Getting a tourist visa for my turkish fiance. Whats our chance?

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

Hi everyone. Im a us citizen 18 years old living in turkey for the past 2 years with my mom who is also a us citizen. My dad lives in los angeles and is remarried to an indonesian girl for the past 10 or so years but shes still not a citizen. Within the first months of coming to turkey I meet my now fiance who is 21. He was my neighbor and I was friends with his sister. Well 2 long and great years have past and I need to go back to the states to get started on my work and school and save money for our future. Plus I dont want to stay here longer. Anyways when Im going back I would love for him to come and visit my siblings and dad and step mom then he can return in a few months. He has to because he has a huge farm they farm year round and also he needs to be back for his brothers wedding. Weve decided to put all the sponsor documents in my step moms name because she makes all the money. Manages a huge restaurant. Our first concern was that because shes not a citizen it may look bad. Were going to get our interview in istanbul for in a few weeks but now im starting to get so bummed out. Cuz ive been asking around so much about our chances and so many people are saying hell get denied. Because hes coming there and he has my family and me and it looks like hell just stay. He never would because were not ready and his family needs him here for now and we dont plan to get married for a year or so but they cant know that for sure. I just want to know what do you guys think? Im starting to get low hopes even though I started with high hopes because I thought how could they say no when he has a good sponsor and good reason to go and hes going with me and weve been together 2 years. But I do understand they could think well just go to marry. Would saying were just bf and gf help at all? Or is our attempt to be doomed either way? Any help or thoughts would be so greatly apprecieted!

[JohnR! 5,495]

Hi everyone. Im a us citizen 18 years old living in turkey for the past 2 years with my mom who is also a us citizen. My dad lives in los angeles and is remarried to an indonesian girl for the past 10 or so years but shes still not a citizen. Within the first months of coming to turkey I meet my now fiance who is 21. He was my neighbor and I was friends with his sister. Well 2 long and great years have past and I need to go back to the states to get started on my work and school and save money for our future. Plus I dont want to stay here longer. Anyways when Im going back I would love for him to come and visit my siblings and dad and step mom then he can return in a few months. He has to because he has a huge farm they farm year round and also he needs to be back for his brothers wedding. Weve decided to put all the sponsor documents in my step moms name because she makes all the money. Manages a huge restaurant. Our first concern was that because shes not a citizen it may look bad. Were going to get our interview in istanbul for in a few weeks but now im starting to get so bummed out. Cuz ive been asking around so much about our chances and so many people are saying hell get denied. Because hes coming there and he has my family and me and it looks like hell just stay. He never would because were not ready and his family needs him here for now and we dont plan to get married for a year or so but they cant know that for sure. I just want to know what do you guys think? Im starting to get low hopes even though I started with high hopes because I thought how could they say no when he has a good sponsor and good reason to go and hes going with me and weve been together 2 years. But I do understand they could think well just go to marry. Would saying were just bf and gf help at all? Or is our attempt to be doomed either way? Any help or thoughts would be so greatly apprecieted!

Mendria, in principle his visa application needs to be supported by his standing in Turkey, which means he will have to present evidence that he has no intention of staying in the US, that he can fund his own trip, by means of showing evidence of ties with his country - land/property deeds, employment records, etc. At his age, it is a tall order but he will never know unless he tries.

Although the purpose of his trip is to visit a family of friends he got to know in Tukey, there is nothing your family can do to help him get his visa. There is no sponsorship for tourist visas, unfortunately.

Voluntarily disclosing your relationship will not help either, furthermore. bf/gf is not considered a stable relationship. However he cannot lie is asked about it specifically, by the interviewer.

