I'm terrified--USCIS is giving a blatant scammer a GC and I don't seem to be able to stop them

[yailukmuu 26]

Keep the INFOPASS appointment on Monday and continue with email/phone/in person contact with immigration aide. You want proof you've been to infopass on two occasions - write down the name/ID number of the person you speak with at the Infopass so you can update the immigration aide and they can follow up on all this for you.

I shall do that. I know a helpful person, who is Constituent Service Coordinator for my Congresswoman, who many months ago, got our application, supposedly at the NVC (but clearly was still in Texas SC) sent, and passed through NVC in, I think it was 3 days. So I've been compiling good documentation for him. He has a privacy release already so that's helpful.

Good idea...I did not bother to write down the agent's name on the first Infopass meeting--not a wise thing. Document..document...document...

Thanks

[christeen 966]

Yes, keep the infopass appointment, rattle the cages using the legislative avenue and keep REALLY accurate notes of time/date/whom you speak with and send every letter traceable mail or get a received acknowledgement... Being that you do not have the annulment option and a very limited window of opportunity to pull the support document, do what your can... But once you have done your part, don't let it eat you up... As she will probably stay here in the USA and find s done else as a means to her end... Once your hands are clean of her, move forward a little wiser for,the unfortunate experience. Good luck

[SparklePony 238]

Just wishing you good luck and do keep us posted.

[Jon York 156]

Otherwise I am financially responsible for this scammer for the next decade!

But there's nothing you can be responsible for - for the first 5 years of the next decade because she's ineligible to receive any government means-tested benefits for the first 5 years she's here. So really you could only potentially be liable for the second five years. And by then who knows where she'll be. Probably long gone!

Edited February 22, 2014 by Jon York

[yailukmuu 26]

if you look at page 1in the thread I gave you the contact info for a liaison at Senator Jeanne Shaheen's office

I apologize mimiolicious, somehow I totally missed that post, perhaps my brain is addled. That's very helpful and I will contact both, letting each other know.

[yailukmuu 26]

But there's nothing you can be responsible for - for the first 5 years of the next decade because she's ineligible to receive any government means-tested benefits for the first 5 years she's here. So really you could only potentially be liable for the second five years. And by then who knows where she'll be. Probably long gone!

I didn't know that, thank you.

[MochaMichou 26]

No offense to all Philippines people but USCIS should be really careful with Philippines ladies that US citizens bring to the US and they fall in a scam. This isnt the first incident I read in here nor the 10th!! Please before falling in the "exotic" " not your typical american" type of girl straight away, make sure she is the RIGHT WOMAN. If you be careful, you will save yourself tons of money and headache. Philippines is a poor country and high fraud so OPEN your eyes. This is a message for everyone and not just the OP. NO OFFENSE to any other people from the Philippines who came here with good intentions but we cannot just NOT talk about this. It became a new fashion and its very disturbing. I think rising awareness should be no offense to anyone.

Some tips :

- Meet your Girlfriend more than 2 times before filing K1. Live with her and tell her you want to settle in her country and see what she says.

- If she asks for a lot of money for her mom, brother and sick friend then open your eyes and see where your money is going (probably to her boyfriend)

- Meet all her family and always be aware of how they act.

- If she is in a hurry to move to the USA then that might be a red flag.

- This is probably wrong but dont give full trust straight away and always make sure you know who she talks with when you are away at work ( she might talk with the other guy she originally came for)

- Scams happen all the time but rarely you find a smart scammer ( meaning that you are just NAIVE not to notice that).

if anyone has other tips then write them down. this is a serious problem and I hope the OP will find a solution for this.

[Darnell 8,479]

I shall do that. I know a helpful person, who is Constituent Service Coordinator for my Congresswoman, who many months ago, got our application, supposedly at the NVC (but clearly was still in Texas SC) sent, and passed through NVC in, I think it was 3 days. So I've been compiling good documentation for him. He has a privacy release already so that's helpful.

Good idea...I did not bother to write down the agent's name on the first Infopass meeting--not a wise thing. Document..document...document...

Thanks

This human is most likely fulfilling the role of 'Immigration Liason Staffer' at the CongressWoman's office, so keep that in mind when yer re-reading my stuff.

[belinda63 3,047]

The immigrant is not supposed to receive benefits during the first five years. A lot of places don't know that and give them benefits anyway. Or what if she has some potentially deadly disease or accident. Who is going to pay for that? I hate to say it but a lot of people who are here without any status receive benefits everyday.

