What are "strong ties"?

[Phred 5]

I am a US citizen living in Singapore. I have NO residence, and NO ties in the USA. My soon to be wife is from Myanmar. We live together in a Singapore.

I had applied for a K1 visa. I plan to withdraw the K1request.

We will marry in Singapore and then visit the USA on a honeymoon.

We have NO interest in living in the USA.

She has no ties in a Singapore except me. However we have the following assets:

We have a long standing joint bank account that will have over $50,000 Singapore.

We can show long term joint residence.

I have a contract with my employer in Singapore.

My salary exceeds $100,000.

I have sufficient funds to cover a two week vacation in a US bank account.

I have an investment account in the USA.

She is a part owner of a small business in Myanmar.

Is her husband, who has a good job in a Singapore, a strong enough tie?

[Boiler 45,499]

Sounds like all she has.

[Phred 5]

She is good at saving money. But I, have heard that bank accounts are not sufficient to show strong ties.

[Boiler 45,499]

Money is easily moved.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

She doesn't have a home/apartment? No family? Has she travelled anywhere before? How did she get to Singapore from Myanmar (refugee, visa?)

[Phred 5]

She had been to Israel, and Indonesia. She has family and a son. They live in Myanmar. She has a job in Singapore, but it pays only about $2600 a month.

We share the apartment that we rent in Singapore. We cannot own property in Singapore

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

So she does have a job, and an apartment. Sounds like some ties to me. She has travelled before (but was that only for work or for pleasure?)

You are a good tie too, but you will have to show you don't want to live in the US.

[Phred 5]

So she does have a job, and an apartment. Sounds like some ties to me. She has travelled before (but was that only for work or for pleasure?)

You are a good tie too, but you will have to show you don't want to live in the US.

You think a letter from my employer is enough to show I have no plans to live in the USA?

She went to Israel for work, and Indonesia with me for pleasure.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

She had been to Israel, and Indonesia. She has family and a son. They live in Myanmar. She has a job in Singapore, but it pays only about $2600 a month.

We share the apartment that we rent in Singapore. We cannot own property in Singapore

The bold statement is not true. Foreigners (not Citizen or PR) are still allowed to own property in Singapore.

They just can't buy the Govt subsidised HDB flats. They are more than welcome to buy private properties like condominium.

[Phred 5]

The bold statement is not true. Foreigners (not Citizen or PR) are still allowed to own property in Singapore.

They just can't buy the Govt subsidised HDB flats. They are more than welcome to buy private properties like condominium.

I'll just whip out 2 million and buy a condo tomorrow (not!).

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Not asking you to buy property right away to prove ties to Singapore. Just correcting the wrong info

Read this thread. The OP was asking the same thing as you, how to show strong ties for his wife's tourist visa. In end, they are approved.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/456846-how-do-i/

It helps that you, the US citizen has strong ties in Singapore, and no interest to live in US.

So, go attend the interview together and bring the marriage cert, work contracts, rent lease ...etc

Edited November 25, 2013 by Merrytooth

[Boiler 45,499]

Is your decision to apply or not based on what you hear here?

[Phred 5]

I will await the status on the K1, and withdraw it. We will apply for the B2 next spring.

We will visit the USA in the fall. Thank you.

[Phred 5]

It helps that you, the US citizen has strong ties in Singapore, and no interest to live in US.

So, go attend the interview together and bring the marriage cert, work contracts, rent lease ...etc

You know, it is a mystery why anyone would want to live in the USA. I like Singapore. I sold my car. I do not have to look for a place to park, get stuck in traffic, or any of that #######. I owned a car for 30 years, and now I do not have to anymore. I can take a cab, or rent a car when I need one! No more jury duty. No more rediculas lay high taxes. I am bigger than everyone so nobody argues with me!