Hello all, i am very new to VJ, and just reading thru all of the forms am pretty overwhelmed. I am newly engaged to a jamaican man, who i love alot. I am going to see him in July and want to bring him to visit me in September in the states, before we start the whole paperwork journey. I have read on here about visitor visas and fiancee visas/ If we apply for a visitor visa, will it hurt our chances later of applying for a fiancee visa? HElp!!!

Welcome - I would suggest reading this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=125695

I don't think that applying for a visitor's visa would hurt your chances - however, you need to be aware of how difficult that it is to get a visitor's visa - He has to prove strong ties to the country, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Plus, applying for a visitor's visa, even now, might not be granted by September -

Strong ties being a great job, immediate family like kids, property, a pretty big bank account......he has to prove reasons to come back beyond a shadow of a doubt. It's pretty hard for the average Jamaican to get a visitor's visa. Try.....absolutely.....but don't be overly disappointed if he is denied. It should have absolutely no bearing on filing any other type of visa.

My cousin was denied 3 times for a visitor's visa...had no affect on his K-1. He's here now. Been here 3 years.

Keep in mind, you have to pay to apply for that visitor visa. Might be better to use the money for the K-1.

I agree with the others, it is hard to get a visiting visa. I was denied a visitors visa while i was in university and when I was working however it did not affect my K1 application. There was no mention of it at my interview neither at POE. The only way to be certain it to try. All the best.

Also be aware that if it is found out your SO is coming on a visitor visa when in fact you are engaged, your SO would likely face deportation proceedings. How likely is that happening is another question because USCIS considers coming to the U.S. for a tourist visa (or other non-K1 visa for that matter) with the intent to marry as fraud.

He won't face deportation if he is JUST visiting. There is no rule or law that says that you cannot visit a spouse or finace with a tourist visa. In actuality you could come to the US and get married, but in the end it may look suspect even though you weren't doing anything suspect. The issue with people from many non-European countries visiting the US is that you are guilty until proven innocent. If you look at the Canada, UK, France, Australia forums....you'll see and read people visiting the US, getting married, applying for visas while in the US...all day long. Its a huge unfairness, but what people have told you above about needing to show strong ties to JA for a visitor visa is very true.

Thank you, Thank you to all of you, for your information. As i stated, i am so overwhelmed by the whole process,i dont even know where to begin...but im pretty certain with the support i see offered on Visa Journey, that i will work it out.

That's not entirely true. If he is just visiting, then, no he would not face deportation unless something crazy like illegal things were going on.

However, if he specifically came to the US to marry her, using his visitors visa, there are circumstances that could arrise to cause deportation and banning. It is illegal to use a visitor's visa if the intent is to marry and stay. It is all about intent. Be very careful.

That's what I was getting at.

I know. I was sticking up for you.

At the beginning I considered the feasibility of a tourist visa or student visa before I even knew what a fiancee visa was. When I figured that out, it seemed the best choice for us since she would still have the rights to study, travel, and become a U.S. citizen (eventually) without getting into a likely complicated and stressful process of adjusting from student/tourist visa to permanent resident.

Yes it is illegal to use a visitor visa with an intent to stay, not to marry and return back to your home country.