed the day before I picked up my passport, and I'm stuck in the UK until the restrictions are lifted. There's no end in sight for that as of now.

 

Given the nature of the EO last night, I'm looking at ramping up measures on getting into the US. I called DHS today, where I was told if i'm "present in a country without the travel restrictions for 15 days, I'd be able to enter".

 

The conclusion of the research my partner and I made:

Mexico is currently allowing UK entry.

The US is allowing in flights from Mexico.

 

This is ridiculous, but I'm looking at flying from the UK to Mexico City, staying in a hotel for 15 days, and finally flying to the US from Mexico(SFO to be precise) where in theory I should be allowed entry.

 

Risks

• Travel restrictions changing
• Contracting Corona
• Visa restrictions changing (still a bit unclear on how the EO applies to K1's, but I think they're unaffected).
• The headache of the next steps.

 

Thoughts?

Read the last sentence as it relates to your situation. 

 

U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation.  The Proclamation is not retroactive. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation

[quarantino 0]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Read the last sentence as it relates to your situation. 

 

U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation.  The Proclamation is not retroactive. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation

Thanks for the reply. That's good for the actual visa being permitted entry, but with no clear end date on the travel restrictions being lifted, there's currently no way of using it unless I stay in a country without restrictions for 15 days.

 

I could wait and see what happens with lifting the restrictions on the UK, but I have a hunch that nothing will change until after my visa is expired.

[TBoneTX 45,604]

If you're willing to take the risk, then do it.  Sometimes we have to take risks to be successful.

Check any internal Mexican restrictions carefully before proceeding.

Want to add that you have a great VJ screen name.  

Edited April 24, 2020 by TBoneTX

[JFH 12,190]

47 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Read the last sentence as it relates to your situation. 

 

U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation.  The Proclamation is not retroactive. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation

I think the issue is not whether his visa will be revoked (it won’t, as it was issued prior to the EO), but whether he will be able to get in via Mexico due to the current ban on non-citizens and non-residents who have been in the UK and Schengen countries in the 15 days prior to their arrival, with limited exceptions. 
 

OP, I would definitely try this if you can afford it and also if you can afford for it not to work out and you have a back-up plan. You may end up buying additional air tickets later if this doesn’t work (for example during your 15-day stay in Mexico the border with the USA is closed completely). But in your shoes I would give it a shot. Please report back if it works. 

[HRQX 4,145]

On 4/23/2020 at 6:47 PM, quarantino said:

I called DHS today, where I was told if i'm "present in a country without the travel restrictions for 15 days, I'd be able to enter".

Correct. It worked for Ela: