Do you have to use it right away?

[wallaby4rent 2]

My fiance was approved for the K-1 (YAY!), however, I am wondering, can he enter the US without using the visa? Can he hold off on using it for a trip or two?

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[HeatDeath 430]

Sometimes a CBP officer will let you do it, but it's totally up to their discretion, I don't think they're actually supposed to, and it could [remote possibility] confuse things leading into your AOS.

It might be doable, but there's every chance it won't work. I honestly wouldn't recommend trying.

[twowls 217]

I think one of the potential problems is that the K1 visa is now attached to the beneficiary passport, ready and waiting to be seen at POE. It can't be removed, so it's just sort of hanging out there asking to be used.

The potential for complications is certainly there. The play-it-safe route would be to enter on the K1 that everybody expects you to be entering on and be done with it, keep it simple and straightforward.

[canadian_wife 1,802]

This has been done, but only for Canadians for some reason. It is totally up to the discretion of the CBP and may either make you enter with the K-1 or turn you around. BUT, if this is done once for you, it is unlikely it will be done again. Part of being granted this visa is no longer continuing to visit, but actually immigrating

Good luck

[wallaby4rent 2]

Unfortunately we were told some months back that they send you something separate from the visa, and you attach it when you're ready. And unfortunately, we just booked a honeymoon in the Dominican. Non-refundable.

[Hendea3 4]

Unless the DR trip makes him go through the US and unless the DR trip is more than 6 months away...couldnt you guys enter on the K1 after the DR trip?

If you do try let me know as I was wondering the same thin gmyself IF we received mine befor eUS turkey weekend we were wanting to go visit for turkey but only have me enter on K1 in Jan...

[baron555 934]

My fiance was approved for the K-1 (YAY!), however, I am wondering, can he enter the US without using the visa? Can he hold off on using it for a trip or two?

Any help would be great. Thanks.

I take it you two are not ready to live together? I know my wife and I wanted to be together as soon as possible. Then again, she couldn't just go back and forth as you can. Myself included.

[wallaby4rent 2]

I take it you two are not ready to live together? I know my wife and I wanted to be together as soon as possible. Then again, she couldn't just go back and forth as you can. Myself included.

No, we do want to be together as soon as possible, it's just that we spent a lot of money booking a honeymoon, so I was hoping we could hold off on the visa until we returned from DR, at which point we'd go back, grab his belongings and move him in with me. <3

He called the Highgate Springs, VT, border office, and the official border officer reassured him it was completely ok, and that he was able to enter the country without using it, based on the B1 visa (? I think that's what it was called). He also emailed the US Consulate in Montreal about it. I'm just not sure what happens when we enter DR and they see it. I don't know how it works when you go into other countries, tbh. I've never used my passport for anything other than Canada.

And Hendea, yes -- that's what we want to do: enter on the K-1 after the trip, but the flight is out of Boston.

Edited August 27, 2010 by wallaby4rent

[Inky 1,110]

You booked a honeymoon before the wedding? or is it after the wedding because he has to activate the k-1 to get married. If he doesnt activate the K-1 before you marry then you have to apply for a CR-1 all over again for him to move to america. K-1 is for a fiance(e) not a husband.

[kennym 275]

Unfortunately we were told some months back that they send you something separate from the visa, and you attach it when you're ready. And unfortunately, we just booked a honeymoon in the Dominican. Non-refundable.

The honeymoon trip?

I am wondering if that was a smart thing to do...

Let us know how that works... Hopefully that won't completely mess up your K1 visa..

I don't know if I would have done that, but that's just me,,,

Can you postpone it, for lets say 12 months... for the K1, You do know you need to be married in the US don't you?

[Casprd 167]

I'm just not sure what happens when we enter DR and they see it.

DR shouldn't care that you have a visa of any kind to the US. I think the only time it might be an issue is if you went to visit a US territory so it should be fine. A quick call to the DR consulate (or better an email so you have a paper trail) would give you a definate answer.

