Tourist visa for my BF to meet my parents, I live with him in Costa Rica

[Eliza7 0]

I'm a US Citizen, he is a Costa Rican citizen. I met him down here and we've been dating for 2.5 years. I've been living down here but on a tourist visa (border runs every 90 days) so I don't have residency in Costa Rica.

 

I want him to finally come meet my family and friends in the U.S. next year, and we're trying to think ahead and prepare whatever we can because I know his chances won't be great. He is a 25 year old university student, but he's only coming up on his second semester. He was the head chef at a hotel for 5 years but quit 1.5 years ago to go to school. He's been working at a restaurant for a little over a year but it's part time because he'

[Eliza7 0]

Sorry! I hit enter too early. Not sure how to edit or delete posts...here's the rest:

 

working part time for a little over a year because he's in school. He rents an apartment near school and lives at home with his family during breaks. I'm hoping to bring him with me the next time I go visit my family, either next summer or next winter, to meet them. We're not engaged. 

 

I'm wondering if he has a chance, and what we could do in the 6 months or so to improve his chances. 

 

-When he's not in school, we live in a small town that's 30+ minutes from the closest bank, so unfortunately he's rarely been using his bank. He either gets paid in cash or cashes checks at the convenience store in town and uses cash for everything. So, I told him to start depositing all of his money and using his debit card as much as possible as I heard that bank statements and bank activity are important.

-He owns a motorcycle. Perhaps having the title for that could help?

-His mom owns the house they live in and his grandmother's house next door. However, she has been meaning to put it under his name for a while now as he will inherit it anyway. Perhaps doing that ASAP will help?

-He's been in school for a year but he transferred to a different school after his first semester for a couple reasons. He's studying to be an engineer. I know there are various student visas but he can't afford any kind of study abroad/coursework that charges U.S. tuition prices, so I'm guessing that's out of the picture.

-He's always been very involved in his local community. I heard that perhaps providing letters about volunteer work at his local school, community involvement, etc could help.

-He obviously does not make enough money working part time as a student to afford the trip on his own. I plan to help him, but his parents can as well. Is it best to say that he is paying for the trip as a gift from his father, and to have his father deposit the money in his account before his interview? Will the fact that he doesn't have much income and the money is coming from family really destroy his chances?

-Everything I'm reading says he shouldn't mention his GF (me) unless asked. Although, we will be traveling together, and he will be staying with my family for at least half of the trip. I've also been here in Costa Rica for the majority of the past 2.5 years.  

Edited November 26, 2017 by Eliza7

[Redheadguy03 505]

It will be tough. He needs to be able to show strong ties back home. Usually things like a job and property help. 

 

You can try and see, but if you really want him to get approved, I'd say he needs a job. You would probably come up at some point in the interview, but  like you said I wouldn't mention it unless specifically asked. 

 

If you deposit money right before for the trip that would set all kinds of bells off. Generally, you'd want a few bank statements, so if you had a sudden influx of cash in your account it obviously looks suspicious. 

 

The least they can do is say no! Good luck! 

[Eliza7 0]

1 minute ago, Redheadguy03 said:

It will be tough. He needs to be able to show strong ties back home. Usually things like a job and property help. 

 

You can try and see, but if you really want him to get approved, I'd say he needs a job. You would probably come up at some point in the interview, but  like you said I wouldn't mention it unless specifically asked. 

 

If you deposit money right before for the trip that would set all kinds of bells off. Generally, you'd want a few bank statements, so if you had a sudden influx of cash in your account it obviously looks suspicious. 

 

The least they can do is say no! Good luck! 

Thanks! He has a job, it is just part time because he is a full time student. As I mentioned above, his mom can transfer the house to his name, as she had planned to do so already. 

[Redheadguy03 505]

17 minutes ago, Eliza7 said:

Thanks! He has a job, it is just part time because he is a full time student. As I mentioned above, his mom can transfer the house to his name, as she had planned to do so already. 

If she was already planning on doing it that would definitely help,I wouldn't do it just for the sake of immigration obviously, however it would help for a tourist visa.

I'd suggest getting that done as soon as possible, just like with the bank statements you don't want things looking suspicious or that you just wanted to come to the states. Oh and good job planning ahead! People don't seem to do that too much. 

