Visiting My Fiancé While At The End Of I-129 F Processing

[Rica7590 0]

Hi everyone! 

 

I know you are technically able to visit your Fiancé in the US as the beneficiary while your I-129 F is pending if you have evidence that you are coming back to your home country and not living there. I am looking to visit my Fiancé for one last time before our  I-129 F is approved (it has been very delayed, as many others have experienced). I am wondering if the  I-129 F is approved while I'm down there visiting, how urgently should I be returning to my home country (Canada) or do they not generally flag you unless you attempt to cross the border after the approval. 

 

Thanks,

Erica 

[canadian_wife 1,822]

There is no flagging as far as I know.  Why would 'they' flag you and who are 'they'?

 

If the I129F is approved while you are visiting that is great!  No need to rush back. 

 

Just remember, each attempted entry into the US is up to the CBP. 

 

Good luck 

[Emily&Tikko 37]

58 minutes ago, Rica7590 said:

Hi everyone! 

 

I know you are technically able to visit your Fiancé in the US as the beneficiary while your I-129 F is pending if you have evidence that you are coming back to your home country and not living there. I am looking to visit my Fiancé for one last time before our  I-129 F is approved (it has been very delayed, as many others have experienced). I am wondering if the  I-129 F is approved while I'm down there visiting, how urgently should I be returning to my home country (Canada) or do they not generally flag you unless you attempt to cross the border after the approval. 

 

Thanks,

Erica 

What visa did you use to travel to visit in the US while I-129 was pending?  Waiting for our petition to be processed and would love for my fiancé to be able to visit while we wait!

[Rica7590 0]

1 minute ago, Emily&Tikko said:

What visa did you use to travel to visit in the US while I-129 was pending?  Waiting for our petition to be processed and would love for my fiancé to be able to visit while we wait!

Hey there,

I didn’t need a travel visa to visit, as I am from Canada! I believe the US has a travel visa you can apply to while waiting, that I have heard is pretty easy. Good luck! 

[Emily&Tikko 37]

Just now, Rica7590 said:

Hey there,

I didn’t need a travel visa to visit, as I am from Canada! I believe the US has a travel visa you can apply to while waiting, that I have heard is pretty easy. Good luck! 

Great, if anyone knows of which form number or visa this is please let me know! We have heard of applying for a visitors visa but was told it would probably be denied with pending k1

[Rica7590 0]

40 minutes ago, canadian_wife said:

There is no flagging as far as I know.  Why would 'they' flag you and who are 'they'?

 

If the I129F is approved while you are visiting that is great!  No need to rush back. 

 

Just remember, each attempted entry into the US is up to the CBP. 

 

Good luck 

Thanks for your reply! I am am not sure who would be keeping track of this, but border guards or UCSIS may look at my recent travel history and have a note of my travels. I doubt they are that intensive, I am just worried that if I am in the US at the time of acceptance, our whole visa may be jeopardized.. 🤔  

 

if members here have anymore insight that would be greatly appreciated! 
 

Erica 

[powerpuff 6,702]

6 minutes ago, Emily&Tikko said:

Great, if anyone knows of which form number or visa this is please let me know! We have heard of applying for a visitors visa but was told it would probably be denied with pending k1

Please start your own thread to ask your questions. 
 

3 minutes ago, Rica7590 said:

Thanks for your reply! I am am not sure who would be keeping track of this, but border guards or UCSIS may look at my recent travel history and have a note of my travels. I doubt they are that intensive, I am just worried that if I am in the US at the time of acceptance, our whole visa may be jeopardized.. 🤔  

 

if members here have anymore insight that would be greatly appreciated! 
 

Erica 

the worst that can happen is that they don’t let you in because they don’t believe you’ll return to Canada. You’ll just have to go back and wait for a visa to be issued. I don’t see anymore potential problems than that. Plenty of people have traveled before/during/after a petition approval. It doesn’t really matter at which stage of the process you’re visiting, that won’t have bearing on your K1 

[Rica7590 0]

27 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Please start your own thread to ask your questions. 
 

the worst that can happen is that they don’t let you in because they don’t believe you’ll return to Canada. You’ll just have to go back and wait for a visa to be issued. I don’t see anymore potential problems than that. Plenty of people have traveled before/during/after a petition approval. It doesn’t really matter at which stage of the process you’re visiting, that won’t have bearing on your K1 

Thank you for your input! I am sure I am just being overly cautious! 
 

