Yes, you can visit!

[Pebbles1989 3]

Due to a flight change I am not entering the US via Seattle but Portland. They do not have self service machines. I am a bit worried now how to prepare. We have withdrawn the K1 with a letter to the USCIS telling them that my fiancé is moving to Austria because of the job offer I got. I can bring a copy of this letter with me. Also the flight confirmation of my fiancé. I do have a letter of my new employer (it's in German though)... What do you think do I have to prepare? Do you think it might be a problem that we have withdrawn the K1? If they ask about it, what shall I say? Just the job think and that he'll move with me?

I am a bit worried now..

[Mena28 35]

Just tell them the truth if they ask.

Even if you use the self service machines they make a lot of people talk to an officer still - at least in Boston they did.

If you are super worried write a letter for your new work to sign, or get a certified translation of the letter you have got. Or get the first paperwork started on his paperwork for AUT, if you can?

I didnt have to show any paperwork (which doesnt mean you wont either), but try not to freak out about it! You are from Austria, you have plenty of ties, and you guys are planning on moving him here. No reason to worry. But you still will, all the while until you are through ;-) I know I did!

[jamesuk113 5]

Hi everyone,

This thread really helped to give me and my partner reassurance before our last visit in March, so I wanted to reply with my experience.

Our situation: I'm 26 male from the UK, she is 24 female from CA, she is employed four days per week, I'm studying for a PhD in the second year. K1 has been filled and we're at NOA2 now. Two previous visits to her in the USA, one previous visit to me in the UK.

On March 18th I touched down at SFO with my parents who wanted to meet my partner's family. I realise that looks incredibly suspicious in terms of a planned marriage etc.

We approached the immigration desk as a family and I was shaking with nerves. I was visibly nervous and not properly hearing and responding to the the questions being asked (tired, nervous, background noise).

I came armed with 12 months of stamped bank statements showing balance in excess of £10K, TransferWise screen print, letter from my university (I'm a PhD student), K1 NOA1, granted UK visa for May for my partner, return flight ticket, a receipt for three weeks car parking at Heathrow, a blood donation appointment letter I had scheduled for May, various proofs of address in the UK, freshly renewed vehicle MOT certificate and a tenancy agreement.

I was asked what the purpose of the stay was, what my partner does in the US and if my partner is a citizen of the USA. I was then asked what I do in the UK and how I got the time off. I told the officer I was a PhD student and then offered him my university letter which stated they were aware of the trip and granted me the time off and also showed my return date.

My passport was stamped, as were my parents and we had a truly amazing three weeks.

No other evidence was asked for and the officer did not seem aware of our K1 application (we were at NOA1+2 weeks at the time of crossing)

I don't know if it makes a difference but they seemed short staffed when I arrived. We also ended up at the front of the queue so there were hundreds of people behind us and it was taking a long time to get through. However the officer I had was very kind and professional and it did not appear at all as though we were being rushed. I am so grateful to have been allowed entry.

I'm now back in the UK and we are excitedly continuing our preparations for the K1 and looking forward to my partners visit to the UK in 2.4 weeks! (which, by the way, getting a visa for was a whole other adventure....)

My inference is that they just want to make reasonably sure that you're going to go back. University letters and employer letters are key.

Best of luck! (but really, if you've done your research and you still think you'll be fine, then you'll be fine. Relax.)

[jbed81 1]

I'm sure all the vets on this board are tired of this daily question, but keep in mind that dozens of people are just starting this process every day, and the "can I visit while the application is pending?" question is one, if not the, most pressing matters to most of them.

Information about this is all over this site, but scattered. I for one am a person who likes to hear personal experiences too, so I can make a decision based on what others in my similar situation have gone through.

The answer is yes, visits are allowed. But whether you will actually be admitted lies entirely in the hands of the officer questioning you upon entry. And face it, hearing you've got a sweetheart you're intending to/have married waiting for you in the US is going to set off a "he/she is just going to stay here forever" bell to that officer. It's your job to convince that officer that you have a life back in your home country that you fully intend, and will, go back to.

