Tourist Visa for Your Fiancee

[Globetrotter]

As I'm putting my I129F together, and will have everything from her when I see her in Cyprus and I'll will file when I get home in Dec.  Since all my work is international and I own the store, I plan on seeing my squeee every 6 weeks or so.  

I'd read here or on another board about someone who had done the following.  After he'd filed his 129, he was visiting his girl in Russia.  He and his girl went to the counsulate in Ekterinburg, showed the counselor officer his 129, and asked she be given a tourist visa, saying, what the Hell, she'll be living there in 6 months anyway.  Why not let her in now so she can see the place and pick out some furniture and a car?  And she was given a multi-entry visa the same day.

Anyone here try this?  Seems logical, and difficult to say no to.
Anyhow, I'm going to try it in Jan. or Feb.

[zebrazeb]

... in response to Tourist Visa for Your Fiancee, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 15, 2003

You might want to be sure you really want to do this.  Because if she is denied...(and yes they stamp the passport with a denial...)...she may not be able to apply for a visa for 6 months.  Best to check the American Embassies website to see the consequences of the denial.

Why take the chance if you have the K-1 filed already??

Hope this helps

[RickM]

... in response to Tourist Visa for Your Fiancee, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 15, 2003

I suppose the only thing you better make sure of is that it does not cause the "K-1" files to become 'misplaced" or "re-catagorized" or something crazy like that....Aside from that.it sounds like a fantastic idea...

You know...It's been a little over 2and1/2 years now that my wife has been here in the states and we've been married.
I remember "distinctly" when she arrived here on the K-1 how much pressure it felt like for "both" of us with only "90 days" to make a marraige decision.It is simply not long enough with all the adjustments to her that were going on and the "cloud-9" feeling we both were dismiled by at the time.It was like a very long "date" and neither one of wanted it to end but it also seemed like there was still so much more to be experienced and discussed...

As it turned out...I couldn't stand to see here leave and neither did she want this long "date" to end so we both decided to get married.She ended up pregnant almost "instantly" and since then our love for each other has grown every day and we've certainly bonded since being blessed with the arrival of our son's birth almost 2 years ago now.We have our share of "humanistic" disagrements (mostly me about how woman love shopping and spending money...) but aside from those trivial little things our marraige seems like a relationship that was planned like we knew each other and courted for years...My family and friends simply adore her.I suppose there was an initial "instinct" on both of our behalves about each other or mother destiny simply took over for us and gave us very strong feelings for each other in a very short amount of time....

Now,every year we spend 3 or 4 weeks visiting different parts of Russia and it's former parts visiting and me meeting her relatives and friends."That" is something that would have spoken volumes about my wife's personality had I met her family and friends before I married her but they were so scattered and far away I never had the oppertunity to meet them until "after" I was married.I really believe meeting your lady in "her" home town and "meeting her family and friends" can tell you much more about her than you will learn by living together for 90 days on a K-1 visa.I had met my wife one time in person and stood a month "with" her when I first met her and she was here on a K-1 visa 12 weeks later...Alot happened fast to say the least...

With all that said...90 days goes by fast...I'd suggest doing all you can to know everything about your intended "before" she gets here because I'd put odds on it probably 99.9% of the times once she arrives here she will end up married and staying...There is something about Russian woman that is very difficult to let go of...That's "my" opinion FWIW...Best of luck with "everything" Globetrotter...

[Globetrotter]

... in response to HMMMNNNN!!!!, posted by RickM on Nov 16, 2003

Thanks for your comments.  I have met my girl some 7 yimes over 3 years.  The next time I go, we'll take a train to Ukraine to visit her mom.  But I've met most all her family and friends.  Some even taking me aside telling me how good she is, how honest, helpful, etc.  I never had doubts about this, but how hard it would be to be a counselor, priest, dad, tour guide, teacher, all with someone from a different culture, etc., plus the amazing paper chase over 2 years.  

I don't think getting a tourist visa knocks out a K1 process
but I plan on going to Eckterinburg to the consulate (much less busy than Moscow Embassy) to see.

Well, I guess I read that this was possible from another board.  My impression was that it all depends on which visa officer you see, how good a day they've had, if they like you, etc.  After all, there is no risk to give a girl a visa in this situation, as she will eventually be in this country.

Good to hear things are going well with your relationship.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: HMMMNNNN!!!!, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 16, 2003

and not over my signature, says Suzie Civil Servant. ---nothing personal against you and your lady, she sounds very nice. But put yourself in the embassy worker's shoes. They are graded (i.e. performance review) on how good a job they do of NOT having 'tourists' and 'business' visas they approved turning into 'overstays' and 'status changers' (or, post 9/11, something even worse). Were I the caseworker, I would ask myself "WHY would this woman return to her home after 6 weeks in the US with the man she wants to marry? Why would she do this? So that her boyfriend can pay for 3 airfares instead of only one?" Then I would ask myself "Why would this woman STAY in the U.S. (and put a bad mark in MY jacket)? Gee, she would already be with the guy she loves, they could get married 'on a whim', with 'no idea it was going to happen that way' (yeah, right.....that's why they wanted a fiancee visa in the first place, isn't it?) and adjust her status. So they get what they want, sooner than they deserve, and I get chewed out by the boss. No thanks.".

