So sad!

[Pishi_Pishi 63]

I spent 5 vacations with my fiancé before interview. It was not cheap

[apalachidoremi 10]

From what I understand is no matter how genuine your relationship is, it all boils down to 'marketing' it. A relationship is indeed spontaneous in nature, but to convince the other party you have to put it down like an exact science-be calculating and decisive, all for the intention of making your relationship look good on paper....so there's no fabrication of detail but you make your case enticing, or structure the flow of the relationship as close to ideal.

Think press release and all that good stuff.

I remember what my teacher told me before; "The right or wrong answer in an exam does not count as much as what the examiner thinks is right."

***sleepy me

[Pennycat 880]

if you have the money but not the time why not pay for his flights and he come visit you on 2 different occasions. that will help strengthen your case.. It also depends how long youve been together examply if youve been together 4years and only been in each other presence 1 that may seem highly suspicious to them. Me personally in the span of 3years i had visited my now husband 5 times he had nbeen to see me 4 times. At the interview i brought reciepts for my wedding dress/bridemaid dresses, reciepts for his suit hire for the wedding, the deposits for our beach house and pictures we rented out for the wedding

Hey. I know you're trying to help but you need to understand VWP/ B2. I don't know about other people here but I had to answer the question "why doesn't he come here to visit first" like 8000 times to friends and family (who I could sort of understand them not understanding) and it starts to feel a bit frustrating after a while, and while they (and you) don't mean it, it starts to sound a bit like a "let them eat cake" solution to the problem

What you described (VWP) is reserved only for eligible people from highly privileged countries-- essentially only Western Europe, Japan, South Korea Australia and New Zealand. Chile was recently added. Check out the map to see what a big piece of the world that excludes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Waiver_Program#Eligible_countries

Everyone else in the world must apply for a B1/B2 visa which is $160 to apply and an interview at a US Embassy (which means, for many people, an overnight trip to their country's capital). You need to prove that you have close ties to your home country, close enough that you have more reason to go back to your home country than you have to stay in the US. If issued, they are valid for 10 years (or less, depending on the country, but normally 10 years) for 6-month entry -- meaning that you are free to visit up to 6 months at a time for 10 years (other restrictions, too. Like CBP can only give 90 days, or 10 days, or whatever they want. And if you stay a full 6 months, you'll be grilled the next time you come in etc etc). There is no way I'd have passed this burden of proof if I'd needed it to visit VWP countries when I was younger, and I suspect most VWP folks can say the same about themselves.

They can be difficult to get under the best of circumstances, especially for young people who don't own homes or businesses or have children etc and generally impossible for anyone who is in a relationship with a US citizen (because they have every incentive in the world to stay in the US, as evidenced by the B2 AOSers you say you see here every day). For some people that puts them in a terrible position: problems with available time to visit like OP here, the foreign boy/girlfriend needing to commit to living in a country they've never been allowed to visit etc. It's not right, it's not fair but that is simply the way the world works.

Thankfully, for me, Costa Rica is a 4.5 hour flight from home, tickets usually under $400, sometimes under $300 and I have always had very generous leave policies at work. I was there 9 times over the course of 2.5 years But I recognize that that is extremely lucky and totally not the norm, so I try to not hang it over others' heads and tell them that they need to do it too (though clearly it would help).

The VWP is an enormous privilege not available to the overwhelming majority of people in the world. B2s are generally not issued to foreign boy/girlfriends/ fiance/es (obviously with exceptions). So you will see a lot of people struggling to visit/have enough proof on VJ.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

They don't doubt you love him, but they think he is pretending to love you to get the visa. How can you be sure he is genuine after only 10 days together in person?

How did you meet?

[Moslund 94]

@cathrineA they asked me how is it possible for him to travel to the US to visit I stated a B2 is a tourist visa and it can be used to visit... I also stated I know NOTHING about a b2 visa as I have zero experience with it cause It never applied to me.. all I stated was it is a tourist visa I didn't say it was easy to get or the requirements cause I said I don't know anything about the b2 visa all I said was that it was a tourist visa... that's why I said if they want more information on b2 to do there research... I never told them it was a good or bad option for them... I did state some people come with a b2 and adjust but applying for 1 with intent to stay is illegal which would apply in this case since they already applied for a k1

[mseck8688 16]

gambia is on the ban list reply trough senegal

gambia with that dictator they have a ban

[Maria1989 403]

Hey. I know you're trying to help but you need to understand VWP/ B2. I don't know about other people here but I had to answer the question "why doesn't he come here to visit first" like 8000 times to friends and family (who I could sort of understand them not understanding) and it starts to feel a bit frustrating after a while, and while they (and you) don't mean it, it starts to sound a bit like a "let them eat cake" solution to the problem

