Quick/Obvious Question: Can petitioner go through customs with beneficiary?

[slavaskii 886]

From my times entering the US I presume this is an emphatic no, but as I’m listed on the visa I wonder if I’m allowed to accompany my fiancée through the immigrant/non-citizen line at customs? 
 

As it’s likely a no, anyone with experience with what the customs process is like for the beneficiary is much appreciated. TIA!

[TBoneTX 45,659]

This may vary somewhat by airport.  You can ask the staff -- those directing the deplaning passengers into the appropriate lines -- whether you can accompany your fiancée.

 

Most reports here suggest a "pro forma" experience for the arriving beneficiary.  They're directed to secondary inspection, where they wait for a few minutes (or longer, depending on traffic there) to be called; the CBP agent will typically ask no more than a couple of questions and remind the beneficiary that she is to marry the petitioner within 90 days.  I have never heard of a K-1 beneficiary's luggage being searched beyond normal security scanning.

Edited June 12, 2022 by TBoneTX

[Maki&Kiki 123]

Hi~ I guess you can try, the worst that can happen is they tell you to go to your line ~ But the whole process is really not that scary. In my situation i waited around 15 minutes in visitor line. Then said hello to the officer, gave him my passport and visa documents. After biometrics and pic taken i was asked to follow other officer to some room (secondary, keep in mind phones are not allowed to use while in there). I sat there for about 15 min. Officer then called my name, handed me passport, smiled and said “welcome to the usa” That’s it. My point of entry is JFK airpot~

[slavaskii 886]

Thank you both for your information! Seems like it’s more nuanced than I expected, for some reason I thought the first CBP officer would be filling out the documentation. If secondary’s involved chances are I won’t be able to accompany, but I’ll update nonetheless. Point of entry is Dulles (IAD).

 

Also will update on whether anyone is prepared for the CDC lifting the testing mandate today, ha

[Neonred 3,579]

I did it with my then fiancee entering through Atlanta.  Found out it was actually ok to go together through the US citizen and PR line (they are really the same as the visitor line but usually shorter and quicker), but it's probably more correct to go in the visitor/immigrant line.  Got directed to secondary so I went with her and waited...about three hours at that time.  When she was called up to speak with the immigration officer I went up too.  He did some paperwork, checked my passport also, then gave us the usual speech about getting married in 90 days and off we went.  

Edited June 12, 2022 by Neonred

[slavaskii 886]

To update on the latter front, Warsaw asked for neither the attestation nor antigen test. So that’s been communicated well, it seems. 
 

Thank you very much @Neonred for your insight! I will definitely ask if I can accompany, especially knowing now the process can take several hours.

[Mike E 11,741]

At SFO the airport workers who don’t work for CBP tried to separate my fiancée an me as we were lined up together in the non citizen line. I refused, told them that we filled out a single customs card as CBP policy is that everyone traveling together who are part of the same family that lives at the same address fills out the same customs card.  My fiancée is part of my family, period. 
 

We follow CBP policy when we travel.  Not arbitrary airport rules that violate CBP policy and US customs and immigration laws.  We do not ask permission to obey the law.  
 

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Mike E

[JeanneAdil 6,583]

it does vary by airport

Like Neonred said "we also were able to go thru US citizen's line"

JFK officer told me i could accompany him thru USC line when i thought we would come in thru NYC

we ended up coming in thru Chicago which allowed the same USC line

Miami wasn't freindly anytime i passed thru with any help

[Neonred 3,579]

2 hours ago, slavaskii said:

 

Thank you very much @Neonred for your insight! I will definitely ask if I can accompany, especially knowing now the process can take several hours.

I didn't ask.  I just did it.  No one tried to stop me.

 

Walked to secondary, which at ATL was a large room with a lot of people waiting.  Handed over passports (I'm sure they didn't look at mine to see it was a US passport) and documents and waited....a long time.  Very interesting to be a US citizen watching all that went on.  I wrote about it here on VJ so long ago.  The officers were very rude and uncaring at the time.  I had my eye on our folder on the counter, and after about 3 hours I saw that an officer picked it up.  He looked at it, shook his head and said "oh #######, its a K-1".  He looked to another officer and asked how many days do they get?  Then he put everything down and went to chat with some of the female officers working there asking where everyone was going for dinner that night, and what was everyone doing that weekend and...  I had to bite my tongue.  

 

Finally we got called up.  Guy was a little surprised to see me, but quickly checked my passport to see that I was admitted OK and said I was fine.  Gave us the quick speech about getting married in 90 days, and then we were off.

 

I'm sure it varies by airport.

 

 

Edited June 12, 2022 by Neonred

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

38 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

 

Miami wasn't freindly anytime i passed thru with any help

Something about that airport, I have never seen another in the US like it where everyone - CBP, TSA. airline employees, shop assistants, waiters, everyone - is so surly and unhelpful. Hopefully OP is entering elsewhere. 

[Redro 4,611]

7 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Thank you both for your information! Seems like it’s more nuanced than I expected, for some reason I thought the first CBP officer would be filling out the documentation. If secondary’s involved chances are I won’t be able to accompany, but I’ll update nonetheless. Point of entry is Dulles (IAD).

 

Also will update on whether anyone is prepared for the CDC lifting the testing mandate today, ha

POE reviews:

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

 

When I immigrate to the US... I'm making sure my husband will be with me every.step.of.the.way.... 

Not taking no for an answer 🤣

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

@Neonred things must have changed at ATL. 3 years ago it was just a little seating area with a booth right next to the exit 🤣

 

OP, time wise it just depends on how many people arriving at the same time and how busy they're. We've seen people not going to secondary at all because the CBP officer at the normal booth had enough time to handle them. Others like me just did a quick stop at secondary and then there are some unlucky people who have to wait forever. 

[JeanneAdil 6,583]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

Something about that airport, I have never seen another in the US like it where everyone - CBP, TSA. airline employees, shop assistants, waiters, everyone - is so surly and unhelpful. Hopefully OP is entering elsewhere. 

Yep,   I go thru Ft Lauderdale if i have to enter in Florida

 

 

[Loren Y 2,756]

Had no issues at LAX when my wife and I arrived at 7pm at night. I went thru with her in the Visitor line with no issues. Officer took a look at my passport ans scanned it, said oh, global entry, your done, welcome back, and then opened and went thru the packet with my wife while I stood there. Whole process was 15-20 minutes and we were thru and on the way to baggage claim quick and easy.

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Moving to the US forum -- topic is about POE procedures after the visa process ***