Edited November 26, 2017 by Redheadguy03

[aleful 1,905]

hi

 

he should never lie, he has to tell the truth, you will come up. one of the main questions if not the first one, will be reason for travelling

 

why does he want to come to the US. the reason is to meet your parents, so he has to disclose that he has an American gf

 

never lie because it will bite him back and ban him for future petitions

 

what about you? what are your ties to Costa Rica? he would have a better chance if he can prove that you aren't interested in living In the US, but when you marry, if you are going to get married,  you will still be living in Costa Rica, he has to prove strong ties, and a strong tie would be that you both plan to live there, that you have no intentions of getting married in the US, adjusting status and living in the US

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 2017 by aleful

[Boiler 45,939]

No harm trying

[merc0230 28]

I do not want to crush your hopes, but things did not go well for us at the embassy. My wife could not get a visitor visa when I had CR residency, we had a house and a car. In fact, as the CO was denying us, I had to explain to him that we were not eligible to apply for GC because we only wanted to visit. I will say, my wife was not working, but considering my strong ties, I thought she would still qualify, but they seemed concerned that she would do a change of status.

 

Regardless, can not hurt to try. Good luck!

[Boiler 45,939]

24 minutes ago, merc0230 said:

I do not want to crush your hopes, but things did not go well for us at the embassy. My wife could not get a visitor visa when I had CR residency, we had a house and a car. In fact, as the CO was denying us, I had to explain to him that we were not eligible to apply for GC because we only wanted to visit. I will say, my wife was not working, but considering my strong ties, I thought she would still qualify, but they seemed concerned that she would do a change of status.

 

Regardless, can not hurt to try. Good luck!

Seems you moved to the US?

[merc0230 28]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Seems you moved to the US?

Yeah, a couple of years later due to a job change. Unfortunately, I am not independently wealthy and I have to work.

[Eliza7 0]

16 hours ago, aleful said:

hi

 

he should never lie, he has to tell the truth, you will come up. one of the main questions if not the first one, will be reason for travelling

 

why does he want to come to the US. the reason is to meet your parents, so he has to disclose that he has an American gf

 

never lie because it will bite him back and ban him for future petitions

 

what about you? what are your ties to Costa Rica? he would have a better chance if he can prove that you aren't interested in living In the US, but when you marry, if you are going to get married,  you will still be living in Costa Rica, he has to prove strong ties, and a strong tie would be that you both plan to live there, that you have no intentions of getting married in the US, adjusting status and living in the US

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately my ties won't be much help. I don't own property or have permanent residency status here. The only ties I have are the fact that I've been here for over 2 years and some clients I work for locally as a freelancer. 

[Eliza7 0]

58 minutes ago, merc0230 said:

I do not want to crush your hopes, but things did not go well for us at the embassy. My wife could not get a visitor visa when I had CR residency, we had a house and a car. In fact, as the CO was denying us, I had to explain to him that we were not eligible to apply for GC because we only wanted to visit. I will say, my wife was not working, but considering my strong ties, I thought she would still qualify, but they seemed concerned that she would do a change of status.

 

Regardless, can not hurt to try. Good luck!

Thanks for the head's up! Sounds like I will be much more of an obstacle than a help at this point. I don't have any strong ties to CR currently - no property (I rent) and no residency.

[aleful 1,905]

could you get together in another country?

 

at least your parents could fly to Costa Rica to meet him, or meet half way, in another country

 

some type of solution for the time being, your friends might not be able to meet him at this point, but there's no obstacle to meet somewhere else if Costa Rica is not an option

 

 

 

 

[Eliza7 0]

1 hour ago, aleful said:

could you get together in another country?

 

at least your parents could fly to Costa Rica to meet him, or meet half way, in another country

 

some type of solution for the time being, your friends might not be able to meet him at this point, but there's no obstacle to meet somewhere else if Costa Rica is not an option

 

 

 

 

Thanks! I've been nagging them, but I have a split family with lots of siblings and my family doesn't really do international travel unless it's to Canada haha. Not exactly the adventurous types. Plus, I would just really like to show him my country/hometown/some national parks. Luckily he does get visa free entry to a lot of Europe, so maybe we'll go there for a vacation instead if he's denied.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

On 11/25/2017 at 10:12 PM, Eliza7 said:

As I mentioned above, his mom can transfer the house to his name, as she had planned to do so already. 

Seems a bit extreme to get a tourist visa.