Has anyone had a problem at POE????

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Has anyone had a problem at POE while having their fiancee visiting on a B2 tourist visa? (Specifically, Charlotte international airport)

My fiancee is planning to visit at the end of July and stay for a few months so we can make plans for wedding while we wait for our K1 to process. Also we plan to travel. However she will be leaving her job and apartment and living with her parents before she leaves Russia, So I kind of worry about if the Boarder Patrol Officer will give her a hard time. Is there any other things she can show that she will return to Russia? I don't see why this would be a problem, If we did marry while she was on her tourist visa it would void our k1 petition and if she stayed in the country past her visa stamp limit we would be found for visa fraud if we went to file for AOS.... We intend fully of obeying the law.

She is still keeping a bank acct there and she will have a letter from her parents and myself stating she will return. Can anyone else think of what else I can do to have more supporting evidence???? Should she have all this translated???? There are no definitive guidelines for this, It is so frustrating!!!

I would visit her in Russia But I will be starting a new job soon and cannot take off and we would really like to have more time together so that when her interview comes we have a strong proof of an ongoing relationship to the consul and we are also suffering by not being together.

Any experiences or advice would be a great help. Thanks.

[Nik+Heather 121]

There are no definitive guidelines because it is up to the discretion of the individual stamping her passport. Your argument about "intent" is a good one. In our experience and corroborated by what I have read of others experiences, letting them know that you know about and are pursuing the K1 visa are compelling arguments that you do have legal intent.

The common things that people have found useful:

- RETURN TICKET (with printout of itinerary)

- NOA1 from the I129f packet

Nik DID utter the "f" word (fiancee!!) when he went through PoE when he came to visit, and the officer in secondary inspection was very pleased to see the NOA1. he immediately stamped his passport and sent him along.

Good luck!

[baron555 934]

She is still keeping a bank acct there and she will have a letter from her parents and myself stating she will return. Can anyone else think of what else I can do to have more supporting evidence???? Should she have all this translated???? There are no definitive guidelines for this, It is so frustrating!!!

You are really lucky that she has been able to even obtain a tourist visa; she must have connections.

A letter from her employer stating her job history and the acknowledgement that she is leaving for the time period and expected back by a certain date will help.

A couple of small children left behind will help.

Proof of ownership of the flat will help.

But do be prepared if they do deny entry; most Russian women who are the listed beneficiary of a K-1 would not even be allowed the tourist visa.

Good luck if she can pull this off.

And yes to the translations, certified also.

Edited June 11, 2009 by baron555

[Arthur Roberta 1]

All I can advise is that your fiance does not try to enter.

My experience was that I came over shortly after I was married to a US citizen (we were married in the UK) and was coming over on the Visa Waiver Program to be with her and then return to the UK before the 3 months were up that I could stay for.

I flew into Charlotte and was asked the purpose of my visit as is normal at POE. I replied that I had come to the US to visit my wife. Well my goodness I was told to go to this room and wait. I then after some time was interviewed by an immigration officer who told me I could not enter the US as I had more ties with the US than the UK therefore I would have to return to the UK. He took copious notes at the interview and wrote something in my passport. The passport was taken from me and I was escorted to the plane I had arrived on. (I had a return ticket obviously). I then flew back to the UK and was not given my passport until I had left the aircraft.

So as you can see it was not a particularly nice experience and was totally my fault as I was ignorant of the fact that I was unable to do this as I was now married to a US citizen.

Perhaps you will be lucky and they will say fine go ahead. But I for sure would advise strongly against it.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

[Nik+Heather 121]

All I can advise is that your fiance does not try to enter.

My experience was that I came over shortly after I was married to a US citizen (we were married in the UK) and was coming over on the Visa Waiver Program to be with her and then return to the UK before the 3 months were up that I could stay for.

