Future Visas After the F-1 Student Visa

[SonofBaraka 1]

Assuming my girl friend's F-1 student visa is approved, what are her chances for coming to the U.S. later on a tourist visa?

[Juan & Nan 12]

It is not about chances. She is going to have to be able to proof and convince the US Embassy that she has strong ties to Thailand. The reason for this is so that the embassy is convinced that she is not going to over stay in the US and that she has reasons to go back to Thailand.

[HFM181818 750]

First, she has to successfully obtain the student visa, which has the same requirement that she convince the CO she will be returning home after her studies...

[SonofBaraka 1]

First, she has to successfully obtain the student visa, which has the same requirement that she convince the CO she will be returning home after her studies...

First, I need to clarify a possible misunderstanding. She is studying and living in Thailand, but she is a filipina, with property and a daughter in the Philippines(which she can prove). I'm assuming the documents she fills out(including her TOEFL score) for the university in the U.S. she wants to attend, supports her visa application and interview. So we're confident she'll get her F-1 visa. I'm wondering if her future tourist visa application will be affected, one way or another, by her having gotten her F-1 visa, provided nothing material on the F-1 application has changed(e.g. she still owns property and still has a daughter(10 years old) living in the Philippines.

[HFM181818 750]

and yet, she is living away from her daughter and property, plans to continue doing so while studying something, yet the CO is to believe that she will return to the PI afterwards...why? If she is currently studying in Thailand, why does she need to study in the US? Answer: to eventually marry (you, I guess) and stay put... a house and a child are NOT by themselves strong enough ties to one's country....after all, she is (and has been) away from both with no ill effects...what will change? I would not expect an instant visa issuance...

If the K1 has been filed, the COs will know it...and then wonder why she would depart the US after studying...instead of staying put in the US...and no, you being in the military won't positively affect the outcome of her student visa interview....

[SonofBaraka 1]

Good points, except for the miltary(?) and the K-1(none has been filed).

But what if she applies for the F-1 visa at the American Embassy in Bangkok? She can prove she is a fulltime student here and is just taking a summer course in the U.S. This would be similar to a situation where universities all over the world (including hers) have exchange programs for a semester or year with reciprocating universities.

So not only would the CO know she's coming back to school in Thailand, but that she also returns to the Philippines 2-5 times a year for her daughter and her townhouse in Manila.

[HFM181818 750]

again, there are no penalties for her if she fails to return to Thailand or the PI after a summer course....remember, the COs are more interested in why a person would LEAVE the US than why they want to ENTER the US...