Wanting to visit the US before committing to living here ?

[romania_usa 0]

Hi all, my gf is currently living in Romania and wants to visit for a month or so to experience how it is to live in the USA (or at least a taste of it). I don't speak fluent Romanian nor do my job prospects look promising over there, so moving to Romania is probably out of the question for me. Despite the general advantages in the quality of life and the general economic advantages in the US, she's still a proud Romanian who is stubbornly attached to her country (late 20s young but not too young, and all of her family/friends are over there) so would take some doing for her to come around. I suggested she try to visit the US first before marriage to be sure she wouldn't hate it here.

She's in her late 20s, not married (obviously), no house deeds/car titles/businesses to her name. So it would seem she can't demonstrate to the interviewer, strong ties to Romania.

It's unfortunate that so many people cheat the system by overstaying/not returning, that the honest ones (who can't demonstrate strong ties to their home country) don't have a fair shot at visiting the US. I'm sure there are many in this position I just described, who has someone in another country wanting to visit the US just to experience how it is over here, to visit future in-laws, etc.

Is there anything that can be done to improve her chances of obtaining a visitor visa to the US, given her status? Is the approval chances all completely dependent on her ability to demonstrate ties to her country, and nothing else?

Lol, can I agree to be arrested or charged with a crime if she doesn't return? They should seriously make this an option, as only the honest ones would ever agree to this hehe.

If nothing else can improve her chances of trying out the US, then is the only solution biting the bullet and going directly to the fiancé/marriage visas, gambling that she wouldn't regret moving here?

Thanks!

[arken 4,197]

Getting a visitor visa in the circumstances you described is really really difficult. But she can definitely try for one. Even if it gets rejected, it will not hamper later on if you plant to bring her in fiance or spousal visa.

Just a quick question though..you said people like your gf, one of the honest ones, don't get fair chance of getting visa due to the cheaters who overstay or don't return. So if you gf is granted the visitor visa and she likes living in the US specially with you so much that she wants to marry you and wants you to file for GC while in the US so that she doesn't have to stay away from you even for a single day. Would you send her back to Romania to sponsor her later and not now?

[Boiler 45,949]

Her situation is what it is, she applies and sees.

[az2014 381]

Is the approval chances all completely dependent on her ability to demonstrate ties to her country, and nothing else?

Yes.

Let us know the outcome.

[gpiper 77]

Perfectly reasonable to "sample" life,culture,weather etc before even committing to coming over to marry you, however down the line that is for the two of you.

If she has a job back home then that is a significant tie as well as demonstrating all her friends and family reside in her home country too.

You don't have to be asset rich to be tied down (it helps your case), however she may be committed to looking after elderly family members, key volunteer in youth / church group etc. There are many scenarios that come up.

Hope she enjoys her visit and then who knows what the future holds!

You say that you can't see yourself moving over there but don't forget Romsnia is in the EU which opens up a whole new avenue on where you can reside, subject to the correct documentation ?

Edited May 15, 2016 by gpiper

[Rc123rc 528]

Yes. It's heavily weighted to the ties to the home country. If they see weak ties or suspect ulterior motives, not saying there are, then there will be a denial. Go for it and see what happens.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Has she travelled before? it can help if she has travelled within the EU or to, say, Canada and returned home before applying for the US tourist visa

[KierenHby 899]

Your gf wishing to visit and experiencing life in the US is not the problem..

It's the other Romanians (and other B2 overstayers) who've previously abused the system and set a higher bar for the honest ones.

Edited May 15, 2016 by KierenHby

[MacUK 983]

Lol, can I agree to be arrested or charged with a crime if she doesn't return? They should seriously make this an option, as only the honest ones would ever agree to this hehe.

I'm guessing that was a bit of a tongue in cheek comment but think about it.

Exactly what crime could you be charged with? Other than harbouring a fugitive!

The visa application is all about her and why she would go home. You can't physically force her to get back on a plane so how would your assurances help?

Unfortunately there are people in the world who would do literally anything to live their perception of the American Dream, even though I'm sure quite a few of them end up disappointed that life in the US isn't one long episode of Happy Days or Friends.

An often mooted idea is for people to post a bond to guarantee their return to their home country, but there are people who would gladly give up their $X,000s to get to the States and stay.

Same with your suggestion. I mean no disrespect to your girlfriend, and this isn't directed at her at all, but there are many tales told on here of USCs falling in love with foreign partners only to find out the entire relationship was purely for the foreign partner to get a greencard. If someone's willing to enter a relationship, be intimate with someone and lead them on just so they can get to the US then what would stop a person like that from letting that duped USC go to jail, as long as they achieve their goal of getting to the States? Again, I'm not suggesting in any way that your girlfriend would ever do this but this is why there's no assurances you can give that would help her get a tourist visa, as you are not responsible for her actions. It's all about her reasons why she wouldn't stay.

I've suggested in many threads that I feel there could be a seperate level of tourist visa, for those who have trouble qualifying for a regular one. A tourist visa with far more restrictions and far harsher punishments for those who abuse it.

Or a tightening of the restrictions on the present tourist visas that could prevent its misuse.

Neither of these are ever likely to happen though so your girlfriend can only apply with what she has and let the chips fall as they may. There's no magic formula for guaranteeing an approval unfortunately. She might be successful, she might not. A denial for lack of ties won't have any negative effect on any future immigration visas.

All she'd lose is time and the application fee.

[mcrt 1]

I really wanted my Vietnamese girlfriend, now fiancée, to visit the US and make sure she liked it and spend more time in my real world instead of just the traveling life when I am there.

Unfortunately she was seen by the US government as an overstay risk. Long story short now we are a few months in to the fiancée visa process and instead of her being here now and me proposing this month we are planning a formal engagement party in July. Hopefully she will be in the US by year end.

[Rc123rc 528]

You filed a K-1 without actually being engaged?

[MacUK 983]

You filed a K-1 without actually being engaged?

No, they filed a K-1 as an engaged couple. The letters of intent to marry included in the K-1 petition would confirm that.

Being engaged only means that two people have agreed to get married, it doesn't need to be done with a huge party, or formally, or down on one knee. It just needs for one person to ask the other to marry them and the other person saying yes.

Everything else is just extra.