I flew into Charlotte and was asked the purpose of my visit as is normal at POE. I replied that I had come to the US to visit my wife. Well my goodness I was told to go to this room and wait. I then after some time was interviewed by an immigration officer who told me I could not enter the US as I had more ties with the US than the UK therefore I would have to return to the UK. He took copious notes at the interview and wrote something in my passport. The passport was taken from me and I was escorted to the plane I had arrived on. (I had a return ticket obviously). I then flew back to the UK and was not given my passport until I had left the aircraft.

So as you can see it was not a particularly nice experience and was totally my fault as I was ignorant of the fact that I was unable to do this as I was now married to a US citizen.

Perhaps you will be lucky and they will say fine go ahead. But I for sure would advise strongly against it.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

But you don't mention if you had started the process or not. I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country.

Not that I don't think that you could still be turned away - it is up to the individual officer's discretion, but I am curious which side of the NOA1 line you were on when you attempted to visit.

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Has anyone had a problem at POE while having their fiancee visiting on a B2 tourist visa? (Specifically, Charlotte international airport)

My fiancee is planning to visit at the end of July and stay for a few months so we can make plans for wedding while we wait for our K1 to process. Also we plan to travel. However she will be leaving her job and apartment and living with her parents before she leaves Russia, So I kind of worry about if the Boarder Patrol Officer will give her a hard time. Is there any other things she can show that she will return to Russia? I don't see why this would be a problem, If we did marry while she was on her tourist visa it would void our k1 petition and if she stayed in the country past her visa stamp limit we would be found for visa fraud if we went to file for AOS.... We intend fully of obeying the law.

She is still keeping a bank acct there and she will have a letter from her parents and myself stating she will return. Can anyone else think of what else I can do to have more supporting evidence???? Should she have all this translated???? There are no definitive guidelines for this, It is so frustrating!!!

I would visit her in Russia But I will be starting a new job soon and cannot take off and we would really like to have more time together so that when her interview comes we have a strong proof of an ongoing relationship to the consul and we are also suffering by not being together.

Any experiences or advice would be a great help. Thanks.

I hope you)won't have problems, but prepare for them.

Your fiance is from a high fraud country, she will not have a job or apartment either.

My fiance visited me without a job and apartment and she was turned around at a POE from Canada. She was from a friendly country too. She had bad luck with what we later learned was a bad POE.

I advise not visiting during the K-1 process, if there is any slight chance you could be turned around. Others will disagree. I advise this because being turned around at the border will most likely cause your NOA2 processing time from USCIS to be much longer because your case will likely be put in background checks. It will still be approved, but it will probably take months longer. I have about 1/2 dozen examples to prove this (I am a statistical person and don't make things up).

If you fiance had little chance of POE issues (say from a VWP country or had a job, etc), I would say no worries, but coming from a high fraud country, with no job or apartment or ties, I do not recommend it. Just wait for the K-1.

PM me for details.

Best of luck.

[Arthur Roberta 1]

All I can advise is that your fiance does not try to enter.

My experience was that I came over shortly after I was married to a US citizen (we were married in the UK) and was coming over on the Visa Waiver Program to be with her and then return to the UK before the 3 months were up that I could stay for.

I flew into Charlotte and was asked the purpose of my visit as is normal at POE. I replied that I had come to the US to visit my wife. Well my goodness I was told to go to this room and wait. I then after some time was interviewed by an immigration officer who told me I could not enter the US as I had more ties with the US than the UK therefore I would have to return to the UK. He took copious notes at the interview and wrote something in my passport. The passport was taken from me and I was escorted to the plane I had arrived on. (I had a return ticket obviously). I then flew back to the UK and was not given my passport until I had left the aircraft.

So as you can see it was not a particularly nice experience and was totally my fault as I was ignorant of the fact that I was unable to do this as I was now married to a US citizen.

Perhaps you will be lucky and they will say fine go ahead. But I for sure would advise strongly against it.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

But you don't mention if you had started the process or not. I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country.

Not that I don't think that you could still be turned away - it is up to the individual officer's discretion, but I am curious which side of the NOA1 line you were on when you attempted to visit.

