Travelling on tourist visa whilst waiting for I-130

[Lil bear 4,261]

3 minutes ago, Alxndr23 said:

How can you tell if they give you less than 6 months?

The valid until date stamped at POE by the CBP Officer 

[Alxndr23 5]

I’ll have to check with my wife but I don’t think they stamp canadian passports

[BLC 112]

44 minutes ago, Alxndr23 said:

I’ll have to check with my wife but I don’t think they stamp canadian passports

You don’t need to even look at the stamp, you can just pull the I-94 travel record online and it will provide entry and validity dates.  It’s free and provides instant results. 

[A&J22 30]

On 2/24/2023 at 2:26 PM, Alxndr23 said:

I’ll have to check with my wife but I don’t think they stamp canadian passports

They stopped stamping all passports as of this past November I believe, they're going digital.

[Alxndr23 5]

14 hours ago, A&J22 said:

They stopped stamping all passports as of this past November I believe, they're going digital.

Ok thanks.  I didn’t think she had a stamp in her passport.

[P.&S. 3]

Thought to share our experience. Husband had a B1/B2 tourist visa interview scheduled in March in Singapore. He wanted to come visit me since I just gave birth to our daughter. We disclosed on the application that we had applied for CR1. At the interview, officer asked about the CR1 application and my husband shared that it was under process. Officer asked questions about our marriage/how we met/where we live. Application was approved granted we email a few additional documents. We sent the documents and he received the visa a few days later. He flew to the US the next day after receiving the visa. Entered the US in SF, officer just asked where he was coming from, how long he was here and purpose of his visit. So you can get a visit visa even if you applied for CR1!

[sharadbh 0]

Hi,

Wanted to see if anyone has had any experience traveling to US on B2 visa while waiting for Consular Interview?

 

We reached DQ and waiting for my wife's CR-1 interview. She already has a B2 visa which was issued while I-130 was in process.

 

With current trend, we don't expect to hear about the interview before Sept and planning to travel to US for couple of months in summer.

[TBoneTX 45,608]

5 minutes ago, sharadbh said:

Hi,

Wanted to see if anyone has had any experience traveling to US on B2 visa while waiting for Consular Interview?

 

We reached DQ and waiting for my wife's CR-1 interview. She already has a B2 visa which was issued while I-130 was in process.

 

With current trend, we don't expect to hear about the interview before Sept and planning to travel to US for couple of months in summer.

Welcome to the forum!

Your wife is eligible to enter with use of a valid B2 visa.

If questioned at the port of entry, she can say, "I'm staying for two months so that we can build further evidence of our bona fide relationship before the CR-1 interview that we expect in the fall."

[Alexandra Ale 0]

Hello, everyone! I, as a beneficiary from Romania,  am thinking to visit my husband in Florida, US for as long as a B1-2 can afford, but I’m afraid I won’t be allowed entering in US since I don’t have ties to my home, and also I have never traveled to Us before.We have a pending I-30 and are at USCIS stage. I want to see if any of you had a positive experience or got denied visiting their spouse while having a pending visa and have never visit the country before. I saw from some comments that Atlanta airport gives you a hard time. 

[BLC 112]

58 minutes ago, Alexandra Delgado said:

Hello, everyone! I, as a beneficiary from Romania,  am thinking to visit my husband in Florida, US for as long as a B1-2 can afford, but I’m afraid I won’t be allowed entering in US since I don’t have ties to my home, and also I have never traveled to Us before.We have a pending I-30 and are at USCIS stage. I want to see if any of you had a positive experience or got denied visiting their spouse while having a pending visa and have never visit the country before. I saw from some comments that Atlanta airport gives you a hard time. 

I would think they may scrutinize a bit since you have a trifecta going on: no travel history to the US, no ties to home country, and a pending 130. I would assume that Romania is not a high fraud country, though, but that’s a total assumption. Coming from a country that is not high fraud would be a plus. If I were you, I’d travel through an airport with pre-clearance, though —that way, if they deny you entry, you do not get hit with a removal, which would then require a waiver. Do you have your B visa already?
 

 My husband and I delayed our 130 for that reason — we wanted to make sure he established a good travel history to the US (just a few visits), and then submitted. I know that doesn’t help you now, but may be helpful idea for others. He has not had any problems entering with our pending 130 so far (we have had 2 trips here since, and have a third planned for next month, so hoping we still have good luck). 

[Alexandra Ale 0]

6 minutes ago, BLC said:

I would think they may scrutinize a bit since you have a trifecta going on: no travel history to the US, no ties to home country, and a pending 130. I would assume that Romania is not a high fraud country, though, but that’s a total assumption. Coming from a country that is not high fraud would be a plus. If I were you, I’d travel through an airport with pre-clearance, though —that way, if they deny you entry, you do not get hit with a removal, which would then require a waiver. Do you have your B visa already?
 

 My husband and I delayed our 130 for that reason — we wanted to make sure he established a good travel history to the US (just a few visits), and then submitted. I know that doesn’t help you now, but may be helpful idea for others. He has not had any problems entering with our pending 130 so far (we have had 2 trips here since, and have a third planned for next month, so hoping we still have good luck). 

Thank you!! 
No I didn’t apply yet for a tourist visa because I wanted to see first if it’s a good idea. I’m working as a police in my country and If I’ll apply for a tourist I will quit my job, also my husband it’s military, so I’m thinking that can be a plus since he can be found easily.

[BLC 112]

3 hours ago, Alexandra Delgado said:

Thank you!! 
No I didn’t apply yet for a tourist visa because I wanted to see first if it’s a good idea. I’m working as a police in my country and If I’ll apply for a tourist I will quit my job, also my husband it’s military, so I’m thinking that can be a plus since he can be found easily.

You’re welcome! I actually think a job as a police officer would be considered pretty decent ties to the country —at least a really good starting point! My husband always comes prepared with proof of ties at the border, just in case —these are the things he brings (hoping this can help give you some more ideas): his lease application (he lives with his brother while we wait out this process, so wasn’t on the actual lease his last trip), birth certificate for his son who lives in UK with him, and a letter showing he receives a monetary government benefit. Not having a B visa yet will be a bit of an obstacle, but definitely not impossible! I have heard of people receiving their B while 130 is pending; lots get denied too, though. There are just so many variables with these processes lol

[W199 343]

5 hours ago, Alexandra Delgado said:

Thank you!! 
No I didn’t apply yet for a tourist visa because I wanted to see first if it’s a good idea. I’m working as a police in my country and If I’ll apply for a tourist I will quit my job, also my husband it’s military, so I’m thinking that can be a plus since he can be found easily.

As long as you are totally honest with your intentions and do not misrepresent, there will be no harm to apply for one. Many people do for the same reason as you. but almost everyone gets denied. It will most likely just be a waste of money and time. But you could get a tourist visa and meet in another Country like Canada.

[SalishSea 17,970]

10 hours ago, Alexandra Delgado said:

Thank you!! 
No I didn’t apply yet for a tourist visa because I wanted to see first if it’s a good idea. I’m working as a police in my country and If I’ll apply for a tourist I will quit my job, also my husband it’s military, so I’m thinking that can be a plus since he can be found easily.

Quitting your job at the time you apply for a tourist visa is not particularly smart.

[Alexandra Ale 0]

10 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Quitting your job at the time you apply for a tourist visa is not particularly smart.

Yes I know, but I don’t have other options because I don’t have enough leave and also I can’t suspend my active duty.