Visiting boyfriend in the U.S.

[Lescanoid 0]

Hello, I am from Brazil and I have a USC boyfriend. We're both 18 and have been together for 6 months now. I see us marrying in the future but we wanted to live together for a couple of months as an experiment before we start the whole K1 process (they say you only know someone completely when you live with them so...)

I don't plan on marrying him during my stay because my family wants to meet him before we are officially engaged, plus the immigrational process for the CR visa takes way longer. 

My main problem is: I'm fresh out of high school, I don't own anything, I don't study nor work. What can I do to prove I'm not committing a fraud?

The first thing that comes to my mind is that I have a family with good social standing. I attended private schools, I have nice clothes and I never worked a day in my life: why would I leave everything behind to live as an illegal immigrant? Why would I leave all that comfort to work a low paying job and live in poor conditions my whole life? It's not a wise decision.

However, this and a return ticket will be all I'll have in my favor, and I'm terrified it wouldn't be enough

I'm taking bank statements and tax returns stating my mom has the money to take care of me while I'm there, but I'm still scared of being denied.

Please give me some advice, I'm completely lost

[Sunnyland 639]

Perhaps your boyfriend can live in Brazil for a couple months so you can live with him? You seem to have a very stable family so money probably is not a problem. Regarding to what you say that "why would you leave all that nice life in your home country to work a low paying job in US? Immigration department sees it different. They know very well that people are capable of anything just to enter United States and live "the american dream". 

If your idea is getting to know your BF better,  you can always come to visit him with a tourist visa for a period of time to see if you guys see a future together. Or like I said, he can move to Brazil for a while.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Having attended private school, have nice clothes and never worked a day in your life nor does your family's good social standing mean much. A B2 depends on your ability to prove strong ties back in your home. You can always leave all those things behind and with your mom's financial means, you can easily re-establish the fancy lifestyle in the US. Therefore, truly, you do not have very strong ties. Your chances of being granted a B2 is quite slim but you can still try.

 

Remember, you're of working age now, the consular officer might want to see more than just "mom's money", and you could be seen as posing the risk of potentially "working illegally".

 

As per @Sunnyland, your opther option is for your boyfriend to go there.

[Lescanoid 0]

We thought about it, but he has a steady job in America and can't leave for more than a week. Sure, he could just quit and come live with me, but we don't want to live in Brazil and he needs to have a steady income to petition for my K visa in the future so I don't think that's an option

[vegasbound 83]

Hate to sound harsh but based on your current situation, it is highly unlikely that you will be granted a tourist visa should you apply for it. You do not have sufficient evidence to prove ties to your home country and convince the CO that your intention is only to visit the US. You do not have a job, have never worked, and still rely on your mother for financial support. You will be denied just based on those factors. Add in the fact that you have a boyfriend in the US and your chances of getting a visa will drop to ZERO.

 

Furthermore, a tourist visa is granted to people who genuinely want to travel and visit the US. It is not for people who want to try living with their potential spouses. If you really think that this relationship is worth pursuing, then have your boyfriend visit or live with you in Brazil until you decide to get married. 

 

Best advice would be for you to not buy the airline ticket because it is not useful as an evidence. People are advised not to book their flights to the US before receiving a visa. Find a job and establish your own life in Brazil. In a year or two once your ciscumstances have changed, you can then apply for a tourist visa with a better chance.

Edited August 19, 2017 by vegasbound

[Lescanoid 0]

3 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

Having attended private school, have nice clothes and never worked a day in your life nor does your family's good social standing mean much. A B2 depends on your ability to prove strong ties back in your home. You can always leave all those things behind and with your mom's financial means, you can easily re-establish the fancy lifestyle in the US. Therefore, truly, you do not have very strong ties. Your chances of being granted a B2 is quite slim but you can still try.

 

Remember, you're of working age now, the consular officer might want to see more than just "mom's money", and you could be seen as posing the risk of potentially "working illegally".

 

As per @Sunnyland, your opther option is for your boyfriend to go there.

I expressed myself wrong; I already have the B2 visa, I'm just scared about the port of entry.