I have have never gave that a thought until this very moment and no we had not at that time sent a petition off. So that indeed would have been more of a reason to send me back as they may well have thought that i was attempting to circumvent the immigration process.

I disagree regarding your comments....shown below.... have they not started steps with the K1 petition?

Be it on there own heads that is all I say for I have given a personal experience where I through ignorance attempted to enter the US after marriage and I feel that in their case they could also come a cropper.

Quote "I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country". End Quote

Arthur and Roberta

All I can advise is that your fiance does not try to enter.

My experience was that I came over shortly after I was married to a US citizen (we were married in the UK) and was coming over on the Visa Waiver Program to be with her and then return to the UK before the 3 months were up that I could stay for.

I flew into Charlotte and was asked the purpose of my visit as is normal at POE. I replied that I had come to the US to visit my wife. Well my goodness I was told to go to this room and wait. I then after some time was interviewed by an immigration officer who told me I could not enter the US as I had more ties with the US than the UK therefore I would have to return to the UK. He took copious notes at the interview and wrote something in my passport. The passport was taken from me and I was escorted to the plane I had arrived on. (I had a return ticket obviously). I then flew back to the UK and was not given my passport until I had left the aircraft.

So as you can see it was not a particularly nice experience and was totally my fault as I was ignorant of the fact that I was unable to do this as I was now married to a US citizen.

Perhaps you will be lucky and they will say fine go ahead. But I for sure would advise strongly against it.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

But you don't mention if you had started the process or not. I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country.

Not that I don't think that you could still be turned away - it is up to the individual officer's discretion, but I am curious which side of the NOA1 line you were on when you attempted to visit.

I have have never gave that a thought until this very moment and no we had not at that time sent a petition off. So that indeed would have been more of a reason to send me back as they may well have thought that i was attempting to circumvent the immigration process.

I disagree regarding your comments....shown below.... have they not started steps with the K1 petition?

Be it on there own heads that is all I say for I have given a personal experience where I through ignorance attempted to enter the US after marriage and I feel that in their case they could also come a cropper.

"I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country".

Arthur and Roberta

All I can advise is that your fiance does not try to enter.

My experience was that I came over shortly after I was married to a US citizen (we were married in the UK) and was coming over on the Visa Waiver Program to be with her and then return to the UK before the 3 months were up that I could stay for.

I flew into Charlotte and was asked the purpose of my visit as is normal at POE. I replied that I had come to the US to visit my wife. Well my goodness I was told to go to this room and wait. I then after some time was interviewed by an immigration officer who told me I could not enter the US as I had more ties with the US than the UK therefore I would have to return to the UK. He took copious notes at the interview and wrote something in my passport. The passport was taken from me and I was escorted to the plane I had arrived on. (I had a return ticket obviously). I then flew back to the UK and was not given my passport until I had left the aircraft.

So as you can see it was not a particularly nice experience and was totally my fault as I was ignorant of the fact that I was unable to do this as I was now married to a US citizen.

Perhaps you will be lucky and they will say fine go ahead. But I for sure would advise strongly against it.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

But you don't mention if you had started the process or not. I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country.

Not that I don't think that you could still be turned away - it is up to the individual officer's discretion, but I am curious which side of the NOA1 line you were on when you attempted to visit.

I have have never gave that a thought until this very moment and no we had not at that time sent a petition off. So that indeed would have been more of a reason to send me back as they may well have thought that i was attempting to circumvent the immigration process.

I disagree regarding your comments....shown below.... have they not started steps with the K1 petition?

Be it on there own heads that is all I say for I have given a personal experience where I through ignorance attempted to enter the US after marriage and I feel that in their case they could also come a cropper.

