Visiting USA on tourist visa before applying for K-1

[JULIAFERNO 0]

Hi all! Glad to find this forum - it seems like a very helpful site.

I am a US citizen and am currently living with my Turkish fiance in Turkey.

My fiance and I have not yet begun to file for our K-1 fiance visa, but would like to do so soon. Before we begin the process, I would like him to travel back to the States to visit my family for the holidays. From what I've read here and other forums, it seems that the embassy officials are much less likely to grant a tourist visa if you have a US citizen fiance or spouse. Would it be better if he did not mention that he was engaged to a US citizen? Like I said, we have not begin to file for the K-1 visa yet and aren't planning to do so until after he returns from his visit (if he is granted a tourist visa).

My father is going to sponsor him for the tourist visa, and is a university professor - do you think he would have a better chance of obtaining a tourist visa if he recieved an invitation from my father to visit his university, rather than an invitation stating that he was visiting his fiance's family?

I'd really like him to have the chance to come home with me and meet the rest of my family before we start going through this long K-1 visa process.

Your help and advice is appreciated!

Edited October 27, 2007 by JULIAFERNO

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Hi all! Glad to find this forum - it seems like a very helpful site.

I am a US citizen and am currently living with my Turkish fiance in Turkey.

My fiance and I have not yet begun to file for our K-1 fiance visa, but would like to do so soon. Before we begin the process, I would like him to travel back to the States to visit my family for the holidays. From what I've read here and other forums, it seems that the embassy officials are much less likely to grant a tourist visa if you have a US citizen fiance or spouse. Would it be better if he did not mention that he was engaged to a US citizen? Like I said, we have not begin to file for the K-1 visa yet and aren't planning to do so until after he returns from his visit (if he is granted a tourist visa).

My father is going to sponsor him for the tourist visa, and is a university professor - do you think he would have a better chance of obtaining a tourist visa if he recieved an invitation from my father to visit his university, rather than an invitation stating that he was visiting his fiance's family?

I'd really like him to have the chance to come home with me and meet the rest of my family before we start going through this long K-1 visa process.

Your help and advice is appreciated!

The "invitation" is not worth as much now, as it was say 15+ yrs ago. The main point your fiance has to prove in order to get a tourist visa is strong ties to Turkey. Does he have a job with a long term contract, is he in school and has say one more yr or semester left to finish, does he have property or land in his name? These are the types of factors that come into play in the consulate interview.

Getting a tourist visa overall from Turkey is quite hard, having just the "invitation" from your father will make the CO think that he'll want to go study in the US. (Once in the US you can change the tourist visa into a student visa and keep extending).

I'd say best bet is to focus on proving what ties him to Turkey, to prove he'll return back. Remember, its not the officer that has to prove anything by asking for proof, its your fiance that has to prove he'll return & why.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

My fiancée came to the USA on a B-2 visa while the K-1 process was (is) still pending. Several reliable websites cite the following allowances for this (N11.1-1 of the Foreign Affairs Manual):

(1) Simply to meet the family of his and/or her fiance;

(2) To become engaged;

(3) To make arrangements for the wedding; or

(4) To renew a relationship with the prospective spouse

In our case, she got the B-2 visa for the purpose of coming here to make wedding plans while the K-1 was pending, and there was no problems. One of the USCIS customer service reps (though they admittedly don't know much) told me that since the K-1 process is in progress, port-of-entry officials will fear marriage less, since we're being up front. My fiancée showed them the pending I-129f petition and supporting documents when she entered and had no problems at all.

Of course, this varies by case and country, but I'd say in general, your best plan for action is to be honest with USCIS and officials about the situation. If USCIS somehow discovers that he lied about his intent to enter the USA, that could be bad news.

I'm new to the entire process myself, but I'd recommend doing just as we did, and use the clause I mentioned above to your advantage. I'd recommend sending him an invitation letter emphasizing that you won't marry during his visit, and that you (or someone) will cover for all expenses like medical, etc.

Good luck!

[JKD_88 0]

What my experience has taught me is that once a foreginer visits the US it is VERY hard to return with a tourist visa if a long time hasn't gone by. When my fiance wanted to come visit me here in July, she had come previously in Februrary, her tourist visa was denied. She had a lot of proof that tied her to Brazil but the guy didn't even look at the documents Poor thing almost fainted she was so crushed. I hope you have better luck, not only will it be good for you and your fiace but it offers hope to the rest of us.

Edited October 28, 2007 by JKD_88

[JeffMayeth 0]

What my experience has taught me is that once a foreginer visits the US it is VERY hard to return with a tourist visa if a long time hasn't gone by. When my fiance wanted to come visit me here in July, she had come previously in Februrary, her tourist visa was denied. She had a lot of proof that tied her to Brazil but the guy didn't even look at the documents Poor thing almost fainted she was so crushed. I hope you have better luck, not only will it be good for you and your fiace but it offers hope to the rest of us.

JKD you might want to try what my fiancee did.

She came in California with B1 visa (single entry business visa) last June 2006 then she applied for B2 visa (tourist visa) last May to visit me and she got her visa.

What she did: Prepare the application form but what she stated in the application form is that she's invited by a friend (woman friend), an immigration lawyer once said don't mention anything about a guy friend or fiance during the interview or even in the application form.

She stated specific date on her application form how long she would like to stay in VA.

Gather all supporting docs.

When she's being interviewed in the embassy, she was asked, why do you want to go to US? is she going to pay for your plane ticket? He didn't even bother to look at her documents.

And since she didn't overstay during her first visit that gives the idea to the consul that she will return to PI. She was given 3 months to use it but then when she get in the airport immigration she was given six months on her I-94. Yehey!

I wanted her to stay for 6 months.

But still we stick on our plan of her 2 weeks stay here (she's only on vacation leave at work hehe)... and we travelled together back to the philippines so I can meet her family!

[JeffMayeth 0]

Oh by the way, the intention of not mentioning my name as her fiance is because we haven't started the K1 application that time.... unlike Jesse G's case.

It varies. Specially when its your first time to apply for tourist visa.

My fiancee's friend experienced was she has a relative is California, she has invitation, a real good supporting documents that she will return to the philippines but still she was denied twice.

Edited October 28, 2007 by JeffMayeth

[freecake 0]

is it only the US that is like this? When i came through to the UK, i said "im going to meet my fiances family" and she didnt even blink. she asked for the address and stamped me in.