Visiting options

[Xanax 349]

Hi, I am just curious as to whether it would be better for my fiance and I to buy myself a return ticket for 2-3 weeks (Aus- US) and then change the ticket afterwards after I have gained entry to the US to extend my stay?

Is that allowed?

We just started our K1 journey and I plan to take a 83 day visit in April so I can make my friends wedding, see my fiance and familiarize myself with where we will be living before I move there permanently (to hopefully aliviate culture shock and problems down the road).

Thanks!

[Matt and Monique 0]

You might have a Tourist visa to do that . But I let you know ,is very hard to get this visa once you have already applied for the K-1 . I tryed to entry the USA with my Tourist visa and When I get to the airport I told the immigration I was going to visit my fiance . They sent me back to Brazil and told me to apply for the K-1 . They won´t believe you are going to visit . It Sucks , right ? I am waiting for my fiance visa now .

gOOD lUCK!

[Xanax 349]

Really? So they will more than likely decline me? Even with all the "ties to home". I have travelled on the visa waiver before for a 17 day period and no problem?? ?

[Xanax 349]

Anyone else have any idea(s) or know what the best thing to do here is?

[Touch of Treble 39]

G'day,

I travelled in August 2011 and stayed for 31 days. I had evidence of 'ties to Aust' and they let me in no worries. how long are you planning to stay? I wouldn't worry about changing the tickets, just stay for as long as is reasonable in line with your commitments at home...

[Xanax 349]

Hi Chippy's girl, thanks for replying! I am looking to stay for 80 days, for a friends wedding, Partner's birthday and 4th of July and those dates are all spread out over an 80 day span.

[dukeandduchess 141]

Sure you could do that. It's better to tell the truth though. Just bring proof of ties to your country (that you plan on returning) and be completely open and honest. Lying or "fudging the truth" is never a good idea. You could be fine or the IO may be able to tell something's up, but won't know it's something as innocent as wanting to stay longer than 2-3 weeks.

Better to be honest.

[didopage 337]

I visited my fiance during our K-1 journey using the VWP, I had no problem but you need to have strong ties to your country. Show them you have no intent to immigrate during the trip. Having a copy of your NOA1 (when you'll have it) would be also good to prove you follow the legal way to immigrate.

P.S.: Please edit your profile info, it's written you filed for a F-1 visa, and not K-1. Also, remember to update the service center in your timeline when you'll receive your NOA1. It will be either California SC or Vermont SC, but not Texas (TSC doesn't process K-1, to not be confound with the Texas lockbox where you sent your petition).

Edited January 23, 2012 by didopage

[Xanax 349]

Better to be honest.

That is what I thought initially, but reading all these stories about getting turned away is scary. I do not want to miss out of seeing my partner nor do I want to miss my friends wedding or my first "4th of July"

P.S.: Please edit your profile info, it's written you filed for a F-1 visa, and not K-1. Also, remember to update the service center in your timeline when you'll receive your NOA1. It will be either California SC or Vermont SC, but not Texas (TSC doesn't process K-1, to not be confound with the Texas lockbox where you sent your petition).

Done

[Touch of Treble 39]

That is what I thought initially, but reading all these stories about getting turned away is scary. I do not want to miss out of seeing my partner nor do I want to miss my friends wedding or my first "4th of July"

Done

That's why your evidence of ties back home is crucial. I had loads with me. i took my bank statement showing the mortgage payments for my home. I showed the contract I had signed at the Student hostel for my daughter's accommodation, including the date I was collecting her. I also had the copy of my leave application from work and could show on my bank statement the pay going in. I had the post office form for redirecting my mail and for how long.

You know what? I didn't need to show any of it, 30 odd days is not that long to them. For 83 days, you need to REALLY show that you are coming home and why. The stronger your evidence of returning the less doubt in their minds.

The other option is - go for the wedding and hold off on the 4th of July till you are living there...it might mean alot more then for having had the wait.

There is a risk of being turned away at POE. Then you have to buy a return ticket. You need to calculate the risk and act accordingly. Good luck!

Maybe someone else here will have some info that will help you.

[KLS2010 30]

I have visited the US 5 times on the VWP over the course of about 2yrs. On the first few trips I booked tickets for stays of about 3wks and then changed them once I was in the US as I was told (rightly or wrongly) by a travel agent that stays over 1month would be looked at more closely by CBP.

But I soon got sick of paying $200+ each time to change my tickets, and so on both my extended trips (88 days) I just booked the tickets for a couple of days before the VWP would expire. I've had no problems on any of my trips, whether they were for 3wks or 3mths. And each time I was honest and told them I was there to visit my boyfriend/fiance/husband. I have never been asked to show ties to Australia. I admit, I didn't visit the US while our I-130 was pending, although I did visit after I was already married - and I still wasn't asked anything above and beyond the normal questions by CBP officers (reason for visit, who are you visiting, how long will you stay, etc).

Of course, this isn't to say that the same thing would happen to you. It is always up to the CBP officers as to whether they allow you to enter or not. May be best to play it safe and take any proof of ties that you have, just in case - although this still doesn't guarantee entry.

Good luck with it all!

[KLS2010 30]

You just sent your petition on the 20th Jan??

Keep in mind that if you are planning to stay until July - there is a chance that your petition may be approved while you're in the US.