Anyway, I'm hoping people will post their experiences visiting the USC before and during the visa journey. I'm sure that all of us do visit legally, and do leave when we're supposed to. So, is there anything that worked for you? Hindered you? If you were ever denied, why? Were you able to remedy the situation and try again?

Going through customs can make your stomach turn, and make you feel like a criminal even though you've done nothing wrong. So, let's try to calm each other down and tell each other our experiences. I think we'll find that most of us are admitted (albeit with a little hassle, perhaps).

Vets, maybe this will cut down on having to answer the question 5 times a day!

Michele

I wanted to bring this topic back to life. I think allot has changed in the world of immi since 2007. I'm interested to hear of recent experiences. I'm particularly interested in what evidence people have used recently to enter the U.S. I realize there is no magic formula. We aren't interested at all in breaking the law or AoS from a marriage while visiting. We are 120 days in process at TSC. We don't think it would behoove us to try to marry ANG AOS. I think that would solve a short term problem of being separated, but delay the long term problem of getting a final approval to remain in the US. Just would like to spend some time together during the wait. We also have friends in the neighborhood she'd like to see again. I should also state that she has entered before on an ESTA visa waiver that still has entries and time remaining on it. She aquirred approval for the waiver prior to submitting the k1 petition.

[TabeaK 516]

The topic is current. Scroll back as many pages as you want to read plenty of experiences covering the last few months including mine.

[jbed81 1]

The topic is current. Scroll back as many pages as you want to read plenty of experiences covering the last few months including mine.

Must be the iPhone interface. I only see 2007. I'll check regular version.

[jbed81 1]

Yup it was the new mobile interface that only let me see the beginning two pages. Cycled it and now wow it goes all the way to recently.

So, couple quick questions:

How long of a visit is recommended. I'm thinking maxing out the ESTA would look suspicious. (This would be her second entry on this ESTA). We were thinking 3-4 weeks then bump out the plane tickets once she is in.

What sort of proofs could she bring understanding the following. She moved in with her dad after she moved out of my house (we lived together in Hungary 3.5 years). She doesn't own the car she drives. She has allot of suff there. Our two pedigreed and rather expensive dachshunds will remain there during the visit. She has s full double original copy of her k1 petition. She didn't get a real job because we didn't expect to end up in TSC purgatory when three girls recently went on K1 in 5 months even. She trains my friends german Sheppard for spare income plus I funnel her some cash through our joint account. It's not hard to generate letters with stamps here in Hungary. Her dad is a well respected doctor who co-owns a practice. Could she "work for him"? So knowing all this, what do yall think would be our best shot at showing ties to HU. We've got no intention of marrying while she is on visit. She will return to finish the K1 process.

We would have set ourselves up better for a visit if the lawyer we talked to would have made it seem even remotely possible yo visit. Glad we didn't use him. Looks like he doesn't know much. I'm in HU visiting as we speak and I just happened upon this thread at 120 days into TSC purgatory.

Would a letter from me help? I'm a guy with ties to the military and a security clearance that would be jeopardized by pulling dishonest stunts with the government (CBP).

[TabeaK 516]

Be honest about your length of stay and accumulate a few documents showing your ties to Hungary and go for it - you have plenty of ideas above.

You will most likely be fine. There is no limit to how many times the ESTA can be used as long as you do not spend more than 180d in the US per year. Still, whether you will be admitted or not will be up the border officer - as it always is, ESTA or visa...

I have used my current ESTA about 6-7 times over the last year, though admittedly no trip was longer than 7 days.

We have NOA-1s that are pretty close, I feel for you - the TSC purgatory is torture.

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Yup it was the new mobile interface that only let me see the beginning two pages. Cycled it and now wow it goes all the way to recently.

So, couple quick questions:

How long of a visit is recommended. I'm thinking maxing out the ESTA would look suspicious. (This would be her second entry on this ESTA). We were thinking 3-4 weeks then bump out the plane tickets once she is in.

