fiancee work concern

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

Edited August 10, 2007 by Mister Fancypants

[pushbrk 12,806]

robinklake,

Yes. I saw, and knew, many men who met their wives in the 'entertainment industry' in my time as an expat.

Yodrak

You saw prostitution or prostitutes applying for K-1 visas?

...

that may be and I'm sure it exists. I too have travelled and lived in Asia and know the kind of stuff that goes on. But the impression I get here on the website is that most men met their fiancees the same way people did from other parts of the world - through the internet.

And I would wholeheartedly agree with that statement. In the case of some countries including the PI and Thailand, many (Look up and compare the definitions of the words "most" and "many" and you'll find they are not synonyms.) of the women are or were prostitutes. I'm not making any moral judgment, just stating a fact that Consular officers are aware of and on alert for, in the countries where this is a known issue. However, there are also many more USC's who met their women in person, in the entertainment industry while traveling in those areas or living as expats there.

None of these statements is intended to reflect on any individual or VJ member's SO. The whole point was made long ago but taken completely out of context and proportion.

[Thai Rath 1]

robinklake,

Yes. I saw, and knew, many men who met their wives in the 'entertainment industry' in my time as an expat.

Yodrak

You saw prostitution or prostitutes applying for K-1 visas?

...

so where did you meet your wife?

Come on, smoke20, no one is saying that your SO is/was a prostitute. The operative word was "many" not "all." My experience as an expat in Thailand mirrors Yodrak's with regard to other expats and their spouses - it's really quite common. But again, no one is saying "all."

Believe me, as someone married to a Thai, if someone did get on here saying "most" or "all", I'd have something to say, but that's just not the case here.

Edited August 10, 2007 by smgx4000

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Karl Marx would say that we're all prostitutes.

[pushbrk 12,806]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

I expect a good number of both the successes and denials are such cases. In the successful cases, the truth would not have come to light. The existence of evidence doesn't necessarily mean the evidence was observed or considered in the visa process, or was even known by the petitioner.

Edited August 10, 2007 by pushbrk

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

I expect a good number of both the successes and denials are such cases. In the successful cases, the truth would not have come to light. The existence of evidence doesn't necessarily mean the evidence was observed or considered in the visa process, or was even known by the petitioner.

In those cases then, the beneficiary must have not been factual with regard to employment history. Just to be clear - some may have gotten the impression from this thread that it's ok with the CO's if the beneficiary has worked in the entertainment industry that possibly involved some kind of sexual favor in exchange for money. For anyone who is petitioning such a person, I think they should be aware that such types of employment could lead to a denial, particularly if the petitioner and beneficiary met through such means as with the OP.

[smoke20 0]

robinklake,

Yes. I saw, and knew, many men who met their wives in the 'entertainment industry' in my time as an expat.

Yodrak

You saw prostitution or prostitutes applying for K-1 visas?

...

so where did you meet your wife?

Come on, smoke20, no one is saying that your SO is/was a prostitute. The operative word was "many" not "all." My experience as an expat in Thailand mirrors Yodrak's with regard to other expats and their spouses - it's really quite common. But again, no one is saying "all."

Believe me, as someone married to a Thai, if someone did get on here saying "most" or "all", I'd have something to say, but that's just not the case here.

yes i understand the word was "many" & not directed towards my SO. the problem i have is that it came from a moderator. but, i'm starting to cool.

Edited August 10, 2007 by smoke20

[Yodrak 7]

robinlake,

I fully agree with you. I myself met my wife on the internet, several years after returning to the USA from my overseas assignments.

Yodrak

robinklake,

Yes. I saw, and knew, many men who met their wives in the 'entertainment industry' in my time as an expat.

Yodrak

You saw prostitution or prostitutes applying for K-1 visas?

...

that may be and I'm sure it exists. I too have travelled and lived in Asia and know the kind of stuff that goes on. But the impression I get here on the website is that most men met their fiancees the same way people did from other parts of the world - through the internet.

[smoke20 0]

robinlake,

I fully agree with you. I myself met my wife on the internet, several years after returning to the USA from my overseas assignments.

Yodrak

robinklake,

Yes. I saw, and knew, many men who met their wives in the 'entertainment industry' in my time as an expat.

Yodrak

You saw prostitution or prostitutes applying for K-1 visas?

...

that may be and I'm sure it exists. I too have travelled and lived in Asia and know the kind of stuff that goes on. But the impression I get here on the website is that most men met their fiancees the same way people did from other parts of the world - through the internet.

