Beginning our journey

[Cwaters737 0]

Just wanted to say hi all, I'm a US citizen and am getting ready to start the paperwork for my filipina friend.  She is hoping to attend school here, and after school get marries and start a family. I've had some people tell me that is a bad idea if we are going to marry because it constitutes fraud, but I'm sure I've read at least a couple of threads on here of people who have done it.   I have the checklist that the school gave me and we are working though it.  The only real question I had was concerning the financing of tuition. The paper says that the $18k for tuition needs to be secured or paid upfront. Where do we come up with that kind of money,  do they offer student loans to foreign students. I have good credit and can sign but just wasn't sure where to get the money.  Oh we are planning for Fall or Winter semester of 2018 if that is any help.

[JR loves JR 196]

What paperwork are you planning to file? Are you helping her file for a student visa or a fiance visa? I'm confused because of your statement here:

6 minutes ago, Cwaters737 said:

I've had some people tell me that is a bad idea if we are going to marry because it constitutes fraud, but I'm sure I've read at least a couple of threads on here of people who have done it

 

[Ischnura 285]

 Friend or girlfriend? Assuming she's planning to marry you, have you considered doing it the other way around? File for a K-1 or get married and apply for a spousal visa then once she's adjust status so she's considered a LPR (lawful permanent resident) and then apply for school. It opens up the eligibility for in state tuition - some states do require you to be present in state for a certain amount of time though, you'd have to check school policies. 

 As far as I'm aware, she can't come over on a student visa when really she plans to get married and stop put. Doesn't work that way. 

[Roel 7,192]

There is no "friend" visa. What are you filling? Also you cannot file for someone else student visa. They do it on their own.  Also student visa is non immigrant which means you can't come on student visa with intent to adjust status. Also money thing? School will ask for financial proofs if the foreign student can support him/herself.

Edited October 15, 2017 by Roel

[EandH0904 1,184]

If she intends to come here on an F1/J1 visa - that is up to her to secure her tuition and apply for the visa - you have no part in it. In general, student loans are not available to international students, if she cannot get the $18K (plus) then she would be unable to afford tuition. You helping her by taking out a loan is a HORRIBLE idea - that would cost you hundreds of dollars a month, and student loans are not forgiven in bankruptcy - why would you do that for a friend/girlfriend? 

 

Most student visas require you to return to your country after, what you are inferring, that you could get married later and adjust status, is technically true - but I cant see why you would wait years and incur all that debt if you are planning on getting married. 

 

If you definitely want to marry, filing a K1 and getting married, then having her go to school is the best option. If you are not sure that you want to get married, then DONT get married - see how the relationship progresses, and if she is able to secure her tuition and student visa, then great, if not - then you can see how things go then. 

[Going through 5,671]

From the way the original post is worded....it sounds like the OP is trying to decide whether the F1 or K1 is the "easier" of the two options he's considering as any means to help his friend get across.

 

If your "friend" is not an actual girlfriend....then applying for the K1 visa is fraud.  You said you've read "a couple" of threads of people doing that before.  I would remind you that those threads you've read---the person who wrote it never comes back to say whether they've been successful or not so you really don't know if they''ve been found out....and those "couple" of threads don't match up to all of the other threads that are NOT written by those who failed.  I mean, it's not like someone's going to come on VJ looking for support because they did NOT get away with fraud after trying it, right?

 

Anyhow, previous threads you may have read on VJ about others "doing this" are irrelevant since every case is adjudicated differently, and every application and accompanying supporting documentation is seen by different eyes.

 

Sounds like your friend is hoping to get to America by any means necessary and then look for a husband to adjust status from once here?  "hoping to attend school here, and after school get married and then start a family"

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2017 by Going through

[geowrian 22,337]

9 hours ago, Cwaters737 said:

She is hoping to attend school here, and after school get marries and start a family. I've had some people tell me that is a bad idea if we are going to marry because it constitutes fraud, but I'm sure I've read at least a couple of threads on here of people who have done it. 

I'm not entirely sure what you read, but entry on a student visa with intent to stay would be clear fraud. People have entered then subsequently decided to stay because of changes in their life, but it cannot be a planned change. If they intend to stay in the US, they need a visa that supports immigrant intent (like a K-1) or an immigrant visa.

[jan22 3,056]

On 10/15/2017 at 2:22 PM, Cwaters737 said:

Just wanted to say hi all, I'm a US citizen and am getting ready to start the paperwork for my filipina friend.  She is hoping to attend school here, and after school get marries and start a family. I've had some people tell me that is a bad idea if we are going to marry because it constitutes fraud, but I'm sure I've read at least a couple of threads on here of people who have done it.   I have the checklist that the school gave me and we are working though it.  The only real question I had was concerning the financing of tuition. The paper says that the $18k for tuition needs to be secured or paid upfront. Where do we come up with that kind of money,  do they offer student loans to foreign students. I have good credit and can sign but just wasn't sure where to get the money.  Oh we are planning for Fall or Winter semester of 2018 if that is any help.

One of the requirements to qualify for a student visa is proof of sufficient funds available to pay for the full first year of schooling -- not just tuition, but also whatever the school lists as the cost of room and board.  (Foreign students do not qualify for US-based student loans).  And, you must also show a funding source that will be available for each subsequent year of schooling.  Add in the need to show reasons why you need to leave the US at the end of your authorized stay.