K1 Visa Holder US Citizen line at POE

[stag 51]

If K1 visa holder is travelling with their US citizen fiancé, can they both enter the US citizen line or need to go through the Visitor's line at the POE? Maybe a bit rudimentary question, but good to know beforehand, thanks!

[Mike E 11,724]

1 hour ago, stag said:

If K1 visa holder is travelling with their US citizen fiancé, can they both enter the US citizen line or need to go through the Visitor's line at the POE? Maybe a bit rudimentary question, but good to know beforehand, thanks!

We entered in the visitor line. It was a long wait, but at least we had no secondary. There were airport workers (not employees of DHS) insisting I had to separate from my fiancee, and I told them to buzz off -- we have a single customs card.

 

Some of the citizen-only passport booths might not have working fingerprint scanners, so I would not tempt fate if you don't want a CBP officer to bark at you. Not really something K-1s need their first day in the USA.

[stag 51]

32 minutes ago, Mike E said:

We entered in the visitor line. It was a long wait, but at least we had no secondary. There were airport workers (not employees of DHS) insisting I had to separate from my fiancee, and I told them to buzz off -- we have a single customs card.

 

Some of the citizen-only passport booths might not have working fingerprint scanners, so I would not tempt fate if you don't want a CBP officer to bark at you. Not really something K-1s need their first day in the USA.

Got it thank you. And so to confirm we have to fill out customs card together, yes?

[flicks1998 1,044]

13 minutes ago, stag said:

Got it thank you. And so to confirm we have to fill out customs card together, yes?

We did the same as Mike E.  In fact, someone at the airport before immigration told us to both go through the visitor line.  We also only had one custom card.

[Mike E 11,724]

10 hours ago, stag said:

Got it thank you. And so to confirm we have to fill out customs card together, yes?

You are a couple living at the same address.  I think it would be strange if you did not.  And I suspect CBP would too.  Denial at the port of entry is always a possibility.  
 

We wanted a single customs card to minimize separation from my fiancée.  We achieved our goal: no secondary (I would not have been permitted in secondary).  

Edited November 20, 2021 by Mike E

[stag 51]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

You are a couple living at the same address.  I think it would be strange if you did not.  And I suspect CBP would too.  Denial at the port of entry is always a possibility.  
 

We wanted a single customs card to minimize separation from my fiancée.  We achieved our goal: no secondary (I would not have been permitted in secondary).  

Got it, and the address put on the customs form is the one on the K1 form? Reason I ask is because I may move in the process. 

[Mike E 11,724]

5 minutes ago, stag said:

Got it, and the address put on the customs form is the one on the K1 form? Reason I ask is because I may move in the process. 

The address on the customs form should be where the citizen currently lives (and therefore where the K-1 will be living during the authorized stay).  If that address doesn’t match what is in the I-129F expect problems.  
 

When we entered at SFO our customs form said the city where we live, and when the CBP officer glanced at the contents of our sealed packet, he saw San Jose and demanded to know why there was a discrepancy.  I pointed out that he was probably seeing the address of the USCIS field office. He agreed and let us through.  

Edited November 20, 2021 by Mike E

[stag 51]

6 minutes ago, Mike E said:

The address on the customs form should be where the citizen currently lives (and therefore where the K-1 will be living during the authorized stay).  If that address doesn’t match what is in the I-129F expect problems.  
 

When we entered at SFO our customs form said the city where we live, and when the CBP officer glanced at the contents of our sealed packet, he saw San Jose and demanded to know why there was a discrepancy.  I pointed out that he was probably seeing the address of the USCIS field office. He agreed and let us through.  

I see yeah that's important to know, of course I live at the address of my I-129F, but I'm in process of buying a new place which is intended for us when we are together, but it's not officially closed yet. I guess will not put the new address on the customs form even if it's ready when we enter. 

[Mike E 11,724]

5 minutes ago, stag said:

I see yeah that's important to know, of course I live at the address of my I-129F, but I'm in process of buying a new place which is intended for us when we are together, but it's not officially closed yet. I guess will not put the new address on the customs form even if it's ready when we enter. 

That would be lying to a CBP officer.  
 

I am out.  Good luck. 

[JeanneAdil 6,221]

what airport

 

At JFK the CBP officer said we could both go to line for US citizens when i asked at an earlier trip thinking about when we came together

but at Chicago we went thru seperate lines

[LKMK 85]

14 hours ago, stag said:

If K1 visa holder is travelling with their US citizen fiancé, can they both enter the US citizen line or need to go through the Visitor's line at the POE? Maybe a bit rudimentary question, but good to know beforehand, thanks!

The visitor line.  If you go through the US citizen line you will be turned away and told to go through the Visitor line. However, once you get a permenant resident card than you can go through the US citizen line as long as your last name on your passport matches that of your green card.

[stag 51]

24 minutes ago, Mike E said:

That would be lying to a CBP officer.  
 

I am out.  Good luck. 

Why would it be lying? I will not move out till we enter the country. So I will be officially living at the address as stated, even if I have purchased a new place. I will even live as much time as needed as the address on I-129F before moving to the new place so that there is no controversy. 

 

I am officially registered at my address: driver license, voter registration, IRS, I WILL NOT be changing that till we enter the country and I will PHYSCIALLY be at that original address when we enter POE. Only after we have entered, I will OFFICIALLY than move to the new place as it will be ready. There is no lying here at all and I will NEVER lie to anybody. I do everything by the book and was just asking to confirm. 

Edited November 20, 2021 by stag

[Letspaintcookies 2,216]

Immigration is not holding you back from living your life. If you move you move and if you have a new address you have a new address and if somebody is asking about it that can be explained. 

 

Secondary inspection is a normal thing when immigrating especially at a busy airport. It's nothing to be afraid of and only a few don't have to go through. There are no hidden secrets of how not to go through secondary but only luck if you don't have to.

2 hours ago, LKMK said:

The visitor line.  If you go through the US citizen line you will be turned away and told to go through the Visitor line. However, once you get a permenant resident card than you can go through the US citizen line as long as your last name on your passport matches that of your green card.

Or you carry the marriage certificate as proof of name change 😊

[ineedadisplayname 443]

20 hours ago, stag said:

If K1 visa holder is travelling with their US citizen fiancé, can they both enter the US citizen line or need to go through the Visitor's line at the POE? Maybe a bit rudimentary question, but good to know beforehand, thanks!

At some airports there is a separate line for K1/other visa/first time visitors so follow the line that takes you to the proper place... Also if your fiancee don't want to stand in line he can wait for you at baggage claims and go through customs together.

[kogu 11]

I’m a US Citizen and traveled with my foreign K-1 visa fiancée through JFK 2-3 weeks ago for initial entry. We arrived at night and sat near the front of the plane so there were no other flights/passengers we had to beat to get to the front of the immigration line. We were in and out in 5 minutes even having to go through a secondary room where K-1 visa holders get processed. We went through the visitor line together. There was never a doubt we would line up together — reduces risk of the K-1 holder being denied entry by being together, even if chances are remote to begin with. Even though I as the US citizen was in the foreign line, there were no issues with them processing me (they even acknowledged my global entry program).
 

Customs cards no longer need to be filled out and given at POE (they don’t even give those out anymore) but the officer may ask you verbally if you’re carrying things that need to be declared.