Bringing my girlfriend here to Visit me on a tourist Visa, Need answers

[httuner 10]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and glad that I have found such a forum to help me with my Visa Journey.

About a year ago I met my girlfriend online and currently just this last 3 weeks I went to visit her in China, we met for the first time and knew that we'll be together. Now that I am back in the States, I want to bring her here to visit me, just a visit, we don't intend to marry until I'm 28 and currently I'm 23 years old so it'll be a while away. What process do I need to go through to bring her here to visit me for a month? I know she needs to apply for a tourist Visa to come here, but she is currently just a college student who is graduating this June of 2012, she has no work and probably can't provide for her expenses while she is here. I will be supporting her stay in America, considering I have a pretty good entry level position which makes about aprox. 2000 a month. I have about 6000 saved up to intially help her with her travel here to the states and will probably have more saved up within the next few months.

We plan for her to come here to visit me in about 4-5 months from now, which is quite some time away. I've learn that for her to be eligible for a tourist visa she must show proof of intent to return. I plan to purchase her a round-trip ticket and she'll stay with me during the duration of her visit until she leaves the state. I will send her money to show she'll be able to support her expenses while she is staying here, and if needed I will also show that I'm able to support her visit while she is here. Another question would be how long can the duration of her stay be on a tourist visa? Can this tourist visa stay be extended while she is in the states? because we can always change her return date on the flight ticket. She wanted to visit for as long as she can to improve her english and see how America is from China and just to have time to be together.

What steps do we need to take so she won't be deny a tourist visa? If she gets deny a tourist Visa will this effect us when we do decide to get marry and apply for a K1 Visa 5 years from now? If she is deny can we reapply?

On her reason for travel, should she say she's visiting a boyfriend? or would it be better to just say she's visiting a friend and just traveling for leisure and tourist activities?

I know getting a tourist Visa to China is easy and I currently still have a tourist Visa to China with multiple entry. I could just go there to visit her but due to work I have no more vacation time and even if I went, my work place will probably only allow me 2 weeks at most, so in hopes that if she comes here to visit me she'll be able to stay at least 30 days so we'll have more time together. I am a United States Citizen.

Please help me find some answers, I will be looking forward to everyone's replies. Thank you all in advance!! Your help is greatly appreciated.

Edited April 20, 2012 by httuner

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You don't do anything. The more you are involved the less chances she has to get approved. All this explanation about how you will buy her ticket and you will pay her way makes her case weaker. She applies on her own. Look up the US Embassy in China and the instructions will be there.

A denied tourist visa has no bearing on future K-1 visas.

Edited April 20, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[httuner 10]

Thank you so much for the information, I suppose I'll send her the money for the Visa and flight tickets and money to support her visit and let her file for the visa on her own.

Would it be a good idea to state for her purpose of visit that she'll be visiting me and if ask for the location of residence should she put my address? Or should we just leave it as tourist and pleasure?

I could have her reserve a hotel if she can't use my address for place of residence for her stay.

Edited April 21, 2012 by httuner

[Noah Lot 391]

trying to be too clever will likely backfire....her request to visit some 'friend' will be as transparent as glass....and your assertions that no 'mind change' will befall either her or you is really meaningless....far too many young single online girlfriends from a variety of countries get invited by some 'family friend' whom they end up marrying moments after clearing customs...it is not a rare event....she will be quizzed up one side and down the other and stands a solid (near 99%) chance of being denied...and I would not blame the VOs a bit.

[httuner 10]

trying to be too clever will likely backfire....her request to visit some 'friend' will be as transparent as glass....and your assertions that no 'mind change' will befall either her or you is really meaningless....far too many young single online girlfriends from a variety of countries get invited by some 'family friend' whom they end up marrying moments after clearing customs...it is not a rare event....she will be quizzed up one side and down the other and stands a solid (near 99%) chance of being denied...and I would not blame the VOs a bit.

I'm really not trying to be clever, I just wanted to make sure her application for a tourist visa has the highest possible chance for approval. There is no way I would risk the integrity of her visa terms and conditions. It would just ruin the chances of her re-entering the united states if we break these terms and conditions of the tourist visa if she gets approved. I know if we break the conditions of her tourist visa if she gets approve to come here then the consequences would affect her the next time she reapplys. I can't risk her not having the ability to come back to America.

In all I do understand where you are coming from.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

What are the chances of her finding a decent job soon? I think she'd have a much better chance at getting the visa if she has a well paying job to go back to, or enrolled in further study.

[httuner 10]

The hard part is if she does find a decent job and then only work for a few months and ask for time off to come to the states, I doubt her employer would allow her time off, now her family does own a business so perhaps if she worked at her family's business maybe that might just do it. She could enroll into further studies, this might be a good idea, so we'll look into that also (although I'm not sure she'll choose that route considering she is graduating with a 4 year degree this June)

Visas_for_Africa - You might be right, it'll probably be best if she didn't mention me at all. I suppose I could find another way to give her money. Maybe her parents could show that they are paying for her trip and expenses during her visit here in the U.S. I could probably have her parents help her purchase the flight ticket and help her with the Visa and show they will be providing for her expenses while she is here and I could find a way to just pay her folks for the cost.

