Visa Issued - Few questions about the move

[Jaccerz 1]

Hello! First of all, I want to thank VJ for the help over the past two years, ive been an avid reader although im not one to post much.

My timeline for my i-129f is as follows.
July 2019 - Application sent off
Jan 2020 -  I-797 received
April 2020 - First Interview

April 2020 - First interview cancelled due to Australian Lockdown
Feb 2021 - Two weeks notice for new interview and failure to show up = cancellation of visa
Feb 2021 - I-129f Approved

Okay, so a few quick questions, because I found that I stressed so much before the interview, that when i went into the interview, it was not as i expected and i was stressing over nothing. I had everything required on that checklist, and i had it all organised so it was in order for them.

1. When moving, is there a certain amount of money I should be moving with? I figure this will only be an issue with what im about to ask in my next question
2. What is the process at the airport? Do you then have another interview with Homeland? If so, what are the chances of them for some reason saying no? Like, my partner did a affidavit of support obviously, but are they also expecting me to take money over? And if they deem my money isnt enough, will they refuse entry? If it is another full on interview, what types of questions do they ask?

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, Jaccerz said:

Hello! First of all, I want to thank VJ for the help over the past two years, ive been an avid reader although im not one to post much.

My timeline for my i-129f is as follows.
July 2019 - Application sent off
Jan 2020 -  I-797 received
April 2020 - First Interview

April 2020 - First interview cancelled due to Australian Lockdown
Feb 2021 - Two weeks notice for new interview and failure to show up = cancellation of visa
Feb 2021 - I-129f Approved

Okay, so a few quick questions, because I found that I stressed so much before the interview, that when i went into the interview, it was not as i expected and i was stressing over nothing. I had everything required on that checklist, and i had it all organised so it was in order for them.

1. When moving, is there a certain amount of money I should be moving with? I figure this will only be an issue with what im about to ask in my next question
2. What is the process at the airport? Do you then have another interview with Homeland? If so, what are the chances of them for some reason saying no? Like, my partner did a affidavit of support obviously, but are they also expecting me to take money over? And if they deem my money isnt enough, will they refuse entry? If it is another full on interview, what types of questions do they ask?

1.  No particular amount.  Enough for coffee  would be the minimum.

2.  No interview.  Normal entry with the possibility of secondary to process the paper 

[Jaccerz 1]

Just now, payxibka said:

1.  No particular amount.  Enough for coffee  would be the minimum.

2.  No interview.  Normal entry with the possibility of secondary to process the paper 

Whats the point of the extra packet you have to take over with you then? When you go through customs do they look at it there and then at the desk? They dont make you go off into customs holding for an extra little interview for it? (Asking because when i went over for 3 months on my esta while waiting for  k1 to go through the process i was pulled in at Houston and had to prove that  i was leaving the country lol) customs office scares me tbh with its big ### coffee tin on the end of chain for the toilet door..

 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Jaccerz said:

Whats the point of the extra packet you have to take over with you then? When you go through customs do they look at it there and then at the desk? They dont make you go off into customs holding for an extra little interview for it? (Asking because when i went over for 3 months on my esta while waiting for  k1 to go through the process i was pulled in at Houston and had to prove that  i was leaving the country lol) customs office scares me tbh with its big ### coffee tin on the end of chain for the toilet door..

 

The packet is the beginning of your permanent "A" file with the USCIS,  that's why .

 

I will say again.   No interview other than normal arrival inspection type questions everyone gets.

Your immigration inspection (including secondary inspection) is all prior to you collecting your bags. 

 

Customs is after you have your bags and right before you leave the arrival hall.

[Jaccerz 1]

21 minutes ago, payxibka said:

The packet is the beginning of your permanent "A" file with the USCIS,  that's why .

 

I will say again.   No interview other than normal arrival inspection type questions everyone gets.

Your immigration inspection (including secondary inspection) is all prior to you collecting your bags. 

 

Customs is after you have your bags and right before you leave the arrival hall.

yeah right. its the part before you get your bags when you go through the desk that im talkin about, i always thought cos you had a packet to take, they would take you from the desk out into one of the offices.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Jaccerz said:

yeah right. its the part before you get your bags when you go through the desk that im talkin about, i always thought cos you had a packet to take, they would take you from the desk out into one of the offices.

They may take you to secondary.   

 

For my wife, it consisted of going from the booth to the separate waiting area, waited for them to process the paperwork,  called her name, received a "welcome to the usa" and collected her passport and away we went.

[HRQX 4,145]

39 minutes ago, Jaccerz said:

i was pulled in at Houston and had to prove that  i was leaving the country lol

That is not an issue with K-1 since K-1 allows dual intent.

 

Now if someone is entering with K-1 and when the CBP officer reminds him/her about the intent to marry within 90 day requirement the K-1 holder says one of the following then he/she cannot be admitted as K-1:

• "We recently had marriage ceremony in my country so my family could attend."
• "Our wedding is scheduled for (96 days from now) and that is when we intend to marry."

