Yes, you can visit!

[pete88 0]

I visit about every other week sometimes every week anywhere from 2 days and just now spent 2 weeks in the states. sometimes I get hassled but i'm brutally honest with them show them my NOA1 paper. letter from work and they let me go no problems.

[LadyPiret 6]

It shouldn't be an issue.

I sent all my paperwork to the London Embassy whilst in the US and flew back to London on the same day as I had my medical (landed 9am and medical at 3:10pm - not recommended - my blood pressure was raised because of it).

thank you for all your posts, Anna!

[*c°B°j* 1]

Hi to all of you...

I am going to visit in 2 weeks. I will have quite some proof with me (letter of employer, letter from company where I lease my apartment from, bank statements etc.) but I don't know what to answer when I get asked what the purpose of my visit is. In the past I always said "visiting family and friends".

[canadian7 1]

I just say I'm visiting my boyfriend, they usually just ask what he does then ask how long and say have a good trip! I wouldn't over complicate it

[Devy and Lynette 46]

Hello all, I am sooo new to this forum but this thing is on the money, my honey and I literally just applied for K-1 visa on August 6, 2013, three dag on days ago, so we have a long way to go, I know... it probably hasn't even reached the USCIS as of yet. I wanted to know from everyone's past experience, how long does it really take, we have been dating for a year and 1/2 and my honey proposed to me on Valentine's day 2013, we feel like everything is legit and we have so much evidence so I'm confident about approval just when??

Also it's August 9, 2013, what is your opinion on my fiance visiting me in the states, he lives in Jamaica and he's a perfect gentleman, I love him so, he does not, I repeat does not have any type of visa, but if we can try, we will, I go over there all the time no problem with my passport, but for him coming over, we just don't know and he would love to visit me until our process is finished, but that's going to be a while.

We literally just got back from Barbados in June and that trip went so perfect, but of course carribeans can fly anywhere in between the caribbean. So my question is do you think there will be any problem with him trying, does Jamaica citizens just have to have a visitor's visa or tourism visa before anything happens, should I wait until we receive NOA1, and then try, we are petrified, and need for someone to take our hands and lead us the way.

Please help us, we would really appreciate some input on this.

[a.post 0]

Since there is a demand for personal experiences and I just got back from visiting my fiancée in the states, I'd like to share mine.

We filed our petition early april, right after I got back from visiting her for two weeks. I still had a month to go working in the Royal Dutch Army. We decided that after I got out of the army I would come visit her for 90 days ( as you may or may not know, the maximum amount on a tourist visa ). After I had bought my ticket I started to wonder if I would be allowed into the states since I had my case pending! I read about other people’s experiences and all the tips that are on this forum. Now, my situation was to say the least ... worrisome.

As I said before, I just got out released from the army may 3rd and my flight left the very next day. So I was unemployed. Secondly I had sold most of my belongings and moved the rest of my stuff to my dad's since I didn't feel like paying rent for three months while visiting my fiancée. So, no job no rent/mortgage. Did I mention I also sold my car?

Anyway, I wasn't going to give up before I'd even tried and just got on that plane to Detroit. The worst that could happen was being sent back, but not without a fight that's for sure.

After landing at DTW I made my way to customs and of course as always I got picked out of the crowd for 'prescreening'. Must be something about my looks but that always happens. This time however the officer was even more rude than all the other times. He asked me where I was going ( Austin TX ), when I would be going back and how much money I had on me. I don't like to travel with a lot of cash on me so I had about 2 dollar in my wallet from the last time I visited the states. Also I had a substantial amount in savings and of course my credit card but he didn't want to hear about that and wrote in red a huge '2$' on my ticket. Didn’t say anything after that or even bothered to look at me and I was on my way again towards customs.

From that moment I had a bad feeling about this whole situation and the waiting in line for almost an hour gives a person the opportunity to think about every possible doom scenario, question they might ask you and get real insecure about passing customs. Just great!

Finally I was called up to the booth and the lady that already had a look in her eyes as if I had murdered her only child and both her cats started her 'interrogation'. Needless to say, that didn't take long. Reason of visit? Visiting my girlfriend. For how long? Three months. How much money do you have on you? 2$ cash and my debit and credit card. Occupation? Army, but I just got out. So are you still employed by the army yes or no? No ma’am. And a few more but I think after the first two she already knew she was going to send me through to the separate interrogation room.

