Visiting while k(1) visa is processing...

[seethesvt 4]

I submitted my visa and got email confirmation that its received on Monday 7-21. We've been planning for her to visit in sept for a week she from england, I'm in USA.. Over the winter she stayed here on 2 consecutive tourist visas for a total of 6 months, left in April. So, we recently decided that she should stay for 90 days on a tourist visa again, til December, when shed return to england. She's got a job she's gonna quit to come stay, and lives with her parents... I figure she's gonna have trouble through customs...

Any advice on how to get her through customs without being deported or what ever?

[ksaini1982 9]

Honestly there is a lot of information on this site about that. There is a pinned topic where the information is all located in one place with everyone telling their stories if you go to K1 forum and it is pinned on the top or click the pasted link and that should answer all your questions about visiting during K-1 with stories from people who have done it.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/

[Megan & Luke 93]

The information in that thread will definitely help.

I see a few issues that could arise. Firstly, your fiance has nothing to show ties to her country that would be returning home for. Not to mention red flags of quitting her job (to a customs official this is probably extreme for a tourist visit) and no lease/mortgage to be held to (since she lives with her parents). To be honest, personally, I'd say this is risky. She could very well be turned away at the US border and now goes back home to no job. The customs official might think that a. she is planning on waiting out the approval process here or b. expecting to stay in the USA even if you're denied.

Is it possible you can go visit her instead? I'd hate to see her leave her job and everything, especially waste the money for the flight and visa, to come see you.

[Boiler 43,436]

My guess is that it is the VWP not a Visa.

As far as Customs are concerned just avoid bringing in any banned goods. Chocolate OK, drugs not.

[JIJourney 96]

The information in that thread will definitely help.

I see a few issues that could arise. Firstly, your fiance has nothing to show ties to her country that would be returning home for. Not to mention red flags of quitting her job (to a customs official this is probably extreme for a tourist visit) and no lease/mortgage to be held to (since she lives with her parents). To be honest, personally, I'd say this is risky. She could very well be turned away at the US border and now goes back home to no job. The customs official might think that a. she is planning on waiting out the approval process here or b. expecting to stay in the USA even if you're denied.

Is it possible you can go visit her instead? I'd hate to see her leave her job and everything, especially waste the money for the flight and visa, to come see you.

would it be appropriate if he can just show these VJ logs to the POE? Just to show his and her intent to stay just a limited time?

[Boiler 43,436]

would it be appropriate if he can just show these VJ logs to the POE? Just to show his and her intent to stay just a limited time?

What could be more solid evidence?

[nobbie 105]

if she gets as far as customs then she's already in, now immigration, that's a different story.

[Megan & Luke 93]

would it be appropriate if he can just show these VJ logs to the POE? Just to show his and her intent to stay just a limited time?

Logically that would make sense.. and I am sure the OP and his fiance are telling the truth - that she will return home before arriving on the K-1 in the future. However, who knows what the border control will see - I'm sure they have seen any number of couples lie about it.. and it really depends on how nice of an officer you get that day. It would be a shame to have her leave her source of income at home, pay money for a flight and to be turned away. I doubt this would jeopardize their K-1 either, but I don't know - perhaps I am a person who errs on the side of caution when things are as sensitive as they are with this process.

[seethesvt 4]

Yeah, we're not trying to do anything illegal, we just want to be together. She doesn't have a career out there, just a job. The next ten months are gonna be long and hard.

[evapaula 230]

I personally visited while my k1 was pending, with no issues at all. I even got my tourist visa renewed for this. I sent a letter to the embassy along with the application (interview wasn't necessary the second time around) and explained that we want to do things the right way, but I need to attend a wedding in his family in the meantime. They approved my visa.I would've given the same answer at POE, but they never asked.

On the other hand, I did have a life and a job get back too.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

if she gets as far as customs then she's already in, now immigration, that's a different story.

That's not necessarily the case 100% of the time. I've read of people breezing through immigration, then being nabbed by a customs officer over an immigration-related issue and subsequently denied entry... despite being admitted >.>

When I'm in customs wheeling my suitcase out, I avoid eye contact with all of the officers except for the one who takes the form off you. Last time I looked at one who was just chilling at the side of the room with his colleague, he flipped out and dragged me over to the side to search my case. It was weird because he didn't actually search it. He just destroyed it instead. Had he searched it, he would have found my needles and syringes full of drugs. Legal, of course - I have to take heparin before I board flights - but he would have gone to town with a suspected drug mule case, I'm sure.

Lesson learned, never look at a customs officer!

Edited July 27, 2014 by Ketsuban

[jameswhunt 12]

Without substantial proof that she has ties to the country and HAS to return she could run into issues. My fiance was denied entry for that very reason.

[seethesvt 4]

Really james? Did that effect your k1?

[Elizabeth+Fred 35]

It usually does not affect the processing time and/or outcome of the K-1 adjudication. It's just a very upsetting experience, and a costly one....

So, unless the visiting fiance(é) can show that he/she really WILL be going back after the visit, they probably should not try...

[whiteyadam 4]

I just got back from a Visit and they didn't have a problem with it. Best advice is if she doesn't have a job at the very least she should have a return ticket, just incase they ask for it