denied entry to USA on a K1 visa

[jeffkadrliktorr 99]

It's not about "practiced" answers, it's about honest answers. Most people coming on a K1 have at least some vague idea of when they're getting married, even if it's not set in stone. 

 

The officer who let me into the US with my K1 Visa barely said a word, just looked at my documents and sent me along. It was so anti-climactic after being so nervous. When I travelled here as a tourist I was asked a ton of questions. I understand that these guys can seem like they're just making friendly conversation, but what they're really doing is deciding whether you're getting into the country or not.

 

It was definitely not the time or place to be joking around with something like that. You really need to clarify.

 

Edited March 14, 2017 by Penguin_ie

[KierenHby 897]

1 hour ago, JulieinMD said:

My fiance was denied entry to the USA on a K1 visa.  It was a nightmare.  I was waiting for him outside of customs at JFK in NY, NY.  The customs agent asked him when we were getting married and he said maybe we will, maybe we won't and she sent him home. She said he didn't qualify for the K1 visa.  We think she was just looking for ANY reason to send him home.  Practice your answers for entry just as much as you did for the visa interview.  So sad.

Spent past several months trying to show intention to marry, and the best he could come up with was 'maybe'? Sounds like cold feet to me. 

 

B2 is for maybe. 

K1 is for yes I'm marrying her. 

[Cathi 5,610]

He was rightly denied.

[vegasbound 83]

If he didn't know whether or not he's going to marry you, then he does not qualify for a K1 visa. A fiancé visa is exaclty as the name suggests, that he should have already proposed to you or vice versa. A wedding date should already been set since he would only be allowed in the US on the K1 for a limited time. Sorry but I have to side with the immigration officer on this one. She did the right thing.

Edited March 13, 2017 by vegasbound

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

Good advice by OP. It's advisable to both be honest and practice your answers. They're not mutually exclusive, folks. I've traveled all around the world and I always get nervous when I go through customs. And I know when I'm nervous I can say something I didn't mean to say - and that doesn't mean my original intention was dishonesty.

 

In other words, practice your honesty.

Edited March 13, 2017 by Russ&Caro
expanding upon my post

[JulieinMD 2]

If he had said, "I really want to marry her but we haven't set a date yet", would that have changed what happened?

 

To answer some other questions--she wrote cancelled on his visa in his passport and told him that he could apply for another visa.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

1 hour ago, f f said:

did the officer actually void the visa? it still mat be valid for entry since it has not been used yet. also can you confirm your fiance was actually turned away and did just get cold feet and tell you this story?

 

good luck

before trying again to travel -if the visa was not cancelled- I would have him go to embassy (or you call them up ) and check what is the status.

It doesn't say what country he's from, and that might be a factor...Good luck

 

Never mind, I read that it was cancelled....then you have only 2 options, do another K-1, which might be doomed or marry him at his country and CR1

Edited March 13, 2017 by Gosia & Tito

[reginaglenn 25]

Oh gosh! no more joking around now, but maybe he means it. You don't really have to practice anything, you just have to be true with your intentions. But sorry to hear, this process is already draining all our energy.  

[Pinkrlion 2,607]

CBP Entry is another interview, and should be treated as such.  I agree that he was joking, but in the context of it being an immigration interview, he was denied entry as he stated that he was not going to abide by the 90 day agreement to marry.  It sucks, but its immigration reality.  CBP did nothing wrong in turning him away.  

[Sandra G. 5,016]

 I believe he gave them an honest answer, he might get married or not! This speaks volume about how he feels regarding the relationship, isn't?

[dawning 212]

41 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

Spent past several months trying to show intention to marry, and the best he could come up with was 'maybe'? Sounds like cold feet to me. 

 

B2 is for maybe. 

K1 is for yes I'm marrying her. 

B2 could perhaps be for maybe if you come from a country where it's easy to get b2s, and meet all the requirements.  While I am not necessarily defending the OP's fiance (we don't really have much information about what happened) the idea of coming and "probably" marrying is a lot more understandable for those for whom there is no other visa available, which is true for many people who could be eligible for a K-1. 

And then too, there are always a lot of folks on VJ who are hostile to those who marry and adjust on a tourist visa. 

I have also seen on here heartbroken people whose fiance broke off the engagement after the visa was approved, and some members suggesting they travel on the visa to see if they can reconcile, and then return home within 90 days if they can't.  We also hear from people who came on the k-1, the relationship fell apart, and they are sadly departing, and we don't put them down for having entered without a bullet-proof relationship. (Does such a thing exist?)

 

So if their relationship is going through a rough patch, but he still cares enough to get on the plane and see if they can work it out, is he no longer eligible for the k-1?  Should he not be?  I hadn't ever thought about it, but it seems like it could be argued both ways.

 

 

 

 

 

[KierenHby 897]

8 minutes ago, dawning said:

 

So if their relationship is going through a rough patch, but he still cares enough to get on the plane and see if they can work it out, is he no longer eligible for the k-1?  Should he not be?  I hadn't ever thought about it, but it seems like it could be argued both ways.

 

Nope. Not eligible under the circumstances mentioned.  Nothing stopping OP from visiting, or he goes for a B2. 

Any doubt and the 'intention to marry' document.. with a signature.. is deemed irrelevant. So then is the K1. 

[dawning 212]

13 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

Nope. Not eligible under the circumstances mentioned.  Nothing stopping OP from visiting, or he goes for a B2. 

Any doubt and the 'intention to marry' document.. with a signature.. is deemed irrelevant. So then is the K1. 

Really?  I had heard it was hard to get a visitor's visa after applying for a k-1, especially from countries consider high-fraud.  (Likewise, it's hard for anyone in the position to immigrate for marriage to get a visitor's visa in those countries.)

[Unlockable 7,306]

2 hours ago, JulieinMD said:

If he had said, "I really want to marry her but we haven't set a date yet", would that have changed what happened?

 

To answer some other questions--she wrote cancelled on his visa in his passport and told him that he could apply for another visa.

Not having a wedding date set and being unsure if you will marry at all is way different.

 

The officer made the correct decision. You next course of action should be why he honestly said that. Honestly.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

I am so sorry to hear about your fiance's denied entry but his response to the CBP officer's question was a peculiar one. Really curious to know as to why he had said that. The times I've been to the US even just for a visit, I always made sure I answered the questions properly and not joke about anything.