American-Filipino missionaries in the Philippines. Help!

[Radvill 1]

Hi Visa Journey,

Here's our story in a nutshell. I am a missionary in the Philippines. I met my Filipino husband here almost 3 years ago. We got married 7 months ago here in the Philippines. We wanted to get married in the States with my family, but found that the K1 visa was a waste of money since we are not planning to live in the USA.

My husband needs to get a visa to the States so that we can attend our organization's missions conference in October, help me spread the word about the need in the Philippines, and... yes, meet my family (only my parents were able to attend our wedding here).

We just applied for his tourist visa as I was told that this was the best route since he is not becoming an immigrant in the USA. We are only planning on going to the USA for about 4 months and will then return here to continue our mission. My husband has no intention of overstaying his welcome in the USA and will abide by the requirements.

I know some American-Filipino missionary couples that have been approved of for their tourist visa on the very first time. I just found out recently that one couple was just denied. We do not want that to happen.

We plan to give as much documentation as possible. NSO Marriage Certificate, letter from our missions organization saying that we are legitimate missionaries, our mission monthly newsletters, letter from the church that we work with here in the Philippines saying that he is the Vice President of the church corporation, monthly donations reports showing how people donate to our mission, lots of pictures of our relationship and of us working with the poor and the church, etc. We are also hoping to get a letter from a congressman that I am friends of the family with, but it is election time in the USA so I haven't heard back from him yet.

Do you have any other suggestions for proof for this visa? I have heard once before that it is better to get a spouse immigrant visa, but like I said, our plans are to stay here in the Philippines, not migrate to the USA.

His tourist visa interview is schedule at the end of June.

Looking forward to your answers. And thank you!

[Noah Lot 391]

I've never heard of any 'conference' that lasts 4 months....and letters from a congressman will have zero effect on the outcome of his interview. Congress cannot legally order the VO to issue a visa....and who allegedly knows who means nothing...no one can 'vouch' for another in this process...

[Radvill 1]

I've never heard of any 'conference' that lasts 4 months....and letters from a congressman will have zero effect on the outcome of his interview. Congress cannot legally order the VO to issue a visa....and who allegedly knows who means nothing...no one can 'vouch' for another in this process...

Thank you for your response. The conference would be about 4 days actually. But we will then be going to other churches and organizations to speak about the mission... as well as meet my family. We would utilize the trip for all of these reasons... which would make it last about 4 months. Considering if he got it approved, we would have up to 6 months allowed anyway.

We also plan to have proof for the conference and show that the missions organization is legitimate as well.

[Radvill 1]

Thank you for your response. The conference would be about 4 days actually. But we will then be going to other churches and organizations to speak about the mission... as well as meet my family. We would utilize the trip for all of these reasons... which would make it last about 4 months. Considering if he got it approved, we would have up to 6 months allowed anyway.

We also plan to have proof for the conference and show that the missions organization is legitimate as well.

Also, I was only asking the Congressman to recommend us or "stand by us" for this. He knows me personally as I have been a friend of his daughter for many years and even worked for his wife at a charter school. I watched his children while he was being sworn in. He has even supported our ministry. If he could say that we are truly missionaries and that he is certain that my husband will return to the Philippines in obedience to the 6 month limit and would even have contact with my husband while he is in the USA. I know that he has no authority to demand a visa. Just that he could help us prove that we are good standing people with absolute intentions of returning to the Philippines on time.... and that he's willing to put his signature and name on my husband.

Will that help at all? Or be a wasted of time?

Edited April 21, 2012 by Radvill

[DouglasFiel 53]

There is a specific visa (not sure what it is) for religious activities, That might be an alternative option.

regards,

dc

[cerebus407 16]

Your best bet for getting your husband a visa is to demonstrate that he will be coming back. The best way to do that in a situation where a Filipino is married to an American is to show that the U.S. citizen part of the couple is permanently based in the Philippines (ACR cards are good for that).

R visas require a petition and the type of activities you must be doing are very specific. visiting family and friends and doing fund raising by speaking to various church groups would be a tough sell.

Another hurdle religious folks tend to have is financial because they don't make very much money. There's not much that can be done about that.

