B-2 Visitor Visa for Fiancee
American men call me to tell me their story, sometimes it goes like this:
“I want her to come here first”
“I met this great gal online. She lives on the other side of the world. we haven’t met in-person yet, and I want to meet her face to face, but I am “too busy at work” or “afraid of flying” or “my health is poor” or simply “I want her to come here first”.
“Girl Friend” Visas do not exist
Unfortunately for these guys, there is no such thing as a “girlfriend” visa. The closest alternatives are a Visitor visa (sometimes called a tourist visa) or a Fiance Visa.
But a fiancee visa requires that the couple has already met in-person, and not only that, but that they are dead serious to marry. The guys who called with their problem, aren’t quite ready to commit yet.
This leaves the B-2 Visitor visa.
The good news:
Applying for the B-2 visa only costs $160, and in a short month or two you have your answer.
The bad news:
To be approved, the consular officer must be convinced there is NO POSSIBLE CHANCE your girlfriend would overstay, or in any way try to remain in the USA permanently.
Maybe it is not yet on YOUR mind, but guaranteed, she IS thinking of a possible marriage and a life together with you in the USA. Her “intent to eventually live in the USA” in practice makes her ineligible for the visa.
“Sorry, you applied for the wrong visa”
Most consulate officers response at the end of the interview would be “Sorry, you applied for the wrong visa. The fiance visa is the one you should apply for instead. Work out the eligibility requirements, with your boyfriend first, then apply for the K-1 fiance visa, and I will see you here again at the end of that process”
Even though the Visitor Visa is very likely to be denied, many couples apply anyway, in hopes of winning the lottery.
And some, DO win and Do get their visas. It depends on the consular officer.
If you follow the rules, you have got nothing to lose.
Being denied for a visitor visa, because she “applied for the WRONG visa” should not hurt her chances for any future visas.
Everything she says will be REMEMBERED
HOWEVER, everything she says is placed into her immigration record. She must be very careful to ALWAYS tell the truth. If she is ever caught making fraudulent statements to a consular officer, that may result in her being banned from getting ANY visa to the USA, FOREVER.
Where the temptation to lie is greatest, is when she is asked
“What is the purpose of your trip?”, “Who do you know in the USA?” or “Who is paying for your trip?”
If the truthful response is. “My Boyfriend, My Boyfriend, My Boyfriend.” She better say so.
Always tell the truth
When dealing with immigration, always tell the truth. Don’t volunteer information, but always provide honest answers. If the answer truly is “my boyfriend” or “my fiance”, then that is exactly what MUST be said.
In the majority of cases, she will most likely be denied the visitor visa.
Later, when she applies for a fiance or spouse visa, the chance of getting that visa should be high (especially when the couple hires me to coach them) HOWEVER, if she was caught lying to US immigration, even if it was for something as un-important as visitor visa, her chances of getting the LIFE-CHANGING fiance or spouse visa will be hurt.
Don’t expect a happy outcome if today while being interviewed for a visitor visa she denies knowing you, then a few months later, in front of the same consular officer she changes the story to tell him you have been a serious couple engaged for over a year.
I make the process sound simple. But its not.
If you want it done right. Guaranteed. I can help.
Fred Wahl
your Personal Visa Coach