Help on starting to apply for tourist visa from phillipines to USA

[RJC 0]

Hello everyone, Im brand new here. I have been conversing with a Filipino woman for the past year. I would like to help her to visit me here in the USA. She is single and in college. Does not have a job at present time. Of course like a lot of Filipino women she is on the poor side of the economy there. Can anyone give me pointers on what to do to aid her in getting a visa to visit me here? I have no clue where to start or what the chances are she can indeed get one. What are the does and donts when it comes to applying. Does it take months or years to get approved? What can I do to help her and what can she do to help herself get approved.

[Hypnos 6,578]

With a US citizen boyfriend / girlfriend, it's very difficult for a citizen of the Philippines to obtain a tourist visa. It would probably be easier for you to visit her, rather than the other way around.

She can apply, but would need to demonstrate strong ties to her home country.

Edited February 5, 2014 by Hypnos

[christeen 966]

You cannot get her a visa, she must apply on her own merits and show string ties for why she must return to the Philippines... I will tell you, odds are slim that she would be granted a visa as there is a serious risk of young women not returning or for deciding to stay and immigrate... You might seriously look into visiting her over there... Sorry...

[aaron2020 11,651]

You cannot do anything to help her get a tourist visa. She needs to apply on her own, and her circumstances will determine if she can overcome the presumption that all visitors intend to illegally immigrate to the US.

Poor, no job, and a US boyfriend are major reasons why she will not overcome the presumption of illegal immigration.

Do want to be a downer, but she has zero chances of getting a visitor visa.

Have you met face to face? Or have you been chatting over the internet?

Edited February 5, 2014 by aaron2020

[Ning 619]

Hello everyone, Im brand new here. I have been conversing with a Filipino woman for the past year. I would like to help her to visit me here in the USA. She is single and in college. Does not have a job at present time. Of course like a lot of Filipino women she is on the poor side of the economy there. Can anyone give me pointers on what to do to aid her in getting a visa to visit me here? I have no clue where to start or what the chances are she can indeed get one. What are the does and donts when it comes to applying. Does it take months or years to get approved? What can I do to help her and what can she do to help herself get approved.

I think you can help her by explaining to her that she applies on her own merits. Also that she MUST prove beyond a doubt that she must return to her country. This is the strongest ties rule. If she can not do that she will be denied.

She can apply at anytime. The embassy will notify her of the interview date which may be a month or so but wont be years.

I agree that you would be better off going there than expecting her to visit you in the USA.

[RhettVoe 282]

Very long odds....going to college in the PI is not considered any real reason to return, not compared to having an American BF, with whom she could easily abandon her studies, marry, get into school in the US, etc....at the end of the day, there is nothing any interested third party can realistically do to improve somebody else's chances of getting a tourist visa...especially involving somebody who is from a country not known for its habitual proper use of tourist visas.

[RJC 0]

You cannot do anything to help her get a tourist visa. She needs to apply on her own, and her circumstances will determine if she can overcome the presumption that all visitors intend to illegally immigrate to the US.

Poor, no job, and a US boyfriend are major reasons why she will not overcome the presumption of illegal immigration.

Do want to be a downer, but she has zero chances of getting a visitor visa.

Have you met face to face? Or have you been chatting over the internet?

wow sounds very bleak to me. There must be a way because people are still getting them. I understand what everyone is saying. And I appreciate everyones input. I wish there were someone on here who has succeded in getting a tourist visa with similar circumstances. I did tell her it was going to be up to her to convince them you were honest. She seems to think she can do that. She said a letter from me would help explain that she is visiting me and what the circumstances were in Airline round trip and all. Guess we will see what happens.

[RhettVoe 282]

such a letter will more than likely lead to a very swift denial...why? because the letter really tells why she would remain in the US, not return to the PI.

[RJC 0]

You cannot do anything to help her get a tourist visa. She needs to apply on her own, and her circumstances will determine if she can overcome the presumption that all visitors intend to illegally immigrate to the US.

