Question about after approval

[Dominic828 9]

Hello everyone, I know I'm ahead of myself but I'm a Virgo and NEED the organization and to see it play out in my mind 🤦

Ok once my fiance is approved and does his interview and comes over to the US, I know that the visa will be different from a tourist visa but my concern is can he be denied entry and sent back to Indonesia? Can they do this? Has it happened before to a k1 visa holder? I'm sorry for the rambling but this is what's going through my mind at 12:30am 😂

 

Thank you so much 🙏 

[TBoneTX 47,492]

53 minutes ago, Dominic828 said:

can he be denied entry and sent back

CBP at the POE can ask the same questions as a consular officer can, and can refuse entry.

However, CBP rarely does this, because the entrant has so recently been vetted at the consulate.

56 minutes ago, Dominic828 said:

Has it happened before to a k1 visa holder?

In rare instances.  One memorable instance was when a K-1 entrant joked in answer to the "do you plan to marry within 90 days" standard question, and he was turned around and sent back.  Avoid joking; answer what's asked, and volunteer no further information unless asked.

[Dashinka 25,827]

Here is the case @TBoneTX was referring too.  As he said, answering questions of the CBP officer should be professional truthful, and not a joke.  There is no requirement to offer information that has not been asked for, but the questions asked need to be answered truthfully and professionally.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

[Dominic828 9]

5 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

CBP at the POE can ask the same questions as a consular officer can, and can refuse entry.

However, CBP rarely does this, because the entrant has so recently been vetted at the consulate.

In rare instances.  One memorable instance was when a K-1 entrant joked in answer to the "do you plan to marry within 90 days" standard question, and he was turned around and sent back.  Avoid joking; answer what's asked, and volunteer no further information unless asked.

Yikes that's really sad for them.. Yeah he's very serious and doesn't offer more information than is asked thankfully.. He's so worried about POE that he wants me to fly to his layover and fly back with him to the US so he isn't alone which I am thinking about doing but I still think he'd be alone when going through customs. But I don't know I've never been on a plane let alone anything like this 😂

Thank you so much for your information I really appreciate it 🙏 

[Dominic828 9]

49 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Here is the case @TBoneTX was referring too.  As he said, answering questions of the CBP officer should be professional truthful, and not a joke.  There is no requirement to offer information that has not been asked for, but the questions asked need to be answered truthfully and professionally.

 

Good Luck!

 

 

Thank you so much 🙏 I feel bad for them. I'll check it out now. I appreciate it 

[EatBulaga 483]

@Dominic828 I would go thru the CBP list of prohibited and restricted items and make sure that you or the K1 beneficiary do not enter with them.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items

 

One anecdotal story that was going around for a while was a K1 bride wanting to bring a plant from her home country as a gift to her to-be in-laws. The plant and K1 bride were denied entry by the CBP.

[WeekendPizzaiolo 96]

8 hours ago, Dominic828 said:

Yikes that's really sad for them.. Yeah he's very serious and doesn't offer more information than is asked thankfully.. He's so worried about POE that he wants me to fly to his layover and fly back with him to the US so he isn't alone which I am thinking about doing but I still think he'd be alone when going through customs. But I don't know I've never been on a plane let alone anything like this 😂

Thank you so much for your information I really appreciate it 🙏 

It is by no means necessary to travel with your fiancé. Many people travel alone on a K-1 with success but entry is never guaranteed even with one's fiancé present. Make sure he remembers to bring the yellow packet. After admission and customs inspection (including inspection of checked bags), remember that he must physically put his checked bag(s) on the transfer belt if he is connecting on a domestic US flight. At some airports, it's easy to miss this step due to a lack of strong visual cues so some people accidentally exit the transfer area and must wait in line at a check-in counter. At Houston (IAH), the transfer baggage area is huge so it's almost impossible to miss. This step is often not intuitive for people who have never travelled internationally before.

 

As others have mentioned, being serious and answering everything truthfully goes a long way with CBP. Have him dispose of any banana peels, apple cores, or unconsumed meal service items before landing. Even an undeclared banana peel can result in denied admission. Those delicious bags of dried Indonesian shrimp chips -- it's a very good idea to not bring them. Declare any and all food items always even if a declaration is not required because the rules can be so fine-grained that the declarability can be borderline. When I traveled to Indonesia, the officer asked if I had anything to declare; I said "coffee and chocolate", and he thanked me, and let me on my way. There is always a chance that any declared food is confiscated (& destroyed), but one removes significant exposure to penalties, fines, and denied admission by declaring as long as said declared items are not illegal! One's initial entry is a terrible time to try to import fish though it is allowed under very specific circumstances. By not bringing any (borderline) declarable items, one greatly reduces the complexity of CBP handling their admission into the US.

 

It's entirely up to you whether to join them, but it would not necessarily be a waste of a trip. Indonesia is a very enjoyable and affordable place (~$70/night 4-star hotels, ~$15 for a fancy meal, and ~$5 for a normal meal). Flights between US and Indonesia are not cheap (~$1K on the low end). However, traveling back with your fiancé is not a requirement of the K-1.

 

It's a good practice to take photos regularly as you live your lives together in the US. Good luck on the rest of your journey. Best wishes to both of you.  

 

 

 

 

[Ryan H 3,892]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.

[Dominic828 9]

Just curious because I read that it was needed but do we need to have police clearances? 

[TBoneTX 47,492]

4 hours ago, Dominic828 said:

do we need to have police clearances? 

See the Guides (tabs atop any VJ page).

[mam521 2,505]

On 6/9/2025 at 6:09 AM, Dominic828 said:

But I don't know I've never been on a plane let alone anything like this 😂

Quick one: have you actually met your fiance in person?

[Dominic828 9]

18 hours ago, mam521 said:

Quick one: have you actually met your fiance in person?

Oh gosh yes. We spent the better part of 6 months together, he had to leave in January because he was on a tourist visa 😔😩

[mam521 2,505]

1 hour ago, Dominic828 said:

Oh gosh yes. We spent the better part of 6 months together, he had to leave in January because he was on a tourist visa 😔😩

🙂

 

So then my next question is, why do a K1?  You guys could do a spousal visa, which would mean your partner enters the US with a greencard in hand, ready to work, play and enjoy life with you?  You guys could either meet somewhere and get married or do an online Utah marriage and then meet somewhere and file (requirement is to meet in person after the online).  It saves adjusting status, filing for a work permit and travel permit on top of the green card.  Just food for thought!