B2 Visa to Visit a Girlfriend or Friend?

[LaddyMeyer 0]

Hi All,

Thanks in advance for any insights!

I'm writing on behalf of my boyfriend who is applying for a B2 to come visit me for 3 weeks in DC. He finished his Bachelor's in pharmacy and is only working part-time now while he returns to school to get a supplementary certificate. He will graduate in December and wants to visit me before then (and can do everything but exams remotely).

My question is whether he should say I am just a friend or a girlfriend. I've heard mixed responses. I'm worried that if they know I'm a girlfriend, they will think he is a risk to stay to be with me. His trip is definitely only going to be 3 weeks and I told him to bring copies of his course registration and exam dates to his interview. Do you think this is enough? Or should he just say we are good friends and he is visiting to sightsee?

Other info--he has never applied for a US visa before and is an Egyptian national. He has no family in the US and only one other friend here, but in a different state. His interview is coming up in a couple of weeks.

Thank you!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Technically it's not a lie to call her a friend

[Boiler 43,397]

Also the Consulate are not that stupid.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Also the Consulate are not that stupid.

True.

[canadian_wife 1,785]

This question comes up a lot, the 'friend' vs. 'girl/boyfriend' question. In the end, it doesn't matter. The consular officer sees a single man going all the way to the United States to see a female they are going to think it is a serious relationship. Because in all honesty, one does not go through all the hassle and expense of getting a visa and traveling to the US for a 'friend'. Would you? I wouldn't.

So - have him call you what you are, it is the truth and it won't come back in the future to bite you - as in, "why was she your 'friend' back in the summer but now you are interviewing for a K1 visa?".

Good luck

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi,

The U.S. Consulate is well aware of the friend not girlfriend game. You would not be the first to try it. Why make your case suspicious when the U.S. Consulate is well aware of this game?

[az2014 381]

At a B2 interview they are more interested in your ties to your home country than why you are going to the USA.

I was going primarily to see my new girlfriend. I think I even made a topic on here about what to say. Anyway first queation is why are you going? My answer was 'tourism'... I then paused and thought I should at least mention something about her, and added quietly 'and to visit a friend...'.

Before I could even finish my sentence she already asked me the next question about length of stay, proposed dates, and then about 10 questions about my employment, family, previous travel, which were more important than why I was going.

[Rick&Alina 6]

They could really careless why you are going. What they really want to see is why you can't stay.

[Cathi 5,609]

Never EVER lie to immigration. Period. Alos, it doesn't matter if he has no family in the US, he has a girlfriend.

Edited August 2, 2015 by mimolicious