How To Get US Tourist Visa

[FarlineCatalan 0]

Hi everyone! I'm Farline 😊 from the Philippines. Actually I don't know where to start my discussion because there are so many questions running in my mind right now that are still not answered. Here is my case, I got a "Boyfriend" from the US. We never meet yet physically. We been together for 16 months now. He will be joining one of the life-risking job in  the entire world and he just entered the boot camp today (March 19, 2018, Philippine Standard Time) and soon to be a US Marines Corp. He will be spending 13 weeks at the Boot Camp and fortunately after his training he will be graduating. 🙏 Before he entered the boot camp, his mother told me that I should process my passport and Visa because she INVITED me to attend the graduation of her son. She will support me financially and she will help me to process my paperworks. She will be the one to book/ pay for my Round Trip Plane Ticket. She will send me a Letter of Invitation, Supporting documents as a proof that she will be the one to support me while I am in the US like for the accommodations, foods, etc. Should she provide me “Letter to the Consulate Officer?” Or what are the other supporting documents that are needed as a proof? Can someone help me on how to make this work? Please 😊

Thank you. 🙏😘

[EmilyW 1,514]

You apply for a tourist visa on your own merits.  You have to prove to the CO that you will return home after your visit and that you won't overstay.  

 

His mother's offer is sweet but it might work against you.  If she is prepared to support you financial for a tourist visa, she's likely to support you if you decide to overstay.  I know she is offering this to show that you won't be a burden, but it looks entirely different to a CO.

 

As a young Filipina with an American boyfriends, your odds aren't great.  Many young Filipinas have travelled to the US on tourist visas and overstayed.  But give it a shot.  It's $160.

[FarlineCatalan 0]

Thank you EmilyW. What can you suggest about the supporting documents? BTW, I am currently working here in the Philippines though. What are the ways to let the CO convince that I am coming back?

[optlh0 19]

Emily is correct. Your boyfriends mother can't 'sponsor' you. You have to apply on your own and prove you'll return home when your short visit is done. The US assumes that every visitor will just stay illegally instead of returning home. In order to successfully 'prove' you'll return home you'll need to show you have plenty of funds in the bank to pay for your expenses here, that your trip will be temporary, and that you have binding ties to your country which require you to return. Things like owning a home, owning a business, etc. which require you to return.

 

Personally I wouldn't spend the money to apply unless you have a good deal of proof you can show why this is just for a short visit, and why you have to return home

 

It would probably be easier to have him come and visit you

Edited March 19, 2018 by optlh0

[FarlineCatalan 0]

Thanks Optlh0. But let's say, what if I got an Invitation Letter from his mother? Does it help? 😪

[kris&me 572]

2 minutes ago, FarlineCatalan said:

Thanks Optlh0. But let's say, what if I got an Invitation Letter from his mother? Does it help? 😪

no   letters of invitation do not help

[Crazy Cat 42,056]

3 minutes ago, FarlineCatalan said:

Thanks Optlh0. But let's say, what if I got an Invitation Letter from his mother? Does it help? 😪

Generally, invitation letters neither help nor hurt.  Your boyfriend's mother is very thoughtful for her offers, but the Consulate Officer needs to be convinced that you will not attempt to remain in the US.  You must provide evidence that you will absolutely return to your country.

Best of luck...

[Going through 5,671]

31 minutes ago, FarlineCatalan said:

She will support me financially and she will help me to process my paperworks. She will be the one to book/ pay for my Round Trip Plane Ticket. She will send me a Letter of Invitation, Supporting documents as a proof that she will be the one to support me while I am in the US like for the accommodations, foods, etc. Should she provide me “Letter to the Consulate Officer?”

This will hurt your chances more than help them.

Basically, a letter from his mother just proves to the CO that you have no way of financially supporting yourself during the trip.  It can also prove that his mother is willing to support you should you overstay your visa.

 

What you need to show the CO is strong proof of your ties back to your home country.  Proof of employment, proof of your own funds, proof of home/property ownership, etc.  Unfortunately, having a US boyfriend is going to work against you as well. 