[InHisTime 110]

No offense to all Philippines people but USCIS should be really careful with Philippines ladies that US citizens bring to the US and they fall in a scam. This isnt the first incident I read in here nor the 10th!! Please before falling in the "exotic" " not your typical american" type of girl straight away, make sure she is the RIGHT WOMAN. If you be careful, you will save yourself tons of money and headache. Philippines is a poor country and high fraud so OPEN your eyes. This is a message for everyone and not just the OP. NO OFFENSE to any other people from the Philippines who came here with good intentions but we cannot just NOT talk about this. It became a new fashion and its very disturbing. I think rising awareness should be no offense to anyone.

Some tips :

- Meet your Girlfriend more than 2 times before filing K1. Live with her and tell her you want to settle in her country and see what she says.

- If she asks for a lot of money for her mom, brother and sick friend then open your eyes and see where your money is going (probably to her boyfriend)

- Meet all her family and always be aware of how they act.

- If she is in a hurry to move to the USA then that might be a red flag.

- This is probably wrong but dont give full trust straight away and always make sure you know who she talks with when you are away at work ( she might talk with the other guy she originally came for)

- Scams happen all the time but rarely you find a smart scammer ( meaning that you are just NAIVE not to notice that).

if anyone has other tips then write them down. this is a serious problem and I hope the OP will find a solution for this.

Hello ! I do agree with most of the above observations and advices. These are very helpful comments. I am a Filipina and not offended with your thoughts. And I still believe that not majority of Filipino women are scammers. There are still many Pinays who have good intentions and have kind hearts and souls. Most of the stories of successful and loving Fil-Am marriages aren't posted here.

I also would like to say that the above observations could also be helpful to some beneficiaries, not just for the petitioners, regardless of country of origin. Scammers are everywhere. lol.

I also have seen some stories here at VJ that some petitioners have maltreated and taken for granted their beneficiaries when they arrive in the US. We always just hear one side of the story/ies.....so we cannot make a sound, rationale and fair judgement / conclusion.

However, just a little concern for beneficiaries.....

Beneficiaries should also ensure that your petitioners are demonstrating, not just saying, the kind of person he or she is, even before you arrive and stay in America.

Your petitioner should demonstrate commitment to love, care and support you in the US as you know it will take a little time for you to end up working and earning to be able to contribute to the household, especially if you are on K-1 route. It is imperative to discuss and agree this thing ahead, so when you reach in the US, you will not regret and start wondering and becoming bitter about your relationship, which might lead to misunderstanding, argument, anger, separation then divorce. In some instances, since you want to continue living in the US for some reasons, you will be misunderstood of committing "fraud" or being a "scammer" of GC. Some petitioners will really make it so hard for you to acquire legal residency -- once changes in relationship occur.

To stay safe, please know very well the background and character of your petitioner... COMMUNICATION is always the KEY.

I say this cos it is not easy to give up on everything especially if you have a good job, loving family and friends in your home country and will find out later that your petitioner is unkind, mean, not committed and worst of all -- abusive and manipulative in your immigration journey, as it is not wise and advisable to stay illegal in the US.

I've been there, learned my lessons well, and thanking so much God for bringing me back home safely without overtaying in the US. Just sharing to all beneficiaries with good hearts and intentions. Keep the faith. God bless and thanks !

[Boiler 46,247]

To state the obvious it would be reasonable to assume that if she had communicated her intentions he ould not have gone through with this.

Where you have lopsided scenarios, then obviously there will be a higher rate of abuse.

[yailukmuu 26]

No offense to all Philippines people but USCIS should be really careful with Philippines ladies that US citizens bring to the US and they fall in a scam. This isnt the first incident I read in here nor the 10th!! Please before falling in the "exotic" " not your typical american" type of girl straight away, make sure she is the RIGHT WOMAN. If you be careful, you will save yourself tons of money and headache. Philippines is a poor country and high fraud so OPEN your eyes. This is a message for everyone and not just the OP. NO OFFENSE to any other people from the Philippines who came here with good intentions but we cannot just NOT talk about this. It became a new fashion and its very disturbing. I think rising awareness should be no offense to anyone.

Some tips :

- Meet your Girlfriend more than 2 times before filing K1. Live with her and tell her you want to settle in her country and see what she says.

- If she asks for a lot of money for her mom, brother and sick friend then open your eyes and see where your money is going (probably to her boyfriend)

- Meet all her family and always be aware of how they act.

- If she is in a hurry to move to the USA then that might be a red flag.

