Can a student get a tourist visa?

[spn1025 38]

Here's the situation:

My wife (here on green card, from Philippines) wants her sister to come visit here. The sister is age 18, in Philippines, and a college student. Since she is still a student, she does not have a job yet or any properties.

Is it even possible for her to get a B2? I'm assuming that showing my income and savings will do nothing to help her, right? The intent would be that I would support her during her stay here.

If a B2 is not possible, what about a student visa? (Exchange student, J visa)

[mariepear 12]

I got a B2 visa while I was still in college....

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Nothing is impossible.

You have to look at the requirements.

[Ning 619]

Here's the situation:

My wife (here on green card, from Philippines) wants her sister to come visit here. The sister is age 18, in Philippines, and a college student. Since she is still a student, she does not have a job yet or any properties.

Is it even possible for her to get a B2? I'm assuming that showing my income and savings will do nothing to help her, right? The intent would be that I would support her during her stay here.

If a B2 is not possible, what about a student visa? (Exchange student, J visa)

She will never be granted a tourist visa. You have nothing to do with her application and trying to get involved is a huge mistake but it wont matter anyway due to the level of fraud in the P I when it comes to these visas.

She must prove beyond a doubt she MUST return to the P I. That she can not do.

[spn1025 38]

I got a B2 visa while I was still in college....

Please explain... How long ago was this, and what was your "stong ties" to your country as a student?

[mariepear 12]

I got a B2 visa while I was still in college....

Please explain... How long ago was this, and what was your "stong ties" to your country as a student?

It was last year in February. The most important thing was that I still wasn't finished with college so I was planning to go back. They asked me what was the purpose of the visa and I said visiting my boyfriend (they told me in the US that I was coming too often on the visa waiver programe and they recomended me to get the visa). I was told I can't get married on that visa and I said I'm not planning to. I said I would get the right visa when it's the right time for us and the American lady actually explained to me the two different ways how we could get married.

I think they also asked me who will pay for my trips since I was a student... I said my I have a part time job, my Mom is supporting me and my boyfriends will pay for most of the trips and all my expences over there... But they really didn't want any proof of anything from me...I also had a letter from by boyfriend explaining to them why we are trying to get the visa but they wouldn't even read it. She said: " I see in your passport that you have been over there many times and never over stayed your time so I'm gonna issue it for you".

For me it was really easy... But it might be different for somebody from Philipines who has family over here...

[aaron2020 11,651]

Your sister can apply for a visitor visa.

Whether she will get a visitor visa will depends on her overcoming the presumption that all applicants intend to illegally immigrate to the US. She needs to show strong ties to the PI that would indicate she would return rather than stay illegally in the US.

No one can tell you if she will qualify or not. The only way to know is to apply.

A student visa is always possible - however, you need to show $20,000 in a US bank to cover tuition and cost of living. That's $20,000 minimum per year. Living with a relative does not lower the required amount.

[jaycali 415]

Please explain... How long ago was this, and what was your "stong ties" to your country as a student?

His flag suggests he's Czech. Getting a visa in the Czech Republic vs. the Philippines are two entirely different ball games, and would be comparing apples to oranges.

I would ask in the Philippines regional forum. The problem many young Filipinos have is that they're considered a risk of overstaying. This largely due to economic reasons. Showing "strong ties" is often best done by providing financial reasons why it would be completely lunatic for her to want to live and/or work in the US illegally, rather than returning to the Philippines before her I-94 exipry date.

Edited October 17, 2013 by Jay Jay

[Blue Bianchi 77]

It sounds highly unlikely that she'll get a visitor visa, for now. I suggest that the sisters spend some time together in the Philippines (GC holder sister visits Philippines instead) and they should travel to other cities where getting a visa isn't too gnarly for the younger sister. How about Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, or Vietnam? The younger sister can try applying for a US tourist visa after she has graduated and when she holds a steady, well-paying job, owns property, and has a family of her own. This is probably not what they want to hear, but its really best for the younger sister not to fixate on getting a tourist visa right now.

[dave_harding1 0]

Here's the situation:

My wife (here on green card, from Philippines) wants her sister to come visit here. The sister is age 18, in Philippines, and a college student. Since she is still a student, she does not have a job yet or any properties.

Is it even possible for her to get a B2? I'm assuming that showing my income and savings will do nothing to help her, right? The intent would be that I would support her during her stay here.

If a B2 is not possible, what about a student visa? (Exchange student, J visa)

Hi!

If she is only coming to visit, why are you looking at exchange student visa? The visa depends on how long she plans to stay, and what she plans to do in the country (basically, if you're there on a tourist visa, you can not work). But I guess it all depends on what she wants to do there while visiting.

[RhettVoe 281]

She can apply, but sounds like she barely started college, which means little to lose if she abandons her studies to stay put in the US.....she might have a better chance if she had finished about three full years of education, because then there would be something to lose....sadly, far too many young, single Filipinas have scampered off into the sunset with tourist visas, and found 'true love' before the wheels even kissed the runway as they landed in the US.