What you described (VWP) is reserved only for eligible people from highly privileged countries-- essentially only Western Europe, Japan, South Korea Australia and New Zealand. Chile was recently added. Check out the map to see what a big piece of the world that excludes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_Waiver_Program#Eligible_countries

Everyone else in the world must apply for a B1/B2 visa which is $160 to apply and an interview at a US Embassy (which means, for many people, an overnight trip to their country's capital). You need to prove that you have close ties to your home country, close enough that you have more reason to go back to your home country than you have to stay in the US. If issued, they are valid for 10 years (or less, depending on the country, but normally 10 years) for 6-month entry -- meaning that you are free to visit up to 6 months at a time for 10 years (other restrictions, too. Like CBP can only give 90 days, or 10 days, or whatever they want. And if you stay a full 6 months, you'll be grilled the next time you come in etc etc). There is no way I'd have passed this burden of proof if I'd needed it to visit VWP countries when I was younger, and I suspect most VWP folks can say the same about themselves.

They can be difficult to get under the best of circumstances, especially for young people who don't own homes or businesses or have children etc and generally impossible for anyone who is in a relationship with a US citizen (because they have every incentive in the world to stay in the US, as evidenced by the B2 AOSers you say you see here every day). For some people that puts them in a terrible position: problems with available time to visit like OP here, the foreign boy/girlfriend needing to commit to living in a country they've never been allowed to visit etc. It's not right, it's not fair but that is simply the way the world works.

Thankfully, for me, Costa Rica is a 4.5 hour flight from home, tickets usually under $400, sometimes under $300 and I have always had very generous leave policies at work. I was there 9 times over the course of 2.5 years But I recognize that that is extremely lucky and totally not the norm, so I try to not hang it over others' heads and tell them that they need to do it too (though clearly it would help).

The VWP is an enormous privilege not available to the overwhelming majority of people in the world. B2s are generally not issued to foreign boy/girlfriends/ fiance/es (obviously with exceptions). So you will see a lot of people struggling to visit/have enough proof on VJ.

Thank you ever so kindly..... It is not as easy as people think, and quite frankly for Africa it is almost impossible given the circumstance you mentioned such as having a fiancé in the States. And while everyone is is so quick to say move, really....... To a country where so many people are committing fraud, paying people to marry them, doing whatever scams to move out and you say.... Just move there, leave your business. Love don't pay the bills, you don't know if the OP has other family obligations..... What about the fact that she won't qualify to bring a spouse/fiancé because she has left her income. Further for those of us that have a Fiancé in an Africa County, there was just an alert issued by the government advising to not travel there because of the many acts of terrorism has been committed against US Citizens, I believe the Advisory was released 9/16 of this year. So according to this thread, throw caution to the wind, leave your source of income, love conquers all. Seriously, this is real life.

[Cheezees 1,514]

OP, could you respond to posts #53 and #64? Good luck!

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

He won't get a tourist visa and any visa may or may not be granted at this time, not sure if spousal and family based

visas would be the exception.

You can try to get a CR1. Front load the petition, google for the reason why.

Visit more or wait until you are financially able to pull this off.

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/oct/1/us-strips-visas-gambian-govt-punishment-stopping-d/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork

[Rc123rc 528]

Not to be unkind but if you can not afford to fly there again, how did you think to pay the upcoming fees?

the AOS was $1070 and has gone up - Please give a URL reference for this increase.

his flight to the US if you were paying

the $165 visa fee

and all the expenses after his arrival like buying health insurance

this is not a cheap process

you can reapply but it would require more visits to his country / I made 5 and stayed a month twice, 2 months, and 3 months twice

[Pennycat 880]

http://mypathtocitizenship.com/which-countries-are-on-the-uscis-high-fraud-list/

all African countries are on the high fraud list / the above webpage shows them in red

sorry, not AOS but with only a 2 year green card you have to apply again after 2 years to extend the green card before he can apply for citzenship

i was wrong about AOS but still it is expensive

and you need more face time

I would not trust this site. It's basically which countries do and do not have VWP. Except that for some reason this site decided that S. Korea was a high fraud country and Russia was not. Are they trying to sell something?

In reality, there's not an official list (or at least not one that we can see) -- it's probably a lot to do with who is in charge at the embassy at the time, and what the situation in the country is. But it's not the whole world. There are countries where 90+% of B2 applicants get the visa. No way that happens if it's a "high fraud" country.

