West Africa Vistor Visa USA

[mrs.jayb 0]

Hi!

I'm not sure where to put this topic but I have a couple questions that maybe can be answered by some of you. My fiance is Ivorian and we want to have a wedding in California for my family. We are not going to live in the States tell later in life. I am wondering what things could help with the visa processing because I know that it is very difficult for West Africans (depending on various things) to get a visitor's visa to the States. We live together and have records that show that we do and we share a bank account. He is fluent in english and is educated. What other things would be helpful for us, so that we are not too stressed out when the time comes. Because planning a wedding in itself it stressful!

thanks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi!

I'm not sure where to put this topic but I have a couple questions that maybe can be answered by some of you. My fiance is Ivorian and we want to have a wedding in California for my family. We are not going to live in the States tell later in life. I am wondering what things could help with the visa processing because I know that it is very difficult for West Africans (depending on various things) to get a visitor's visa to the States. We live together and have records that show that we do and we share a bank account. He is fluent in english and is educated. What other things would be helpful for us, so that we are not too stressed out when the time comes. Because planning a wedding in itself it stressful!

thanks!

Lying to them will not help.

Telling them you want a visa to come and get married in the USA and return to west Africa will not help. The only thing that would help is to show definitive proof of some ties to her home country that would compel her to return after traveling to the USA and getting married. Or make it seem more advantageous to her to return than to stay in the USA. Maybe she is the CEO of a mutil-million $ business in her home country? That is about what it takes to get a tourist visa from many countries.

[mrs.jayb 0]

well, we're not going to lie about anything.

We will both have returing tickets to West Africa and I work here in WA and so does he.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

You will just have to apply for a visitors visa and see where that takes you.

USCIS/NVC assumes all people "visiting" have immigrant intentions, so as Gary says, you will have to show strong ties to Africa, so they can believe you intend to "visit' not immigrate.

[mrs.jayb 0]

I will be working with the UN in West Africa. So maybe my job and his job will be something that is strong enough. ?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi!

I'm not sure where to put this topic but I have a couple questions that maybe can be answered by some of you. My fiance is Ivorian and we want to have a wedding in California for my family. We are not going to live in the States tell later in life. I am wondering what things could help with the visa processing because I know that it is very difficult for West Africans (depending on various things) to get a visitor's visa to the States. We live together and have records that show that we do and we share a bank account. He is fluent in english and is educated. What other things would be helpful for us, so that we are not too stressed out when the time comes. Because planning a wedding in itself it stressful!

thanks!

Lying to them will not help.

Telling them you want a visa to come and get married in the USA and return to west Africa will not help. The only thing that would help is to show definitive proof of some ties to her home country that would compel her to return after traveling to the USA and getting married. Or make it seem more advantageous to her to return than to stay in the USA. Maybe she is the CEO of a mutil-million $ business in her home country? That is about what it takes to get a tourist visa from many countries.

Please cosnider all "hers,shes" as "he's and his's" Sorry

[mrs.jayb 0]

lol... its really ok! I knew what you were talking about!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I will be working with the UN in West Africa. So maybe my job and his job will be something that is strong enough. ?

You are his fiancee, not his wife. They will likely only consider it a further incentive to immigrate illegally.

Having money, speaking English and being educated ALL work against him in this instance. They all make it easier to immigrate illegally. This requires ever stronger evidence he will return.

Jobs are rarely considered, again, unless they are really good jobs. I mean of a type that he is making so much money he could probably not duplicate that wage in the USA given his education and English ability, Not likely. My wife was flatly and rudely denied a tourist visa a year before I met her and she had a job paying 3 times the national average income for Ukraine working in international business. And she is a female from Ukraine, not a male from West Africa. She was applying for a visa for a specific business trip, sponsored and paid by her employer, had round trip tickets (This doesn't help either, round trip is usually cheaper than one-way) owns TWO apartments free and clear, speaks English, has a masters degree, and was leaving behind two children for her 9 day trip to NYC. Not a chance!

For some reason they seem to compare everything to the USA. A person making $1200 per month is way above average in Ukraine, but way down there in minimum wage land for the USA. They look at someone like your fiance or my wife and think..."hmmm She/he would make more money cleaning toilets in the USA" Reject!!!!! Never mind that you can live pretty well in Ukraine for $1200 per month but not here.

There is one way to find out for sure.

[mrs.jayb 0]

How frustrating is that! Wow.... I'm sorry about your wife!!! That really is unfortunate. We will try, it's the only way to find out. crossing fingers!!!

[pushbrk 12,876]

You will just have to apply for a visitors visa and see where that takes you.

USCIS/NVC assumes all people "visiting" have immigrant intentions, so as Gary says, you will have to show strong ties to Africa, so they can believe you intend to "visit' not immigrate.

Well, yes but neither USCIS or NVC will be involved. Visitor visas are dealt with entirely at the Consulate where application is made.

[payxibka 10,045]

there is only one way to find out... that is to apply... your risk is $131 USD

[attaya_girl 1]

hi mrs. jayb!

stupid question here, but would a visitor visa really be appropriate for this? are you guys planning on just having the ceremony w/out making it legal? if it's not going to be a legal ceremony, i guess the visitor visa would work, but if you're actually getting married legally, i was under the impression that the K-1 was the way to go....i could be completely off here, but don't you need a social security number, etc. to get married in most states? regardless of whether she's planning on moving back to w. africa, wouldn't her coming here w/her fiance with the intent to marry cause a problem?

[payxibka 10,045]

hi mrs. jayb!

stupid question here, but would a visitor visa really be appropriate for this? are you guys planning on just having the ceremony w/out making it legal? if it's not going to be a legal ceremony, i guess the visitor visa would work, but if you're actually getting married legally, i was under the impression that the K-1 was the way to go....i could be completely off here, but don't you need a social security number, etc. to get married in most states? regardless of whether she's planning on moving back to w. africa, wouldn't her coming here w/her fiance with the intent to marry cause a problem?

if they have no intent to immigrate then the "tourist" visa is the proper visa... it is not the marriage event that triggers the need for a K-1, but the intent to immigrate immediately after the marriage.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

hi mrs. jayb!

stupid question here, but would a visitor visa really be appropriate for this? are you guys planning on just having the ceremony w/out making it legal? if it's not going to be a legal ceremony, i guess the visitor visa would work, but if you're actually getting married legally, i was under the impression that the K-1 was the way to go....i could be completely off here, but don't you need a social security number, etc. to get married in most states? regardless of whether she's planning on moving back to w. africa, wouldn't her coming here w/her fiance with the intent to marry cause a problem?

No. They can visit and marry. You do not need a SSN in ANY state to get married. The Supreme court setled that last year. A state can ask for an SSN but if you do no thave one they cannot require it.

You cannot enter on a tourist visa with the intent to get married AND adjust status. You can get married and go back home when the tourist visa expires. The OP could then apply for a DCF or CR-1 when they want to come back

Yes, her coming here with the intent to marry could cause a problem in being granted the tourist visa

[payxibka 10,045]

Yes, her coming here with the intent to marry could cause a problem in being granted the tourist visa

Yes, because they assume the existence of the "intent to remain"

Edited June 5, 2009 by payxibka