Seeing each other during K1 process

[Gatsborg 1]

Is it possible to see each other while the K1 process is going? If it is permitted then how would myself and my partner go about organising something because we would both need to be in our respective countries at certain points and we'd hate to miss something as a result of not being at home.

Did any of you see your partner while the K1 was in process? Do most people go the 6-8 months without seeing each other?

[elyhim 41]

Is it possible to see each other while the K1 process is going? If it is permitted then how would myself and my partner go about organising something because we would both need to be in our respective countries at certain points and we'd hate to miss something as a result of not being at home.

Did any of you see your partner while the K1 was in process? Do most people go the 6-8 months without seeing each other?

I had not heard of a petitioner interview for the K1 so why don't you take a trip?

[Darkmoonfaerie 19]

We applied in Feb and Alan just got home from a two week visit at the beginning of April. He had no issues getting through border control. Others do run into issues, you should bring proof of strong ties to your homeland when traveling (this goes for you and your fiance(e)). I was actually questioned more in England when visiting before we applied for the visa than he was here in the states after we applied.

[Pitaya 2,580]

Is it possible to see each other while the K1 process is going? If it is permitted then how would myself and my partner go about organising something because we would both need to be in our respective countries at certain points and we'd hate to miss something as a result of not being at home.

Did any of you see your partner while the K1 was in process? Do most people go the 6-8 months without seeing each other? NO WAY!!!

Check out our timeline for details.....

[C-ma'am 684]

Is it possible to see each other while the K1 process is going? If it is permitted then how would myself and my partner go about organising something because we would both need to be in our respective countries at certain points and we'd hate to miss something as a result of not being at home.

Did any of you see your partner while the K1 was in process? Do most people go the 6-8 months without seeing each other?

Hello! It all depends on many factors... including the mood of the Immigration Officer that greets you before entering the US. Of course, for citizens of certain countries, it might be a little easier; however regardless of the country you are from, you need to show ties to your home Country so they'll know you'll go back home to finish the process.

Even if you have the ties and all, it doesn't mean that they will not reject your entrance to the US. So, it's up to you to determine if it's worth the risk.

Please, take time to fill in your time line and your profile; so we can assist you better with your questions

Edited April 30, 2012 by Celeste & C

[Gatsborg 1]

Thanks for all the replies. So once the K1 is started, the immigration officers at airports will be aware that I am currently trying to get the K1 so they will scrutinise my tourist entry more? All I've ever had to do when entering the US is say how long I was planning to stay and how much cash I had on me.

I don't yet have a timeline as we've yet to start, we hope to do so in the next few days after we sort out a co-sponsor. The reason I made this thread is that we are both very worried about not being able to see each other because we are required to do something at home but I guess we just need to start first and go from there. For now I will look at people's timelines. :]

Edited April 30, 2012 by Gatsborg

[C-ma'am 684]

Thanks for all the replies. So once the K1 is started, the immigration officers at airports will be aware that I am currently trying to get the K1 so they will scrutinise my tourist entry more? All I've ever had to do when entering the US is say how long I was planning to stay and how much cash I had on me.

I don't yet have a timeline as we've yet to start, we hope to do so in the next few days after we sort out a co-sponsor. The reason I made this thread is that we are both very worried about not being able to see each other because we are required to do something at home but I guess we just need to start first and go from there. For now I will look at people's timelines. :]

Yes... While there are MANY successful stories here, of people going to visit their other halves while the K1 is being processed... there is a BIG chance to get rejected at the airport. If you DO get rejected, it will NOT interfere with your K1.... so there's a 50/50 chance. They might let you in with the standard questioning, they might reject you on the sport, they could take you into secondary questioning and determine YES or NO there. There's no certainty

So, it's a risk. But, it's up to you.

Where are you from?

[Gatsborg 1]

Yes... While there are MANY successful stories here, of people going to visit their other halves while the K1 is being processed... there is a BIG chance to get rejected at the airport. If you DO get rejected, it will NOT interfere with your K1.... so there's a 50/50 chance. They might let you in with the standard questioning, they might reject you on the sport, they could take you into secondary questioning and determine YES or NO there. There's no certainty

So, it's a risk. But, it's up to you.

Where are you from?

Hm, that is a shame, it makes immigration even scarier than usual in that case. If anything it doesn't really make sense, why would someone try to stay illegally when they've already started the K1 process? Oh well. The fact you call it a risk is worrying. :/

I am from Dublin, Ireland.

