Boyfriend come visit me in USA for Christmas? B-2 visa...

[reazon 2]

Thank you HFM181818, no fake docs, CO did ask is she ur Gf witch i answered no

Do You think if this comes up, I should honestly explain what happened?

I intend to have my fiancé present for the interview, does this help?

[HFM181818 750]

the first CO obviously saw through the 'friend' 'strategy'...now, you might have to explain the miraculous transition from friend to fiancé that took place...probably it won't matter too much, but all you did was improve the CO's judgment in the future when he or she asks the next applicant who they are visiting, hear 'friend' ,but are much more sensitive to the body and facial expressions that gave away the show.

It is usually helpful to have the USC present during a K1 interview...

[SunflowerSweet 1,321]

Remember, the CO must be convinced that the applicant will RETURN as promised, and is not concerned (for the most part) about why the applicant wants to GO to the US...time of year means nothing...but a lot of would-be applicants believe otherwise....no doubt, some newer COs caved when they should not have...the standards for overcoming immigrant intent remain the same year round....some of the worst cases I ever dealt with took place during the holiday season, with applicants hoping for a soft touch...I saw all sorts of nonsense being tried before Xmas or New Year's....

bottom line: be truthful, do not try to be more clever than the CO....especially now, with heightened security thanks to all of the recent issues in Europe....a CO can never be taken to task for saying 'no.'

Good thing I mentioned the return ticket then before you said this!

As for the holiday thing, I have heard differently from others who have worked in airport security and customs as opposed to at a consulate, but I guess everyone's experiences are different.

[reazon 2]

Yes it was clear as day, thank you!

[tachi88 4]

Thanks! This has really helped me figure out what to do and hopefully for others as well.

He does still have the round trip ticket...whether is helps or hurts, that's the ticket he's got. Didn't really know that would be considered a potential hit against!

But luckily we can use that ticket at a later date so at least it wasn't a total waste of money if it doesn't work out this time.

[trini_prince 0]

I agree, but some consuls outright deny applicants wrongfully. In Trinidad at the US Embassy Port of Spain some years back this was a huge problem. Discrimination, wrongful denials. I know one guy who got denied wrongfully since his job was sending him on a job reward on a cruise. Two weeks later he tried back and got it. They rotate consuls every three years. Some of those consuls got sent quite Iraq and Saudi Arabia. They are trained to understand what good visa clients are in terms of Salaries, job profession to name a few. Each country is different. Read the daily newspapers articles on denials for example. Here for example, http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=4179 http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,102712.html

HFM181818

[HFM181818 750]

and your assessment of 'wrongful denials' is based on your direct observation of how many interviews? You would not know a wrongful decision from a pile of road apples. Please enlighten all of us with your 'vast' knowledge of consular skills and abilities, your considerable experience interviewing applicants and your in-depth understanding of US immigration law.

Many applicants make a mess of their interviews the first time, without even knowing how they failed. You mention one case, in which a person was denied, but later received a visa...just because some employee wins a trip or is asked to attend some business meetings does not, repeat, does NOT overcome the presumption of immigrant intent....were you present at his first interview? (no)...so how do you KNOW what took place....did he return from his trip or is he still in the US???...how many people who were issued visas failed to return to Trinidad? Or will you claim that everyone of them came back, because you met each and every one of them at the airport?

[Pennycat 880]

Sounds like you're on the right path here. We had the same issue (lots of people do) but knew that it was better to be forthright-- that the "friend" claim is pretty transparent, that it could make it then look like the K1 is a scam (maybe) and on top of it I've known many COs over the years, and on checking with some of them, they said exactly what HFM is saying AND went further in saying that sometimes they believed people when they said "visiting my girlfriend, but plan to return because XYZ". Sometimes, you just have gut instincts about people, or they give you no reason to doubt their credibility etc and hope for the best. If someone starts out the interview with an obvious lie...you're not giving them any benefit of the doubt.

Our own story ended with not even making it to the B2 visa interview (a matter of bad timing and logistics) and by the time the interview was rescheduled, we were ready for the K1. That's just us though. we'll never know if he'd have gotten it, and I do wish that we'd been able to go that route, but whatever. Our life is fine. No regrets.

RE: his past tourist visa.... I was under the very strong impression that they are good for multiple entries, 6 months at a time for 10 years (which is one reason why they're hard to get-- anyone could get into a relationship serious enough to warrant their girlfriend supporting/lobbying for a visit and then change their minds/ it was a scam the whole time but be able to come and go for 10 years, working etc the whole time). You may want to check on his tourist visa. Could still be good for all you know.

[VNL 4]

Folks, some of the best advice that all of us could follow is to heed HFM181818 and everything that he says. It's a true boon to have a retired CO on this site, willing to offer accurate, real-world insights about issues that the rest of us could otherwise only guess at.