[orangedesk 27]

We just started our K1 journey and I plan to take a 83 day visit in April

This is exactly what my guy intends to do. We just booked his trip for 87 days (he's from the UK and will also be traveling here under the visa waiver program). His flight is booked for Feb. 8 so I'm counting down the days. Anyway, I originally asked a very similar question and the biggest thing is to look at the responses from people from your country. When I posted, a girl from the UK said she did the exact same thing with no problems. There was some back and forth and worries about being turned away like you're seeing now, but I think the important things to keep in mind are:

1. You're traveling under the visa waiver program - this makes it a lot easier for you and a lot less... "suspicious" I guess I could say.

2. Bring a copy of the I-129F you filed. If the CBP officer at the airport gives you any #######, it's because their main priority is to make sure everyone that enters, enters as a tourist and doesn't overstay. The logical explanation is that you've already filed the I-129F and started the K-1 Process. Overstaying would mean you'd have to start all over, it would hurt your chances for coming to the U.S. legally. Do whatever you can to show that you are leaving before the 90 days are up. This is their main concern.

3. If you get travel medical insurance, show that it runs out before the 90 days.

4. I've never heard of anyone having to show "ties" to their home country, but I would of course include this. Any job info, mortgage, etc.

5. Another issue that people talk about but i've never heard of actually happening is that the 90 days is at the discretion of the CBP officer. If you say you're only staying for 2 weeks, they COULD put a date in your passport making you leave after those two weeks which would mess up your plan entirely. I think it's better to state something like "I'm staying for 10 weeks" or something like that.

6. Just make sure that you're honest and answer everything truthfully. What I *DO* know for sure is that your answers to Customs are recorded and on file. When my co-worker immigrated to the United States from Venezuela, they played her the recordings she said at entry because she said she was visiting a friend at one point when she was there for something else. It didn't harm her case in the end, but she was very spooked to know they had recordings.

[Xanax 349]

You just sent your petition on the 20th Jan??

Keep in mind that if you are planning to stay until July - there is a chance that your petition may be approved while you're in the US.

We were looking at time lines and it looks as though the entire process is taking around 9 months for Aussies. We just filed and we will have ppeople at our residences if we are not there to advise us if we have any important/ urgent mail. If worst comes to worst and I need to come back for a medical or interview I will.

This is exactly what my guy intends to do. We just booked his trip for 87 days (he's from the UK and will also be traveling here under the visa waiver program). His flight is booked for Feb. 8 so I'm counting down the days. Anyway, I originally asked a very similar question and the biggest thing is to look at the responses from people from your country. When I posted, a girl from the UK said she did the exact same thing with no problems. There was some back and forth and worries about being turned away like you're seeing now, but I think the important things to keep in mind are:

1. You're traveling under the visa waiver program - this makes it a lot easier for you and a lot less... "suspicious" I guess I could say.

2. Bring a copy of the I-129F you filed. If the CBP officer at the airport gives you any #######, it's because their main priority is to make sure everyone that enters, enters as a tourist and doesn't overstay. The logical explanation is that you've already filed the I-129F and started the K-1 Process. Overstaying would mean you'd have to start all over, it would hurt your chances for coming to the U.S. legally. Do whatever you can to show that you are leaving before the 90 days are up. This is their main concern.

3. If you get travel medical insurance, show that it runs out before the 90 days.

4. I've never heard of anyone having to show "ties" to their home country, but I would of course include this. Any job info, mortgage, etc.

5. Another issue that people talk about but i've never heard of actually happening is that the 90 days is at the discretion of the CBP officer. If you say you're only staying for 2 weeks, they COULD put a date in your passport making you leave after those two weeks which would mess up your plan entirely. I think it's better to state something like "I'm staying for 10 weeks" or something like that.

6. Just make sure that you're honest and answer everything truthfully. What I *DO* know for sure is that your answers to Customs are recorded and on file. When my co-worker immigrated to the United States from Venezuela, they played her the recordings she said at entry because she said she was visiting a friend at one point when she was there for something else. It didn't harm her case in the end, but she was very spooked to know they had recordings.

(L) I hope you and your man have a lovely time together!

Thank you, that made me feel a little better, let me know how it goes for him at his POE?

I wont have a job as I plan to resign when I leave for 3 months ( I don't have 3 months of leave and it doesn't sound reasonable to me to ask for leave for a holiday for that period of time); I will have a lease agreement, a loan agreement, my car registration (showing I own it and it registerd in Australia, health insurance for whilst I am in the states and I do hope that is all enough.

Edited January 23, 2012 by BrittandDan

[jarta 24]

the most important thing is to be honest. i got a 5years multiply entry for the US after telling the CO that i was going to visit my girl friend (i went to college in the US). people told me if i told the CO that i was going to visit my GIRL FRIEND, i would be denied but they were wrong. also at the POE, i told the CBP officer that i was going to visit GIRL FRIEND and attend my brothers college graduation, after looking at my return ticket and a few questions about my job, he gave me the maximum stay i could have - 6months. just be honest. coming from a country (Ghana) that's considered a high fraud country and i was able to go through; you should be fine, you are from a country that is not considered a high fraud country at all. i think you telling them the truth and having a copy of your NOA 1 will help.