Would being in the middle of the K1 process help or hurt our chances of being granted a Tourist Visa?

[GJen 9]

Background:

• My boyfriend is from Venezuela. He tried for the Tourist Visa once before and was denied on January 8th of this year.
• He has never been to the U.S. and I would really love for him to meet my parents and visit my country.
• If he were to be granted the Tourist Visa, we would do just that, have him come for a visit, show him around my city and have him get to know my parents, then he would return to Venezuela and await his K1 interview.
• I've read other people questioning this and many of the responses said it all comes down to the intent.
• We do intend to get married, which is why we'll be in the middle of filing for the K1 Visa(We have to wait 6 months to apply for the Tourist Visa again)- but obviously we wouldn't get married during the time he would be here on a Tourist Visa.

Would being in the middle of the K1 process help or hurt our chances of being granted a Tourist Visa?

(Our intentions are not to marry on the Tourist Visa, strictly a visit!)

Edited February 21, 2009 by GJen

[Cacerez 19]

Background:

• My boyfriend is from Venezuela. He tried for the Tourist Visa once before and was denied on January 8th of this year.
• He has never been to the U.S. and I would really love for him to meet my parents and visit my country.
• If he were to be granted the Tourist Visa, we would do just that, have him come for a visit, show him around my city and have him get to know my parents, then he would return to Venezuela and await his K1 interview.
• I've read other people questioning this and many of the responses said it all comes down to the intent.
• We do intend to get married, which is why we'll be in the middle of filing for the K1 Visa(We have to wait 6 months to apply for the Tourist Visa again)- but obviously we wouldn't get married during the time he would be here on a Tourist Visa.

Would being in the middle of the K1 process help or hurt our chances of being granted a Tourist Visa?

(Our intentions are not to marry on the Tourist Visa, strictly a visit!)

I really don't think it's going to help you in my opinion, it might hurt or make no difference at all. Being granted a tourist visa is all about how much he can prove his ties to Venezuela in order to have to return.

Does he have his own place? (lease/mortgage papers)

Does he have a steady job? (letter from boss stating expected return to work date)

I know ya'll are pretty young, so is he in school? (enrollment papers for new semester, etc.)

If you are in the middle of the K-1 process, they know you are engaged with the intention to marry and may take advantage of this little trip to speed things along.

My fiance and I didn't even try for the tourist papers, we just figured cheaper and easier for me to visit him, and he'll come here when he's officially allowed under K-1. Best wishes!

[GJen 9]

I really don't think it's going to help you in my opinion, it might hurt or make no difference at all. Being granted a tourist visa is all about how much he can prove his ties to Venezuela in order to have to return.

Does he have his own place? (lease/mortgage papers)

Does he have a steady job? (letter from boss stating expected return to work date)

I know ya'll are pretty young, so is he in school? (enrollment papers for new semester, etc.)

He had all of that and documents to support it, they never even asked for documents. I'm guessing he was denied more because he was from Latin America more than actually not having enough ties to his country.

I guess it's a lost cause whether we're in the middle of filing or not.

Thanks for the reply!

[pushbrk 12,883]

Background:

• My boyfriend is from Venezuela. He tried for the Tourist Visa once before and was denied on January 8th of this year.
• He has never been to the U.S. and I would really love for him to meet my parents and visit my country.
• If he were to be granted the Tourist Visa, we would do just that, have him come for a visit, show him around my city and have him get to know my parents, then he would return to Venezuela and await his K1 interview.
• I've read other people questioning this and many of the responses said it all comes down to the intent.
• We do intend to get married, which is why we'll be in the middle of filing for the K1 Visa(We have to wait 6 months to apply for the Tourist Visa again)- but obviously we wouldn't get married during the time he would be here on a Tourist Visa.

Would being in the middle of the K1 process help or hurt our chances of being granted a Tourist Visa?

(Our intentions are not to marry on the Tourist Visa, strictly a visit!)

Yes. Persons who have declared immigrant intent are ineligible for tourist visas. Being petitioned for as a fiance of a US Citizen declares immigrant intent. People from VWP countries, Canada or who already have a valid visitor visa are often allowed continued entry but it is at the discretion of the CBP officer for each entry.

See sections 36 and 37 of the DS-156 to resolve any question about whether your fiance(e) relationship will come up.

[Corinthians 7]

I'm guessing he was denied more because he was from Latin America.

Yep, it happens alot. If he can come here to work or go to school he has a shot but pretty much anyone I've ever heard of that tried to get a tourist visa was denied no matter what ties or money they had.

[Cacerez 19]

I'm guessing he was denied more because he was from Latin America.

Yep, it happens alot. If he can come here to work or go to school he has a shot but pretty much anyone I've ever heard of that tried to get a tourist visa was denied no matter what ties or money they had.

In fact I was thinking that a family from Guatemala where the husband is a USC and LPR of Guatemala, the wife is a Guatemalan citizen, and they had a child and one on the way - they had a really tough time getting a tourist visa to go visit his parents, and they have a thriving restaurant, house, etc. in Guatemala. Tourist Visas are just some of the hardest to get. That's why unfortunately it will be a really tough process to get my fiance's parents here to visit (eventually). Pero, así es la vida

[Anh map 2,098]

Jen, If G can get a tourist visa that's good for you two on a number of fronts (parents, where to live, etc.) but don't divert your focus from your number one "hurdle" of income/sponsorship.

In one of the other threads that got off course someone mentioned that getting a different, higher wage, full time job would help to get you over threshold. Have you explored that option? That might also help you with your folks as well.

Keep focused on the main issues, don't spend a lot of time looking for ways around the financial part. Use that time instead to work at a higher paying job that will give you the documented income needed.

[Old Dominion 26]

Maybe your folks would travel to Venezuela with you to help them resolve their misgivings and agree to co-sponsor?

[GJen 9]

Jen, If G can get a tourist visa that's good for you two on a number of fronts (parents, where to live, etc.) but don't divert your focus from your number one "hurdle" of income/sponsorship.

In one of the other threads that got off course someone mentioned that getting a different, higher wage, full time job would help to get you over threshold. Have you explored that option? That might also help you with your folks as well.

Keep focused on the main issues, don't spend a lot of time looking for ways around the financial part. Use that time instead to work at a higher paying job that will give you the documented income needed.

Good? If he got the Tourist Visa.. that would be fantastic!! And we tried it once before with no luck.. judging by our past experience, I doubt it would go any differently the second time around.

I am looking int supplementing my income. I'm just a little weary of going ahead and starting the process (sending in the I-129F packet) because I don't have anything right this minute. I understand that I wouldn't need the I-134 until maybe 6 or 8 months down the line, but with the economy the way it is, there are what? 3 people looking for a job for every 1 position that's available?

[GJen 9]

Maybe your folks would travel to Venezuela with you to help them resolve their misgivings and agree to co-sponsor?

That woud be really nice. The only thing I worry about it my mom has arthritis and the parts of Venezuela we'd be in doesn't have the best terrain. Not only that, but it woud be pretty expensive! My flight would have been over $1,000 if my dad hadnt so generously let me use his sky miles (The ticket cost me $64.12)

Maybe I could see about them going over there to visit sometime.. I'll have to mention it!