I got called up to the desk and was relieved to see a fairly young guy that was very polite and straight to the point. He asked me more about my situation, how had I met my fiancée, where does she live, her address/phone number, full name, occupation. Then about my situation, the army, how I would pay for a three month visit, what we would be doing those three months.

Now here's the thing that I think convinced him I was good to go. I had visited her 4 times over the last year and she me 1 time. I knew everything about her off of the top of my head. Without hesitation could tell them her phone number, full address, full name, place and date of birth. I had the NOA1 on my phone and showed them that ... made sure that they would also notice I had a photo of her on my lock screen ( and he did notice and asked if that was her ).

We then went to pick up my luggage and he searched my suitcase. Nothing special but the engagement ring (since I still formally had to ask her). He complimented me on the ring and we went back to the counter. Apparently his colleague had tried to call my fiancée but couldn't reach her and left a message. They for a moment were debating on keeping me there until they had spoken with her but decided to let me go.

So, 90 minutes later I finally was on my way to catch my connecting flight. A very unpleasant experience but more than worth it since I got to spend 3 months with my fiancée. After all I think it's maybe 10% luck ( and probably luck is dealing with an officer that doesn't act like you're a criminal from the start ) and 90% all you. Be confident, be honest and don't try to hide anything how bad it may sound ( like quitting your job the day before in my case ). Of course take all the tips from all the other posts on this forum to heart, there are a lot of good ones on there. Never a guarantee when it comes to travelling to the us while you have a visa case pending but I'd say, don't let them stop you before you've even tried!

I spent 3 months out of the 5 month average waiting period from noa1 to noa2 together with my fiancée and that makes the wait a lot less hard! I hope this story is helpful and most of all convincing enough to encourage people to go for it and spend time with the love of their life. I wish everyone the best of luck and an as short as possible wait.

[mstewart 6]

I just visted this past weekend, here's how it went. Fairly smoothly I must say!

Also this was the first time I crossed saying "boyfriend"and "fiance" entering the states went like this, at the Detroit/Windsor tunnel POE:

Where are you from? --- London, ON

Where are you going? --- Atlanta, GA

Who's there? --- Boyfriend

Let me see your return ticket --- (I had this, and also a letter fro my employer, lease, and I-129F packet as proof too, but he only wanted the ticket)

Where do you work? --- Answered

Where does he work? --- Answered

What do you do at work? --- Answered

Where does he work again? --- Answered

How long are you going? --- 4 days, until the 6th.

Have a nice trip!

RETURN HOME:

Where do you live?

Where did you go?

Who did you go see? --- Fiance (I proposed this weekend)

Did you buy anything?

When do you plan on getting married? --- When my visa gets approved

Oh! So you're going to immigrate! --- Yup!

Have fun! Travel safe!

[sjs87 27]

Since we submitted and applied for I-129F in May, I have entered the United States a total of 3 times. Our immigration lawyer suggested no more than "a couple of times", and for each visit she suggested I bring the following:

A letter from my employer, stating my gainful and continuing employment.
Printouts of visa bills, cell phone bills, and other bills tying me to Canada.

Each time I brought those things and then a few other items -- just in case. The first crossing I was sweating bullets expecting the worst. I had my packet of information all ready. All I was asked was the standard set of questions: where I was going, who I was seeing, how long I would be staying, was I taking anything I should declare across the border. Then I was on my merry way.

The next crossing, I was with my fiance and my mother (he had been up visiting me) and I was questioned quite a bit more about where I was going and how long I was staying. Again, same packet of information "just in case", and it wasn't ever asked for or looked at.

Third and most recent crossing, again I had a packet of information including letter of employment. I was taking a ferry over to the US from my town. The US agent in Canada was SUPER friendly (had a personality, too!) and said when I entered the US I would probably be asked to get fingerprinted and have to fill out/get issued a temporary permit for my visit. This was the first time I had ever been told this. Of course my heart was pounding un-necessarily. Got to the other side, usual set of questions and was not asked to be fingerprinted. They did have the drug sniffing dog go around my car, but that was for all vehicles, not just mine.

I do not plan to cross much more because I do not want to jeopardize our process. I know our lawyer has to prepare us for the worst, and the worst has never happened, but I just don't want to jinx anything .