[Moslund 94]

Thank you ever so kindly..... It is not as easy as people think, and quite frankly for Africa it is almost impossible given the circumstance you mentioned such as having a fiancé in the States. And while everyone is is so quick to say move, really....... To a country where so many people are committing fraud, paying people to marry them, doing whatever scams to move out and you say.... Just move there, leave your business. Love don't pay the bills, you don't know if the OP has other family obligations..... What about the fact that she won't qualify to bring a spouse/fiancé because she has left her income. Further for those of us that have a Fiancé in an Africa County, there was just an alert issued by the government advising to not travel there because of the many acts of terrorism has been committed against US Citizens, I believe the Advisory was released 9/16 of this year. So according to this thread, throw caution to the wind, leave your source of income, love conquers all. Seriously, this is real life.

I never said it was so simple EVERYONE has some form of commitment to uphold where they live wether it is major financial purchase, work, relatives who are dependent on you Everyone situation is unique... I didn't say drop everything and I asked her if that was an option for her to move which in the post above she stated no cause she makes too much money to move... when going into a long distance for the long haul you must be open to ALL potential scenarios wether that is moving there if all other options are cut off which can happen to anyone... I never told her to quit her company visit then go back to bring him over while having cut herself off from her income.. I simply stated there may come a time in this process if there application keeps getting knocked back she may have to make the hard decision and cross that bridge if he is the 1 she wants to be with that she may have to give up that income in the end

[Pennycat 880]

@cathrineA they asked me how is it possible for him to travel to the US to visit I stated a B2 is a tourist visa and it can be used to visit... I also stated I know NOTHING about a b2 visa as I have zero experience with it cause It never applied to me.. all I stated was it is a tourist visa I didn't say it was easy to get or the requirements cause I said I don't know anything about the b2 visa all I said was that it was a tourist visa... that's why I said if they want more information on b2 to do there research... I never told them it was a good or bad option for them... I did state some people come with a b2 and adjust but applying for 1 with intent to stay is illegal which would apply in this case since they already applied for a k1

Yes, I know you said you know nothing about a B2 visa. So I told you so you know for next time.

You didn't say anything wrong, or offensive in my opinion (although I'm sure someone could get offended by it in this emotionally charged and stressful situation). Just letting you know that I know from experience how exhausting it can be to constantly complain to people why having your fiance "just come visit" is simply not an option for a very significant number of people. I agree that it's the obvious solution (and would have been ideal in our situation) but it is sadly not available for so many people here. In large part due to the B2 AOSers (because so many people do it, they make it harder for people in relationships to get the B2).

Just explaining something you said you didn't know about you'll know if it's a possible suggestion for a poster in the future. That's all.

[Moslund 94]

Yes, I know you said you know nothing about a B2 visa. So I told you so you know for next time.

You didn't say anything wrong, or offensive in my opinion (although I'm sure someone could get offended by it in this emotionally charged and stressful situation). Just letting you know that I know from experience how exhausting it can be to constantly complain to people why having your fiance "just come visit" is simply not an option for a very significant number of people. I agree that it's the obvious solution (and would have been ideal in our situation) but it is sadly not available for so many people here. In large part due to the B2 AOSers (because so many people do it, they make it harder for people in relationships to get the B2).

Just explaining something you said you didn't know about you'll know if it's a possible suggestion for a poster in the future. That's all.

I didn't take offense... this process regaurdless what visa people are applying for it about educating everyone and supporting people threw the process since it's super stressful at all time wether your at the start of the process or at the naturalization stage

[Maria1989 403]

I never said it was so simple EVERYONE has some form of commitment to uphold where they live wether it is major financial purchase, work, relatives who are dependent on you Everyone situation is unique... I didn't say drop everything and I asked her if that was an option for her to move which in the post above she stated no cause she makes too much money to move... when going into a long distance for the long haul you must be open to ALL potential scenarios wether that is moving there if all other options are cut off which can happen to anyone... I never told her to quit her company visit then go back to bring him over while having cut herself off from her income.. I simply stated there may come a time in this process if there application keeps getting knocked back she may have to make the hard decision and cross that bridge if he is the 1 she wants to be with that she may have to give up that income in the end

I totally understand the point you were trying to make, I agree some sacrifices have to be made. While, I wasnt specifically finger pointing at you, there was several posts regarding the same. I really wish the OP the best of luck and I hope she can overcome her "red flags", and can make a decision that she is comfortable with. Others have re-filed and were approved. Find your weakness in your file and try to overcome them. I hate to say it but it is necessary, he should be very prepared for his interview as you would a job interview, he is trying to sell your relationship. Me and my fiancé are doing Mock Interviews, he thinks it's ridiculous it think it is necessary.