[C-ma'am 684]

Hm, that is a shame, it makes immigration even scarier than usual in that case. If anything it doesn't really make sense, why would someone try to stay illegally when they've already started the K1 process? Oh well. The fact you call it a risk is worrying. :/

I am from Dublin, Ireland.

Oh dear... There are so many... "Why in the world would anyone do.......?" questions in this forum. you would not believe.

Ok so being from Ireland, gives you more chances of being able to come into the US without major issues... but you need to do your homework and, whenever you are visiting, you should bring (just in case) proof of ties to Ireland: A letter from your employer saying you are expected to come back in XX days, your lease (if you have one)... basically anything that will show that you will be returning back home.

It is a risk, but mostly, it will be a waste of money.......... other than that, the important thing to know, is that it will NOT cause any problems or interfere with your K1 process if you get turned back.

[Gatsborg 1]

It is good that either way the K1 will be unaffected but it would be heartbreaking to get turned away. Yes the wasted money would really suck but also getting our hopes up for seeing each other and then being denied at the airport would hurt. :[

I hope I don't ever have to face that.

[C-ma'am 684]

It is good that either way the K1 will be unaffected but it would be heartbreaking to get turned away. Yes the wasted money would really suck but also getting our hopes up for seeing each other and then being denied at the airport would hurt. :[

I hope I don't ever have to face that.

Yeah .. if it happened to me, I would be devastated.. regardless of the money spent.

What you CAN do is.. come visit and file for the K1 while you are here. The sooner you file, the less you'll be apart for the rest of the process. You can stay for your 90 days and spend the other months at home. We did it like that.. with the only difference I was able to stay 4 months because I had a tourist visa (was authorized to stay 6, but I had to go back home for my sister's wedding).

While being away from your loved ones is really hard... it's DOABLE.

I always appreciated the fact I was able to travel to the US and much as I wanted. Many people here are from countries where is not easy to get a tourist visa, cannot afford travelling back and forth.. or simply have other circumstances that would not make travelling easy for them.

[sara80 17]

I came back last tuesday from a 18day visit in the US to see my fiance. I was well aware of the risks of being rejected but I was also very positive of being let in since I had a return ticket, proof of commitments back in the UK. I got through immigration in 5 minutes, with a few questions. I havent been asked abt the K1 process despite having answered "my fiance" to his question: "so, who lives in Alaska??!". I had proofs with me of being a full time student in the uk, but he never wanted to see anything, just my ESTA and passport obviously

I think that if you are confident with your answers to anything they are gonna ask and they see your visit is going to be short they should let you in. If it's going to be a 2/3 month stay then they might take you for secondary questioning which could still lead to being admitted.

[orangedesk 27]

I came back last tuesday from a 18day visit in the US to see my fiance. I was well aware of the risks of being rejected but I was also very positive of being let in since I had a return ticket, proof of commitments back in the UK. I got through immigration in 5 minutes, with a few questions. I havent been asked abt the K1 process despite having answered "my fiance" to his question: "so, who lives in Alaska??!". I had proofs with me of being a full time student in the uk, but he never wanted to see anything, just my ESTA and passport obviously

I think that if you are confident with your answers to anything they are gonna ask and they see your visit is going to be short they should let you in. If it's going to be a 2/3 month stay then they might take you for secondary questioning which could still lead to being admitted.

There are a lot of mixed responses on this topic. The biggest thing to do is pay attention to the stories that are similar to yours. Honestly, visa waiver countries have it a LOT easier...

My guy had no problems visiting me as of Feb. 8 under the VWP, coming from the UK. He said he was visiting his fiancee for 87 days and was stamped for the full 90. The customs officer (a female) just asked why he was staying so long and asked to see his return flight. He said he was staying so long to see the sights of America, including going to the grand canyon and getting to know my family better. There were no problems at all.

We had called an immigration lawyer before his visit just in case and the lawyer did give one really good piece of advice - one of the biggest things about the visa waiver program is to promote tourism, if you and your fiance(e) are going to take a trip while he/she is here, that should be highlighted. Things like planning a wedding, etc. aren't "tourist purposes" but seeing the sights of the city where the fiance(e) is moving to, is.

[Darkmoonfaerie 19]

Isn't Dublin a POE? I thought that someone told me that when I was asking the same question about Alan coming from England. They recommended he fly through Dublin so he could get pre-clearance and not have to fly back from the US if he got denied.

[Gatsborg 1]

Yes there is pre-clearance at Dublin which makes it less of a risk.