K1 Fiance Visa, Does the country of departure matter?

[carlopalo 0]

Hi all,

 

My fiance have been very lucky and her k1 Fiance Visa has finally been issued. From the I29F to issuance it took around 2 years.

 

Our question is, does the country of departure matter when going into the USA?

 

My fiance's visa was issued by the Bangkok embassy but she is Filipino. We applied for the Bangkok embassy as she is working in Thailand.

 

She is looking to go back to the Philippines first to visit family and then from there depart for the United States. Does she have to depart to the US from Thailand since Bangkok US Embassy was the one that issued the visa?

[Crazy Cat 39,191]

 Her departure country is not an issue.

[Verrou 1,898]

That visa only mattered for the airlines and when she land in USA to pass custom. She can fly from any countries all around the world

[Chancy 6,233]

*** Moved from K1 Progress Reports to K1 Process & Procedures ***

 

On 5/24/2023 at 2:23 PM, carlopalo said:

She is looking to go back to the Philippines first to visit family and then from there depart for the United States. Does she have to depart to the US from Thailand since Bangkok US Embassy was the one that issued the visa?

 

The issuing consulate does not matter.  But because your fiancee is a Filipina, her country of departure with K1 visa DOES matter.

 

If she travels from Thailand WITHOUT stopping by the Philippines, all she will need is her passport with K1 visa.  Maybe also the K1 packet, if the Bangkok consulate sent her any.

 

If she goes back to the Philippines before traveling to the US, she will need to present a CFO sticker or unexpired certificate before she will be allowed to board the plane out of the PH with her K1 visa.  Since she is an OFW, I assume she got a CFO sticker already prior to working in Thailand?  If not, she must get a new sticker or certificate before her flight to the US.  No CFO sticker/certificate = no boarding the plane out of the PH.

 

Check the thread below for recent experiences re: presenting CFO on exit --

 

[Chancy 6,233]

On 5/24/2023 at 2:27 PM, Crazy Cat said:

 Her departure country is not an issue.

On 5/24/2023 at 3:49 PM, Misscloud said:

That visa only mattered for the airlines and when she land in USA to pass custom. She can fly from any countries all around the world

 

Country of departure matters for visa holders from the Philippines.  There is a specific document (CFO sticker/certificate) required from K1/immigrant visa holders traveling out of the Philippines.  CFO not required if they travel from any other country.