Tourist Visa while waiting

[Vikash 0]

Hi,

I applied for my fiancee's K1 visa on Oct 4th. From the other forums and calling the Vermont Center, I know the wait times right now are frustratingly long.

My Fiancee can get a tourist visa quiet easily from her home country (India). If she applies for one, and come to visit me in the States, will it jeapordise out K1 aaplication at all? I'd love to have her come visit here, but not on the expense of harming the K1 case at all.

any ideas?

-Vik

[pushbrk 12,823]

Hi,

I applied for my fiancee's K1 visa on Oct 4th. From the other forums and calling the Vermont Center, I know the wait times right now are frustratingly long.

My Fiancee can get a tourist visa quiet easily from her home country (India). If she applies for one, and come to visit me in the States, will it jeapordise out K1 aaplication at all? I'd love to have her come visit here, but not on the expense of harming the K1 case at all.

any ideas?

-Vik

I'm not so sure how easily she can obtain a tourist visa but doing so will not negatively impact the K1 process.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I think getting a tourist visa while the K1 application is already pending might get more complicated...dunno...anyone?

[YuAndDan 153]

Common question, It wont affect K-1 process.

FAQ: 4.6)...Can my fiance(e) come to the US to visit me once the visa process is started?

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-application.html#4.6

[*JG* 2]

I thought I've heard those who get tourist visas while awaiting the K's are turned around at the border pretty regularly. It could be just Canadians I am reading. Not sure.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Well I guess you can always try if you are willing to spend the money and time on it and be prepared for the possibility of her being refused to enter USA...

[athena_ny 1]

Policy for issuing a tourist visa is to assume that everyone applying has intent to stay, so it's up to you to prove you don't - so I wouldn't say it's "easy" to get a tourist visa, that all lies in your proof.

There is always the risk of getting turned away at the POE, too.

[*julez* 124]

My fiance was denied a tourist visa while the I129f was in process. The embassy told him he was clearly an intending immigrant and therefore could not issue him a tourist visa. With that said, I have heard of a touris visa being approved once or twice for those with pending I-129f petitions.

[YuAndDan 153]

I thought I've heard those who get tourist visas while awaiting the K's are turned around at the border pretty regularly. It could be just Canadians I am reading. Not sure.

As per the FAQ I pointed out it spells out that strong ties back home are needed to be demonstrated to the consular officer to get the visa, and also to the POE officer to enter the country.

[My Lao Po 0]

My fiance was denied a tourist visa while the I129f was in process. The embassy told him he was clearly an intending immigrant and therefore could not issue him a tourist visa. With that said, I have heard of a touris visa being approved once or twice for those with pending I-129f petitions.

Yes, this is absolutely correct !! Once the I-129F or I-130 process is initiated, the tourist visa is off the table, as there is now clear intent to immigrate.

I am not aware of anyone, especially from third world countries, getting a touris visa while waiting for the K-visa to process.

[eric_and_teresa 10]

One week ago I was granted a new turist visa for 10 years, our petition has been approved and our interview for K-1 is pending.

In my experience, it was pretty easy to get it. I'm highligting that it was in my experience ONLY. I've had previous tourist visas for more than 15 years, and I've traveled many times to the U.S. before and even more after meeting my fiance. I had planned on being completely honest during the tourist visa interview and brought all our papers and our NOA2. The interview lasted less than 1 minute, the CO did not ask anything about our K-1 neither about my fiance.

I'm leaving on Dec. 20th, hopefully I wont have any trouble at the POE. I'll post my experience when I return home in January. I'm going to be completely honest, they really haven't asked me much questions during my previous visits, so I pray that it goes well this time!

I say give it a try, if your fiance has had a tourist visa before it would be a lot easier, but there is also a case of another VJer whose fiance got her first tourist visa while processing their K-1.. so anything can happen!

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Yes, this is absolutely correct !! Once the I-129F or I-130 process is initiated, the tourist visa is off the table, as there is now clear intent to immigrate.

I am not aware of anyone, especially from third world countries, getting a touris visa while waiting for the K-visa to process.

No, the tourist visa is not completely off the table. My country is considered a third world country and I was granted a tourist visa while our petition is already at the same Consulate waiting for a new interview to be re-scheduled.

I still have to see what happens at the POE but I'm very positive that it will be just fine.

So despite the intention of immigrating expressed on the filing of a K-1 there is still a chance to be granted a tourist visa.

[athena_ny 1]

One week ago I was granted a new turist visa for 10 years, our petition has been approved and our interview for K-1 is pending.

In my experience, it was pretty easy to get it. I'm highligting that it was in my experience ONLY. I've had previous tourist visas for more than 15 years, and I've traveled many times to the U.S. before and even more after meeting my fiance. I had planned on being completely honest during the tourist visa interview and brought all our papers and our NOA2. The interview lasted less than 1 minute, the CO did not ask anything about our K-1 neither about my fiance.

I'm leaving on Dec. 20th, hopefully I wont have any trouble at the POE. I'll post my experience when I return home in January. I'm going to be completely honest, they really haven't asked me much questions during my previous visits, so I pray that it goes well this time!

I say give it a try, if your fiance has had a tourist visa before it would be a lot easier, but there is also a case of another VJer whose fiance got her first tourist visa while processing their K-1.. so anything can happen!

The adjusted tourist visa denial rate for Guatemala is 52.3%, so your experience isn't the norm - but I hope all goes well when you come!

[eric_and_teresa 10]

The adjusted tourist visa denial rate for Guatemala is 52.3%, so your experience isn't the norm - but I hope all goes well when you come!

Yes, I'm a lucky girl that's why I highlighted "in my experience" because I know that a lot of people have a hard time getting a tourist visa here. I saw many at the Embassy that day that were denied, especially applicants with very low income.

Hopefully I'll be lucky at the POE as well! Thank you for good wishes

Where did you find those rates? I think that is a very interesting info.

Edited December 6, 2007 by eric_and_teresa

[pushbrk 12,823]

The adjusted tourist visa denial rate for Guatemala is 52.3%, so your experience isn't the norm - but I hope all goes well when you come!

Yes, I'm a lucky girl that's why I highlighted "in my experience" because I know that a lot of people have a hard time getting a tourist visa here. I saw many at the Embassy that day that were denied, especially applicants with very low income.

Hopefully I'll be lucky at the POE as well! Thank you for good wishes

Where did you find those rates? I think that is a very interesting info.

I think the key difference in your experience is that you had already shown over a number of visits and years, that you would return home. Single women who have never been to the US generally have a difficult time getting a tourist visa from most countries, while those who have been in and out of the US multiple times, tend to breeze right through.

With regard to the OP's fiancee, I don't think it will be easy for her to get a tourist visa from India to the US during the K1 process, unless, like you, she's got at least a history of multiple trips abroad and at least one to the US.