Travelling into/out of the US while waiting for K1 visa

[sharmanian]

Hi,

2 questions which I'd really appreciate help with:

1. Once the K1 visa has been applied for by my US fiancé, can I still enter the US on a standard visa waiver programme? (How much time would they have my passport for and at what stage would they need it?)

2. Once I get the K1 visa, can I enter the US on the visa waiver programme instead so that I can still leave the country before coming back for the final time for the wedding?

Thanks.

Sharmanian

 

[elcupacabras]

1) Yes, you can still visit on the VWP. You only hand your passport over during the interview at the embassy. After the interview, they will hold your passport for a few days while they process your visa, and you will then receive it by courier.

2) Some people have gone to the US and successfully entered on the VWP while having a valid K1 in their passport. It is not however advisable to do this. It will be entirely up to the officer at the POE as to whether he will allow you to be admitted on the VWP or instead on the K1 and thus activating it. Ive seen this question come up many a times and the general answer is not to risk it.

 

[Triple Citizen]

I entered the US as a Canadian visitor after being issued my K-1 visa.
I only stayed for 48 hours and then left the US. I then used my K-1 visa 4 weeks later.

2. Once I get the K1 visa, can I enter the US on the visa waiver programme instead so that I can still leave the country before coming back for the final time for the wedding?