My fiancé is arriving tomorrow and I'm wanting to help prepare her for what to expect. Is it standard to have the K-1 visa holder go into secondary screening to go over the visa packet she's bringing or do they often handle it right there at the first counter? She had a little bit of an intimidating secondary screening incident while visiting on a tourist visa a year ago.
- CBP officer called me to the counter and asked "Are you going to marry (First Name, Last Name)?" and I said "Yes."
Than you. Also, did you just declare all of your clothes and personal items on the customs card?
Honestly I don't remember, I think you don't have to declare personal items if you're moving but don't take my word for it. When the CBP officer let me go, the customs guys were chilling and absolutely did not want to look at declaration carts from anyone (this was at like 10pm, but still), hence me not remembering exactly how that turned out.
It depends completely on where you enter, what time (sometimes if it's really quite they will do it right at the 'counter' instead of in a separate room) and the CBP officer.
I entered in Dublin (overseas POE), handed the CBP officer my passport with visa and the white envelope. He checked the paperwork, asked me if I had food with me (I declared it), stamped my passport and told me before which date we should get married. That was it. Never went into a separate room.
People I know that entered in Chicago and LAX didn't go into a separate room either, they basically had the process as me.
OP, don't worry, Even if they take her in a separate room it's just regulation.
She should declare all food and I believe presents (in the event she takes new phones or laptops still in the box or other presents, she'll need to declare them) All her other stuff (personal phone/laptop, clothes etc) she doesn't have to declare, unless the card specifically asks for it.