Visiting the US while awaiting NOA2 arrival

[LB & PC 0]

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for the help you've given us since we joined the site. It's helped us tremendously.

Since you're all so rad, here's another question:

What would you do in our situation? Knowing that we will be waiting another 3 months in all likelihood for Paul's interview in London, we were wanting to travel back to the US for the holidays and to start preparing wedding details. I've done all the research into VWP vs. B2, and all the signs seem to give it the A-OK

Here's the rub!

All sources stressed the fact that Paul would need to prove to the Officer upon arrival that he has no intention of overstaying his visa, and plans to return to London. This would be fine, except, Paul sold his house and left his job over two years ago to travel the world (which is lucky for me, otherwise we wouldn't have met ). He can not prove ties by employment or residence.

We are willing to chance it, but I was curious to see what everyone thought.

[Barbara J 115]

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for the help you've given us since we joined the site. It's helped us tremendously.

Since you're all so rad, here's another question:

What would you do in our situation? Knowing that we will be waiting another 3 months in all likelihood for Paul's interview in London, we were wanting to travel back to the US for the holidays and to start preparing wedding details. I've done all the research into VWP vs. B2, and all the signs seem to give it the A-OK

Here's the rub!

All sources stressed the fact that Paul would need to prove to the Officer upon arrival that he has no intention of overstaying his visa, and plans to return to London. This would be fine, except, Paul sold his house and left his job over two years ago to travel the world (which is lucky for me, otherwise we wouldn't have met ). He can not prove ties by employment or residence.

We are willing to chance it, but I was curious to see what everyone thought.

Well the VWP is the way to go but he has to provide a return address on that so could be tricky for you. I came to the US to prepare my wedding on VWP but had a return address and no questions asked.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I find that traveling during the holidays seems to be even easier than usual. Also, when Nik visited during the process, he found that showing the receipt notice (NOA1) was quite helpful to him when he was pulled into secondary.

The list of things to show proof of ties isn't a list of requirements, it's a list of examples, bring a few of those things and you're fine. You don't need all of them, and maybe there are some things which aren't on the list which could help you. For example, while I would never recommend that someone do it on PURPOSE, when Nik came to visit me once, he had been unable to print out his itinerary showing his return ticket. But, he had a copy of an invitation to a wedding we were attending, and the NOA1, and some records of our plans to visit Hawaii, and that all satisfied the officer. The LAST piece of evidence Nik showed before the officer made the decision was the NOA1.

You're not likely to run into any troubles, in my opinion. People visit the US all the time and only a small percentage get turned away.

[baron555 934]

Hi everyone!

Thank you all so much for the help you've given us since we joined the site. It's helped us tremendously.

Since you're all so rad, here's another question:

What would you do in our situation? Knowing that we will be waiting another 3 months in all likelihood for Paul's interview in London, we were wanting to travel back to the US for the holidays and to start preparing wedding details. I've done all the research into VWP vs. B2, and all the signs seem to give it the A-OK

Here's the rub!

All sources stressed the fact that Paul would need to prove to the Officer upon arrival that he has no intention of overstaying his visa, and plans to return to London. This would be fine, except, Paul sold his house and left his job over two years ago to travel the world (which is lucky for me, otherwise we wouldn't have met ). He can not prove ties by employment or residence.

We are willing to chance it, but I was curious to see what everyone thought.

Well....you have no sympathy from me....sorry. My wife couldn't leave and maybe wouldn't have been granted a visa anyway and we had already decided that I should save the money and vacation time for when they came here......so we Skyped every day and made the best of it. It was a litle over 9 months between when we last met and when se came through the doors at POE.

Waiting three more months is not a big deal. VWP is probably your best bet but just be prepared if he is denied. That will not affect anything with the K-1.

Edited October 25, 2010 by baron555

[LB & PC 0]

Well....you have no sympathy from me....sorry. My wife couldn't leave and maybe wouldn't have been granted a visa anyway and we had already decided that I should save the money and vacation time for when they came here......so we Skyped every day and made the best of it. It was a litle over 9 months between when we last met and when se came through the doors at POE.

Waiting three more months is not a big deal. VWP is probably your best bet but just be prepared if he is denied. That will not affect anything with the K-1.

I wasn't looking for sympathy, I was looking for people's experiences with this.

It's sad you haven't been able to physically see your fiancee .... I just keep this in mind and feel lucky that I've been able to be with mine for the last year and a half

Thanks for all the POSITIVE feedback from everyone!

[baron555 934]

I wasn't looking for sympathy, I was looking for people's experiences with this.

It's sad you haven't been able to physically see your fiancee .... I just keep this in mind and feel lucky that I've been able to be with mine for the last year and a half

Thanks for all the POSITIVE feedback from everyone!

I was hoping you'd be able to read between the lines....I was just joking. It's great that you two were able to be together for so long and that he even has an opportunity to be able to maybe come here. As previously stated, everything might be OK at the POE but don't be disheartened if he is denied. If that happens, it will in not way affect the K-1 decision.

And...my timeline for the K-1 was last year.....we're together now and have the GC. It is very nice awakening eveyday in each other's arms.

[Yellowhead 12]

I wasn't looking for sympathy, I was looking for people's experiences with this.

It's sad you haven't been able to physically see your fiancee .... I just keep this in mind and feel lucky that I've been able to be with mine for the last year and a half

Thanks for all the POSITIVE feedback from everyone!

I heard on here a while back that if you think it might be risky getting into the USA without such ties, it might be a good idea to try and find an airport abroad (wherever you are flying from) that has US customs on site? If you chance it and fly all the way to the USA, only to find that border patrol won't let him in, he is then responsible for the cost of his immediate flight back home. This may or may not be risky for you guys (I am sure some people have extra cash laying around for this).

If I were you guys I would try that, and if that isn't possible I would compile letters from family stating when they expect him to return, provide cell-phone contract (if applicable), and any other ties to his home country. A return ticket would be a good choice as well, along with any documentation of future travel out of his home country (if he is traveling more when he gets back home), and any documentation of future plans if you can come up with them. If he has travelled to the USA before and returned home without any issues, this will also come into play at the border. If this is his first time, you may face difficulties.

AND of COURSE! NOA1!

Best of luck!

Edited October 25, 2010 by hithalynn