Anyone successfully get a tourist visa before K1 visa?

[nakm 2]

As it currently looks like the wait in Bangkok for a tourist visa interview is about 6 months faster than the K1 visa interview, I’m thinking about having my fiancé apply for the tourist visa so we can take a short trip to visit my family (I have lots of free airline miles that will expire next year)… has anyone here had any success getting a tourist visa for their fiancé while waiting for a K1 visa interview? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Tourist Visas forum ***

 

12 hours ago, nakm said:

has anyone here had any success getting a tourist visa for their fiancé while waiting for a K1 visa interview?

 

@Jorgedig's husband did.  But that was pre-COVID, interviewed at a low visa fraud country, and had strong ties to home country.  Not as likely to happen applying in Thailand.

 

[Redro 4,611]

12 hours ago, nakm said:

As it currently looks like the wait in Bangkok for a tourist visa interview is about 6 months faster than the K1 visa interview, I’m thinking about having my fiancé apply for the tourist visa so we can take a short trip to visit my family (I have lots of free airline miles that will expire next year)… has anyone here had any success getting a tourist visa for their fiancé while waiting for a K1 visa interview? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

K1 is already on file or K1 is pending and you want to apply for B1/B2?

There is always the chance the tourist visa is approved (a South African secured his B2 with a CR1 pending) but it all depends on the evidence and interview. 

 

Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. 

Edited May 4, 2022 by ROK2USA

[nakm 2]

11 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

K1 is already on file or K1 is pending and you want to apply for B1/B2?

There is always the chance the tourist visa is approved (a South African secured his B2 with a CR1 pending) but it all depends on the evidence and interview. 

 

Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. 

We just filed K1 about 2 months ago. Just wondering if applying for the tourist visa is risky if we are rejected.. that is, does it have an effect on the K1 process if the tourist visa is rejected? Thanks 🙏 

[Redro 4,611]

3 minutes ago, nakm said:

We just filed K1 about 2 months ago. Just wondering if applying for the tourist visa is risky if we are rejected.. that is, does it have an effect on the K1 process if the tourist visa is rejected? Thanks 🙏 

It won't impact your K1 visa process at all if rejected. 

But, you have to disclose the rejection on the DS160 I believe. 

[SalishSea 17,827]

13 hours ago, Chancy said:

*** Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Tourist Visas forum ***

 

 

@Jorgedig's husband did.  But that was pre-COVID, interviewed at a low visa fraud country, and had strong ties to home country.  Not as likely to happen applying in Thailand.

 

And it was prior to filing the K-1.  We were long distance for a couple years before I filed the petition.

 

Would not risk it from a VWP country now, but from Thailand, nothing to lose.

[nakm 2]

25 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

And it was prior to filing the K-1.  We were long distance for a couple years before I filed the petition.

 

Would not risk it from a VWP country now, but from Thailand, nothing to lose.

Wow this is very encouraging - thank you. One final question, and this is a tricky one: 
 

If the interviewer does NOT mention or ask about my fiancé’s relationship (I.e. “do you have a foreign boyfriend etc”) and my fiancé merely answers the interviewers questions literally (I.e. “ what is your purpose in going to America” answer: “vacation/tourism”… which literally is true: she just wants to travel there to see tourist sites etc), will she be penalized later if it comes out that she had a K1 on file and didn’t disclose that fact? .. that is, are you REQUIRED to disclose that you are seeking a K1 visa when you do the tourist visa interview. 

 

I only ask this because I’ve seen a lot of conflicting info about this topic. 
 

thanks for your time

 

[nakm 2]

2 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

It won't impact your K1 visa process at all if rejected. 

But, you have to disclose the rejection on the DS160 I believe. 

Wow this is very encouraging - thank you. One final question, and this is a tricky one: 
 

If the interviewer does NOT mention or ask about my fiancé’s relationship (I.e. “do you have a foreign boyfriend etc”) and my fiancé merely answers the interviewers questions literally (I.e. “ what is your purpose in going to America” answer: “vacation/tourism”… which literally is true: she just wants to travel there to see tourist sites etc), will she be penalized later if it comes out that she had a K1 on file and didn’t disclose that fact? .. that is, are you REQUIRED to disclose that you are seeking a K1 visa when you do the tourist visa interview. 

 

I only ask this because I’ve seen a lot of conflicting info about this topic. 
 

thanks for your time 

 

 

•  

[SalishSea 17,827]

29 minutes ago, nakm said:

Wow this is very encouraging - thank you. One final question, and this is a tricky one: 
 

If the interviewer does NOT mention or ask about my fiancé’s relationship (I.e. “do you have a foreign boyfriend etc”) and my fiancé merely answers the interviewers questions literally (I.e. “ what is your purpose in going to America” answer: “vacation/tourism”… which literally is true: she just wants to travel there to see tourist sites etc), will she be penalized later if it comes out that she had a K1 on file and didn’t disclose that fact? .. that is, are you REQUIRED to disclose that you are seeking a K1 visa when you do the tourist visa interview. 

