Tourist Visas

[ChapterZero 0]

Hello everyone,

I apologize first of all for my bad english.

I am italian and my boyfriend lives in the States. I am going to visit him this summer for 3 weeks more or less. I would love to spend more time with him that's why we were thinking about applying for the B2 visa, so I could stay with him for 6 months.

I would apply for the B2 as soon as I come back home after this summer.

Do you guys think that my summer visit could create any sort of problem if I apply for the B2?

Also, my boyfriend has a bad credit background and he also had troubles with the DUI 2 years ago but still getting through it.. Can this create any problems with any kind of application? Do they do any sort of check on him? Or just on me (since I am the one who applies) I have, on my side, any bad credit background and never had any law troubles. I also have a good work position. etc.

I know it might be a silly question, but I am getting so nervous reading all the possibilities of being denied.

Thanks in advance!

[Max1gk 68]

Hello everyone,

I apologize first of all for my bad english.

I am italian and my boyfriend lives in the States. I am going to visit him this summer for 3 weeks more or less. I would love to spend more time with him that's why we were thinking about applying for the B2 visa, so I could stay with him for 6 months.

I would apply for the B2 as soon as I come back home after this summer.

Do you guys think that my summer visit could create any sort of problem if I apply for the B2?

Also, my boyfriend has a bad credit background and he also had troubles with the DUI 2 years ago but still getting through it.. Can this create any problems with any kind of application? Do they do any sort of check on him? Or just on me (since I am the one who applies) I have, on my side, any bad credit background and never had any law troubles. I also have a good work position. etc.

I know it might be a silly question, but I am getting so nervous reading all the possibilities of being denied.

Thanks in advance!

Ciao Chapter,

his financial situation is irrelevant to the Embassy here. To be approved you need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself during your vacation period without the help of a US resident or citizen and that you have strong ties to Italy that show that you have every interest in coming back home - otherwise you might be refused and that means that you won't be able neither to travel anymore on the VWP. Rent,properties,pay stubs are all things that will prove that you have ties here and make your life easier in obtaning your B2 but still the CO will have the final word on it.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You can apply for a B2, but if they deny it based on presumed immigration intent--which is what they are required to think--you cannot use the VWP anymore. From thereon your boyfriend and you will have to meet in Italy. I therefore strongly advise you not to apply for a B2 visa. It's extremely risky in a situation like yours.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

I agree with JustBob- they tend to look with suspicion on people from Visa Waiver countries who want a B2, because why do you need to stay longer than 90 days? You are not supposed to live (and cannot work) on a B2.

[Max1gk 68]

You can apply for a B2, but if they deny it based on presumed immigration intent--which is what they are required to think--you cannot use the VWP anymore. From thereon your boyfriend and you will have to meet in Italy. I therefore strongly advise you not to apply for a B2 visa. It's extremely risky in a situation like yours.

Bob may I ask you something since we're talking about B2s?

What will be more convenient for my parents when they want to visit me and also their yet to come grandkids for even a couple of months if not more occasionally? VWP or a B2? For now only my dad would be in that position cause he retired less then 2 years ago. I figured that maybe a B2 holder has an "easier" life at POE without having to carry with him/her proof of ties back home..or I'm wrong?

thanks

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

What will be more convenient for my parents when they want to visit me and also their yet to come grandkids for even a couple of months if not more occasionally? VWP or a B2?

VWP is easier, unless there is some reason they really, really need to spend more than 90 days at a time in the USA. My Swiss mother (mid 60's, not working, no family in Switzerland- no ties other than home ownership) has come to visit us 5 times in the 2.5 years we've been here in Arkansas, and never had to show ties. When asked the purpose of her visit, she says to come see her daughter and grandkids, and has never had any trouble. She's never stayed longer than 2 months though, and always had a return ticket.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

People from a VWP country really need a good reason to apply for a B2. That reason has to be good in the eyes of a US consular officer that is trained to always assume that the visitor will overstay in the US.

"Normal" people cannot really afford a vacation that takes longer than 90 days. If the visa seeker is retired an a low risk--and, believe me when I say that--from a "good" or low risk country, that may work well. But if a young girl without many ties to her home country tries to . . . um, "stay" with her boyfriend for 6 months, that's automatically a red flag. A red flag doesn't mean she had no chance to get her B2, but it means her chances are 50/50 at best and thus like putting a chip on red or black at the Casino. I wouldn't try to do that if I can't afford to lose my money on that game.

[Max1gk 68]

Thanks for the replies guys

[Harsh_77 718]

Bob may I ask you something since we're talking about B2s?

What will be more convenient for my parents when they want to visit me and also their yet to come grandkids for even a couple of months if not more occasionally? VWP or a B2? For now only my dad would be in that position cause he retired less then 2 years ago. I figured that maybe a B2 holder has an "easier" life at POE without having to carry with him/her proof of ties back home..or I'm wrong?

thanks

Nope even for someone entering on B2 has to have the evidence that they are visiting and would be returning back to their home country upon completetion of their trip.

[ChapterZero 0]

You can apply for a B2, but if they deny it based on presumed immigration intent--which is what they are required to think--you cannot use the VWP anymore. From thereon your boyfriend and you will have to meet in Italy. I therefore strongly advise you not to apply for a B2 visa. It's extremely risky in a situation like yours.

THank you so much for the reply -- I thought applying for the B2 was a good thing so I could spend more time with my boyfriend. There is of course no immigration intent, just the need and desire to spend more time with him.... but i see the point, and If i were in them I would be suspicious too...but it would not change the fact I have a return ticket? Or that I have a job?

Anyway, the risk seems a bit too high to even try..

What do you guys think is the best? Just keep going with the VWP? How many times I can travel in the USA with the VWP in a year? Like for example, I stay there for 80 days, when I could come back again ? after 80 other days spent in my country side?

I just want to do things in a right way without getting in trouble for nothing.

THanks again everyone for the reply!

[Max1gk 68]

THank you so much for the reply -- I thought applying for the B2 was a good thing so I could spend more time with my boyfriend. There is of course no immigration intent, just the need and desire to spend more time with him.... but i see the point, and If i were in them I would be suspicious too...but it would not change the fact I have a return ticket? Or that I have a job?

Anyway, the risk seems a bit too high to even try..

What do you guys think is the best? Just keep going with the VWP? How many times I can travel in the USA with the VWP in a year? Like for example, I stay there for 80 days, when I could come back again ? after 80 other days spent in my country side?

I just want to do things in a right way without getting in trouble for nothing.

THanks again everyone for the reply!

Chapter, there's technically no law that says how often and how long you can travel and stay there under the VWP. It's all up to the Immigration officer that will inspect you; in general the more time you spend in the States the higher the chances that they will suspect you live with him or have real immigration intent..Be sure to carry with you good ties that prove that you have all intentions to go back home and please be honest when they ask you the purpose of your visit. I've seen many here trying to hide that they were visiting a loved one..I always said I was engaged with a US citizen and never had a single problem. Whatever you will decide, stick to the VWP,cause if you'd ever be denied a B2 as others stated,you won't be able to travel under the VWP anymore.

Good luck for everything to both of you!