Quote "I still think that someone who is educated about the legal process and also financially invested in the legal process has much better chances of entering than someone who has clear reasons to immigrate but hasn't taken any of the steps to do so legally (yet) when they try to come into the country". End Quote

Arthur and Roberta

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Welp, all I can say is this has been discouraging at best. But none the less we are going to try even if it delays us. When she came to visit me at JFK she was just asked to see a return ticket stamped her and hat was that. We will provide as much evidence as possible to provide, and just not mention the petition or her being my fiancee and just say she is here for tourist purposes. I have read many other people have done this, and as I said before she had no problem getting into JFK last month. I have not even received my NoA1 yet. I appreciate the advice. And to answer Barron555's post. what do you mean "Connections" As in by strong ties? Yes, She is not a mail order bride she has a great job as an editor, owns her own flat, has a car, and a decent bank acct. So I do not know what you are implicating but she has no "Connections" that would give her an advantage over other Russian woman except that she worked very hard to get to where she is in Russia.

Other then that I am sorry to anyone that was denied entry. I cannot understand why there is not some uniform code to boarder control.

And if she cannot come here then I will find a way to go to her. It will just be all the more difficult but I will find a way. thank you all for the advice.

[Arthur Roberta 1]

Well I just wanted to warn you of what happened to me. Perhaps your situation being what it is may be sufficient to allow your fiance entry I do hope so. I just didn't want you to be disappointed should you not be successful and lose a lot of money too.

Best Wishes

Arthur and Roberta

[baron555 934]

Please I did not mean the connections thing in a negative way. It's just as others have chimed in, it is not the norm that a Russian single women of marrying age can get any type of visa to enter the US.

And please know that if she does get the tourist visa, as she has before, what will she tell them at POE of her reasons to visit to the US are?

She can't and shouldn't say, "I'm going to Disneyland." The reason being is that she is not here as a tourist. If she tells the truth, which she very surely must, "I'm going to visit my fiance.", then from my limited learnings, they will turn her right around.

I strongly suggest you two do nothing to stain her immigration record. One person mentioned a delay; if things look fishy enough, it could mean up to denial for the K-1. Then what would you two do.

You visiting her is best. Skype video calls are the next best thing.

Good luck and again, nothing negative meant, for sure. Phil

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Thank you Phil, I I did not mean to come off curt with you. I am a very anxious person and it just felt like I was being bombarded with negativity on this subject, I know everyone was being honest with their opinions, it just became a little upsetting for a few moments.

I just hate that I have no control of this situation at all. Janna and I are both good people who just want to be together ( like most ppl here) And now I feel like I have to justify every aspect of my personal life to a bunch of bureaucratic agencies that could care less about human emotions and just see us as another file. I'm sorry but I really have little to no faith in government employees. They get paid to do a routine job, get their paycheck and see millions of people like me everyday.

I have looked into the legality of having a fiancee visit you. It is not illegal, in fact it is perfectly legal. Janna does not need to apply for another visa because she has a multiple entry visa that is valid until next April, having said that, I do understand that admission into the US is the sole decision of the Boarder Patrol Officers. This seems like the classic American governments "One hand does not know what the other hand is doing" The same reasons that we were not able to respond correctly to the events of 9/11..... but that is a whole other issue.

I really cannot travel to Russia right now due to just starting a new job and having very little money ( I already had to ask my mother to be my co-sponsor, which is kinda embarrassing) I have been a student the last few years and coming into a economy that sucks hasn't helped my causes either.

So when I say Janna and I would travel here when she gets to the US (hypothetically) it would be like a weekend trip to Savanna or light travel. But international travel for a few weeks would be very difficult at this point, although, if need be I will find a way I suppose.

It sounds to me that at the Point of Entry it seems like a "If they don't ask, don't tell type deal" Of course they can and sometimes do ask and Janna will have to comply and be honest. She and I are not liars nor to we plan to be. I have asked her to call the consul in her city to ask for an official statement. We only want to be together and wait and make plans for our future. Also, how does the government expect you to have proof of an on going relationship come interview time if she is not able to use a tourist visa that was issued to her? We are not trying to fool anyone or get married until we receive our K-1, In fact Janna is more insistent that we did this the lawful way then I was at first.