 

I only ask this because I’ve seen a lot of conflicting info about this topic. 
 

thanks for your time

 

No, it won't impact it.  She should answer the questions honestly, but no need to volunteer anything that is not asked.

 

But, it will definitely come up, as they ask who you know in the US.  It is even on the DS-160, if I'm not mistaken.

 

 

[Maki&Kiki 123]

Most of time, if not every time, they will ask if you have friends/family in USA, and that’s when you have to be honest and say that your fiance is from USA~. I was rejected b tourist visa when i was dating my boyfriend, before we got engaged. And yes it’s in DS160.. I remember putting my boyfriend’s name in application and chosing relationship with him (i put friend because there was no boyfriend option, but i am pretty sure there is fiancé option). Even if visa is not approved (and if you answer all questions truthfully), rejection does not impact k1 visa. 

[nakm 2]

1 hour ago, Kittinpaw said:

Most of time, if not every time, they will ask if you have friends/family in USA, and that’s when you have to be honest and say that your fiance is from USA~. I was rejected b tourist visa when i was dating my boyfriend, before we got engaged. And yes it’s in DS160.. I remember putting my boyfriend’s name in application and chosing relationship with him (i put friend because there was no boyfriend option, but i am pretty sure there is fiancé option). Even if visa is not approved (and if you answer all questions truthfully), rejection does not impact k1 visa. 

Thanks a lot for your advice!… I guess at this point I’m wondering if it’s even worth the time and effort. I wonder what factors influence the decision to reject or accept in the case of a person who has already filed K1.

 

[Redro 4,611]

2 hours ago, nakm said:

Thanks a lot for your advice!… I guess at this point I’m wondering if it’s even worth the time and effort. I wonder what factors influence the decision to reject or accept in the case of a person who has already filed K1.

 

The DS160 asks if you are traveling with anyone. 

From your previous posts it looks like you are currently living in Thailand with her? So, she would have to mention you by name. 

As you have already filed the K1- she will also have to document that in her DS160- the form asks if someone has filed an immigrant petition for you with USCIS.

She needs to be honest about her reason for traveling but also she will be asked about you as you will be mentioned in her paperwork.

 

Your partner needs to show strong ties to Thailand. Using you as her "strong tie" doesn't really work as you're both planning on moving to the US together. 

Does she have a job in Thailand? Does she have a home? 

 

Also, when did you file the K1? It would be great if you created a timeline. 

 

 

 

[Maki&Kiki 123]

You can always try, you never know~  And i just looked it up, in DS160 i put his name under ‘US point of contact information’. Asks you to put any individual in the US who knows you and can verify, if necessary, your identity~ I was refused because i never traveled by plane (never really traveled much), still lived with parents, i had no apartment/house/car and i had US boyfriend. My only ‘strong’ tie was a good job, but that wasn’t enough since back then i recently graduated and have been only employed for about 1 year. 

[nakm 2]

2 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

The DS160 asks if you are traveling with anyone. 

From your previous posts it looks like you are currently living in Thailand with her? So, she would have to mention you by name. 

As you have already filed the K1- she will also have to document that in her DS160- the form asks if someone has filed an immigrant petition for you with USCIS.

She needs to be honest about her reason for traveling but also she will be asked about you as you will be mentioned in her paperwork.

 

Your partner needs to show strong ties to Thailand. Using you as her "strong tie" doesn't really work as you're both planning on moving to the US together. 

Does she have a job in Thailand? Does she have a home? 

 

Also, when did you file the K1? It would be great if you created a timeline. 

 

 

 

We filed K1 about 2 months ago. She has a steady job and can show steady income in a bank statement. She’s also travelled to at least 4 other countries (Turkey, Georgia, Taiwan and Vietnam). We don’t own a home, but she does have her name on a lease for a condo.

 

My gut (based on anecdotal stories from other Thais) tells me this still isn’t enough to get a tourist visa.

[Chancy 6,241]

On 5/5/2022 at 12:10 AM, nakm said:

If the interviewer does NOT mention or ask about my fiancé’s relationship (I.e. “do you have a foreign boyfriend etc”) and my fiancé merely answers the interviewers questions literally (I.e. “ what is your purpose in going to America” answer: “vacation/tourism”… which literally is true: she just wants to travel there to see tourist sites etc), will she be penalized later if it comes out that she had a K1 on file and didn’t disclose that fact?

 

Your fiancee must disclose your relationship on the DS-160.  The form section on relatives lists "fiance(e)" as a relative.  Because you already filed the I-129F, you already declared to US immigration that you are in that relationship.  Leaving out your name from the DS-160 for B visa application would be misrepresentation.