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

I may be misspeaking, as every country of origin may differ, but I'm wondering if some kind of formal invitation wouldn't help, rather than hurt. When my fiancé has visited the states in the past, other than to visit me, it's been for things like sporting events or family functions. I remember him telling me once when he came for a hockey game, he was asked specific questions about details of the game, like who was playing, the arena, the time, etc. An invitation containing details such as the location of the graduation and time, etc, may be helpful. If they wanted to verify the information to ensure it's legitimate, they'd have the details on hand to do so.

 

That being said - I do agree showing the mother is willing to support you financially may hinder you more than help you, as that could come across as someone in the states being able and prepared to support you financially should you choose to overstay.

 

The best thing you can do, in the end, is to make sure you provide evidence you intend on returning to your country, as others have stated. Maybe even have an official notice from your employer that you remain employed with them and are expected to return to work on a specific date once you return home. Any bills or a home in your name that you will need to return to and pay/care for, etc.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Paul & Mallory

[Unlockable 7,315]

45 minutes ago, FarlineCatalan said:

Thanks Optlh0. But let's say, what if I got an Invitation Letter from his mother? Does it help? 😪

The point of applying for a visitor visa dn being interviewed is the show why you will return to your home country. NOT why you want to visit the US. An invitation letter only shows why you want to visit the US.

 

You have to change the way you are going about this. Eveything you want to do is based on why you want to go to the US.

 

In order to be successful, you need to have strong ties to your country that shows you need to go back. It has already been stated in this thread but things like a high profile/good paying job, business ownership, and property ownership are examples of string ties to your home country.

[Illiria 980]

14 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

I may be misspeaking, as every country of origin may differ, but I'm wondering if some kind of formal invitation wouldn't help, rather than hurt. When my fiancé has visited the states in the past, other than to visit me, it's been for things like sporting events or family functions. I remember him telling me once when he came for a hockey game, he was asked specific questions about details of the game, like who was playing, the arena, the time, etc. An invitation containing details such as the location of the graduation and time, etc, may be helpful. If they wanted to verify the information to ensure it's legitimate, they'd have the details on hand to do so.

 

That being said - I do agree showing the mother is willing to support you financially may hinder you more than help you, as that could come across as someone in the states being able and prepared to support you financially should you choose to overstay.

 

The best thing you can do, in the end, is to make sure you provide evidence you intend on returning to your country, as others have stated. Maybe even have an official notice from your employer that you remain employed with them and are expected to return to work on a specific date once you return home. Any bills or a home in your name that you will need to return to and pay/care for, etc.

Sweden is part of the visa waiver program so your fiancé would be showing evidence only at the airport which as you say having details would help show why you come to the us  and having a return ticket is the main requirement showing you are going home but with getting the visa at a country not eligible for the visa waiver program you have to be showing why you are going to have to go home.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

1 hour ago, FarlineCatalan said:

Thanks Optlh0. But let's say, what if I got an Invitation Letter from his mother? Does it help? 😪

 

Yea hate to say it's not likely going to happen. 

 

It's one, difficult in general to get a tourist visa from the Philippines especially if you're young, single.

 

I assume also you have no travel history? That also hurts a lot in the eyes of the embassy.

 

Traveling to other Asian countries and showing track record helps.

 

But like a lot have said, you have to show strong ties to the home country. Property, cars, good job, savings, ect...

 

Immediately by stating you have a boyfriend in the US the embassy will pretty much deny you. That being said always be honest with them; but still most likely will be denied.

 

You can definately try though, doesn't hurt, just costs the application fee.. $160 i think... not sure of top of my head.

[Boiler 45,932]

Much better to show that you can pay your own way even if his Mother is kind enough to pay for your tickets etc.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

I think the most critical is showing strong ties to go back to phillipines, paying your own way is secondary. Unfortunately it’s often hard to do the former if you can’t do the latter (indicates don’t have strong financial reason via job or whatever to return home)

[Boiler 45,932]

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I think the most critical is showing strong ties to go back to phillipines, paying your own way is secondary. Unfortunately it’s often hard to do the former if you can’t do the latter (indicates don’t have strong financial reason via job or whatever to return home)

The two things tend to be interlinked.

 

Now we really know nothing about the OP, I am as guilty as most in filling in the gaps, maybe completely wrong in our assumptions.