The only other time I was heavily questioned was before we filed our papers, but were officially engaged. The border officer perked up when I said "fiance" and had his supervisor come over. The reason was the work schedule I provided (which was valid) only showed my schedule to a certain day. I explained the schedule that would show my shifts for the following week had not yet been provided to me. They did look at my letter of employment, but I was allowed to cross.

Anyways, I found each crossing stressful but never denied entry and never had any problems.

[ElectricPrince 0]

Can you visit after you've already received your K1...without actually using your K1?

For example, if you've received your K1 successfully and have no other Visa, would you be allowed to travel overseas from Europe, enter the US briefly (without "activating" your K1) for a visit, leave, and then come back at a later date to "activate" your K1 Visa and get married?

Edited August 18, 2013 by ElectricPrince

[Anna Grant 169]

Can you visit after you've already received your K1...without actually using your K1?

For example, if you've received your K1 successfully and have no other Visa, would you be allowed to travel overseas from Europe, enter the US briefly (without "activating" your K1) for a visit, leave, and then come back at a later date to "activate" your K1 Visa and get married?

No. Your K1 visa is actually stuck to one of the pages of your passport. Therefore, the next time you enter the US it will be using that visa.

[topoftherock2013 23]

Hi all,

I flew out to Newark on 13th Aug 2013 for 6 days. Got through just fine! Bought along a file with my employment letter, annual leave dates, my bank statements, NOA2 - but didn't even need any of it!

At POE:

- Officer immediately asked me why I'm here - To visit my Fiance

This made me nervous as he asked this as soon as I handed him my passport

- Officer asks when I'm flying out - 19th Aug

- Office takes my finger prints, checks passport, then screen, then passport then at me.

- Have a nice stay.

Done! As easy as that! I have visited the States about 10 times (over 5 years) and longest I have stayed is probably 14 days, so I guess I'm not likely to overstay my welcome. This was my first time visiting after filing our petition in Feb.

Good luck to all and hope this helps!

[bosson 0]

Hey all!

This forum is amazing I got to say. Found it two days ago and my fiance and I have been in the process of a K-1 visa for many months. Our petition has been severaly delayed because of too many applications. About 8 months ago we filed it now and we still haven't gotten our NOA2. VSC said they sent it to TSC a couple of weeks ago but we haven't heard anything since.

1. Now to my question. We thought the whole process would be done 8 months after we filed it so I got a plane ticket to America that leaves in a week. I'm going to go and visit her for 2 months while waiting for the NOA2 and the interview. I was just wondering if it OK to sign and send the checklist that comes with package 3 from America or do you have to sign it in your own country?
Obviously I'm going back to Sweden to have the interview when that is scheduled. Already got other documents ready and done the medical as well (it wasn't a problem doing it before you got package 3 apperently) so I can come home and be ready for the interview as soon as possible.

2. Thanks for all the tips and advice on what to bring to prove your ties to the home country. I'll bring bankstatement, paychecks, statement from employer saying that they are waiting me back a certain date, and a return ticket. Do you guys think that's enough? And with the document from my employer, what should they write?

Thank you all again.

Cheers.

Emanuel

[Pitaya 2,577]

You have posted your general inquiry to a pinned thread speaking about visiting during the K-1 process. It is in an area that doesn't get a lot of general K-1 comments.

Suggest that you start a new thread by hitting the blue "Start a New Topic" button, located near the top of the main K-1 Process forum page on the right-hand side.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/80-k-1-fiancee-visa-process-procedures/

Good luck.

Edited August 22, 2013 by A&B

[Trymester3 6]

Nice thread, I will be visiting my fiancee in Japan in a week. She just received the papers from the US embassy, but hasn't submitted anything yet. I will be staying for 10 days. She will eventually, if everything goes well at the interview, be coming to live with me in New York. Upon entry in Japan, should I say that I am visiting my girlfriend or that I am visiting my fiancee?

I work as an independent contractor, so its difficult to show ties to the kind of work I do, but I don't plan on staying in Japan more than the 10 days.

I'm thinking it might be alright to say I am visiting my fiancee. I wasn't really planning on bringing any proof with me on this trip though. I just don't want to say one thing, and then when questioned further have them ask me why I didn't say "fiancee" from the start.

[kc247 22]

A lot of these are about people visiting the US, but I just thought I'd add that my fiance just visited me last week from the US to Canada & he had zero troubles. He even took my wedding dress I had ordered with him and had no problems with that. He said the guy was really nice & only asked a couple questions, didn't ask anything about the visa.