I am rambling I know. There are so many things going on in my head, I love and hate this site, It has been a great resource for me to fill out my forms and come to understand the ins and the outs of this process but in other ways the constant horror stories I see make me want to be sick to the point where I do not sleep at night an some of my hair has fallen out of my head ( or maybe I'm just going bald) and wonder if I will have to become a Russia citizen in the future to be with the woman I want to be my wife.....

Again thank you to everyone who has posted here. I needed to vent a little and I hope you do not mind, I know everyone has their own cross to bear here and is consumed with their personal situation, so thank you all again for taking the time to help me with mine. Hopefully one day I can help one of you in some way.

Chris

[Jauque 1]

I have a story which is fairly similar. We hadn't applied for the K1 visa yet so I didn't have an NOA1, this was last August. We decided to spend allowable 6 months together before deciding whther or not to marry and which country to call home. I had quit my jobs and sold my house and this looked very bad at the border. I ended up getting an I-94 requiring me to be back in Canada on the 2nd of October (we crossed the border on the 16th of August). In September we went back to the border and asked for an extention and they granted it as long as I promised not to overstay the 6 months.

It's really depends on the mood of the border patrol, bring your NOA1 as other posters have said.

Also when she comes through don't refer to it as 'staying' or 'living' with you you. Call it what it is, she is 'visiting' this sounds much more appropriate for someone who plans on returning to their home country.

Should she have all this translated????

Always assume that the Border Agent won't be fluent in any language but english.

[baron555 934]

There's a world of difference between Canada and Russia, as far as Border agents are concerned.

Chris, I'm just a little surprised that your lady can obtain the tourist visa and congrats for that.

But you seem to have grasped the potention problems. Yes nothing illegal, just that Border agent may or may not allow her to enter. It seems that she does have a lot of proof and need to return, so if you two are willing to gamble with the cost, then I'm all for it.

I too am dealing, as many others with their SO in Russia and we here, with the distance.

Got to go, time to call Alla and tell her Happy Russia Day.

Phil

[Jauque 1]

There's a world of difference between Canada and Russia, as far as Border agents are concerned.

Chris, I'm just a little surprised that your lady can obtain the tourist visa and congrats for that.

But you seem to have grasped the potention problems. Yes nothing illegal, just that Border agent may or may not allow her to enter. It seems that she does have a lot of proof and need to return, so if you two are willing to gamble with the cost, then I'm all for it.

I too am dealing, as many others with their SO in Russia and we here, with the distance.

Got to go, time to call Alla and tell her Happy Russia Day.

Phil

I can't say for sure that you are right or wrong, but have you ever crossed the canadian border as a fiance of a USC?

The fact of that matter is that even on the government website it says that a person can and SHOULD visit their fiance while their application is processing and that there is nothing wrong or illegal about it as long as their intent is to return home.

People who have bad experiences at POE don't come home and write about on the interweb so all we ever hear are the sad stories. For every sad story however you have to think that theres several others who made it through without a hitch. If you have proof of ties to home and are being honest, you'll be just fine.

[Nik+Heather 121]

People who have bad experiences at POE don't come home and write about on the interweb so all we ever hear are the sad stories. For every sad story however you have to think that theres several others who made it through without a hitch. If you have proof of ties to home and are being honest, you'll be just fine.

Yes, this is why I insist on telling about how we got in alright. There may be more sad stories on VJ than happy ones, but that's because I also think the happy ones are too busy to be posting on VJ. I don't believe for a second that the ratio of success stories to failure stories at all relates to the actual ratio of those let in or not. People come here to vent about things, but not many come to tell of how things went so smoothly. That's what the forums are FOR, so people who are having a hard time of it have some support from others going through the same process. Unlike the time lines on here which at least approach a sampling rate which is statistically appropriate, anecdotal stories on the forums are NOT.

I am very sorry for any couple who had to spend more time apart than others - sorry that any couple, including ourselves, have to endure any forced separation at all. I think there are things to learn from both failures AND successes.