What sort of proofs could she bring understanding the following. She moved in with her dad after she moved out of my house (we lived together in Hungary 3.5 years). She doesn't own the car she drives. She has allot of suff there. Our two pedigreed and rather expensive dachshunds will remain there during the visit. She has s full double original copy of her k1 petition. She didn't get a real job because we didn't expect to end up in TSC purgatory when three girls recently went on K1 in 5 months even. She trains my friends german Sheppard for spare income plus I funnel her some cash through our joint account. It's not hard to generate letters with stamps here in Hungary. Her dad is a well respected doctor who co-owns a practice. Could she "work for him"? So knowing all this, what do yall think would be our best shot at showing ties to HU. We've got no intention of marrying while she is on visit. She will return to finish the K1 process.

We would have set ourselves up better for a visit if the lawyer we talked to would have made it seem even remotely possible yo visit. Glad we didn't use him. Looks like he doesn't know much. I'm in HU visiting as we speak and I just happened upon this thread at 120 days into TSC purgatory.

Would a letter from me help? I'm a guy with ties to the military and a security clearance that would be jeopardized by pulling dishonest stunts with the government (CBP).

Your questions should be recently answered on this forum. It's a lot of pages, but they'll answer your questions. I was recommended less than like 80 days so you don't look suspicious using the full amount, but I honestly haven't it seen it make much a difference. My fiancé has stayed 2 months, 2.5 months, and 3 months before and never had issues.

[stevenjuniper 0]

I'll be visiting my fiancé tomorrow from the UK so I'll post my POE experience on here shortly after.

[jbed81 1]

Anyone have any issues or interesting experiences entering through Seattle?

[Corzo1106 6]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me about their experience applying for a tourist visa before doing the k1 visa interview. Our k1 petition had been approved. My fiancé and I would like to do some wedding planning together before he enters the U.S. on the k1 visa. He applied for a tourist visa back in December but it was denied. I visited him late January and that is when we decided to get married. He's never been to the U.S. before so I think it's important for him to visit first so he can gauge how he will feel living here. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm worried he would get denied again. Any information or information will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Noelia

[TabeaK 516]

It is nigh on impossible getting a B visa with a pending K1...sorry. You will have your interview and be issued in a couple of months anyway...

[SantyAndAllie 155]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone can tell me about their experience applying for a tourist visa before doing the k1 visa interview. Our k1 petition had been approved. My fiancé and I would like to do some wedding planning together before he enters the U.S. on the k1 visa. He applied for a tourist visa back in December but it was denied. I visited him late January and that is when we decided to get married. He's never been to the U.S. before so I think it's important for him to visit first so he can gauge how he will feel living here. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm worried he would get denied again. Any information or information will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Noelia

Not going to happen because you've already been approved for a k1 visa. They aren't going to issue him a tourist visa, as he's shown intent and pursuit to immigrate to the US. Sorry to say, but if you had wanted him to test the waters here, you should've done so before applying for a k1 visa. If for some reason he doesn't like it here (and it will take time for him to adjust), living in his country in the future is always an option. Plenty of USCs unfortunately don't get the chance to have their fiance(e)s see the US first before immigrating here, but I think most have adjusted and done well! It takes time and is strange at first, but hopefully he will feel comfortable here as the most important thing is that he's with you! Good luck to you guys!

PS: I agree with TabeaK- you will most likely receive the visa within a few months, so any other visa would be pointless anyway!

Edited April 16, 2015 by SantyAndAllie

[mdcatelli 16]

I had no problem with my POE visit today! Basic questions, in Winnipeg, Canada.

Where are you going? San Diego. What for ? To visit my fiancé. When are you coming back? Tuesday. When are you getting married? When we can, depending on visas. Who is moving where? I'll be moving there. What do you do? I am an early childhood educator. Then he said have a good flight and let me go.

I may have been slightly stressed about it for no reason.