The first scenario results in no longer meeting free to marry requirement, so the K-1 is no longer valid for entry. The second scenario means no longer intending to marry within the 90 days, so cannot be admitted as K-1. 

Edited February 24, 2021 by HRQX

[Jaccerz 1]

6 hours ago, payxibka said:

They may take you to secondary.   

 

For my wife, it consisted of going from the booth to the separate waiting area, waited for them to process the paperwork,  called her name, received a "welcome to the usa" and collected her passport and away we went.

yeah, see its going to the separate area, i wasnt sure if they would interview again... or if it would be a simple welcome to usa thing.

 

6 hours ago, HRQX said:

That is not an issue with K-1 since K-1 allows dual intent.

 

Now if someone is entering with K-1 and when the CBP officer reminds him/her about the intent to marry within 90 day requirement the K-1 holder says one of the following then he/she cannot be admitted as K-1:

• "We recently had marriage ceremony in my country so my family could attend."
• "Our wedding is scheduled for (96 days from now) and that is when we intend to marry."

The first scenario results in no longer meeting free to marry requirement, so the K-1 is no longer valid for entry. The second scenario means no longer intending to marry within the 90 days, so cannot be admitted as K-1. 

ours is more of a, we intend to go to the local clerks office to marry in the following week of me arriving LOL
she has no family, i obviously have no family there, so its a simple thing for us to do, we would do a proper family wedding thing however once we go to australia to visit my fam tho

[SalishSea 17,708]

OP, if by 'interview,' you mean that your request for entry is further adjudicated pursuant to the consular interview, that is not the case.  As you know, all visa holders seeking entry at US ports are questioned, and can potentially be denied.  The details of your eligibility that enabled you to get the K-1 (such as financials), will not be revisited at POE.  Sometimes they remind you of the requirement to marry within 90 days of arrival.

 

You will likely go to secondary for processing of the K-1.  When my (now) husband arrived, he flew to Vancouver, so our POE was the land crossing from BC into Washington state.  Our CBP officer had never personally processed a K-1, so it took a little extra time - maybe half an hour.

 

 

[SalishSea 17,708]

2 hours ago, Jaccerz said:

yeah, see its going to the separate area, i wasnt sure if they would interview again... or if it would be a simple welcome to usa thing.

 

ours is more of a, we intend to go to the local clerks office to marry in the following week of me arriving LOL
she has no family, i obviously have no family there, so its a simple thing for us to do, we would do a proper family wedding thing however once we go to australia to visit my fam tho

Btw, don't forget to go to the local SSA (check for COVID closures) and apply for your social security number prior to the wedding.

[Marieke H 2,466]

Relax. It really isn't a big deal. You may be sent to secondary, but that is just to give them time to process everything without holding up the line. My POE was Seattle and it wasn't so busy when I arrived, so I did not need to go to secondary. It took the officer 10-15 minutes to process everything and meanwhile we were just chatting about where I was going to live (he had family in Boise).

 

Just don't say anything stupid. I remember someone here saying that when the fiancé was asked about his intent to marry, he joked, "maybe, maybe not". That is not what they want to hear and that would be a reason to refuse entry.

[Alytes 31]

Do you know your point of entry?  We spent a lot of time on here reading reviews for San Francisco airport so my fiance would be prepared.  But as others have said, you get in the regular immigration line, they may take you to a secondary room for simple processing of your paperwork and ask a few questions (where are you going, you understand you need to get married within 90 days, etc.) , then you are on your way!

[SalishSea 17,708]

3 hours ago, Marieke H said:

Relax. It really isn't a big deal. You may be sent to secondary, but that is just to give them time to process everything without holding up the line. My POE was Seattle and it wasn't so busy when I arrived, so I did not need to go to secondary. It took the officer 10-15 minutes to process everything and meanwhile we were just chatting about where I was going to live (he had family in Boise).

 

Just don't say anything stupid. I remember someone here saying that when the fiancé was asked about his intent to marry, he joked, "maybe, maybe not". That is not what they want to hear and that would be a reason to refuse entry.

I remember that!   I believe he was actually refused entry?

 

I told my husband not to do anything like that, as it’s just the type of joke he’d make.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,401]

6 hours ago, Jaccerz said:

yeah, see its going to the separate area, i wasnt sure if they would interview again... or if it would be a simple welcome to usa thing.

 

 

You can read over the POE reviews here (I selected Houston - select the one you will be using):

 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Houston&dfilter=0

 

[Marieke H 2,466]

12 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I remember that!   I believe he was actually refused entry?

 

I told my husband not to do anything like that, as it’s just the type of joke he’d make.

I did some searching and found the old thread:

 

OP, just don't do anything like this and you'll be fine!