I was an exchange student last year so I got it at the same time I got my J1

[Lescanoid 0]

3 minutes ago, vegasbound said:

Hate to sound harsh but based on your current situation, it is highly unlikely that you will be granted a tourist visa should you apply for it. You do not have sufficient evidence to prove ties to your home country and convince the CO that your intention is only to visit the US. You do not have a job, have never worked, and still rely on your mother for financial support. You will be denied just based on those factors. Add in the fact that you have a boyfriend in the US and your chances of getting a visa will drop to ZERO.

 

Furthermore, a tourist visa is granted to people who genuinely want to travel and visit the US. It is not for people who want to try living with their potential spouses. If you really think that this relationship is worth pursuing, then have your boyfriend visit or live with you in Brazil until you decide to get married. 

 

Best advice would be for you to not buy the airline ticket because it is not useful as an evidence. People are advised not to book their flights to the US before receiving a visa. 

I'm sorry I posted this on the wrong tag; I already have a B2 visa that I got last year, what I'm worried about is the port of entry. This probably doesn't change much about it so I'll look for other options anyway

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Just now, Lescanoid said:

I'm sorry I posted this on the wrong tag; I already have a B2 visa that I got last year, what I'm worried about is the port of entry. This probably doesn't change much about it so I'll look for other options anyway

Sorry I misread you! If you have a B2 issued already then you've won half the battle Just bring some proofs with you if you're still travelling to the US as planned. However, a 2-month stay might be scrutinized more compared to a short holiday of a week or two. 

[Lescanoid 0]

2 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

Sorry I misread you! If you have a B2 issued already then you've won half the battle Just bring some proofs with you if you're still travelling to the US as planned. However, a 2-month stay might be scrutinized more compared to a short holiday of a week or two. 

It's okay, I went on exchange last year, on a J1 visa. I got both the J1 and the B2 visa at the same time.

I've heard being admitted to the country before helps my case, especially if I can prove I didn't overstay or worked illegally 

Do you think that would be true?

[databit 328]

You have a wonderful opportunity to give to your boyfriend by inviting him to try living with you in Brazil. He will probably never fully understand your culture if he doesn't experience it personally. Your family's affluence should make expenses easier, and your family can get to know him. Give him this gift!

[vegasbound 83]

19 minutes ago, Lescanoid said:

I'm sorry I posted this on the wrong tag; I already have a B2 visa that I got last year, what I'm worried about is the port of entry. This probably doesn't change much about it so I'll look for other options anyway

Oh sorry I misunderstood your original post. Since you already have a B2, then all I can suggest to you is to be trurthful and honest at the port of entry. Since you might want to pursue immigrant status in the future, you do not want to risk getting a ban by misrepresentation. Honesty is the always the best policy.

[Lescanoid 0]

3 minutes ago, vegasbound said:

Oh sorry I misunderstood your original post. Since you already have a B2, then all I can suggest to you is to be trurthful and honest at the port of entry. Since you might want to pursue immigrant status in the future, you do not want to risk getting a ban by misrepresentation. Honesty is the always the best policy.

But don't I still have high chances of being denied? I know as soon as I say "boyfriend" they're gonna get suspicious... What could I do to help with that?

[KULtoATL 1,551]

25 minutes ago, Lescanoid said:

It's okay, I went on exchange last year, on a J1 visa. I got both the J1 and the B2 visa at the same time.

I've heard being admitted to the country before helps my case, especially if I can prove I didn't overstay or worked illegally 

Do you think that would be true?

I was a J1 during my college years and never overstayed. Didn't stop my local embassy from denying my first B2 application a couple of years after that due to inability to prove my ties. I bet the same judgement call would be made at POE too. It's quite "worrying" for them if you are planning a 2-month visit with you having zero strong ties in Brazil.

[az2014 381]

7 hours ago, Lescanoid said:

It's okay, I went on exchange last year, on a J1 visa. I got both the J1 and the B2 visa at the same time.

I've heard being admitted to the country before helps my case, especially if I can prove I didn't overstay or worked illegally 

Do you think that would be true?

How/why did you get a J1 and a B2 at the exact same time? Seems a bit odd that they would put 2 different visas in your passport at the same time.

Edited August 19, 2017 by az2014

[EmilyW 1,514]

My advice: don't lie.  Don't pretend you don't have a boyfriend.  A lie will come back to bite you in the a** later.

Edited August 19, 2017 by EmilyW