Questions about K1 visa, help!

[orange_n_pink 0]

Hi,

I am a Canadian girl with an American fiance. I've been approved for a K1 Visa (waiting for it in the mail) but I had a few questions that I forgot to ask at my interview in Montreal. If anyone could help me out, that would be greatly appreciated!!

Can I enter the U.S. as a visitor before I enter on my K-1 visa?

When I enter the U.S. on my K-1 visa...

What belongings can I bring?

Can I go to school?

Can I join any community clubs/gyms?

Thanks a bunch!

[SnowyTater 2]

Hi,

I know when people are waiting to get their K1 visa, they can come into the US to visit but with some risk (at the POE you have to show "ties" that you'll go back home; job, school, whatever waiting for you back there. The officials can always not let you in). Now, if you've already been issued your visa and it's actually on its way...then I don't know if you can come in then or not. That sounds more risky to me. Once you physically have the visa, you can only use it once to enter the US and if you leave again you forfeit it and would have to start the entire petition process over. Not good.

As far as I know you can bring whatever you want with you into the US save the usual transport rules - no funky Canadian plants or whatever. There's a limit amount of money you can bring in too, I think, but people get around that by just investing it or putting it in an international bank account before moving.

I'm sure you can go to school here and surely you wouldn't need a student visa for that as well. But maybe there's some special things you have to fill out? The easiest way to know this is just to call the admissions of a school you're interested in, I guess.

You'll be able to join a gym or club no problem. They just want your money

You might find more answers/better help in the "Living in the US" or whatever it's called section of the forums. Good luck and congratulations

[orange_n_pink 0]

awww..no funky Canadian plants? =(((((((((( hehe

Thanks for your speedy answer!

Does anyone know the limit of amount of money I can bring?

[BigCityDave 0]

awww..no funky Canadian plants? =(((((((((( hehe

Thanks for your speedy answer!

Does anyone know the limit of amount of money I can bring?

From what I understand you can bring all the money you want.

[Dan J 277]

1. What belongings can I bring?

   Anything not prohibited by US Customs.

2. Can I go to school?

   Yes, however, you may not qualify for in-state tuition at public universities until you have resided in the state for a year. You may also not qualify for tuition assistence programs either.

3. Can I join any community clubs/gyms?

   Yes

awww..no funky Canadian plants? =(((((((((( hehe

Thanks for your speedy answer!

Does anyone know the limit of amount of money I can bring?

No limit, but anything over $10k must be reported.

[Carlawarla 1]

Hi,

I am a Canadian girl with an American fiance. I've been approved for a K1 Visa (waiting for it in the mail) but I had a few questions that I forgot to ask at my interview in Montreal. If anyone could help me out, that would be greatly appreciated!!

Can I enter the U.S. as a visitor before I enter on my K-1 visa?

When I enter the U.S. on my K-1 visa...

What belongings can I bring?

Can I go to school?

Can I join any community clubs/gyms?

Thanks a bunch!

A few Canadians have been successful in coming into the US for a visit, not wanting to activate their visa at that time. Usually they ask the Consulate, and see if they can have their visa placed in their passport at a later date (they mail it in after approval, after their visit to the US). However, a few have done it as well without the forementioned process and it's really up to the BO's. They might or they might not...so it's going to depend on whether you want to enter if they deny you entrance as a visitor. As a K-1 holder, once it's activated, you can't come back to Canada until you have your AP, or GC, so if they deny you coming in as a visitor, you're going to have to make a decision.

You should be bringing all your belongings with you, again, because unless someone can send them to you (and that's going to require some paperwork!), you won't be able to go back to Canada right away to get them.

You can go to school depending on where you're going to. I'm in MO and I took some night classes right after I arrived, but like the other poster(s) have said, you won't be able to get any assistance, you might have to pay higher fees. You're also going to have to have a SSN to register.

You can join any community clubs or gyms. Remember to wait for some type of mail to arrive at your new residence. I couldn't even get a library card until I had something to show my address! It had to be government or "official" mail. Nothing hand written by a friend!

Haven't seen you around on VJ...don't forget to check out the Canada Regional Forum on here! Lots of friendly folks, lots of good information specifically relating to Canadians coming to the US.

Best of luck on your approval and your move to the US!