Travelling on tourist visa whilst waiting for I-130

[BLC 112]

4 hours ago, RedAndSharpe said:

Would I be allowed to enter the USA on my B2 visa after submitting the I-130? And if I do enter the US on a B2 visa, how would that affect the immigration process?

My husband visited many times on us ESTA while our i-130 was in process. He was never questioned about it but always came prepared to show he had ties to his home country. It’s up to the boarder officer each time though. It wouldn’t affect the immigration process at all, unless you were denied entry( which you would just need a waiver for anyway if it came to that).  But if it sounds like they are going to deny entry you can ask to withdraw your request to enter the country. 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

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[Ara Burton 19]

My wife filed for me on November 6th and I am currently on a trip visiting her in NYC.

 

The Immigration Officer asked me the following:

 

How long are you here for?

Are you traveling with food?

What kind of other foods do you have?

 

So don't be nervous when traveling while waiting for your approval. Just tell the truth if they ask about it.

[AJ19962346 12]

On 12/17/2023 at 6:41 PM, Ara Burton said:

My wife filed for me on November 6th and I am currently on a trip visiting her in NYC.

 

The Immigration Officer asked me the following:

 

How long are you here for?

Are you traveling with food?

What kind of other foods do you have?

 

So don't be nervous when traveling while waiting for your approval. Just tell the truth if they ask about it.

Thanks a lot for the confidence and courage. I am planning to visit my husband in April next year he is in Texas but recently my friends have decided to visit Miami in March for 3-4 days now m confused should i go for it or not. 

 

[Sleepy1234 4]

Hi all,

 

I am going to visit my husband in February (I have visited him many times before during this process) and I just wondered what is the best thing to say when asked 'why are you visiting?' Should I say that I am visiting my husband or does that open a can of worms? Or maybe visiting family? 

[Ryan H 3,812]

On 1/17/2024 at 1:25 AM, ninabd said:

Hi all,

 

I am going to visit my husband in February (I have visited him many times before during this process) and I just wondered what is the best thing to say when asked 'why are you visiting?' Should I say that I am visiting my husband or does that open a can of worms? Or maybe visiting family? 

 

You say that you are visiting your husband.

[TiffAndMike 54]

On 1/17/2024 at 3:25 AM, ninabd said:

Hi all,

 

I am going to visit my husband in February (I have visited him many times before during this process) and I just wondered what is the best thing to say when asked 'why are you visiting?' Should I say that I am visiting my husband or does that open a can of worms? Or maybe visiting family? 

Be honest about the nature of your visit and who you are visiting.  Have a return ticket home and proof of ties to your home country. Make sure you don't plan to stay too long or they will question you, with or without an I-130 pending.  

 

Learned that the first time my husband came to visit when we arranged for him to stay for something like 84 days. They almost denied him entry.

 

Last time he came, he stayed 5 weeks and no problems.

[Sleepy1234 4]

Thank you guys- I appreciate you!!

[AJ19962346 12]

On 1/29/2024 at 3:39 AM, ninabd said:

Thank you guys- I appreciate you!!

Hi were you able to visit him ? 

What all they asked at customs ? 

[srkicarinho 1]

Good day everyone,

 

I am a crewmember working on a Cruise ship and last year I married Us citizen and our process for Spouse visa CR1 is going smoothly.

After I married my wife I went on a cruise ship joining in Alaska and had several times entered us during my contract. 

So I was working on a cruise that was in Us waters and I never had any overstays.

I finished my contract last month and I needed to redo my c1d visa as it expires soon and I have to join cruise next month.

So i went for my c1d visa interview and in the end of the interview counselor officer said to me that my c1d visa is approved and for good behavior and beig diligent with my c1d visa they will isue b1/b2 visa(that i didnt look for).

Now my question is:

Can I go and visit my wife in the us or is better not on b1b2 visa?

As I said I got b1b2 visa for my previous clean history for over 8years being in and out of us but I work on a cruise and I don't work in my country/

Is that enough to enter us for a short visit 7-10 days before joining the ship? 

I would buy return ticket and vist her for few days, will come back to my country and than go and join the cruise.

Your opinion?

 

 

[JayFromTexas 69]

On 2/25/2024 at 8:46 PM, srkicarinho said:

Good day everyone,

 

I am a crewmember working on a Cruise ship and last year I married Us citizen and our process for Spouse visa CR1 is going smoothly.

After I married my wife I went on a cruise ship joining in Alaska and had several times entered us during my contract. 

So I was working on a cruise that was in Us waters and I never had any overstays.

I finished my contract last month and I needed to redo my c1d visa as it expires soon and I have to join cruise next month.

So i went for my c1d visa interview and in the end of the interview counselor officer said to me that my c1d visa is approved and for good behavior and beig diligent with my c1d visa they will isue b1/b2 visa(that i didnt look for).

Now my question is:

Can I go and visit my wife in the us or is better not on b1b2 visa?

As I said I got b1b2 visa for my previous clean history for over 8years being in and out of us but I work on a cruise and I don't work in my country/

Is that enough to enter us for a short visit 7-10 days before joining the ship? 

I would buy return ticket and vist her for few days, will come back to my country and than go and join the cruise.

Your opinion?

 

 

What you describe is precisely what the B2 visa is for. 

From travel.state.gov:

Tourism (B-2)

• Tourism
• Vacation (holiday)
• Visit with friends or relatives
• Medical treatment
• Participation in social events hosted by fraternal, social, or service organizations
• Participation by amateurs in musical, sports, or similar events or contests, if not being paid for participating
• Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, not for credit toward a degree (for example, a two-day cooking class while on vacation)

[srkicarinho 1]

On 3/6/2024 at 12:29 AM, JayFromTexas said:

What you describe is precisely what the B2 visa is for. 

Thanks for reply,

 

She was here in Serbia last week for a few days but she is the one that has regular job and it will be more convenient for me to go there for a few days before joining the cruise.

I will join cruise ship next month but have anxiety going to US as I don't want to be denied and possible lose my b1/b2 and c1d visa as c1d visa is my working visa for cruise.

And also I don't want to mess up my spouse visa application.

 

Can anyone tell me what's the worst case scenario ? 

 

Please advise.

 

 

 

 

[Boiler 45,467]

C/D is not a work visa, think of it as a limited B, I would always get a B rather than a C/D.

 

There may be more limitations but C?D only allows you to transfer ar join you ship. No adjustments.

 

A B allows you to so much much more but no work.

 

 

Edited March 10 by Boiler

[srkicarinho 1]

I am aware of that,

 

So to make things clear.

 

C1D visa is my crewmember visa that serves to join the ship and to work on a ship.

B1B2 is tourist visa that main purpose is visit US not work.

 

Totally aware of this.

 

But my question is.

 

Taking in consideration that I'm in the Spouse visa process, can I see my wife for a few days on my B1B2 visa(only few days as I have to go back home and work on a cruise later in April)?

 

[Boiler 45,467]

Of course you can visit your wife.

 

As I understand it crew  who do not get off a ship do not require a US Visa or work authorisation.