Crossing the border with K1

[Wismer 5]

Hi. Is it safe to assume that I will be detained and interrogated by the border folks when I cross this month with my K1 visa in my passport (and my 'do not open' package). Thx.

[FlashLG 152]

Why would you be detained and interrogated? When I entered with K1 visa, the person at border control opened my pack and checked the documents, explained to me that I had to get married within 90 days, and then stamped my passport. That was pretty much it. I entered at LAX, so it may be different at other airports and I've read that sometimes people are taken off to a different section but that's only so they can review the documents without holding up the line.

Edited October 3, 2018 by FlashLG

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

12 minutes ago, Wismer said:

Hi. Is it safe to assume that I will be detained and interrogated by the border folks when I cross this month with my K1 visa in my passport (and my 'do not open' package). Thx.

 

You may get held temporarily but that is for a simple processing. Even at the airport, when one goes through immigrations they generally get sent to a secondary screening for questioning.. just basic simple questions while they open and process the packet and your visa and all. Is nothing to be nervous or worried about.

[Wismer 5]

Thank you. I worry because I read "

Does an approved K-1 visa mean all is good and you’re definitely going to the US? In other words, is entry guaranteed?

Simple answer: No. There’s no guarantee. It’s funny, you’ll be surprised to find out what a visa actually means.

An approved visa only allows you to “seek entry” into the U.S. You’re allowed to fly to the US and present yourself at a border crossing for an officer to review your case. Then he/she determines if you can enter."

[geowrian 22,335]

14 minutes ago, Wismer said:

Thank you. I worry because I read "

Does an approved K-1 visa mean all is good and you’re definitely going to the US? In other words, is entry guaranteed?

Simple answer: No. There’s no guarantee. It’s funny, you’ll be surprised to find out what a visa actually means.

An approved visa only allows you to “seek entry” into the U.S. You’re allowed to fly to the US and present yourself at a border crossing for an officer to review your case. Then he/she determines if you can enter."

Only US Citizens are guaranteed entry.

Unless there is reason to deny entry, entering on a K-1 or an immigrant visa isn't an issue.

[Wismer 5]

Thank you.

 

re: "Unless there is reason to deny entry"???

 

What am I missing here?

 

E.g. They can open the sealed package and say "sorry, I don't agree with this, admittance is denied"

 

 

[geowrian 22,335]

12 minutes ago, Wismer said:

Thank you.

 

re: "Unless there is reason to deny entry"???

 

What am I missing here?

 

E.g. They can open the sealed package and say "sorry, I don't agree with this, admittance is denied"

• Missed inadmissibility (criminal behavior not known previously, or occurred after visa was issued).
• Evidence that you married abroad (to the petitioner or somebody else abroad).
• Evidence that you don't plan to marry (one person when asked by CBP when they plan to marry replied "maybe I will, maybe I won't"...and was subsequently denied entry).
• Any other reason to believe the visa was improperly issued or have taken actions to invalidate it.

 

[Wismer 5]

Thank you.  This is perfect context.

[debbiedoo 2,339]

a border guard can ALWAYS deny entry to non citizens.

 

with an approved k1 visa, it is unlikely, unless there is some sort of new development or you answer a question unsatisfactorily.

 

you will however have to take some time for them to process the visa, so it will take longer than an ordinary crossing.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

15 hours ago, Wismer said:

Thank you.

 

re: "Unless there is reason to deny entry"???

 

What am I missing here?

 

E.g. They can open the sealed package and say "sorry, I don't agree with this, admittance is denied"

 

 

You could be carrying drugs on you. That’s a reason to deny entry.

[Sunnyland 639]

OP,  they may send you to secondary inspection to review the packet and your visa, etc they may ask you some questions and if all is fine (which it should be) they will allow you in. In my personal case when I arrived on my K1 back then in 2012 I was in secondary inspection for 2 hours just waiting until the last officer review my papers and asked me a few questions. Thanks God I did not have a connection flight that night.

[TBoneTX 43,043]

What geowrian said.

The CBP can deny entry on any basis that the consulate would have refused to grant the visa.

Typically, however, CBP knows that the entrant has been recently (and probably pretty thoroughly) vetted by the consulate, so there's little or no need to double down on the grilling.

[Wismer 5]

Thank you! So, I conclude that the rules of thumb are: prepare to the same level as Montreal; and arrive a few hours earlier than normal.

[ThomasNC1988 762]

Think it all depends on the day, place, time, and officer. My fiance got through immigration at JFK in under 5 minutes from getting off the plane.

[FlashLG 152]

59 minutes ago, ThomasNC1988 said:

Think it all depends on the day, place, time, and officer. My fiance got through immigration at JFK in under 5 minutes from getting off the plane.

Likewise, I went through LAX very quickly with K1. I was expecting to answer a load of questions, but it was as quick as all of the other times I'd entered on ESTA.