Edited June 21, 2012 by Gegel

[Noah Lot 391]

Hi everyone. Im a us citizen 18 years old living in turkey for the past 2 years with my mom who is also a us citizen. My dad lives in los angeles and is remarried to an indonesian girl for the past 10 or so years but shes still not a citizen. Within the first months of coming to turkey I meet my now fiance who is 21. He was my neighbor and I was friends with his sister. Well 2 long and great years have past and I need to go back to the states to get started on my work and school and save money for our future. Plus I dont want to stay here longer. Anyways when Im going back I would love for him to come and visit my siblings and dad and step mom then he can return in a few months. He has to because he has a huge farm they farm year round and also he needs to be back for his brothers wedding. Weve decided to put all the sponsor documents in my step moms name because she makes all the money. Manages a huge restaurant. Our first concern was that because shes not a citizen it may look bad. Were going to get our interview in istanbul for in a few weeks but now im starting to get so bummed out. Cuz ive been asking around so much about our chances and so many people are saying hell get denied. Because hes coming there and he has my family and me and it looks like hell just stay. He never would because were not ready and his family needs him here for now and we dont plan to get married for a year or so but they cant know that for sure. I just want to know what do you guys think? Im starting to get low hopes even though I started with high hopes because I thought how could they say no when he has a good sponsor and good reason to go and hes going with me and weve been together 2 years. But I do understand they could think well just go to marry. Would saying were just bf and gf help at all? Or is our attempt to be doomed either way? Any help or thoughts would be so greatly apprecieted!

By now you may have realized that there is no such thing as 'sponsorship' for tourist visas....your BF must convince the VO that he will depart the US rather than stay put with you....all the documents in the world from your step mother or other third parties are not relevant. What matters are the reasons he has for returning to Turkey...with the backdrop of him now having a USC GF/fiancee, that will be even more difficult for him to prove or convince the VO that he won't stay, marry you and live happily ever after, especially if step mom is paying the freight, which will work against him (not having sufficient income/money to pay his own way, will give the impression that his economic ties to Turkey are fragile, at best).

[Ning 619]

Hi everyone. Im a us citizen 18 years old living in turkey for the past 2 years with my mom who is also a us citizen. My dad lives in los angeles and is remarried to an indonesian girl for the past 10 or so years but shes still not a citizen. Within the first months of coming to turkey I meet my now fiance who is 21. He was my neighbor and I was friends with his sister. Well 2 long and great years have past and I need to go back to the states to get started on my work and school and save money for our future. Plus I dont want to stay here longer. Anyways when Im going back I would love for him to come and visit my siblings and dad and step mom then he can return in a few months. He has to because he has a huge farm they farm year round and also he needs to be back for his brothers wedding. Weve decided to put all the sponsor documents in my step moms name because she makes all the money. Manages a huge restaurant. Our first concern was that because shes not a citizen it may look bad. Were going to get our interview in istanbul for in a few weeks but now im starting to get so bummed out. Cuz ive been asking around so much about our chances and so many people are saying hell get denied. Because hes coming there and he has my family and me and it looks like hell just stay. He never would because were not ready and his family needs him here for now and we dont plan to get married for a year or so but they cant know that for sure. I just want to know what do you guys think? Im starting to get low hopes even though I started with high hopes because I thought how could they say no when he has a good sponsor and good reason to go and hes going with me and weve been together 2 years. But I do understand they could think well just go to marry. Would saying were just bf and gf help at all? Or is our attempt to be doomed either way? Any help or thoughts would be so greatly apprecieted!

You will have to eliminate the confusion about what is important in applying for a tourist visa. All of this story about the family ect has zero to do with the application. In fact it will probably be the reason for the denial.

He applies for the tourist visa on his merits. He is approved based on his ability to comply with the strongest ties rule. That means he must prove beyond DOUBT that he will return. All these ties to you & the US family ect will not help. He has more reason to stay in the USA than to leave.

In the end he wont know unless he steps up to the window for the interview. He must prepare to explain the reasons he must return. Many times they dont give people a chance to even explain if the docs dont warrant it.

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

You will have to eliminate the confusion about what is important in applying for a tourist visa. All of this story about the family ect has zero to do with the application. In fact it will probably be the reason for the denial.

He applies for the tourist visa on his merits. He is approved based on his ability to comply with the strongest ties rule. That means he must prove beyond DOUBT that he will return. All these ties to you & the US family ect will not help. He has more reason to stay in the USA than to leave.

