wife on tourist B-2 visa

[spicynoodles 0]

Hello VJers! I am in a bit of a situation, I am hoping some of you can listen to my story and provide some input. I am very excited about my upcoming wedding, which will take place overseas this coming May of 2011. After which, I intend to bring my wife for a visit to the US on her existing B-2 tourist visa. I have absolutely zero intention of smuggling her into the US as a tourist and doing AOS, or having her stay illegally. We intend to proceed with the I-130 for the CR-1 visa, just not right away. We wanted to spend some time together right after our marriage instead of having to be separated after the marriage, while waiting for the I-130. So, I wanted her to come to the US for a few months, and then leave the US back to her home, at which point we will begin the I-130 process. Whew! Here comes the questions:

1. Ive read several entries on VJ already about spouses visiting on a tourist visa. The general consensus is that it happens, and there is usually no problem. Has anyone had the opposite experience, flew their spouse here, to be rejected by the immigration officer at the point of entry?

2. I dont know how other US airports do it, but in LA, they separate lines for US citizens and for foreign passport holders as we pass through immigration. I would really like to be with my wife as she goes through immigration. Should I line up with her in the foreign passport line to escort her, and then go over to the US citizen line afterwards and line up all over again for myself? Would this annoy the officer? I am just afraid (God forbid) the officer gives her some trouble and she is unable to pass through... maybe Im just being paranoid and over protective...

3. Should she say that she is visiting her husband when going through immigration? Am I being too paranoid again?

4. Is there any problems if she intends to stay in the US for about 4 months?

5. At the moment, she is on quite a few medications, and needs to continue to do so for the following few months after she arrives. She intends to bring about 4 months supply of those medication (about 4 different pills daily). Would there be any problems if they see that she is carrying such an abundant supply of pills in her suitcase?? she is taking medicine for her current lung problems.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story. I am so excited to get married, I have many thoughts and concerns about this whole journey, I am glad I can go to VJ for people that understand what it is like to be in my shoes. Any inputs are appreciated greatly. Have a nice day!

-Bert

[canadian_wife 1,823]

1. Yes it does happen and it happened to me

2. Why don't you simply stand with her in the foreigners line and enter through there? OR ask when you get to the airport what to do?

3. Since you will actually be with her at the airport, then YES she should say 'husband'. Otherwise it looks awefully suspicous

4. no, but her entrance and duration of stay is up to the CBP at the time of crossing, no guarentees. She should bring ties to Thailand to make the crossing easier

5. She may want to bring a note from her doctor (in English) explaining her medicationgs. It may not be asked for but if they CBP needs it, you certainly want to be able to produce it

Good luck

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

+1 to Canadian Wife. Well stated.

[spicynoodles 0]

thank you for the response, canadian wife. I am very sorry to hear that it has happened to you. I will ask the airport officers as you suggest and escort my (future) wife through. I was worried about the idea that the immigration officer may feel she has intent to migrate illegally. That is, if the officer knew there was a husband in the picture, as opposed to just a single person on vacation, she may have a harder time entering. It actually would not look suspicious at all as they completely separate the lines for citizens & foreigners. But in all, I think you are probably right and I should just be honest about it all. Thank you.

-Bert

[pushbrk 12,968]

Hello VJers! I am in a bit of a situation, I am hoping some of you can listen to my story and provide some input. I am very excited about my upcoming wedding, which will take place overseas this coming May of 2011. After which, I intend to bring my wife for a visit to the US on her existing B-2 tourist visa. I have absolutely zero intention of smuggling her into the US as a tourist and doing AOS, or having her stay illegally. We intend to proceed with the I-130 for the CR-1 visa, just not right away. We wanted to spend some time together right after our marriage instead of having to be separated after the marriage, while waiting for the I-130. So, I wanted her to come to the US for a few months, and then leave the US back to her home, at which point we will begin the I-130 process. Whew! Here comes the questions:

1. Ive read several entries on VJ already about spouses visiting on a tourist visa. The general consensus is that it happens, and there is usually no problem. Has anyone had the opposite experience, flew their spouse here, to be rejected by the immigration officer at the point of entry?

2. I dont know how other US airports do it, but in LA, they separate lines for US citizens and for foreign passport holders as we pass through immigration. I would really like to be with my wife as she goes through immigration. Should I line up with her in the foreign passport line to escort her, and then go over to the US citizen line afterwards and line up all over again for myself? Would this annoy the officer? I am just afraid (God forbid) the officer gives her some trouble and she is unable to pass through... maybe Im just being paranoid and over protective...

3. Should she say that she is visiting her husband when going through immigration? Am I being too paranoid again?

4. Is there any problems if she intends to stay in the US for about 4 months?

5. At the moment, she is on quite a few medications, and needs to continue to do so for the following few months after she arrives. She intends to bring about 4 months supply of those medication (about 4 different pills daily). Would there be any problems if they see that she is carrying such an abundant supply of pills in her suitcase?? she is taking medicine for her current lung problems.

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story. I am so excited to get married, I have many thoughts and concerns about this whole journey, I am glad I can go to VJ for people that understand what it is like to be in my shoes. Any inputs are appreciated greatly. Have a nice day!

-Bert

1. Of course people visit their spouses after marriage but no guarantees of success.

2. I suggest you do not pass through together. You could but see my next answer.

3. You are not being too paranoid. My advice is for her to give a generic but true answer with regard to her reason for the visit. Visiting family and friends is true and raises no red flags. She could add that she's on extended holiday and mention some places she intends to visit. Of course, if asked if she is married or who her husband is she must answer truthfully but only if asked.

4. A four month visit may require additional explanation of how she has the time to do that and may require some evidence she can support herself during a long stay.

5. Doctor's note with the medications would be a good idea. This has the potential of causing problems too, depending on th reasons for the medications. If they think she's likely to need expensive medical care here, they may want to know how she's going to pay for it.

Lastly, I don't see any reason to wait to file the I-130. You could do it as soon as you can arrange to, before or after she visits.

[spicynoodles 0]

Thank you for the response pushbrk! Unfortunately I am confused on what to do now, but I will definitely consider everything that was said in response so far.

-Bert

[Harsh_77 718]

Thank you for the response pushbrk! Unfortunately I am confused on what to do now, but I will definitely consider everything that was said in response so far.

-Bert

There is no confusion, after marriage you come back and your wife stays back in home country and you start the paper work, you and she will have to fill the forms and then she will get her CR1 in her home country and she travels on that.

You cannot get married, bring her on the B1/B2 and then later file CR1.

If you want to still attempt wht u want to, then be prepared if your wife is sent back on the next plane to home and is not allowed in the country.

Being married to USC and entering on other visa is very difficult.