Sorry, but for an attractive, single lady applying for a visa (any kind EXCEPT a K-1 or K-3) to admit that she has a romantic interest in someone in the U.S. is a sure fire way for the case worker to stamp "VISA DENIED" on your lady's paperwork without even having to get to question two of the interview.

[wilmc]

... in response to Not on my watch, posted by Michael B on Nov 16, 2003

In 2000 I accompanied my RW girl friend to the US Embassy to support her application for a tourist visa to visit USA.  That could not have been a "good day," for while we were there every applicant was turned down.  I observed how unhappy the Russians were to have their passports stamped with the denial.  When it was our turn I went with my friend and offered to sponsor and even post a bond, for her visit.  The bureaucrat asked if I intended to marry my RW friend and I made the mistake of truthfully saying "maybe," but that it depended upon her ability to be comfortable in the USA which only a visit would determine.  He immediately shut me off and said that I must apply for a K1 fiancee visa and that he would deny our application for a tourist visa. I watched as his stamp was raised above my friend's passport and I could sense her distress.  I asked the clerk if there was anything we could do to prevent her passport being stamped.  He said we could withdraw the application.  We immediately did so and he returned the passport unmarked.  Needless to say the application fee was not refunded.

[Globetrotter]

... in response to VISA DENIED, posted by wilmc on Nov 17, 2003

What you and Michael and Rick say is all true and possible.
The difference between when I will ask and when you asked is I will already have my 129 filed.  She will be leaving her flat, dacha and 2 girls behind.  (She certainly needs to come back to collect her kids!)  And, I'm saying it has been done before.  Can't say how many times as I don't know,
and when the time comes, we will take a train trip to E'burg
and ask if they will do it.  Maybe they will and maybe they won't.  It would be a nice break for her in the middle of the process.  But again, it doesn't matter to me, we'll have a nice train ride, and the attempt will be made.

That's ALL I'm saying.

[Globetrotter]

... in response to Not on my watch, posted by Michael B on Nov 16, 2003

Thank you Michael for your comments, and yours is an interesting scenario and I know it can happen.  But....on the other hand, the Embassy or consulates MUST approve some "safe" visas or they look like an ass because they denied everyone, which looks bad...government to government.
For them, this is an easy call, and if I am with her and explain that she won't break any law, I would think I have a better chance at approval than not.  But we will see.  Nothing against working guys, but if you own the store, you have more horsepower.  I have walked into the US Embassy in Colombo, unannounced, and asked to speak to the ambassador, and I met him, a former governor of  When asked why, I said I was a taxpayer who contributed to his and their salary, had some international business to discuss, and was ussured in.  I have learned if you got the balls, you can make it happen...(as opposed to those who watch things happen, worse, those who wonder what happened.)

Anything can happen.  Being an optimist, I will hope I can pull it off.  After all, no pain, no gain....kind of like I'm going through now with this "adventure."  I told her not to count on anything but 9-12 months, and I will see her 3-4 times while we wait...so no sweat either way.  But it would be nice to give some who will wait forever (they think) a break in the process.  And, Eckterinburg is a 20 hour train ride from Saratov, which could be fun, and she's game.

Thanks again.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Not on my watch, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 16, 2003

You're welcome, but I think you missed the point. This is NOT a 'safe' visa for Suzie Civil Servant to isuse. Once again, your fiancee has nothing to gain by returning to her home and everything to gain (gets to the US sooner and possibly saves money to boot) by staying in the US (via getting married and filing for adjustment of status) once she gets here. A 'safe' visa is an old married woman who manages an apartment complex which she owns and has two sickly children that she's leaving behind, not a sweet young thing who wants her boyfriend to take her furniture shopping to furnish the house she intends to live in once she's in the US. The caseworker, on the other hand, gains NOTHING if she grants your request and stands to get in trouble if she does and then your lady friend stiffs her. I'm not trying to rain on the parade, I don't think it will hurt her any (except for the wasted filing fees and possible frustration) to apply for the tourist visa, so go for it. Good luck.

[Globetrotter]

... in response to Re: Re: Not on my watch, posted by Michael B on Nov 16, 2003

Actually, my squeeze risks EVERYTHING by violating conditions of a tourist visa, one of which is...don't get married on it, and if you do, go home and wait for the K1, which is already in process.  So, why would she violate it, for a few months, thousands in legal fees we can avoid by doing what is agreed to?

[Globetrotter]

... in response to Re: Re: Not on my watch, posted by Michael B on Nov 16, 2003

I still think as in my above post...and we shall see, plus I don't care one way or another!!!

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Not on my watch, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 16, 2003

I guess there "is" some method to all this madness...

1)I tend to agree after reading the posts...This is certainly not a "safe" visa issuance situation for the Counselor's office..."Safe" means they have a high probability they will return back to Russia...This smells like everything else but to "them"..."They" issue K-1's for situations like you have..."Not" tourist visas...

2)Why spend so much money and time on the matter when it's only a matter of a few months more the K-1 gets approved  and she'll be on her way over here anyway...

Well,best of luck however it turns out...I'm still more inclined to believe she'd be denied and I don't think she'd want that stamped in her visa because "THAT" could have a negative reflection on her getting her K-1 approved...Get the point I'm trying to express???

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Tourist Visa for Your Fiancee, posted by Globetrotter on Nov 15, 2003

I hope it works for you.  Keep us informed.