In the end he wont know unless he steps up to the window for the interview. He must prepare to explain the reasons he must return. Many times they dont give people a chance to even explain if the docs dont warrant it.

Thanks for the reply!. Sure it wasnt how I hoped but its much better to get the facts now. So do you think that if he can prove hell come back..such as showing he has a huge farm that makes 30k a year and if he has money in the bank like 10k dollars or 15k dollars ..he should just be as if hes applying on his own. Like he doesnt have me or my family and hes going there by himself and will stay at a hotel and just travel for a few months? To me that also sounds like a denial waiting to happen.

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

You will have to eliminate the confusion about what is important in applying for a tourist visa. All of this story about the family ect has zero to do with the application. In fact it will probably be the reason for the denial.

He applies for the tourist visa on his merits. He is approved based on his ability to comply with the strongest ties rule. That means he must prove beyond DOUBT that he will return. All these ties to you & the US family ect will not help. He has more reason to stay in the USA than to leave.

In the end he wont know unless he steps up to the window for the interview. He must prepare to explain the reasons he must return. Many times they dont give people a chance to even explain if the docs dont warrant it.

Thanks for the reply!. Sure it wasnt how I hoped but its much better to get the facts now. So do you think that if he can prove hell come back..such as showing he has a huge farm that makes 30k a year and if he has money in the bank like 10k dollars or 15k dollars ..he should just be as if hes applying on his own. Like he doesnt have me or my family and hes going there by himself and will stay at a hotel and just travel for a few months? To me that also sounds like a denial waiting to happen.

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

You will have to eliminate the confusion about what is important in applying for a tourist visa. All of this story about the family ect has zero to do with the application. In fact it will probably be the reason for the denial.

He applies for the tourist visa on his merits. He is approved based on his ability to comply with the strongest ties rule. That means he must prove beyond DOUBT that he will return. All these ties to you & the US family ect will not help. He has more reason to stay in the USA than to leave.

In the end he wont know unless he steps up to the window for the interview. He must prepare to explain the reasons he must return. Many times they dont give people a chance to even explain if the docs dont warrant it.

Thanks for the reply!. Sure it wasnt how I hoped but its much better to get the facts now. So do you think that if he can prove hell come back..such as showing he has a huge farm that makes 30k a year and if he has money in the bank like 10k dollars or 15k dollars ..he should just be as if hes applying on his own. Like he doesnt have me or my family and hes going there by himself and will stay at a hotel and just travel for a few months? To me that also sounds like a denial waiting to happen.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Well, he should never lie. If he is going to visit you and your family then he probably needs to disclose it if asked. He will probably be asked if he knows anyone from the US - that he must answer yes to. Also if asked where he is staying, then he should obviously answer truthfully.

Good luck

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Highlighting his work on the large and prosperous farm is a good idea. Highlighting that your step mom, who he has never met, will pay his way in the US is not a good idea.

[sarah86 8]

I dont think you guys should mention your relationship at all. If you are going to be departing prior to his interview, he could just say he wants to go an a vacation and travel outside of Turkey and since he has close friends in US, he chose that as destination. Like the others said, him having a gf here will probably hurt his case more than help it. As long as he shows about 15-20 grand in his account and that he will be returning back within couple weeks or months by somehow proving he has a large responsibility at the farm that he cant just abandon, he should be fine I believe. Ive actually thought about this too for my fiancee cause we didnt want to wait the six seven months for the k1, but although he does own a grocery market, he was not going to be able to show that much in his account to cover his expenses and we doubted they might accept the market as a time back thinking his family can just run it if he decided not to return and stuff so we decided to just go with the k1. I know what your feeling though, I wish we could do the tourist, we have so much to work out financially prior to marriage but we dont want to be apart while dealing with all that so here we are

anyway, good luck to you guys, hope it all works out.