Poor, no job, and a US boyfriend are major reasons why she will not overcome the presumption of illegal immigration.

Do want to be a downer, but she has zero chances of getting a visitor visa.

Have you met face to face? Or have you been chatting over the internet?

no have not met face to face. Strange how everyone seems to be guilty and they have to prove they are not. Well one never knows until they try. She also mentioned that it is good idea that she have money in her account to show she is able to support herself. Anyone ever heard of this?

[RhettVoe 282]

Our visa laws presume that everyone (everyone!) who applies for a tourist visa (and a few other types) is an intending immigrant, and therefore ineligible to receive said visa until such time as they are able to convince a CO that they will depart the US when they say, not work illegally, etc....so yes, there is an existing presumption of 'guilt', but that's the way it is....and sadly, far too many people from the PI, especially those who are young and single, have demonstrated a strong propensity to use a tourist visa for something other than tourism....and that is why she will have a difficult time obtaining one....thanks to all of her fellow citizens who have decided to fudge their way to the United States and not come back as promised.

[aaron2020 11,651]

no have not met face to face. Strange how everyone seems to be guilty and they have to prove they are not. Well one never knows until they try. She also mentioned that it is good idea that she have money in her account to show she is able to support herself. Anyone ever heard of this?

It's not strange. There are numerous people who have used visitor visas to illegally stay in the US.

Why is it strange for the US to ask visitors for proof of ties to their home countries so that they are not likely to become illegal immigrants?

How many people from poor third world countries do you think would overstay their visitor visas to become one of the 12,000,000 illegal immigrants rather than return to their countries?

It's not strange. It's logic based on prior experiences.

DO NOT SEND HER MONEY!!!! To be blunt - it's stupid to send money to someone who you met on the internet but never had a face to face with. Furthermore, how is money from an American boyfriend going to show that she is likely to return to the PI after a visit? It's doesn't.

If you want a relationship with this girl, then go to the PI. She is not going to get a visitor visa.

Sorry to be blunt, but better to burst your bubble now rather than let you make stupid mistakes unknowingly that will negatively affect any future plans if you choose to continue this relationship.

[novedsac 355]

Second that, she is not getting a tourist visa. If she so much as whispers she has a male friend/boyfriend she is coming to visit … she'll be denied without further processing.

I've known several dozen citizens of Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia over the years who have successfully travelled to the US on tourist visas - without exception, they have ALL had excellent jobs in their home country (meteorologist, physician, professor, government official, scientist, airline pilot, entertainer) or were the spouse of someone who had such a job. ALL have also owned property - condo, home, a business - located in their country of citizenship. Seems the odds for a single recipients favored those who were older, pushing 40 if that's old, and not the younger ones. These are the sorts of ties that USCIS is looking for when determining that there is a high likelihood the visa recipient will return.

USCIS doesn't care if the visa recipient has enough money to support themselves whilst in the USA … only that they can return when their visa expires. USCIS doesn't care if they promise to return, claim they cannot leave a sick mama for too long, have school to finish back home, etc. Money in a bank account in and of itself isn't going to help either - there will be questions as to where it came from, how long has she had it … a large sum that just showed up within the past year will not cut it. The ties must be real, verifiable and substantial. From what you've described, you're girl doesn't have anywhere near what it will take … better to save your money and go visit her instead.

[RhettVoe 282]

Hard to disagree with the previous poster....

[christeen 966]

Do not send money... Period, no exceptions! Seriously... You would never think to send money to someone you have never met in person.... Just don't do it! Besides, it will not help... If she qualifies on her own merits, great... But most likely, in order to meet, you will have to go there... Is there a specific reason or obstacle in you going to the Philippines? Just curious

[Boiler 45,970]

OP never suggested sending her money.

She can not be that poor, poverty is a relative term, but holidaying in the US is not something most poor people do.