I would love any members to comment on this if you have had the experience of petition acceptance while you were visiting in the US. 

 

Erica 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,454]

9 hours ago, Rica7590 said:

Hi everyone! 

 

I know you are technically able to visit your Fiancé in the US as the beneficiary while your I-129 F is pending if you have evidence that you are coming back to your home country and not living there. I am looking to visit my Fiancé for one last time before our  I-129 F is approved (it has been very delayed, as many others have experienced). I am wondering if the  I-129 F is approved while I'm down there visiting, how urgently should I be returning to my home country (Canada) or do they not generally flag you unless you attempt to cross the border after the approval. 

 

Thanks,

Erica 

 

After the I-129F approval it will be sent to the NVC and stay there about 4 weeks before being forwarded to the embassy/consulate.   This was before Covid - nowadays it is held at the NVC until the embassy/consulate tells them they are ready to process the next batch.

 

I am not sure how far behind Montreal is with K-1 visas - you should be able to check with the Canada regional forum here on VJ.

 

When the petition is sent to Montreal, you have about 3 months to schedule the interview.  It is self-service -- that is, neither the NVC nor the consulate will schedule the interview for you.  Again, this was pre-Covid, because the approved I-129F petition is only valid for 4 months and you would need to have the interview before it expired.   Post-Covid NVC/consulate have been automatically extending the petition.

 

Anyhoo....it should not be an issue you if you want to visit your fiance, as long as CBP allows you entry.  You control the steps after the NVC sends your petition to Montreal.  Therefore, you can make the proper arrangements for your return to Canada and for scheduling the medical and interview.

 

[lastrose 60]

We’re in the very end of the process and my fiancé has visited me twice since our I-129F was approved. First visit while it was at NVC and it was sent to the embassy while he was here. Second visit was after we had already scheduled our interview (but before it took place). No issue whatsoever with either visit. He was just asked the normal questions at POE. He wasn’t even asked to show any ties to his country of residence (though did bring proof both times in case). 

[carmel34 3,633]

9 hours ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

After the I-129F approval it will be sent to the NVC and stay there about 4 weeks before being forwarded to the embassy/consulate.   This was before Covid - nowadays it is held at the NVC until the embassy/consulate tells them they are ready to process the next batch.

 

I am not sure how far behind Montreal is with K-1 visas - you should be able to check with the Canada regional forum here on VJ.

In the pandemic era some have waited more than a year from I-129F petition approval, for the visa interview in Montreal.  They continue to be backed up, and omicron will not help.  The wait for an interview after petition approval is very long right now, especially for the Montreal consulate.  Patience will be needed, so visiting during the process will help.  Good luck OP!

[Rica7590 0]

6 hours ago, lastrose said:

We’re in the very end of the process and my fiancé has visited me twice since our I-129F was approved. First visit while it was at NVC and it was sent to the embassy while he was here. Second visit was after we had already scheduled our interview (but before it took place). No issue whatsoever with either visit. He was just asked the normal questions at POE. He wasn’t even asked to show any ties to his country of residence (though did bring proof both times in case). 

Oh wow! That makes me feel much better. Thanks for providing your experience with this.

Obviously there is risk involved, but it seems like they will just turn you away and that's that. 

[Rica7590 0]

On 1/7/2022 at 2:23 AM, lastrose said:

We’re in the very end of the process and my fiancé has visited me twice since our I-129F was approved. First visit while it was at NVC and it was sent to the embassy while he was here. Second visit was after we had already scheduled our interview (but before it took place). No issue whatsoever with either visit. He was just asked the normal questions at POE. He wasn’t even asked to show any ties to his country of residence (though did bring proof both times in case). 

Hello,

 

That is a good sign, I believe it really just depends on the guard at the POE and if they are skeptical that you will return back to your home country. I don't think at the POE they have anything showing you are in the middle of a visa to immigrate there.. Could be wrong though.

 

 How long were each of his visits in duration? Thinking of visiting for about a month (with a return plane ticket of course).

[lastrose 60]

4 hours ago, Rica7590 said:

Hello,

 

That is a good sign, I believe it really just depends on the guard at the POE and if they are skeptical that you will return back to your home country. I don't think at the POE they have anything showing you are in the middle of a visa to immigrate there.. Could be wrong though.

 

 How long were each of his visits in duration? Thinking of visiting for about a month (with a return plane ticket of course).

Just a week each time for us. Hope you’re able to see your partner soon!