Flight transfer in US while waiting on K1

[HeatDeath 431]

Wrong Gary,

There is no such thing as a "transfer" area in any US airport... ALL arriving passengers are required to clear US Immigration... For the OP this most likely would happen BEFORE they depart Canada

On reflection, this is absolutely correct. I didn't quite realize at first (the OP's flag threw me off) that the OP's fiancee would be flying into LAX from Canada. That being the case, she WILL have to clear US Customs and Immigration at the Canadian airport before she even gets within 100 yards of an airplane heading for a US airport. Which makes her trip exactly the same as my trips to the US during my K-1 processing, in that regard (see my previous post). Perfectly doable, but bring a folder full of proof of monetary ties to Canada (employer letter, mortgage/rental/lodging contract/agreement, utility bills, full itinerary, return trip e-ticket, etc). Be perfectly forthright and honest about everything with the customs officer, and everything should be fine.

Edited March 29, 2010 by HeatDeath

[Fandango 1,440]

I have to say one thing, of course this is PURELY anecdotal.

I was detained for questioning when going into the UK...very long story, but to sum up, they thought I was secretly trying to immigrate due to the length of my stay and the fact that I brought an additional bag. Of course, it all worked out. But I was VERY knowledgeable about all my supporting documentation...and since I had nothing to hide, I laid it all out there.

I do think my proactive stance landed me in getting looked at closer. Had I just answered the q's with simple answers, I personally am of the notion that I wouldn't have even been detained. Subsequent trips there did give me an optty to 'test' it out...very concise, short but truthful answers. And I was never stopped again.

I do realize I'm talking about an entirely different country here, but I think that much like life, our mouths get us in trouble more times than we'd like.

[Marina-Del 10]

My fiancee just visited for 10 days from England through ORD. She was asked why she was here, she said to visit friends, they didn't ask her anything about the K-1, stamped her passport and waved her through. I doubt you'll run into trouble.

I just wanted to point out that while that worked for you and luckily your fiancee was not in trouble, that was VERY risky. If the officer saw when he swiped the passport that she had a K-1 visa pending, and she stated "visiting friends" as an excuse, he would have thought she was lying. Or, if he/she had any common sense they would have thought she was lying. In my opinion and from my years of reading on VJ (since 2005!) telling the truth is the best policy. If the officer let her in because she was "visiting friends" then probably they would have let her in because she was "visiting fiance who she has legally applied for a K-1 visa with, and she is willing to show proof of return back to England" or whatever...

I wouldn't risk it with an answer like that that could get me in trouble.

[payxibka 10,048]

My fiancee just visited for 10 days from England through ORD. She was asked why she was here, she said to visit friends, they didn't ask her anything about the K-1, stamped her passport and waved her through. I doubt you'll run into trouble.

No questions about a K-1 because a K-1 visa has not been issued. You cannot ask questions about what does not exist

[DukeOfYork 28]

I wouldn't risk it with an answer like that that could get me in trouble.

It was technically a true statement. If the POE officer wanted more info, she had a letter from work, her itinerary and would have given more info.

[HeatDeath 431]

It was technically a true statement. If the POE officer wanted more info, she had a letter from work, her itinerary and would have given more info.

PoE officers are not generally noted for having a philosophically sophisticated understanding of the concept of "truth". They tend to get upset when they feel they've not been told something they would have wanted to know. That's their definition of "truth".

It's generally best to play their game according to their rules

Edited March 30, 2010 by HeatDeath

[Grime 0]

Decided we can just travel separately to Japan. Not a big deal really. That will allow her to go early and spend some quality time with her family before I arrive.