renewing B1/2 - should I mention plans for K1?

[still thinking 0]

Hi everyone!

It's my first post here, but I've been reading this forum for a long time now, researching my options to finally be with my boyfriend (the USC). I've learned a lot already, thanks to so many people willing to share their experiences, and now I wanted to ask for some advice regarding my particular situation.

First some brief info about us:

We met online over three years ago and two years ago I got my first tourist visa (Poland still not being in VWP...), on which I went to visit him three times, never having any POE problems other than a few questions about my finances. The visa was issued for two years and it expired a few months ago. We've already discussed all our options and what makes most sense for us is applying for a K-1 visa, so that I can move to the States and we can finally be together. Problem is, my boyfriend has just graduated and is still looking for a job, so it will take him some time before he's ready to invite me there and have all the financial proof they need, and then there's the whole K-1 process, which will mean yet more months of waiting and separation. Because of that and the fact that he's not in the position to come visit me again (he's been in Poland two times already), we've decided that I would try to get a new B1/2 visa, so that we can meet one or two times more before I can actually move there (and maybe finally get engaged first ).

Now, next week is my interview with the consular officer and I'm wondering whether I should mention our plans to start the K-1 process in the not so far future? First time I was getting my visa, I told them I was going to visit my boyfriend, same thing I told on each entry to the US, it never raised any suspicions, but maybe assuring them we had plans for a legal "solution" to our long-distance suffering would make us sound more trustworthy? Or is it too risky to volunteer such piece of information?

Sorry for the length of the post, I just wanted to mention all (hopefully) relevant details. I've read lots of similar stories in here, but most of them concerned people from Canada/VWP countries, who in this situation only need to face the POE officers, not the consular ones as well.
I will really appreciate your opinions!

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hi everyone!

It's my first post here, but I've been reading this forum for a long time now, researching my options to finally be with my boyfriend (the USC). I've learned a lot already, thanks to so many people willing to share their experiences, and now I wanted to ask for some advice regarding my particular situation.

First some brief info about us:

We met online over three years ago and two years ago I got my first tourist visa (Poland still not being in VWP...), on which I went to visit him three times, never having any POE problems other than a few questions about my finances. The visa was issued for two years and it expired a few months ago. We've already discussed all our options and what makes most sense for us is applying for a K-1 visa, so that I can move to the States and we can finally be together. Problem is, my boyfriend has just graduated and is still looking for a job, so it will take him some time before he's ready to invite me there and have all the financial proof they need, and then there's the whole K-1 process, which will mean yet more months of waiting and separation. Because of that and the fact that he's not in the position to come visit me again (he's been in Poland two times already), we've decided that I would try to get a new B1/2 visa, so that we can meet one or two times more before I can actually move there (and maybe finally get engaged first ).

Now, next week is my interview with the consular officer and I'm wondering whether I should mention our plans to start the K-1 process in the not so far future? First time I was getting my visa, I told them I was going to visit my boyfriend, same thing I told on each entry to the US, it never raised any suspicions, but maybe assuring them we had plans for a legal "solution" to our long-distance suffering would make us sound more trustworthy? Or is it too risky to volunteer such piece of information?

Sorry for the length of the post, I just wanted to mention all (hopefully) relevant details. I've read lots of similar stories in here, but most of them concerned people from Canada/VWP countries, who in this situation only need to face the POE officers, not the consular ones as well.

I will really appreciate your opinions!

Unless someone directly and explicitly asks questions related to a K-1, you don't need to volunteer any information.

If the question is as 'innocent' as "Are you planning to marry?", the answer is that "everything is possible, but he has not asked, he is just starting his professional life/career and could take time before it's a real possibility; if the time comes, we obvisouly will do it the right/legal way" - you are not lying or misreprenseting anything, as in fact, he is just starting his professional life and truly needs some time to settle and become financially stable; and has not asked you to marry -right?.

You still are honest in saying that you are visiting boyfriend. Worst than can happen is that you get a B1 denied and that will not have any effect on the K-1 (unless of course you misrepresent something, so don't)

In terms of your boyfriend looking for a job: he could still file, but perhaps he wants to wait at least until he's got a job; and when the time comes, you can have a co-sponsor. You might want to see about asking relatives and friends if they would be willing to when the time comes (if there is a need). The K-1 takes 6-8 months, by then, likely he'll have job as the market has improved quite a bit.

[still thinking 0]

Unless someone directly and explicitly asks questions related to a K-1, you don't need to volunteer any information.

If the question is as 'innocent' as "Are you planning to marry?", the answer is that "everything is possible, but he has not asked, he is just starting his professional life/career and could take time before it's a real possibility; if the time comes, we obvisouly will do it the right/legal way" - you are not lying or misreprenseting anything, as in fact, he is just starting his professional life and truly needs some time to settle and become financially stable; and has not asked you to marry -right?.

You still are honest in saying that you are visiting boyfriend. Worst than can happen is that you get a B1 denied and that will not have any effect on the K-1 (unless of course you misrepresent something, so don't)

In terms of your boyfriend looking for a job: he could still file, but perhaps he wants to wait at least until he's got a job; and when the time comes, you can have a co-sponsor. You might want to see about asking relatives and friends if they would be willing to when the time comes (if there is a need). The K-1 takes 6-8 months, by then, likely he'll have job as the market has improved quite a bit.

Thank you for your reply You are right, the last thing I want to do is to misrepresent things, and I'm not planning to do that, it's stressful enough when I'm only telling the truth . He hasn't asked me yet, so yes, he is only the boyfriend for now, I'm just thinking that it's quite probable they will think it's more than that or ask about our plans for the future and I just want to make it clear we're planning to do it the legal way.

I know we could get someone from his family to co-sponsor, but we sort of prefer to do it on our own, on both sides. Hopefully you're right and it won't be so hard for him to find a job and file soon, and in the meantime I get to save up a bit more money and spend time with friends and family.

[still thinking 0]

Okay, so just as an update, the interview was yesterday and my B1/2 was approved for 10 years (yay ). Apart from the usual questions about my job and my previous visits to the States, the lady who interviewed me did ask if we were going to get married. I told her that for now we didn't have any specific plans and then she made a stern face and warned me that in case we had any, the B visa was not the right one for that, but when I assured her that I'd get the K-1, she smiled and said that my visa was approved.