.

Edited August 10, 2007 by smoke20

[pushbrk 12,806]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

I expect a good number of both the successes and denials are such cases. In the successful cases, the truth would not have come to light. The existence of evidence doesn't necessarily mean the evidence was observed or considered in the visa process, or was even known by the petitioner.

In those cases then, the beneficiary must have not been factual with regard to employment history. Just to be clear - some may have gotten the impression from this thread that it's ok with the CO's if the beneficiary has worked in the entertainment industry that possibly involved some kind of sexual favor in exchange for money. For anyone who is petitioning such a person, I think they should be aware that such types of employment could lead to a denial, particularly if the petitioner and beneficiary met through such means as with the OP.

Well....factual....smactual. They may have given facts that satisfied the questions asked, but didn't give all the pertinent details. Remember, this whole issue came up because somebody foolishly suggested declaring the a young attractive beneficiary (It turns out from Romania, not the PI or Thailand.) was never employed, when the fact is she works as a model for an erotic internet site. I suggested indicating an agency or company name with an occupation as "fashion model". Another poster made a suggestion I like better, which was to indicate she was involved in internet marketing. Both suggestions are "factual" but neither suggests any connection to a moral turpitude concern.

[Yodrak 7]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

I expect a good number of both the successes and denials are such cases. In the successful cases, the truth would not have come to light. The existence of evidence doesn't necessarily mean the evidence was observed or considered in the visa process, or was even known by the petitioner.

In those cases then, the beneficiary must have not been factual with regard to employment history.

Yes.

Just to be clear - some may have gotten the impression from this thread that it's ok with the CO's if the beneficiary has worked in the entertainment industry that possibly involved some kind of sexual favor in exchange for money.

I hope not - the opposite was intended.

For anyone who is petitioning such a person, I think they should be aware that such types of employment could lead to a denial, particularly if the petitioner and beneficiary met through such means as with the OP.

Exactly. Hence my recommendation to consult with an immigration attorney who is familiar with the consulate where the visa interview will take place at the start of the process, before the petition is filed. The objective is to present the information that must be presented in as benign a fashion as possible without making a material misrepresentation - in politics they call it 'spin' - and be consistent about it throughout the process. As in politics, inconsistency - modifying one's story partway through the process - is a good way to attract unwanted attention.

Before one attempts to 'spin' an issue, they had best know which way the wind is blowing for the intended audience. Otherwise they make the situation worse instead of better.

Yodrak

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mister Fancypants,

One would expect the approval rate to be virtually 100%. "Very high", especially at a consulate that processes as many visa applications as Manilla does, means a large number of refusals.

As pushbrk recognizes, "many" does not mean 'most', it means enough to be a noticeable phenomenon.

Yodrak

Yes and Thailand too. It's a fact, not a judgment. The keyword is "many" not "all" or even "most" but enough that an attractive young woman who never had a job, would be answering questions about how she makes her way in the world. (pays the bills)

I can't speak for other embassies, but my impression with the Manila Embassy is there is a very high rate of K-1 approvals to denials. I don't know of any statistics on how many former prostitutes become K-1 beneficiaries, but either the Embassy doesn't care about such types of employment or your claim that many of them are former prostitutes is inaccurate.

I'll take your word for it...I'm just surprise that a K-1 could make it through the interview process if there was evidence that the beneficiary had been involved in prostitution.

I expect a good number of both the successes and denials are such cases. In the successful cases, the truth would not have come to light. The existence of evidence doesn't necessarily mean the evidence was observed or considered in the visa process, or was even known by the petitioner.

In those cases then, the beneficiary must have not been factual with regard to employment history. Just to be clear - some may have gotten the impression from this thread that it's ok with the CO's if the beneficiary has worked in the entertainment industry that possibly involved some kind of sexual favor in exchange for money. For anyone who is petitioning such a person, I think they should be aware that such types of employment could lead to a denial, particularly if the petitioner and beneficiary met through such means as with the OP.

Well....factual....smactual. They may have given facts that satisfied the questions asked, but didn't give all the pertinent details. Remember, this whole issue came up because somebody foolishly suggested declaring the a young attractive beneficiary (It turns out from Romania, not the PI or Thailand.) was never employed, when the fact is she works as a model for an erotic internet site. I suggested indicating an agency or company name with an occupation as "fashion model". Another poster made a suggestion I like better, which was to indicate she was involved in internet marketing. Both suggestions are "factual" but neither suggests any connection to a moral turpitude concern.

