K-1 currently pending... Is applying for another visa risky?

[Kiana & Katarina 192]

Okay, here it goes: 

 

The beneficiary/my fiancee is a Serbian citizen and has two US visas pending now: first she applied for a tourist visa to the USA last June (which has a waiting time until 2023). And we also have a K1 visa pending since last September (because we're to be married, obviously.)  She works for an American company and her boss, who is American, wants her to come to a conference in the USA and is willing to give her a business visa recommendation. 

 

My question is, should she opt for applying for the business visa? Or would this be risky and look like she's "visa shopping?" What ever the case may be, I don't want our K1 visa denied because the officer saw she applied for two other visas. If you don't know, Serbian citizens are considered "high risk" and it's more common than not that they get denied. 

 

We are also willing to cancel her tourist visa, because it seems like the K1 will be approved before that anyways. But she has no other way into the USA and I would love for her to meet my parents once before we get married! So this business visa could be a really great opportunity if there are no risks with our K1. Any opinions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thanks.

 

 

[Rocio0010 5,605]

Usually one can apply for more than one visa at a time if you have the money / means to pay for the application. 

10 minutes ago, katiana said:

first she applied for a tourist visa to the USA last June

Great!

10 minutes ago, katiana said:

And we also have a K1 visa pending since last September

Awesome.

 

10 minutes ago, katiana said:

willing to give her a business visa recommendation.

Perfect.

10 minutes ago, katiana said:

should she opt for applying for the business visa?

Yep.

11 minutes ago, katiana said:

Or would this be risky and look like she's "visa shopping?"

Not as long as she's being honest about her relationship to you (if asked).

 

The downside to all of this is that for a B1/B2 visa she has to prove strong ties to her home country, which in a way sort of contradicts the K1 application IMHO.

12 minutes ago, katiana said:

We are also willing to cancel her tourist visa, because it seems like the K1 will be approved before that anyways.

I would not cancel it. Let it be. Sending you a DM now.

[Kiana & Katarina 192]

13 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Usually one can apply for more than one visa at a time if you have the money / means to pay for the application. 

Great!

Awesome.

 

Perfect.

Yep.

Not as long as she's being honest about her relationship to you (if asked).

 

The downside to all of this is that for a B1/B2 visa she has to prove strong ties to her home country, which in a way sort of contradicts the K1 application IMHO.

I would not cancel it. Let it be. Sending you a DM now.

Great! Thanks so much for your advice. 

[Boiler 45,930]

The B2 tourist visa is usually issued combined with a B1 business visa

[Kiana & Katarina 192]

5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

The B2 tourist visa is usually issued combined with a B1 business visa

What does that mean, exactly though? That because they are both in the same classification it won't really matter?

[Boiler 45,930]

1 minute ago, katiana said:

What does that mean, exactly though? That because they are both in the same classification it won't really matter?

You mentioned wanting to visit for business and she effectively has an application in process

[Verrou 1,962]

b1/b2 are tied together, and for conference like what u explained, that's exactly the same visa.

[Kiana & Katarina 192]

4 minutes ago, Misscloud said:

b1/b2 are tied together, and for conference like what u explained, that's exactly the same visa.

I understand! So theoretically, nothing should be a problem if she also applies for a business visa also? Thanks for your response!

[Verrou 1,962]

15 minutes ago, katiana said:

I understand! So theoretically, nothing should be a problem if she also applies for a business visa also? Thanks for your response!

no need to apply since she already filed / apply for tourist visa ( b1/b2)

[Chancy 6,243]

11 hours ago, katiana said:

should she opt for applying for the business visa? Or would this be risky and look like she's "visa shopping?" What ever the case may be, I don't want our K1 visa denied because the officer saw she applied for two other visas.

 

Applying for a B visa will have no impact on the K1 application, even if the B visa is denied, assuming there was no misrepresentation involved in the application.

 

Having a pending K1 case will increase the likelihood for B visa denial, as having a USC fiance(e) is a strong tie to the US.  This may be overcome by having stronger ties to home country (like a stable job), documented in the DS-160.

 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

She's not getting the B1 any faster and there's nothing that her boss can do about it. If waiting times for B1/B2 visas are till 2023 than that's what it is unfortunately. 

[SalishSea 18,074]

15 hours ago, katiana said:

What does that mean, exactly though? That because they are both in the same classification it won't really matter?

If she’s waiting for a B visa for 2023, a “recommendation” won’t make the process faster.   It’s the same visa.

[SalishSea 18,074]

15 hours ago, katiana said:

I understand! So theoretically, nothing should be a problem if she also applies for a business visa also? Thanks for your response!

You’re misunderstanding.   There is no separate “business visa.”   It’s a B1/B2, and if the wait time is through 2023, there’s nothing she can do but wait it out.