What if my non-US citizen fiancée is denied entry into the US at the airport?
A good friend of mine faced a similar situation last year. She really wanted to introduce her boyfriend to her family in Columbia. After considering all the immigration issues and the potential difficulties with re-entry, they cancelled the trip. It simply wasn’t worth it for them. Not being able to return would have been a serious setback to her graduate studies. So I second necessitas – unless its dire, I wouldn’t risk it.
You need to see a good immigration lawyer before you leave and preferably now. Opinions are a dime a dozen on immigration matters and most of them are wrong. Most lawyers will give you a free consult before you engage them. Take advantage of this. Now. Good luck. It’ll work out if you do the right things.
Forgive me for dropping in again but I recently graduated from eight years of visa/green card hell and I just want to make sure you do it with less anxiety than I did. (It would probably be hard to do it with more anxiety.) You’re absolutely sure the nearest embassy/consulate won’t renew her passport in the U.S.? As others have said, and as you recognize, it would be great if you sorted out your problems here rather than dealing with them after the fact of her exclusion. And of course the first question a lawyer will ask is why you don’t get married now which would solve all your problems as far as I know. The answer to that question is none of my business. Again, good luck.
This kind of situation has the potential to turn out really badly. I don’t want to be alarmist, but the worst case scenario is that you don’t get to see her, she gets taken to a detention center (probably a regular jail) in handcuffs for at least a day or too, is put on a plane and is banned for a long time or permanently. This is not going to happen, period. Again, I cannot guarantee anything, but I will say, again, that it would be a very rare occasion indeed for someone carrying a valid I-20 endorsed for travel and signed on pages one and three and an up to date F-1 visa to be turned away at the port of entry. The most likely scenario is she will get through the primary line in about 45 seconds and will meet you on the other side. If they ask, “who are you traveling with” she and you should honestly say, “my boy/girl friend.” (you don’t have to volunteer that you are engaged). You will be separated at the POE, she will have to go to her line and you to the citizen line, do not stay
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- What if my non-US citizen fiancée is denied entry into the US at the airport?