Good luck with your interview.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Also, I was only asking the Congressman to recommend us or "stand by us" for this. He knows me personally as I have been a friend of his daughter for many years and even worked for his wife at a charter school. I watched his children while he was being sworn in. He has even supported our ministry. If he could say that we are truly missionaries and that he is certain that my husband will return to the Philippines in obedience to the 6 month limit and would even have contact with my husband while he is in the USA. I know that he has no authority to demand a visa. Just that he could help us prove that we are good standing people with absolute intentions of returning to the Philippines on time.... and that he's willing to put his signature and name on my husband.

Will that help at all? Or be a wasted of time?

This will be a waste of time and effort, NO ONE can guarantee that an individual will not overstay their visa alloted time in the US. The congressman can not physical haul your huisband back on a plane if he chooses not to return.

Your husband has to prove this himself to the CO, with his documentations and his demeaner at the interview.

The +1 was an accident.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi Visa Journey,

Here's our story in a nutshell. I am a missionary in the Philippines. I met my Filipino husband here almost 3 years ago. We got married 7 months ago here in the Philippines. We wanted to get married in the States with my family, but found that the K1 visa was a waste of money since we are not planning to live in the USA.

My husband needs to get a visa to the States so that we can attend our organization's missions conference in October, help me spread the word about the need in the Philippines, and... yes, meet my family (only my parents were able to attend our wedding here).

We just applied for his tourist visa as I was told that this was the best route since he is not becoming an immigrant in the USA. We are only planning on going to the USA for about 4 months and will then return here to continue our mission. My husband has no intention of overstaying his welcome in the USA and will abide by the requirements.

I know some American-Filipino missionary couples that have been approved of for their tourist visa on the very first time. I just found out recently that one couple was just denied. We do not want that to happen.

We plan to give as much documentation as possible. NSO Marriage Certificate, letter from our missions organization saying that we are legitimate missionaries, our mission monthly newsletters, letter from the church that we work with here in the Philippines saying that he is the Vice President of the church corporation, monthly donations reports showing how people donate to our mission, lots of pictures of our relationship and of us working with the poor and the church, etc. We are also hoping to get a letter from a congressman that I am friends of the family with, but it is election time in the USA so I haven't heard back from him yet.

Do you have any other suggestions for proof for this visa? I have heard once before that it is better to get a spouse immigrant visa, but like I said, our plans are to stay here in the Philippines, not migrate to the USA.

His tourist visa interview is schedule at the end of June.

Looking forward to your answers. And thank you!

How many threads are you going to open to ask the questions about your situation? This is your fourth thread asking essentially the same question. If you post everything related to your husband's conference visit in a single thread, there would not be a need to repeat information. It is easier to get help if all things about your case is in one thread.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/355260-husband-applying-for-b1-but-my-passport-sir-name-has-not-changed-to-his-sir-name-yet/page__p__5193817#entry5193817

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/353509-how-long-can-he-wait-once-he-gets-a-visa/page__p__5171759#entry5171759

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/353486-b1b2-proof-of-return/page__p__5171520#entry5171520

[Noah Lot 391]

Also, I was only asking the Congressman to recommend us or "stand by us" for this. He knows me personally as I have been a friend of his daughter for many years and even worked for his wife at a charter school. I watched his children while he was being sworn in. He has even supported our ministry. If he could say that we are truly missionaries and that he is certain that my husband will return to the Philippines in obedience to the 6 month limit and would even have contact with my husband while he is in the USA. I know that he has no authority to demand a visa. Just that he could help us prove that we are good standing people with absolute intentions of returning to the Philippines on time.... and that he's willing to put his signature and name on my husband.

Will that help at all? Or be a wasted of time?

A congressman cannot vouch for anyone...and vouching for YOU is meaningless because your husband is the applicant, not you. The congressman cannot force your husband back on a plane nor send ICE officials to your home in the US to collect him up and ship him home...a third party, no matter who it is, cannot positively affect the process....they cannot control the actions of others, and thus, any input from said person is more than likely to show desperation rather than bona fides.

And if you and hubby can readily abandon your 'mission' for several months, well, why not longer???(which the VO will ask him/herself)