[usmcwife 3]

No, we do want to be together as soon as possible, it's just that we spent a lot of money booking a honeymoon, so I was hoping we could hold off on the visa until we returned from DR, at which point we'd go back, grab his belongings and move him in with me. <3

He called the Highgate Springs, VT, border office, and the official border officer reassured him it was completely ok, and that he was able to enter the country without using it, based on the B1 visa (? I think that's what it was called). He also emailed the US Consulate in Montreal about it. I'm just not sure what happens when we enter DR and they see it. I don't know how it works when you go into other countries, tbh. I've never used my passport for anything other than Canada.

And Hendea, yes -- that's what we want to do: enter on the K-1 after the trip, but the flight is out of Boston.

Just to make sure we have this right:

-your fiance will fly to boston

-You will then fly to DR (beautiful place for a honeymoon btw)

-You'll fly back to the USA and activate the K1

-Then you'll get married

Sounds like a solid plan. I have heard of people going across the border without activating the K1. As long as the CBP agent knows this then you should be fine. I might not mention it to the CBP agent that it was your honeymoon trip. Maybe make it your reunion trip as honeymoon definitely sounds like you already got married which would invalidate the K1.

Have fun and hope it works out ok

[wallaby4rent 2]

Just to make sure we have this right:

-your fiance will fly to boston

-You will then fly to DR (beautiful place for a honeymoon btw)

-You'll fly back to the USA and activate the K1

-Then you'll get married

Sounds like a solid plan. I have heard of people going across the border without activating the K1. As long as the CBP agent knows this then you should be fine. I might not mention it to the CBP agent that it was your honeymoon trip. Maybe make it your reunion trip as honeymoon definitely sounds like you already got married which would invalidate the K1.

Have fun and hope it works out ok

Just as a quick run-down to answer everyone's questions:

Kennym, yes I do know we have to get married here. Our wedding is in NH.

Inky, the honeymoon is after the wedding. Our wedding is September 3, we had booked the honeymoon for Sept 5.

Long story short - Because of all of the hangups we were having with processing time (US being busy), we accepted the fact back in April (after getting a letter from the Consulate in Montreal saying it'd be another 4-6 months before my fiance's interview) that we would probably not be able to get legally married at our wedding, so it'd be a pomp-and-circumstance party. We would just have to wait until after he got the visa to have a legal, officiated ceremony.

The plans was

-Fiance drives to MA

- "Wedding"

- Leave for DR

- Fly back to Boston

- Fiance drives home, grabs his stuff

- Fiance enters on K-1

- Get married

After finding out the visa is *affixed* to your passport, I accepted all of this as impossible, and honestly, I still don't know if trust that he will be able to enter the US after the DR trip without a problem. Booking the honeymoon was a mistake, however, we thought we were clear on all of the terms. One of the most frustrating things about this whole process is that you can get contradictory information even from official sources.

[kennym 275]

Guys, I would give this serious thought.. You could jeopardize a lot..

As you realize this was a mistake to make these kinds of plans prior to the visa issuance, I would just re-iterate to anyone else doing the same thing, to not commit to any plans until after the visa is issued..

Good luck...

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Just as a quick run-down to answer everyone's questions:

Kennym, yes I do know we have to get married here. Our wedding is in NH.

Inky, the honeymoon is after the wedding. Our wedding is September 3, we had booked the honeymoon for Sept 5.

Long story short - Because of all of the hangups we were having with processing time (US being busy), we accepted the fact back in April (after getting a letter from the Consulate in Montreal saying it'd be another 4-6 months before my fiance's interview) that we would probably not be able to get legally married at our wedding, so it'd be a pomp-and-circumstance party. We would just have to wait until after he got the visa to have a legal, officiated ceremony.

The plans was

-Fiance drives to MA

- "Wedding"

- Leave for DR

- Fly back to Boston

- Fiance drives home, grabs his stuff

- Fiance enters on K-1

- Get married

After finding out the visa is *affixed* to your passport, I accepted all of this as impossible, and honestly, I still don't know if trust that he will be able to enter the US after the DR trip without a problem. Booking the honeymoon was a mistake, however, we thought we were clear on all of the terms. One of the most frustrating things about this whole process is that you can get contradictory information even from official sources.

NO!!!!!

Is the font big enough?

The K1 is invalid once you are married! You can't marry, leave the US, and then return with a K1 visa. You MUST BE LEGALLY FREE TO MARRY WHEN YOU ENTER WITH THE K1!

Sorry, there is no way your plan can work.