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

Thanks everyone for the replies its really helped. Without your guys thoughts I would have dont everything completely wrong and now Ive got a whole new plan. Still a little scared about talking about the fact that he has a gf in the states tho. Even if he has that money in the bank and has the farm responsibility I worried if he says he just going to visit some FRİENDS that hell get denied. Cuz hes just a farmer and never left the country..they might not understand what someone like that is doing going straight to great ol america. I almost feel better saying he has me and hes going to stay with us but he has enough ties to turkey to return. And plus now ill be returning to turkey also I think..so maybe if they believe that itll also help. But another thing I dont know about is if theyre gonna ask for any of these things? for the farm and such..what if they dont ask for the stuff to show..

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

I dont think you guys should mention your relationship at all. If you are going to be departing prior to his interview, he could just say he wants to go an a vacation and travel outside of Turkey and since he has close friends in US, he chose that as destination. Like the others said, him having a gf here will probably hurt his case more than help it. As long as he shows about 15-20 grand in his account and that he will be returning back within couple weeks or months by somehow proving he has a large responsibility at the farm that he cant just abandon, he should be fine I believe. Ive actually thought about this too for my fiancee cause we didnt want to wait the six seven months for the k1, but although he does own a grocery market, he was not going to be able to show that much in his account to cover his expenses and we doubted they might accept the market as a time back thinking his family can just run it if he decided not to return and stuff so we decided to just go with the k1. I know what your feeling though, I wish we could do the tourist, we have so much to work out financially prior to marriage but we dont want to be apart while dealing with all that so here we are

anyway, good luck to you guys, hope it all works out.

Its nice to know someone feels the same! Id take the same route as you but my fiancee isnt ready he says to leave..ugh. I dont know where your fiancee is from in turkey exactly but mines actually kurdish and if you are even slightly familiar with their culture youd understand about why they have to wait to be ready and wait for there older brothers to get married and such and such. He only has one who still needs to get married and who he probably wont even wait for but still hes just not ready. And Im curious tho ..Ive heard many many people who put fake money in their account. While we dont need to do this luckily Ive known several people who have. Why didnt you guys do that?

[Noah Lot 391]

Thanks everyone for the replies its really helped. Without your guys thoughts I would have dont everything completely wrong and now Ive got a whole new plan. Still a little scared about talking about the fact that he has a gf in the states tho. Even if he has that money in the bank and has the farm responsibility I worried if he says he just going to visit some FRİENDS that hell get denied. Cuz hes just a farmer and never left the country..they might not understand what someone like that is doing going straight to great ol america. I almost feel better saying he has me and hes going to stay with us but he has enough ties to turkey to return. And plus now ill be returning to turkey also I think..so maybe if they believe that itll also help. But another thing I dont know about is if theyre gonna ask for any of these things? for the farm and such..what if they dont ask for the stuff to show..

A good VO will ask a few probing questions and measure the responses given...a good VO will observe his hands...are they farmer's hands or banker's hands? If asked a question or two about farming, will his answers be quick and spot on, or evasive or memorized? and the ole 'visiting friends' (none of whom he has likely seen in 15 years) will sound as credible as....well....you know. If the VO senses he is trying to hide an answer, that will seal his fate in a hurry, because the VOs do not have the luxury of spending 30 minutes with each applicant, hold his or her hand, and behave like a psychologist....

[Ismail+Cassie 36]

Thanks for the response Well he was going to bring the papers from the government stating that him and his brother have that huge farm. And stating that a portion is ONLY his and that no one can sell or buy it or anything without him there. And a paper taht also states how much the farm makes every year. Also that paper that says he owns a car. if that helps haha. Theyll ask for these papers right? I mean anyone could say they are a farmer thats why hes gna bring these papers. Also his bank balance paper. And ya were definatly just gonna tell the truth. He lives here in turkey with me right now not sure how to prove that or if it even matters or how to prove ill also be coming back or if THAT even matters but were just gna tell the truth. I have a better feeling that way. I just have no idea about if these papers even matter if theyll even want the papers or if theyll even be interested in me or my family after learning that he want to go with me to visit. Grrrr