Should my girlfriend say the purpose is to visit her "boyfriend" or "friends"

[Michael Lombardi 9]

So my girlfriend from South Africa is planning on visiting me in the US with a B2 visa. We want to marry down the road but not just yet, she wants to visit first. We have no intentions of marrying on the B2 visa and no intentions of lying during the process. She'll be visiting me and my mom, and staying with my mom. If they ask her if there is a romantic relationship she will say yes. However, when they ask her the purpose of the visit, if she initially says a vague "visiting friends" would that be considered lying? Should she outright say "visiting my boyfriend?". We don't want any chance of them thinking she is lying to them and giving her a lifetime ban, but we don't want to ask for trouble by giving unnecessary details either. Thanks!

[Coco8 1,042]

You should check this out. It is very similar and people have given comments there. 

 

 

[KierenHby 899]

Look at it this way.. What would you tell your buddies? That a friend from SA is coming to visit you, or your girlfriend is coming to visit you? 

[yuna628 9,712]

53 minutes ago, Michael Lombardi said:

So my girlfriend from South Africa is planning on visiting me in the US with a B2 visa. We want to marry down the road but not just yet, she wants to visit first. We have no intentions of marrying on the B2 visa and no intentions of lying during the process. She'll be visiting me and my mom, and staying with my mom. If they ask her if there is a romantic relationship she will say yes. However, when they ask her the purpose of the visit, if she initially says a vague "visiting friends" would that be considered lying? Should she outright say "visiting my boyfriend?". We don't want any chance of them thinking she is lying to them and giving her a lifetime ban, but we don't want to ask for trouble by giving unnecessary details either. Thanks!

^^You've answered your own question. Never lie to an officer. If her purpose is to visit you and your family, there is no other answer.

[nightingalejules 678]

Yes, tell the truth. Also, as I'm sure you'll see, looking around, make sure she has lots of proof that she'll be returning home after the visit (home, job, letter from boss etc) They will probably ask if you're planning to get married. She just needs to say, very confidently, "no," or at least: "No. . .  Maybe someday, but not now."

[Michael Lombardi 9]

Thanks for the responses. We're now thinking she should be upfront, though it sounds unlikely that she'll end up getting it. She hasn't had her job very long and it's a temporary job so she doesn't have strong ties. Still it doesn't hurt to try, as long as she is honest all we'll lose is effort and money, both of which should be okay. I'll try to remember to post back about what happens.

[Jonathan Lopes 1]

I think the IO knows that not all boyfriends and girlfriends marry. So do not worry too much. It is OK to say visiting a boyfriend.

[doggieandsam 765]

i actually went through the exact same situation. it is all so confusing! the other thing worth noting is...on the DS-160 (that you fill out when applying for B1/B2 visa) - there is only the option "friend" and no "boyfriend". so you have no other option there but to say friend. i said friend and put by boyfriend's address. my tourist visa was approved with no issues, and i was not asked if i have a USC boyfriend at the interview. however, the CO at POE asked a lot of questions so just be prepared.

Edited April 9, 2017 by iamdegie

[JFH 12,191]

Maybe I'm old fashioned but have you met in person yet? If not, to me it's not a boyfriend/girlfriend. It's a friend. But if you refer to yourselves as boyfriend/girlfriend then that's what you must state. 

 

During the the flight she will need to complete a blue customs card that requests the address where she is staying. That address is stored on her file. If she's going to come back again and give the same address again and always claim this is her "friend" and then lo and behold a K-1 petition is filed from someone at that address...well, it doesn't look good. I know this won't be the case for you as you are planning to be upfront from the very beginning. But worth mentioning here for the benefit of anyone considering using the old "staying with a friend" line.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

14 hours ago, Jonathan Lopes said:

I think the IO knows that not all boyfriends and girlfriends marry. So do not worry too much. It is OK to say visiting a boyfriend.

To an IO, every applicant has intent to immigrate unless proven otherwise

[skaratso 84]

2 hours ago, JFH said:

Maybe I'm old fashioned but have you met in person yet? If not, to me it's not a boyfriend/girlfriend. It's a friend. But if you refer to yourselves as boyfriend/girlfriend then that's what you must state. 

 

During the the flight she will need to complete a blue customs card that requests the address where she is staying. That address is stored on her file. If she's going to come back again and give the same address again and always claim this is her "friend" and then lo and behold a K-1 petition is filed from someone at that address...well, it doesn't look good. I know this won't be the case for you as you are planning to be upfront from the very beginning. But worth mentioning here for the benefit of anyone considering using the old "staying with a friend" line.

 

You need to be as truthful as the situation warrants at that time. My fiancee and I met online in 2009. We were just friends at first but over time we started to develop romantic feelings for each other. When I decided to go to Canada to meet her in person for the first time in 2014, I told the Canadian border agent that I was there to see a friend. When I was asked if she was a girlfriend, I told them, "I don't know yet. This is our first time meeting in person." The officer wished me good luck. When we actually met we decided to start dating so when I went back I told the US border agent that I had been visiting my girlfriend.

 

Every time after that we've been truthful about our relationship with the border agents on both sides of the border.

[QueenComley 295]

Back drop to my story.... I knew my husband as a child, we grew up together, he was my first little crush and I had my first kiss with him, but at 15 his mum married someone in the American military and he moved to America. I never heard from him again for around 25 years. Anyhow, fast forward and we had been chatting all day every day for 9 months and Im flying out to visit him for the first time in 25 years. When I landed at Newark for my connection flight to Memphis the officer asked me what the purpose of my visit was. I stated I was visiting a childhood friend I went to school with. He asked how this was possible and I just calmly explained he was originally from the UK but moved to America years ago, I was let through no problem. I was always told never to lie, but to never offer information they have not asked. I flew out a further 2 times that year to see him with no problem.

[CantThinkOfOne 22]

To OP, 

while all replies correctly recommend you and your girlfriend to be honest, most of them come from people that did not have to go through the additional Embassy/ interview process to JUST be able to visit with their SO . Even if she gets her B2 approved, it's still up to the officers at POE whether the two of you will be able to see each other in the US. 

 

*on a side note: I am so glad I hadn't found this forum until AFTER I have visited my SO in the US, would have gone crazy, and would have probably have been tempted to lie to the POE officer  but that' a different story, I might share when/ if we decide to go the immigration route 

P.S.: I'm a double EU citizen, long time lurker, recently registered and first time poster 

 

Bottomline, you guys will never know until she applies and sees what happens.

Additionally, you might want to read some of other peoples' experiences with B2 interviews/ outcome:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/143-tourist-visas/

 

Best of luck to you nonetheless

Edited April 9, 2017 by CantThinkOfOne

[Sunnyland 639]

Always be honest at POE. Lie now and that will come to bite you later. They know everything! 

[geowrian 22,338]

As you noted, it absolutely would not be in your best interest to lie to anybody with immigration. They will likely ask for the purpose of the visit and if you are meeting anybody in the US. Then they will ask who. Then they will ask if he is your boyfriend. You called her your girlfriend here already, so quite clearly the only honest response would be to say "boyfriend" to them. Both COs and CBP have seen it probably every day of their career...they know what to ask. They will further probe the "visiting friends" response and ask about visiting a boyfriend.

 

Visiting a boyfriend is not a reason for denial, but it is a tie to the US that she has to overcome by sufficient ties to prove her intent to return home. It is what it is.

 

Furthermore, her answers are likely to be recorded in some form. If she did say anything other than "boyfriend" but later you tried to petition for her as a fiance or spouse, that could come back to hurt you as the timelines would not match up.