Fiance's visit

[wrestgirl 0]

I have already applied for the I-129F. Now I am wondering if it is possible to bring my fiance to the US as a tourist to stay here until our visa comes through...can he transfer and do the interview in the US without going back?

Thanks.

[raymaga 25]

Your fiance may be able to visit you while your K-1 is being processed, but there is no clear yes or no answer on that. I visited my fiance (I'm Canadian) while our K-1 was being processed, but I didn't require a visitors visa to do so. I drove across the border and as long as I had proof of strong ties to Canada, there was no problem with me "visiting" him.

Your fiance may or may not be allowed to enter the U.S. to visit you. It is completely dependant on the border officer that he gets, but the best way to ensure that he will be allowed to enter the U.S. is to supply proof of ties to his home country, such as mortgage/lease documents, his most recent pay stubs, a letter from his employer or school stating the date he is expected back.

Without proof of ties to his home country, there is a very good chance he will be denied entry.

And, no, he cannot have his interview in the U.S. He must return to his home country for the medical exam and interview.

[Mandolin_68 0]

I have already applied for the I-129F. Now I am wondering if it is possible to bring my fiance to the US as a tourist to stay here until our visa comes through...can he transfer and do the interview in the US without going back?

Thanks.

Not in a million years....they will laugh you out of the embassy (I know because my fiance and I tried the same thing.) It's the curse of being Iraqi in this day and age....they will barely allow my fiance into Jordan anymore. I went to Jordan for a few months so that we could be together but then came back to the U.S. and we are waiting out the rest of our Visa processing time apart. Going on 6 months since I saw him

[payxibka 10,044]

I have already applied for the I-129F. Now I am wondering if it is possible to bring my fiance to the US as a tourist to stay here until our visa comes through...can he transfer and do the interview in the US without going back?

Thanks.

You can always try for a tourist visa but how will you overcome "intent to immigrate"?

Even if you were successful, the interview will occur at the foreign consulate not in the US, no exception.

[Milka 0]

Sorry, but the whole process is not as easy at it seems. I would not risk anything and the interview will definitely be the home country. But good luck anyway.

[Boiler 43,619]

In principal he could apply for a B2 and go back for the interview.

In practice, Iraq, a wase of the application fee.

[paperone2007 0]

Hi... I am new here.. and I don't know how to use this.. but hopefully I will be able to learn more as I go along.. I just wanna ask, if WHAT PAPER WILL BE USE TO DOWNLOAD THE FORMS?.. like the G325A form...

Edited January 26, 2007 by paperone2007

[maggieNomar 0]

The unfortunate thing is that people from MENA countries are pretty much assured of a denial for a tourist visa these days. And with the war in Iraq, like the others have said, not worth losing the visa fee, which they charge whether or not the visa is issued. In addition, if he is refused the visa, it looks funny that he applied for one and then for a fiance visa (no matter what the order, he will have a visa refusal on his record when he has to go to the interview). I was strongly advised NOT to have my fiance come on a tourist visa, by an attorney. But, you can always try if you have your heart set on it.

[Shub 78]

On the topic of being able to show evidence of "strong ties" to the home country... What if I have none? I've read what sort of proof is required and can't seem to find something I could show. Here's why:

Most of the time, people (like in this topic, but pretty much everywhere else) will suggest to bring proof of having a mortgage, a rent, a job, or studies. So, in that order:

- I live with my dad, meaning I do not have a place of my own (= no mortgage, no rent, etc.)

- I don't have a job, meaning no employer who can vouch for me.

- By the time I'd like to go visit my fiancée (I am the foreign fiancé), I will have graduated from college, meaning my school could not vouch for me either.

So what's left for me?

Here's what I've thought of:

- Recent bills from my cell phone operator

- Recent bank statements

- Recent credit card statements

- A return ticket, if I can even get one! In the era of online reservations and electronic tickets, all I have on me until I check in at the airport is a stupid email with my flight plan... I haven't held a plane ticket in years, except when handing it to the lady at the boarding gate.

- Letters from family and friends stating that... they exist?

- A statement (written? is verbal enough? should I bring a copy of the NOA1 or 2 if I already have those?) that I'm currently going through the process of obtaining a K-1 visa, that I know about it and that I know I must return to my country for my interview at the US embassy, and that's just what the plan is?

So, yeah...

Anyway, I have to ask: isn't this whole stress over the POE blown a bit out of proportion? I went to the US several times before and never had anything remotely close to a problem. I often went with my parents in the past and I doubt they ever brought any evidence of strong ties to the home country with them. Last time I went (alone), I even told the officer that I was visiting my girlfriend when asked about the purpose of my visit, and he didn't say anything and just let me through without a hitch. Maybe I got lucky all those times? My POE was (and always will be) Philadelphia, if that makes a difference, and I travel with a Swiss passport.

[Magnolia31 0]

I have already applied for the I-129F. Now I am wondering if it is possible to bring my fiance to the US as a tourist to stay here until our visa comes through...can he transfer and do the interview in the US without going back?

Thanks.

There is no way that they will let him do the interview in the US.

I was actually going to go to the states in December once I got my interview date. Since I wouldn't exceed the 90 days, I was gonna fly here for the interview and then go back. I changed my mind though because i did not want to risk anything - plus, with my daughter being in kindergarten and loving it, I didn't wanna take her to the US in the spur of the moment.

If I were you, I wouldn't risk it. If your fiance does come and visit you, tell him not to tell customs that when he enters the POE ... if he does, they will just send him back home.

My friend wasted a plane ticket last year when she went to see her boyfriend. She told the customs officer that she was going to see him and they said NOPE! They are worried that people will go and get marrie din the states and then try to apply for a visa there.

