Trying to advise brother about GF getting a tourist visa

[ChrisFurlough 18]

I married a beautiful Filipina, and she has introduced my brother to one of her friends. 

The friend wants to come visit my brother in the US from RP, and is planning to try to get a tourist visa. 

I understand that this is unlikely to happen, and am trying to advise them about the REASONS why it is unlikely to happen, and how it's easier for HIM to go THERE to visit her.

Can you guys help me explain this?

[Boiler 45,467]

Sadly many consider a Visitor Visa as a one way option, K1s, CR1s Manilla has no problem with, Tourists Visas they do.

[YecaCruz 379]

I don't have country-specific info but what I can tell you generally speaking is that the consulate officers at the US embassies conduct each tourist visa interview assuming that the foreign applicant is going to violate the conditions of the tourist visa by overstaying their allowed time. It is entirely up to the applicant to overcome this assumption with the totality of their circumstance to answer the rhetorical question: "what reasons will return you back to your country"? They only have the visa application and a 3-minute face-to-face appointment to do so. There is no magic formula as all have been left behind before: family, kids, businesses, education, properties/apartment leases, your precious doggo; they've seen it all. This can be hard to do when the applicant is a young 20-something with an American significant other (even if it's just a "friend"), no major source of income or stable job history (which was my husband's case).

And no, a letter from a supposed sponsor does not help. The consulate officers rarely, if ever, take time to look at extra documentation or evidence you may have in the interview.

 

 

Examples: 1. my husband attempted to get a tourist visa thrice. Nada. It was legitimately to come visit me and meet my family. 

                   2. We invited my brother-in-law to our wedding - he was a young 20-something, top of his class university student with a full ride scholarship and full-time job. Nope. 

                   3. A few years later my brother-in-law wanted to attend the gold cup soccer tournament that would take place in Ohio in which Nicaragua was a contender (first time for the national team in a long time). At that time, he had graduated top of his class, still had his full time job with Microsoft, and had travel history in his passport. NOOOOOOPE

 

Is it unfair? Yes, i suppose it is; but there is a very good reason why the process is the way it is thanks to all the liars and cheats who ruined it for us in today's day. There is certainly NO HARM in trying if your brother has the $160-or-whatever to pay the visa fee as a denied tourist visa doesn't hurt their record or anything. 

 

I hope this tidbit helps. While I'm no expert with the bit that I've experience with the US immigration system I'm glad to say that I have haunted this forum long enough to glean from the true experts who post their knowledge and experience. 

 

Good luck to your brother and this female friend!

Edited May 18, 2023 by YecaCruz

[Mike E 11,739]

42 minutes ago, ChrisFurlough said:

Can you guys help me explain this?

You are actually the expert here: you did it: you brought your SO to America legally, and married her 

 

 

[Boiler 45,467]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

You are actually the expert here: you did it: you brought your SO to America legally, and married her 

That is very very true.

[ChrisFurlough 18]

30 minutes ago, Mike E said:

You are actually the expert here: you did it: you brought your SO to America legally, and married her 

 

 

And got her citizenship even!

But, I've never done the visitor visa for a GF.  I went THERE, 3 times.  No problem.  THEY want to try to do something else.  I'm telling them it's not going to work, and that HE should just go THERE.  

[Boiler 45,467]

11 minutes ago, ChrisFurlough said:

And got her citizenship even!

But, I've never done the visitor visa for a GF.  I went THERE, 3 times.  No problem.  THEY want to try to do something else.  I'm telling them it's not going to work, and that HE should just go THERE.  

You are probably correct but to be fair we know very little  about her so tend to fill in the blanks with the norm

 

Pretty cheap to apply and find out

[flicks1998 1,044]

36 minutes ago, ChrisFurlough said:

And got her citizenship even!

But, I've never done the visitor visa for a GF.  I went THERE, 3 times.  No problem.  THEY want to try to do something else.  I'm telling them it's not going to work, and that HE should just go THERE.  