Granted. How that works out for them in the actual interview would be interesting to say the least. My wife was a practicing dentist with her own clinic in the PI, and the CO asked her quite a few questions about her career during the interview.

[Dotary 0]

this is kind of a strange question but it has been on my mind.has anyone come across a problem with their fiancee work when applying for a k1 visa? i ask cuz my fiance has what some may consider a questionable job.she is an internet cam model for an adult website.it is all perfectly legal from what i understand i was just wondering if they may see this as some kind of red flag in the process?thanks

I don't think it has any effect at all. They don't make judgements based on their own personal ethics. That in itself is not ethical. Red flags are from criminal issues, and such.. not getting naked on a website. I've known a few ladies to have successfully become permanent resident while doing nude work. In fact, I don't think it even came up.

Not true. If you come from an Asia country and had anything at all to do with adult entertainment, working in a bar, nude modeling, etc. they will refuse your visa. I have a friend who is an Immigration Attorney living in Thailand and he said it is absolutely a reason for the visa to be denied. Actually, the K-1 visa process is all about ethics. That's why they check your family, your previous jobs, name changes, past marriages/children, etc. It's your visa, so make a good decision.

Well I would have guessed it wouldn't matter, but that just proves what a newbie I am (despite being on day 101 waiting for NOA2). The worst part is now I'm a little nervous because my fiancee is from S. Korea where she worked free of charge at the bar her family owns. It's totally legit so I guess I'll hope for the best. And be honest!

[pushbrk 12,806]

this is kind of a strange question but it has been on my mind.has anyone come across a problem with their fiancee work when applying for a k1 visa? i ask cuz my fiance has what some may consider a questionable job.she is an internet cam model for an adult website.it is all perfectly legal from what i understand i was just wondering if they may see this as some kind of red flag in the process?thanks

I don't think it has any effect at all. They don't make judgements based on their own personal ethics. That in itself is not ethical. Red flags are from criminal issues, and such.. not getting naked on a website. I've known a few ladies to have successfully become permanent resident while doing nude work. In fact, I don't think it even came up.

Not true. If you come from an Asia country and had anything at all to do with adult entertainment, working in a bar, nude modeling, etc. they will refuse your visa. I have a friend who is an Immigration Attorney living in Thailand and he said it is absolutely a reason for the visa to be denied. Actually, the K-1 visa process is all about ethics. That's why they check your family, your previous jobs, name changes, past marriages/children, etc. It's your visa, so make a good decision.

Well I would have guessed it wouldn't matter, but that just proves what a newbie I am (despite being on day 101 waiting for NOA2). The worst part is now I'm a little nervous because my fiancee is from S. Korea where she worked free of charge at the bar her family owns. It's totally legit so I guess I'll hope for the best. And be honest!

I think the reference to "working in a bar" was a bit too general. There are certain kinds of bars in Asia that appear to operate like any "Cocktail Lounge" or night club but, in reality, either the waitresses, the female clientele or both are prostitutes. Actually, these bars are quite common in some Asian countries. Certainly other "bars" are simply bars. Your fiancee will want to be sure to indicate she was employed by her family, also quite common in Asia.

[Yodrak 7]

I think it's the reference to "from an Asian country" that's too broad. Asia is a big place, and there are only a very few countries where 'working bar' is a code word for prostitution.

Yodrak

Not true. If you come from an Asia country and had anything at all to do with adult entertainment, working in a bar, nude modeling, etc. they will refuse your visa. I have a friend who is an Immigration Attorney living in Thailand and he said it is absolutely a reason for the visa to be denied. Actually, the K-1 visa process is all about ethics. That's why they check your family, your previous jobs, name changes, past marriages/children, etc. It's your visa, so make a good decision.

Well I would have guessed it wouldn't matter, but that just proves what a newbie I am (despite being on day 101 waiting for NOA2). The worst part is now I'm a little nervous because my fiancee is from S. Korea where she worked free of charge at the bar her family owns. It's totally legit so I guess I'll hope for the best. And be honest!

I think the reference to "working in a bar" was a bit too general. There are certain kinds of bars in Asia that appear to operate like any "Cocktail Lounge" or night club but, in reality, either the waitresses, the female clientele or both are prostitutes. Actually, these bars are quite common in some Asian countries. Certainly other "bars" are simply bars. Your fiancee will want to be sure to indicate she was employed by her family, also quite common in Asia.