So ... don't take a chance! Just wait it out. It doesn't always take long. We applied around July and I have my interview date next week. Sometimes the process goes even faster. It took my friend 4 months to get everything.

[Mandolin_68 0]

On the topic of being able to show evidence of "strong ties" to the home country... What if I have none? I've read what sort of proof is required and can't seem to find something I could show. Here's why:

Most of the time, people (like in this topic, but pretty much everywhere else) will suggest to bring proof of having a mortgage, a rent, a job, or studies. So, in that order:

- I live with my dad, meaning I do not have a place of my own (= no mortgage, no rent, etc.)

- I don't have a job, meaning no employer who can vouch for me.

- By the time I'd like to go visit my fiancée (I am the foreign fiancé), I will have graduated from college, meaning my school could not vouch for me either.

So what's left for me?

Here's what I've thought of:

- Recent bills from my cell phone operator

- Recent bank statements

- Recent credit card statements

- A return ticket, if I can even get one! In the era of online reservations and electronic tickets, all I have on me until I check in at the airport is a stupid email with my flight plan... I haven't held a plane ticket in years, except when handing it to the lady at the boarding gate.

- Letters from family and friends stating that... they exist?

- A statement (written? is verbal enough? should I bring a copy of the NOA1 or 2 if I already have those?) that I'm currently going through the process of obtaining a K-1 visa, that I know about it and that I know I must return to my country for my interview at the US embassy, and that's just what the plan is?

So, yeah...

Anyway, I have to ask: isn't this whole stress over the POE blown a bit out of proportion? I went to the US several times before and never had anything remotely close to a problem. I often went with my parents in the past and I doubt they ever brought any evidence of strong ties to the home country with them. Last time I went (alone), I even told the officer that I was visiting my girlfriend when asked about the purpose of my visit, and he didn't say anything and just let me through without a hitch. Maybe I got lucky all those times? My POE was (and always will be) Philadelphia, if that makes a difference, and I travel with a Swiss passport.

The difference is that you're Swiss....we haven't had a whole lot of problems with the Swiss trying to pour into the U.S. - illegally or otherwise. It is different when it comes to the MENA countries as well as others like Mexico and Latin America. Due to the surge in illegal immigration from these countries it is difficult to obtain a tourist Visa to the U.S. But Europeans, at least as far as I know, are still able to qualify for tourist visas without much difficulty.

[Shub 78]

The difference is that you're Swiss....we haven't had a whole lot of problems with the Swiss trying to pour into the U.S. - illegally or otherwise. It is different when it comes to the MENA countries as well as others like Mexico and Latin America. Due to the surge in illegal immigration from these countries it is difficult to obtain a tourist Visa to the U.S. But Europeans, at least as far as I know, are still able to qualify for tourist visas without much difficulty.

Thank you; I understand this topic is about an Iraqi entering the US, and I apologize for not making it clear that my question(s) was/were intended in a more general way, independent of national origins. My intent is not to hijack this topic but I just decided to use an existing thread on the topic I was wondering about; maybe I shouldn't have? I'm new here and only trying to avoid making a nuisance of myself already

It's only since I've started looking into this K-1 visa that I've started reading all the horror stories about perfectly honest people getting turned away at the border for telling the truth (and I don't mean a dumb truth like "oh I'm here to get married on my VWP", but rather something like "I'm here to visit my girlfriend"), and I'm growing paranoid of just doing something (flying to the US) which, up until recently, seemed like a breeze to me!

Edited January 26, 2007 by Shub

[Boiler 43,619]

The difference is that you're Swiss....we haven't had a whole lot of problems with the Swiss trying to pour into the U.S. - illegally or otherwise. It is different when it comes to the MENA countries as well as others like Mexico and Latin America. Due to the surge in illegal immigration from these countries it is difficult to obtain a tourist Visa to the U.S. But Europeans, at least as far as I know, are still able to qualify for tourist visas without much difficulty.

Thank you; I understand this topic is about an Iraqi entering the US, and I apologize for not making it clear that my question(s) was/were intended in a more general way, independent of national origins. My intent is not to hijack this topic but I just decided to use an existing thread on the topic I was wondering about; maybe I shouldn't have? I'm new here and only trying to avoid making a nuisance of myself already

It's only since I've started looking into this K-1 visa that I've started reading all the horror stories about perfectly honest people getting turned away at the border for telling the truth (and I don't mean a dumb truth like "oh I'm here to get married on my VWP", but rather something like "I'm here to visit my girlfriend"), and I'm growing paranoid of just doing something (flying to the US) which, up until recently, seemed like a breeze to me!

Well the original OP's question has been answered several times.

Actually it would be nearly as difficult for you to get a Visa, B2, but you have the advantage of the VWP.

When I was younger and nieve I also said I was visiting my girlfriend, if I thought about it at all I probably thought of it as a positive!

If you look at those who were turned back at the PoE then usually there is a reason, if you are just travelling on holiday a couple of times a year your chances of a problem are slim. Try and live here on the VWP and then its a different situation.

A refused B2 has no negativity for a K1, they are usually refused for lack of non immigrant intent, something you obviously have with a K.

[Yodrak 7]

wrestgirl,

"tourist to stay here" is an oxymoron. He can visit for as long as he is allowed to visit, but he cannot take up residence in advance of obtaining the proper approvals.

If you want to seriously consider what you propose you should discuss the issues with an experienced immigration attorney.

Yodrak

I have already applied for the I-129F. Now I am wondering if it is possible to bring my fiance to the US as a tourist to stay here until our visa comes through...can he transfer and do the interview in the US without going back?

Thanks.