The consulates, and CBP, thrive on the truth. Withholding or obfuscating information leads only to a spiraling situation of trying to remember what (and how much) you said to whom and when. It can become a miserable scene quite rapidly.

Remember that some people's "delivery styles" are more direct than others'. In the current situation, view this as intensity in wanting to help all of us out.

I agree that honesty is the best policy, but such delivery style seems more like bullying than wanting to help out.

[NikLR 13,227]

B2 visas arent generally one time use. Get him to check it.

[Jenvds 15]

There were a lot of replies here. Honestly I didn't read them all, and I'm not an expert but... I can tell you about our experience.

When my husband and I were dating he came to the US once for 2 weeks and told the officer he was coming to meet me (romantic interest) for the first time. He was pulled aside and questioned extensively but eventually between his job of 34 years and his ownership of a home they let him stay for his 2 week visit.

At the time I was clueless and had no idea why he was so extensively questioned.

A year later he came back and went through the extensive questioning again. But this time they asked "are you planning on marrying her?" he answered "I hope so. Eventually." and that was that. No entry.

I understand the reasons now. I was just woefully ignorant of the whole international travel/immigration business. The important thing is that he was completely honest about everything they asked and didn't try to argue or backtrack about anything.

At the time I was very disappointed that he was denied entry. But I found out it could have been SO MUCH WORSE! He was not banned, or anything else that might have happened. He did get a stamp on his passport and a mark on his record saying he's not allowed to enter the US on the Visa Waver Program again so we need a visa. But we were told that this mark on his record won't affect his ability to get an immigrant visa (though a non-immigrant visa is probably just a "nope").

If he had lied, it's possible he could have been banned and had a permanent blotch on his us immigration record. We were uneducated, but eventually we will have our happily ever after!

The moral of the story 1. always tell the truth (don't even bend it a little!) 2. Never tell anything but the truth.

[yuna628 9,676]

When it boils down to it, whether you tell the truth or not, it is up to the officer to believe you. I've seen what happens when people don't tell the truth and then wonder why they were sent on the next plane home, and what happens to people who do tell the truth but failed to convince. The burden of proof seems to be on if whether the officer believes that you are going to return home. I think many of us have experienced the fear that our loved ones will be denied by admitting the truth - that they are visiting someone they love here. Every time my husband (first friend, then boyfriend, then fiancé) came to visit me that anxiety would weigh on me. But he was always honest, even when he was grilled. That anxiety was worse, because of my own personal experiences with IOs in the UK, but in the end it turned out to be nothing to worry about. No matter what our status was relationship wise, no matter if he was or wasn't employed, or even if he was a student mattered little... all you can do is state your case and provide your proof. In some regard I do feel it is a tiny bit unfair, afterall, how does one prove to 100% satisfaction that you won't overstay when you visit a loved one? It may put a great deal of anxiety on someone that no matter what they say won't be good enough. I would assume the burden of proof will be higher on people from fraud countries.

Always tell the truth though, you'll be better off for it.

[Cathi 5,748]

DO NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE ABOUT TELLING THEM HE IS VISITING HIS GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Other members who say that are giving you bad advice. Simply let him say he is visiting for business or tourism or if he has any other relatives, put their address or male friend. If they know he will be visiting his girlfriend they will promptly deny. That means weak ties and he might me going to get married in their eyes. Do not do it. If he has to be honest with them, best he save his money and you can apply for a fiance visa for him.

I have my sister, brother and mother living in the USA AND GOT Denied 5 times being very honest. I am now in the process of getting my green card waiting to be interviewed.

Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. US law places the burden on nonimmigrant visa applicants (except for H-1B and L-1s) to show that they are not intending immigrants. Nonimmigrant visitor visa applicants (B) must show that they have a foreign residence that they have no intention of abandoning and are visiting the US temporarily for business or pleasure.

You are a US citizen in love and in a relationship. The consular officer would quickly deny and put that on his rejection notes and he will always be rejected after that.

Good luck.

you have no clue, usIng a visitor visa for business is 100% PROHIBTED

[NikLR 13,227]

I understand you're here to help HFM181818 - however perhaps your method of writing also leaves something to desire. Perhaps typing in a more professional manner, using proper punctuation, complete sentences, and paragraphs, may endear you to our fellow forum members.

Of course I understand that you may not particularly care if people can read what you're writing; by all means continue on as you have if that's the case.

In my opinion, which I'm sure counts for moot but is given anyhow, it's hard to take you seriously as a "retired CO" when you type in the manner that you do. Also, you're belittling people, which is actually against the TOS regardless whether some of the mods want to take action against it or not. In this forum you cannot call people names or take away their enjoyment of the forums.

Edited November 24, 2015 by NLR

[Pitaya 2,577]

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