Can K-1's cross the U.S. border?

[FeelingYoung66 14]

My fiancee (now wife) crossed into the U.S. by car at Blaine, WA with her K-1 Visa on March 18th, the very day that Trump and Trudeau announced that the border between the two countries would be closed to all but essential traffic. A couple of days later that ban went into effect and remains in place as of today, June 16th. (Apparently now extended until at least the end of July.) My question is this. Have fiancee's with K-1 Visa's in their Canadian passports been able to successfully cross into the U.S. since the "essential traffic only" ban went into effect on March 21st?

[Dashinka 24,512]

I don’t know for certain, but I think the mutual travel ban applies only to land crossings.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

That’s a good question and I’d like to see responses. I’d be inclined to say no because although essential traffic includes immediate family a k1er isn’t yet an immediate family member.

[pegagn 23]

I called a few times the POE along the US/Quebec border and they all told me I wasn’t considered essential travel... I got the visa in March.

[Zaraliaya 122]

By flying into the USA yes.

 

 

[FeelingYoung66 14]

5 hours ago, Zaraliaya said:

By flying into the USA yes.

 

 

I don't think this would necessarily apply, because entry on a K-1 Visa is not for a "visit". It is a non-immigrant Visa with intent to immigrate after marriage.

[FeelingYoung66 14]

9 hours ago, pegagn said:

I called a few times the POE along the US/Quebec border and they all told me I wasn’t considered essential travel... I got the visa in March.

And that Visa will expire 6 months after your medical date. Please remember that.

 

So are you now actively trying to enter the U.S. as a K-1? In other words.. as soon as possible?

[pegagn 23]

20 minutes ago, FeelingYoung66 said:

And that Visa will expire 6 months after your medical date. Please remember that.

 

So are you now actively trying to enter the U.S. as a K-1? In other words.. as soon as possible?

I was hoping the border would open next week. Looking into flying now...  or maybe try to cross by car and see what happens. 

[Rachel F 25]

If you have a valid visa that was issued prior to everything and the air border is open you should be able to cross under the K1. You can always call CBP to confirm from the number on their website. I called about flying into the US and am going on Thursday (just on the regular visitor visa though).

[FeelingYoung66 14]

15 hours ago, pegagn said:

I was hoping the border would open next week. Looking into flying now...  or maybe try to cross by car and see what happens. 

Please update here with what you experienced after you cross. Good luck.

[milkmandan2 0]

On 6/16/2020 at 7:53 PM, Rachel F said:

If you have a valid visa that was issued prior to everything and the air border is open you should be able to cross under the K1. You can always call CBP to confirm from the number on their website. I called about flying into the US and am going on Thursday (just on the regular visitor visa though).

 

how did this work on thursday? 

 

Edited June 21, 2020 by milkmandan2

[Rachel F 25]

2 hours ago, milkmandan2 said:

 

how did this work on thursday? 

 

I got through fine. All they asked was how long I am staying.

[pegagn 23]

On 6/17/2020 at 10:10 AM, FeelingYoung66 said:

Please update here with what you experienced after you cross. Good luck.

I crossed the land border with the k1 visa last Wednesday. No problem at all!

Edited July 6, 2020 by pegagn

[FeelingYoung66 14]

6 hours ago, pegagn said:

I crossed the land border with the k1 visa last Wednesday. No problem at all!

Great! Welcome to the USA!

 

You had said earlier that when you would telephone the land border crossings they would tell you that a K-1 entry was not essential and therefore (I assume) not to even bother trying to cross. Did they change their tune on that eventually? In other words.. did you know as you approached the border in your car that you would be processed into the U.S. as a K-1 entry?

[pegagn 23]

Yeah we called back and said it was okay now. We called back the next day just to be sure and they confirmed that if I already had the visa I could cross the border.