- This is probably wrong but dont give full trust straight away and always make sure you know who she talks with when you are away at work ( she might talk with the other guy she originally came for)

- Scams happen all the time but rarely you find a smart scammer ( meaning that you are just NAIVE not to notice that).

if anyone has other tips then write them down. this is a serious problem and I hope the OP will find a solution for this.

Excellent tips, thank you.

In my case, though I only visited twice, I did spend almost two months visiting. I met all of her family (except one) and in a word, they were delightful--all 25+ of them. She never called anyone nor texted, nor emailed--she, as I, tended to leave our email accounts accessible on each of our computers. I especially do like the "I think I'll just move to the Philippines and live there with you" idea. She never once asked for money, not one peso, and for the first year I sent none, nor gifts, though I did send flowers once, and found a small shop in Cebu who for a very reasonable price took a dozen roses and sent them to her house by taxi. The total price was less than what I'd pay to send a dozen roses to someone in the US.

To analyze the red flags of my relationship as related to MochaMichu's tips:

1) She had built a house, a very nice house, probably worth 2 million peso. She told me that she earned the money from a store that sold games in a mall. She said that business had become unprofitable because taxes had gotten too high. Well, if a person can save, 400,000 peso a year--the business never would have closed.

2)She was in a hurry to get to the US

3) She had excellent history, excellent friends, and an excellent family--all except one and that was, I believe, my downfall. She had an elder sister, Ate--who lived in Arizona and had lived there for 5 years, according to her: "illegally." The sister returned each year to Cebu and each year bought a house (2 mil+) or land. I was around other sisters and many brothers, all who treated me like I was part of the family, but the one in Arizona remained distant, and now looking back was kept "hidden." Further when she was in the US and Ate called she wouldn't talk to me and all I got for sis's location was "someplace in Phoenix. Well, that's like saying "someplace in Manila." It turned out that Ate had funded the building of the house, so there was a lie from the beginning.

My tip:

1) Beware of ties already in the USA--especially if the ties are there illegally. And especially if Ate is there (elder sister) because Ate carries so much "power," in the family. Clearly in this case Ate is doing an excellent job of creating an Empire. Imagine--over 5 years, buying 3 houses and at least one parcel of land (land is expensive in Asia) and I believe that all purchases were cash, probably from under-the-table earnings.

That's my only tip. There were so many green flags--Never asking for money; warm and open reception by the entire family; a person who appeared to "not need" money.

In my case the relationship certainly seemed loving, and stable and stayed that way until USCIS notice of Acceptance of Adjustment of Status and then it was nothing--just a polite "thank you" at the airport. I believe it was orchestrated from the beginning and all done under the "orders" of the elder sister.

Elder sister according to my wife earns $20/hour as a healthcare worker, most likely under-the-counter performing care for cash in homes of people who would rather pay $20-24 instead of hiring a licensed LNA/CNA from an agency for ~$35/hour. I estimate at 40 hours per week Ate's take home is $42,000. Ate sent my wife to Caretaker school, I was surprised to come across the certificate. Even if my spouse stays as an illegal and works with her sister, the two can clear $84,000 (little living expenses since Ate is married to an elderly Norwegian retired ship captain). So each year each one works, they earn what a, let's say Canon Camera (who has a factory in Cebu) worker earns in 23 years. If my spouse manages to simply stay here, legally or illegally for just two years, she will earn more than she could if she worked from age 20 to age 66 in the Philippines.

Frankly I don't think it'll bother my spouse if the GC never comes.

The big "oops" here is that though USCIS/ICE won't do a thing normally in this sort of case, here they might because Ate who is unskilled comes and goes freely therefore she must have an H1-B that was purchased. I read a few years ago that the going rate was about $2500. One thing that ICE may be interested in is who is selling illegal H1-B's.

My idea that H1-B's are involved is built upon the promise that was made to one of the brothers. Ate was sending him to automotive mechanic school in Cebu and she promised him a Visa to America. Automotive Mechanic is not an acceptable skill for an H1-B, therefore the only option is a purchased one.

Edited February 23, 2014 by yailukmuu

[Boiler 46,247]

Quite a few things do not add up:

1. You can not purchase a H1b and if you could it would cost a LOT more than that.

2, Her spending and supposed income do not tie up.

3. If she travels back and fore she can not be illegal.

4. We can speculate what she does, there are more obvious choices.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Your timeline said you met once for 6 days before you filed I-129F. And you filed it just a few months after meeting online. What is your age and what is hers?

Edited February 23, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[cdneh 3,112]

Her sister is married to elderly Norwegian retired ship captain. I wonder how many of those you'd find in landlocked Arizona.