In all I really rather be 100 percent honest with everything, but knowing that her chances of denial for the Visa are higher if I was involve in any way just doesn't sound too good. Coming to America does seem like difficult even on a tourist Visa, knowing she doesn't have much ties to her country to show more proof of intent to return to her country.

Again, there is no way we have any intentions on breaking the terms and conditions of the tourist Visa, we just want some time to be close to one another, even if the time isn't very long. It would be horrible to face the consequences of breaking the conditions of the tourist visa. It'll be better to follow the law and have the ability to return to America for another Visit then to be ban from entering the U.S. again.

Edited April 21, 2012 by httuner

[jaycali 415]

Again, there is no way we have any intentions on breaking the terms and conditions of the tourist Visa, we just want some time to be close to one another, even if the time isn't very long. It would be horrible to face the consequences of breaking the conditions of the tourist visa. It'll be better to follow the law and have the ability to return to America for another Visit then to be ban from entering the U.S. again.

All the millions of people who have previously broken, or tried to brake the law have made it a million times more difficult for the millions of people who want to do everything the legit way. It's unfortunate, but true.

[httuner 10]

All the millions of people who have previously broken, or tried to brake the law have made it a million times more difficult for the millions of people who want to do everything the legit way. It's unfortunate, but true.

Yes, unfortunately.

I want her to build that trust with the Consulate because we both know we have a long way ahead of us before we even think about marriage, so we will need to earn the trust that she will follow all the terms and conditions of the Visa, considering she will probably be visiting me more than once, so we need that trust if she wants another tourist Visa in the near future, We're both young and I really don't have anything to my name, just a car and a good job and of course a roof over my head that I pay monthly for. I'm certainly not ready for marriage and not willing to break the law, it'll just make things harder for us considering future wise.

[Operator 1,927]

httuner,

Hi and welcome to VJ. I'll give you my two cents worth of opinion but ultimately it's down to the presentation and opinion of the interviewing officer.

First of all visa applicants are assumed to be intending immigrants so she'll have to convince the embassy that she isn't. How does she do it? She has to show that she has strong ties to China and that It would be ridiculous for her not to return. Strong ties for her would be a good job, along with a letter from her employer stating, how long she's been employed, that she has been given a leave to travel to the US and is expected to return by a given date. She should own some real-estate or have at a minimum a lease that shows she is renting an apartment (not living at home). She should be able to show that she has money in the bank (I think at least 60k rmb). Having entry stamps to other western countries in my opinion is a huge help.

My wife (then girlfriend) got a tourist visa a few years back. She had been working for a multi-national for 5 years making good money and her USC boss wrote a letter for her to the consulate explaining her position and salary and how much leave she was granted. She had about 120k rmb in the bank. She had a copy of her lease. I think what helped her the most was recent stamps in her passport from Germany and Italy. Also her English is better than mine.

A couple of months ago our friend was denied a tourist visa. She is 29 and single. She is a marketing exec. for Nike in Shanghai. Makes great money and has an apartment. She has traveled all over Asia and to Australia. I think the reason she was denied was because she didn't have her Shanghai resident card and she had been living in Shanghai for 7 years, who knows.

I'm not trying to discourage you, believe me, my point is that I think your girlfriend will need to improve her ties to China before she will be issued a tourist visa.

Consider the two of you meeting in a third country that is a little less stingy with tourist visas. Give her a chance to find a job after she graduates. Visit her several more times in China (it's a great country).

What ever you decide good luck.

[Darnell 8,478]

i think the plan 'as presented' in post #1 needs much refactoring.

[Darnell 8,478]

Study the content on the links I've posted here -> http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/363268-gogo-is-mad-again/page__view__findpost__p__5308778

And please understand that she'll be evaluated in a severe way - it's on her to overcome the immigration intent - The VO must presume this, by law.

[Noah Lot 391]

Your statements about wanting to spend time together with no plans of immediate marriage have been told numerous times...and not surprisingly, a fair percentage of those who professed the same 'good intentions' wound up....changing their mind....moments after touchdown...so do not be surprised when her application is denied...the very fact that you plan to extend her admission time (if granted) already suggests other plans...after all...when she tells the VO she plans to visit a 'friend' for a few weeks, but then....decides to spend one year in the US...well....that would mean somebody fudged the truth.

[Noah Lot 391]

and my earlier comment about being too clever....well...if you deposit a sum of money into her account, given her current situation, the VOs will ask from where the $$$ came from...and no 'family friends' dole out thousands for airline tickets and tourism unless there is something at the end of the rainbow...just a plain simple fact of life.

(and if she says she sold a car or property, an experienced VO will immediately ask for the bill of sale....)

[httuner 10]

I suppose everyone's guilty until proven innocent. Thank you all for your suggestions and help.

I'll leave it to her to file for the visa and see what the turnout is.