Girlfriend from Turkey would like to visit me in the US, questions and concerns.

[christeen 966]

It does not hurt to try... If she gets denied and you later decide to apply r another visa like K1 or CR1 this denial will not affect this... People here have tried many time and gotten denied... Just ave her prepare he proof of ties to her country and try...

[MrFrenchTickler 0]

I'm concerned about her ties. The only thing she has is a job. All of her family lives in another country, and the house that she lives in is her parents house. She doesn't own property or assets. Part of me thinks she would get denied if she lied or not.

[PabloGarcia 36]

One part (albeit a small one) of the reason im getting a K-1 is because my fiance would never get a tourist visa.

[MrFrenchTickler 0]

We are far from that road, so right now the only way is a tourist visa I think. I don't know any other options. This really sucks.

[Boiler 45,972]

Where are her family, what does she do?

[blooms 63]

Hi,

When I applied for B2 visa I am well aware that I could be denied because of the petition that was still in process.

Luckily I have my parents apply with me because they would like to visit my now husband and his family.

The consular did not ask me about him, she looked at my parents' assets, bank account and that's it. We did say that we were going to Vegas which was the truth. And told the consular when we were planning to visit and leave the US.

Bottom line, it won't hurt to try applying for B2 even though you have petitioned I-129F for her. Remember to always answer any question straight forward, the truth!

Good luck

Blooms

[nightingalejules 678]

She really should tell the truth about her visit. Even if it means she might get denied. Better to be denied while she's still at home than to have her lies discovered at the point of entry and get a ban for misrepresentation. If she's as honest as she can be, and has proof that it's just a visit and she intends to return to her home country, she stands a much better chance. Otherwise there will be information missing and the consulate or customs will discover the lie.

[Anna Grant 169]

I tend to agree with you, though she doesn't know how she will get caught.

How she will get caught is IF in the future you go down the K1 route. You will have to provide a story of how you met with evidence that you have physically met in the previous 2 years. Naturally, the beginning of your relationship will pre-date her interview for her B2 visa. So that lie will be found out.

There have been people who have lied in their B2 visa interview about their reason for wanting to visit the US and then been denied their K1 visa because of those lies.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

If your girlfriend is well traveled to other countries, there is a good chance she may be approved. Having a good job, family ties and other responsibilities back home are also all good strong ties.

Having a boyfriend is definitely a red flag, but it is all how she presents her case. She could get a very understanding and easy consulate officer. I say go for it.

[Ning 619]

I'm concerned about her ties. The only thing she has is a job. All of her family lives in another country, and the house that she lives in is her parents house. She doesn't own property or assets. Part of me thinks she would get denied if she lied or not.

These tourist visas are difficult to obtain for many people but tougher when they are from countries such as hers and mine as well.

The ties are always what is most important and if there is any question she will be denied. This is unfortunate but a fact. A job just isn't enough because of course if she stayed in the USA she wouldn't need it. To succeed she must present some aspect that absolutely forces her to return. Owning property for example wouldn't be enough because it can be sold or simply left behind. Assets can be moved easily.

[Ning 619]

If your girlfriend is well traveled to other countries, there is a good chance she may be approved. Having a good job, family ties and other responsibilities back home are also all good strong ties.

Having a boyfriend is definitely a red flag, but it is all how she presents her case. She could get a very understanding and easy consulate officer. I say go for it.

How do you think she should present the case? The ties you indicate aren't enough.

[MrFrenchTickler 0]

Thanks again everyone for the replies. I'm really not sure how she could present the case either since all she really has is a good job. And I guess if a job isn't good enough, then she might be in trouble either way.

[Boiler 45,972]

A really good job helps.

[przyjaciel 5]

This is somewhat related, and I know you seem to be in a tough spot because honesty is the most important thing in these situations but at the same time it could lead her to getting a denial.

Consular employees are trained to detect possible visa fraud. If the applicant is nervous, or considered a risk for an overstay or immigration they can and will check out her story.

My wife applied for a tourist visa the year after completing university, and before she had a job. She had a plane ticket to visit the States with her parents on a trip they invited her to join them on last minute, and some assets and ties to her country (owned an apartment, pet, assets, etc.) but objectively speaking was in a situation where she could very well have been denied considering her circumstances.

