Travel to the USA while application is pending

[S and R 8]

A quick report:

My case is at the NVC and I had to travel to the USA to visit my wife. I had no problems whatsover at entry. I had lots of 'ties to Australia' documents - leave authorisation, mortgage records, bank accounts....etc, but I wasn't asked for anything.

2 questions were asked: What is the purpose of your visit? (visiting family and friends)

How long are you staying? (2 weeks)

This is under VWP.

[casinnova 0]

I have been scouring the web for this information. I thought I read something on the state department website that said traveling while VISA is pending isn't allowed, but with all the info I thought I knew and coming to find out I was wrong about everything, I am quite sure I am wrong about this too. So, after researching deeper, it appears that traveling to the USA is allowed while Visa is pending.

Here is my situation:

I have sent in all required documents to the NVC but have not received a confirmation reply for my wife's DS-230.

With Christmas coming up, and our paperwork still at NVC, I doubt the embassy will even schedule an interview date before Christmas, but I could be wrong.

I want her to be with me over holidays, so she will fly to USA using the 90 day ESTA visa free thing. If and when the embassy contacts her, we will just have to say, Yo make my interview date for February. I would just wait for the Embassy interview, but my unit is being deployed next year and I want to spend more time with my wife before I go. Federal Military orders is usually a pretty good "get through customs" pass.

I will update this thread as our travel plans unfold.