Travel during i-30 process

[RLM 0]

Hello,

I have 2 related questions about travel during the i-130 process, and one other question. My wife and I  have submitted our i-130 about a month ago. I am in the US, she in the UK. We have been told that while in process, she should not travel here. However, I have posed this question previously and get the common response that "it shouldn't be a problem to enter", or "we have always been able to enter".  I think we can all admit that being turned away at a US airport because you drew an agent who didn't let you enter would be really, really disappointing. Does the country that your spouse is travelling from have any bearing on admittance? Is there any locked in advice that would be a bit more certain?

 

Second question: we are taking a long trip in Southeast Asia while we are waiting (in April). What would be our recourse if the office in London wanted to have the interview during this scheduled trip? If we requested a different time, would/could we be put back at the end of the line? 

 

Last question: does anyone know how long the medical exam will take? Is it generally more than a day? 

 

Thank you in advance. 

[OldUser 6,602]

43 minutes ago, RLM said:

I think we can all admit that being turned away at a US airport because you drew an agent who didn't let you enter would be really, really disappointing.

Disappointing indeed, it's a risk because of CBP officer's discretion. 

43 minutes ago, RLM said:

Does the country that your spouse is travelling from have any bearing on admittance? Is there any locked in advice that would be a bit more certain?

No, neither UK nor other country can decide whether a visitor will be admitted to the US. 

 

The visitor can go through preclearance when flying from Dublin, Ireland. In this case they would know whether they need to fly over Atlantic to get entry denied or not. If allowed to board the plane in Ireland, the spouse would not need to go through immigration control in the USA.

Edited December 3, 2022 by OldUser

[mam521 2,056]

1 hour ago, RLM said:

Hello,

I have 2 related questions about travel during the i-130 process, and one other question. My wife and I  have submitted our i-130 about a month ago. I am in the US, she in the UK. We have been told that while in process, she should not travel here. However, I have posed this question previously and get the common response that "it shouldn't be a problem to enter", or "we have always been able to enter".  I think we can all admit that being turned away at a US airport because you drew an agent who didn't let you enter would be really, really disappointing. Does the country that your spouse is travelling from have any bearing on admittance? Is there any locked in advice that would be a bit more certain?

 

Second question: we are taking a long trip in Southeast Asia while we are waiting (in April). What would be our recourse if the office in London wanted to have the interview during this scheduled trip? If we requested a different time, would/could we be put back at the end of the line? 

 

Last question: does anyone know how long the medical exam will take? Is it generally more than a day? 

 

Thank you in advance. 

Who told you and your wife that she should not travel to the US? 
 

the medical is a one day thing. In preparation, she can make sure she has her immunization records and that they are up to date. I believe it’s HepB that’s catching people out these days as it was a more recent add to the required list. 
 

28 minutes ago, OldUser said:

The visitor can go through preclearance when flying from Dublin, Ireland. In this case they would know whether they need to fly over Atlantic to get entry denied or not. If allowed to board the plane in Ireland, the spouse would not need to go through immigration control in the USA.

^^^^This. If you’re concerned, your wife would get turned around without flying across the pond and then having to return again. 

[Boiler 45,442]

I think I have visited 30 odd countries including the US and suppose I could have been refused entry to any of them. Still went.

[pushbrk 12,868]

Try reading the pinned thread on visiting during the process.  Note that "I have been told...." is a well known source of misinformation.