As an artist, she wanted to check out MOMA in New York, visit galleries and just do normal tourist stuff. At her interview, the consular employee said that there were a lot of great museums and galleries in Europe, and asked why she didn't go to those instead. She mentioned that she had been to a large number of them in different countries, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.

So he asked, what was the last art museum in Europe you've been to, when was it and what did you see?

She answered that she'd been at Gilbert & George at the Tate Modern, so the consular employee went and Googled it, and made sure she was telling the truth. He said the exhibit looked very interesting, and then granted her the visa.

What does this mean for your situation?

That if there is anything online indicating you are involved in a romantic relationship, they can look it up and give her a denial. Facebook, Twitter, whatever.

It is best to be honest, but at the same time you been to prove her intent is not to immigrate or adjust status once there. How could you do this?

Plan your trip, pick an event she would like to go to, something she would really like to see. If she says 'I am coming to see my boyfriend,' and that's it then the chance she will get a denial is a lot higher.

If she mentions taking a road trip, seeing the national parks and camping, whatever her interests are then she is actively providing evidence that her intent is not to immigrate. By showing the short-term nature of the trip, costs involved, money saved up to make the trip, whatever that is evidence of her returning home. If she wants to rent an RV, take it across the West and take photos along way, that's the purpose of a tourist visa. Tourism.

It can't hurt to plan out a dream trip for her visit, and for the consular employee that's a lot better than effectively saying her plan is 'sitting at an American citizen's house, without rent or any costs until my stamped time at POE is up.'

Good luck to you, and hopefully you two can plan and spend a great vacation in the US together.

[Ning 619]

This is somewhat related, and I know you seem to be in a tough spot because honesty is the most important thing in these situations but at the same time it could lead her to getting a denial.

Consular employees are trained to detect possible visa fraud. If the applicant is nervous, or considered a risk for an overstay or immigration they can and will check out her story.

My wife applied for a tourist visa the year after completing university, and before she had a job. She had a plane ticket to visit the States with her parents on a trip they invited her to join them on last minute, and some assets and ties to her country (owned an apartment, pet, assets, etc.) but objectively speaking was in a situation where she could very well have been denied considering her circumstances.

As an artist, she wanted to check out MOMA in New York, visit galleries and just do normal tourist stuff. At her interview, the consular employee said that there were a lot of great museums and galleries in Europe, and asked why she didn't go to those instead. She mentioned that she had been to a large number of them in different countries, Germany, France, Italy and the UK.

So he asked, what was the last art museum in Europe you've been to, when was it and what did you see?

She answered that she'd been at Gilbert & George at the Tate Modern, so the consular employee went and Googled it, and made sure she was telling the truth. He said the exhibit looked very interesting, and then granted her the visa.

What does this mean for your situation?

That if there is anything online indicating you are involved in a romantic relationship, they can look it up and give her a denial. Facebook, Twitter, whatever.

It is best to be honest, but at the same time you been to prove her intent is not to immigrate or adjust status once there. How could you do this?

Plan your trip, pick an event she would like to go to, something she would really like to see. If she says 'I am coming to see my boyfriend,' and that's it then the chance she will get a denial is a lot higher.

If she mentions taking a road trip, seeing the national parks and camping, whatever her interests are then she is actively providing evidence that her intent is not to immigrate. By showing the short-term nature of the trip, costs involved, money saved up to make the trip, whatever that is evidence of her returning home. If she wants to rent an RV, take it across the West and take photos along way, that's the purpose of a tourist visa. Tourism.

It can't hurt to plan out a dream trip for her visit, and for the consular employee that's a lot better than effectively saying her plan is 'sitting at an American citizen's house, without rent or any costs until my stamped time at POE is up.'

Good luck to you, and hopefully you two can plan and spend a great vacation in the US together.

What do you suggest she presents as proof she must return? That is the key here not lying about a road trip.

What is her response when asked about contacts in the USA?

What does she tell the officer at the POE?

Edited January 16, 2014 by Ning