Should I tell the border guard we are engaged?

[Andy H 1]

My fiance and i will shortly be sending our I-129F pack to the VSC. I think this will be at the end of November.

I am going to stay with my fiance and her family for 5 weeks over the christmas and new year period. I am worried that the border guards will consider me an immigration risk partly due to the length of my stay and the fact that we are engaged. Would it be more advisable to tell the border guard that we are just boyfriend and girlfriend?

As the date we are sending the I-129F form is going to be the end of november and it is early december that i go for my vacation. Could it make life easier if we hold off on sending the I129F form until I am there?

I know that with these things honesty is the best policy but I am terrified of being turned back by the border guards, it would destroy christmas and new year for both of us.

Thanks

Andy

[slider100 8]

Hi Andy, it does not matter when you send the I-129F according to me. The border guards that is the CBP officers view each visitor as an intending immigrant. All you have to do is prove to them that you have "ties" to your home country. A letter of employment, house lease, a return ticket, if you are in school a copy of your schedule, everything that prove your ties to your home country.

If you submit your I-129F before that and you get a copy of your NOA-1, carry a copy along and show them only if they ask for it. However, be completely honest with them. They know much more than you think they do. If they ask you the purpose of your visit, tell that you are visiting your fiance and his family for Christmas.

As long as you convince the CBP officer that you will be returning home, I do not see any problem why they would not let you in. Let me know if you have any other questions and take care.

[Danu 19]

Yeah what slider said. It won't matter if you say you are bf and gf, engaged, or brother and sister. If they think you dont have enough ties to prove you are coming home they can deny you entry. Sending the I-129F before you go might get you the NOA1 before you visit, which you can present as well as the other things slider mentioned. That will show as well that though you have plans to go down there eventually that you are going through the right channels.

[SunDrop 59]

NOA1 seems to only take a couple of days from receipt to be sent, certainly by email and only a couple of days later for the hard copy to be received. If you have the latter by the time you travel, take a print out of that (it's sent to the USC) and if not, then print out the email version.

Never ever ever say anything that isn't factual truth to immigration. Let's say they pull you into secondary interview and you've said you're boyfriend and girlfriend. They call your fiancee and she says 'yes, I know Joe Bloggs. He's my fiance.' The fact you downplayed your relationship will serve as more of a warning flag than if you say fiancee and you produce the K1 NOA1, showing you are going about immigrating in the proper way.

So actually, you're probably doing yourself a favour by submitting the petition before you leave, in good time to get the NOA1 and traveling with that.

[slider100 8]

Looks like your interview date is slowly creeping up Danu, I am so excited for you guys ! I know you will do great !

[Nik+Heather 121]

Will you be traveling on the visa waiver program?

Nik and others I have read about on here have found that the NOA1 is a very useful piece of paper to have at POE as it is a strong indicator that you are invested in immigrating to the US the "right" way. Nik certainly found that having that in his folder got him out of secondary inspection and through immigration quickly. Why wait to file 129f? Why not file now so you have the receipt with you when you get there?

[Amanda and Tony 0]

I've been to visit Tony several times in the last year for different lengths of stay. It all depends on your IO. I wouldn't lie, only because it can trip you up. I've had an easier entry when it's been a holiday as it's more of a legitimate reason for travel.

You'll be just fine, answer promptly without giving away your life story and have your paperwork ready.

[rebeccajo 14]

As others have said - don't lie. You should be prepared with loads of evidence of your return back home, whether you enter before you file or not.

We waited until my husband was 'in-country' to file the I129F. There's a place on the form to indicate if the alien is in the country at time of filing. We just didn't want to go there with explaining a visa to the POE.

[Andy H 1]

What should i try and have with me to prove my intentions of returning. Because we plan to marry, in order to save money i moved back in with my parents so i have no mortgage or rental agreement. What else would be good supporting evidence. I am a type 1 diabetic so i must return for medication and diabetes care etc, could this be one form of evidence?

[Danu 19]

If you are working you can get a letter from your employer saying they expect you back on such and such a date.

[SunDrop 59]

What should i try and have with me to prove my intentions of returning. Because we plan to marry, in order to save money i moved back in with my parents so i have no mortgage or rental agreement. What else would be good supporting evidence. I am a type 1 diabetic so i must return for medication and diabetes care etc, could this be one form of evidence?

Don't take more insulin/ meds with you than you need for the duration of your trip (except a couple of leeway days in case of being held up in transit). Do you have an appointment with your diabetes clinic after your return? If so, take proof of that appointment. As someone else said, see if your employer will give you a letter confirming your holiday dates and expected date of return, confirming you have not given notice or if you have, when for.

I once took the e-booking printout for concert tickets I had with me, happening after my booked return date. Didn't need them but figured why not? lol...

[Andy H 1]

Thanks for all the help guys, its really put my mind at ease.

[Krikit 1,165]

What should i try and have with me to prove my intentions of returning. Because we plan to marry, in order to save money i moved back in with my parents so i have no mortgage or rental agreement. What else would be good supporting evidence. I am a type 1 diabetic so i must return for medication and diabetes care etc, could this be one form of evidence?

The health information would be one form of evidence. Here is some helpful information: Visitation FAQ's