The below is not my personal advice, it is strictly a comment based on what I have seen many US citizens do who live in the Philippines and want to bring their gfs/bfs/spouses, etc to visit the US.  Since 99% of them will be rejected for a B-visa, many will do a K1 visa, go through that process for a year +, get the visa, bring their SO to the US for a 3 month trip, and then return to the Philippines.  Obviously this is fraud, but this is what many do, and creates problems for the rest of us who do a K1 or CR1 visa legitimately.  I mention this as it shows how far people will go because the chance of a B visa is tiny.

 

If he has the time, it makes much more sense for him to go there and visit.  

[ChrisFurlough 18]

2 minutes ago, flicks1998 said:

The below is not my personal advice, it is strictly a comment based on what I have seen many US citizens do who live in the Philippines and want to bring their gfs/bfs/spouses, etc to visit the US.  Since 99% of them will be rejected for a B-visa, many will do a K1 visa, go through that process for a year +, get the visa, bring their SO to the US for a 3 month trip, and then return to the Philippines.  Obviously this is fraud, but this is what many do, and creates problems for the rest of us who do a K1 or CR1 visa legitimately.  I mention this as it shows how far people will go because the chance of a B visa is tiny.

 

If he has the time, it makes much more sense for him to go there and visit.  

Agreed 100%.  She has 0% chance of getting a K-1, as she's married still.  (In typical Filipino fashion though, she hasn't seen her husband in YEARS, and hasn't gotten an annulment.)  I've tried explaining this, but he's my older brother, and must think he knows better.  *shrugs*  She has an appointment in September.  Guess we'll see!  

If anyone has a (granted not official, and not exhaustive) list of things that you need to show as proof that you intend to return to RP, please post it.  

[An D 27]

Does she have money and a career? Does she have children? Does she have a demonstrated history of traveling abroad in the past and returning? Is she studying at a university? These are all things that can help prove that she has strong ties to her country and would return.

 

On the flip side, does she have family in the US already, or the opposite of any of the above? That would all hurt her. 

 

Chances could be really low depending on the above. It doesn't hurt to try. But I think your brother is making a huge mistake by not also planning his own trip, instead of waiting until September for the outcome of this. If it's denied, they will have no alternative plans made to see each other. And obviously it's 100x easier for him to visit her, than her to visit him. He doesn't have to go through anything to visit. He just has to buy the plane tickets and show up at the airport with a valid passport. But she has to go through the ringer. 

[ChrisFurlough 18]

12 minutes ago, An D said:

Does she have money   Not really
and a career?  She has a job, yes.  Not really a career
Does she have children?  Yes, adult children.
Does she have a demonstrated history of traveling abroad in the past and returning? Only as an OFW.
Is she studying at a university? No

Yeah, these are the things that I've used in my messages to my brother.  Just wanting to see if I missed any.  THANKS YOU GUYS! 

[RO_AH 1,659]

3 hours ago, ChrisFurlough said:

Agreed 100%.  She has 0% chance of getting a K-1, as she's married still.  (In typical Filipino fashion though, she hasn't seen her husband in YEARS, and hasn't gotten an annulment.)

Well annulments take years, so his chance of getting her here are slim to none. If she has no real assets or property tying her to the Philippines IMO she will have zero chance in getting a tourist visa. If he insists on moving this direction you can always wait and then tell him I told you so. 🤣

 

Also next time tell your wife not to introduce someone who is married. LDR is hard enough and if you want a future you need to throw in all of the added difficulties (time and money) of getting an annulment.

[ChrisFurlough 18]

1 minute ago, RO_AH said:

Also next time tell your wife not to introduce someone who is married. LDR is hard enough and if you want a future you need to throw in all of the added difficulties (time and money) of getting an annulment.

Fair point.

[Boiler 45,467]

I agree this makes no sense, there are plenty of options, no need to make it unnecessarily hard with someone who is married.

[Adventine 3,196]

If the relationship progresses and they start getting serious, be aware that she will likely ask for, ahem, help with the annulment. That will take a lot of time and most importantly $$$$

 

It's $160 to apply for a tourist visa. If not, then he can certainly go visit her.