Do you know someone who has entered the U.S. knowing they were wanting to immigrate but stating they were not?

[Andy-n-Maricar 6]

There is a woman at work from Taiwan who proudly boasted that she met her husband online and visited him on four separate occasions on a tourist visa, knowing she would get married on her last visit. She said on trips 3 and 4 here the immigration officers at LAX asked her about the tourist visa and why she only went to Oklahoma, she lied about wanting to see the buffalo and the Indians, and they believed her both times. She has been here a few years now and is very proud of the fact that she commited visa fraud.

[DakotaK1 1]

I also know somebody that adjusted status when they came here and did not tell at the POE.

But they where lucky and got approved,makes me kinda mad cos I had to go through the entire K1 process.

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

Yes - myself, but then again I was 17 and knew nothing about the US immigration system simply trusted my aunt who brought me here on a tourist visa. Surly I found myself out of status for about 7 years - not a great situation but I guess in my case ignorance was the bliss until I was ready to go to college and had to pay out of state tuition and realized that I won't be able to pay any visits back home for a good while. Now 17 years later I still had been back home only one time - oh well, US is my home now and I am happy that I end up here but would never recommend this to anyone...ever...

[kovu 0]

My first boss in the US married an employee after 5 months who was on a tourist visa (yes I know he shouldn't have even been working on a tourist visa but that boss didn't think she had to follow rules). To make it worse I know that the marriage was just for he could stay in the country since they didn't live or act like husband and wife.

[Caladan 19]

No. It's reputed that only soothsayers have talent to portend the future.

agreed.

Agreed. Also, when they worry about immigrant intent, that's tied to the actual process of using the visa, not merely having a desire to live in the U.S. someday. E.g., it's not uncommon for someone holding an F-1 to have plans to get hired by an American company upon the conclusion of their studies, switching to a work visa and eventually gaining permanent residency.

In both of the cases you mentioned, the person isn't doing anything illegal. To take another case, C. visited me while his K-1 was pending. He obviously had a desire to immigrate -- his packet was on the way to Vancouver -- but he didn't have immigrant intent *on that visit.*

[himher 634]

Here in Houston, about half the population entered the country on a pass without ever intending to leave.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I knew someone that was going to try to get a visitor visa and get into the country, and then try to find someone to marry for papers (pay someone - mutual understanding/ agreement). When I heard that he got denied 3 seconds into the interview, I smiled on the inside

Saludos,

Caro