Tourist visa? Visitor visa?

[Scott]

I recently discovered this site and forum thru a web search concerning visas.  I must say, it's quite supportive and informative.  But I haven't found an answer to a qustion I have, but I'm sure someone on here knows the answer.

While working a project in Japan I met an absolutely enticing Fhilipina.  None of the classic "red flags" have appeared.  She shops from the sale racks and ignores the jewelry counter.  Too bad the Ex wasn't like that.  She's exceptionally intelligent, English nearly perfect and drop dead gourgeous..... I went out with here periodically for about a month until the project ended.  Her contract has also expired and we have both returned to our respective homes, I the States and she the PI.

I would really like to persue a relationship with this woman, visiting the PI and she visiting the States.  However, due to a current shortage of vacation time and two very marginally healthy parents, now is not the time to travel.  The other option is bringing her to the States on a tourist/visitor visa.  I'm no where ready for a fiance/spousal visa, way too soon.  

How much trouble is it for a Filipina to obtain a tourist visa?
What is required of them?
Will and Affidavit of Support (I-134) help?
Will a notarized statement of responsibility, me excepting responsibility for immigration law compliance, help?
Will me standing beside her at the visa application window do any good?

The last is a possibility as I'll probably be in Thailand on business part of March.  A side trip to the PI can be worked in.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Scott]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

Thanks for all the input.  I guess if it's worth doing, it's worth doing the hard way.  She could very well be worth it.  I'll take a trip to the PI and get in some serious diving.

[Dave H]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

Hi Scott,

Good luck with your lady!

Dave H.

[shadow]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

How much trouble is it for a Filipina to obtain a tourist visa?

Absolutely no problem at all, so long as she owns four major businesses in the Philippines, has P200 million in the bank, and is friends with GMA.

What is required of them?

30 barrels of fresh blood.

Will an I-134 help?

Nope, sorry, it will hurt.

Notarized statement of support.

Nope, sorry, see above.

You standing by her side?

She would likely be banned from ever obtaining a tourist visa.

Reason?

The LAST thing she should tell them or otherwise let them know if she is applying for any tourist related visa is that she knows someone of the male species in the states. At this point the BCIS will automatically assume she is intending to marry. Application denied. Never to be approved so long as you both shall live.

Sorry. Truth hurts.

See her in March.

Larry.

[bryan]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

Think of the I129F as a 90 day trial run visa. If you both agree you can just go through the motions of a fiance visa. Alot of paper work and screwin around and I would have to trust her. Hell maybe ya get hitched anyway

[Stephen]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

I don't know the answer to your quesiton, but I wanted to say "WELCOME".

Hope you stick around.  We really like to see new faces here.

I married a lady from the phils in 2000.  Hope you are as successful and I was.

Stephen & Tess

[Bob S]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

"Will me standing beside her at the visa application window do any good?"

Um, what Ray said.  Also, the interview would be conducted in the P.I., not her prospective port of entry.  So to do that, you would have to travel to Manila anyway.

I understand where you're coming from.  I went through this same crap about 5 years ago for a RW (a long self-inflicted disasterous tale).  Your chances are between slim and none.  Most likely she will receive a humiliating interrogation then get sent home.  Or maybe not.  But if you love her, do you want to risk subjecting her to that risk?
If you were willing to go there for her interview anyway, and if your parents aren't on their deathbed, why not go ahead and just go for a brief vacation?
Oh yeah, if you have any photos of the two of you together in Japan, make copies for her if you didn't already.  She will need them for her fiancee interview later should things go that far.

Good luck!

[Ray]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

[This message has been edited by Ray]

Hi Scott, welcome aboard!

Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult for a single Filipina to obtain a tourist visa to the U.S.  Because so many Filipinos cheat the system and never return home after their visit, all Filipinos now have to pay the price. The bottom line is that it will be presumed that she will want to stay permanently and she must convince a consular officer that she will return home after her visit. If she has had a pervious visitor visa to the U.S., it would be a BIG help.

She can apply for a B-2 visitor visa at the embassy in Manila. The application fee is $100. She will receive an appointment for an interview and she must bring solid evidence of strong ties to the Philippines to demonstrate that she will be compelled to return after her visit. If she has a long-held steady job, owns property or has other significant assets in the Philippines, she may possibly get a temporary visitor visa. You can read all the requirements here:

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/rp1/wwwh3024.html

An affidavit of support will be of absolutely zero help. They are most concerned with her proof that she will return after her trip.

A statement from you accepting responsibility will be meaningless. She must qualify on her own merit because she an adult and she is the one who is ultimately responsible for complying with the law. Without strong ties to the Philippines, she won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting a visitor visa.

Having you with her at the interview may kill any chance that she has. When they know that she will be visiting with a “prospective mate”, they will likely assume that she will marry in the States and never return. Why would they assume that? Because it happens every day.

She can give it a try for $100, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up. From what I’ve seen, I would put her chances at about 1 in 10,000 of getting the visa. Being that she recently returned from an overseas job would make it even more difficult I would think. Young, single Filipinas are simply notorious for violating their visitor visas. However, some ladies are able to convince the interviewing officer of their sincerity and some are given visas.

My advice would be to find a way to visit her and meet her family in the Philippines. If she is living with her family, don’t be surprised if she needs chaperones when you are there. It probably won’t be anything like in Japan.

Ray

[don2222]

... in response to Re: Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Ray on Feb 11, 2004

Hi All,

I met a Filipina in Cebu a few months ago that had actually visited America before on a visitors visa.  She told me how much she liked America, and how she wished she could stay there.  I told her that I was very happy that she did not stay in America illegally, and that many Filipinas would have just stayed in America.
She told me that she had not thought of that until she returned to the Phils, and that she would be scared to try that.
Anyway, last I heard from her she had returned to America, with plans of never returning to the Phils.
Apparently her tourist visa was still valid, or she got another one, but I am guessing this time she is staying illegally.

Don

[Jeff S]

... in response to Tourist visa?  Visitor visa?, posted by Scott on Feb 10, 2004

I don't know about your visa question, I'm sure Ray or someone else will pipe in. We're about the same age and I was in the marine and offshore oil industry also, traveling all over, too, back in the mid to late 70s. Now married to a sweethert Japanese lady, just celebrating our 18th anniversary.

- Jeff