K1 beneficiary wants mother to come to wedding in US

[notusinganymore 31]

Good day!

I am still waiting for my NOA2 to arrive but I'm just wondering on how my mom can come to the US to attend my wedding. We are thinking of a tourist visa but my mom (beneficiary's mother) doesn't have any of those "strong ties" here in the Philippines. She does work as a cashier for my aunt's school but has only been working for 5 months so no income tax return for a year. I was wondering on how long it would take to process a tourist visa and would the K1 beneficiary's mother have a good chance in attending the wedding considering that the mother does not have "strong ties" and can only start processing the tourist visa once K1 is approved and that's in a span of less than 3 months.

Other info: My aunt and uncle would want to come to the wedding also. My aunt was once denied of a tourist visa because she answered the income wrongly. This would then be the second time that she will apply with my mother. My aunt just recently retired from her work though both my mom and my aunt have bank accounts here in Philippines but there really isn't much there also. Other than going to my wedding they would also want to go to California and Hawaii to visit my other relatives who are already US citizens and if it helps, they have vouched that they will shoulder the expenses that my aunt, uncle, and mom will incur. That's from plane tickets to board and lodging so what my aunt, uncle, and mom would bring is their pocket or extra money which would maybe only close to $2,000 each.

I hope you can help me to shed some light in this dilemma. I would really want to see these people in my wedding as my aunt is the only sibling of my late father and my of course my mom is very important.

Thank you.

[Kastrs 723]

I have been wondering the same thing lately...Hopefully there is someone that has some experience with this type of situation.

[lillakatoussa 12]

If mom doesn't have strong ties (and even if she did) they would likely deny her a tourist visa. Especially because she has family here. It is unfortunate but when my sis-in-law's sister (also Filipina) was dying not even our good senator and congressmen could get her parents over here to see her or later, attend the funeral and they had STRONG ties (good jobs, prominent in their community, owned property). It doesn't hurt to try but I wouldn't be too hopeful, that way if she somehow is issued a tourist visa you can be pleasantly surprised.

Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news. Good luck.

[raf.luv.leah 5]

I don't want to jump the gun because they're not yet approved, but my parents are also applying for a tourist visa to attend my wedding (interview on the 25th). I think the main thing you should do now is to look for ways to strengthen/show their ties here.

One of my parents' strong ties here include my younger brothers who are still in school that they will temporarily leave behind. Do you have anything like that - dependents on your parents?

If employment ties are not strong, maybe you can temporarily loan money to start a small business, like a sari-sari store?

Good luck. to both of us

[notusinganymore 31]

If mom doesn't have strong ties (and even if she did) they would likely deny her a tourist visa. Especially because she has family here. It is unfortunate but when my sis-in-law's sister (also Filipina) was dying not even our good senator and congressmen could get her parents over here to see her or later, attend the funeral and they had STRONG ties (good jobs, prominent in their community, owned property). It doesn't hurt to try but I wouldn't be too hopeful, that way if she somehow is issued a tourist visa you can be pleasantly surprised.

Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news. Good luck.

That's ok. I appreciate the reply. A lot of people had been telling me that they are ok to come because they will be there for my wedding and I am the first one to get married between me and my older. It's good to know though. Thanks for your insights.

[notusinganymore 31]

I don't want to jump the gun because they're not yet approved, but my parents are also applying for a tourist visa to attend my wedding (interview on the 25th). I think the main thing you should do now is to look for ways to strengthen/show their ties here.

One of my parents' strong ties here include my younger brothers who are still in school that they will temporarily leave behind. Do you have anything like that - dependents on your parents?

If employment ties are not strong, maybe you can temporarily loan money to start a small business, like a sari-sari store?

Good luck. to both of us

That's really good news for you still. I hope things go well. How long does it take to process the tourist visa for an interview? I'm assuming on your timeline that you are waiting for them to finish their visa before leaving the country. Did they start to process their tourist visa after you got your visa or did it take long for them to schedule for an interview?

My sister btw is working abroad in Saudi but she is with us right now but she is planning to go out of the country again. My mom would be left with no one here other than her siblings and the school where she works as the cashier. My late father was a soldier so she has bank accounts with 2 military organizations and they both have standing balances. My aunt wants to go with as she had recently retired and wants to treat herself. I'm not sure how much her retirement fund is and i never really asked since my other relatives were so earnest to encouraging them to come and they will be the one to shoulder the expenses. My other relatives are well off and had been USC for maybe at least 25 years. My USC aunt said that her vouching for my aunt, uncle, and mom won't hold much water compared to me inviting them and listing them as my sponsors for the wedding. I really don't know how true this is though.

Edited February 4, 2013 by emmandenn

[raf.luv.leah 5]

That's really good news for you still. I hope things go well. How long does it take to process the tourist visa for an interview? I'm assuming on your timeline that you are waiting for them to finish their visa before leaving the country. Did they start to process their tourist visa after you got your visa or did it take long for them to schedule for an interview?

When I called to schedule their interview, the earliest one was 6 weeks away. Yours may be different, but I think it's safe to expect around a month's wait.

Yes, I will be leaving after everything is settled concerning their travel here (like booking the flights online, di kasi sila masyado marunong nun eh hehe).

Yes, we applied after I got my K-1 visa because I wanted to include it to support the purpose of their trip. Since you're still waiting for your NOA2, use it productively to strengthen their ties here and increase their chances. Even if the worst happens, at least you tried and gave it your all.

More info here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/412680-tourist-visa-for-my-parents-for-the-wedding/

[notusinganymore 31]

When I called to schedule their interview, the earliest one was 6 weeks away. Yours may be different, but I think it's safe to expect around a month's wait.

Yes, I will be leaving after everything is settled concerning their travel here (like booking the flights online, di kasi sila masyado marunong nun eh hehe).

Yes, we applied after I got my K-1 visa because I wanted to include it to support the purpose of their trip. Since you're still waiting for your NOA2, use it productively to strengthen their ties here and increase their chances. Even if the worst happens, at least you tried and gave it your all.

More info here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/412680-tourist-visa-for-my-parents-for-the-wedding/

I'll do just that. I might help my mom increases her bank accounts na lang. Tapos hintaying ko na lang din yung visa ko and hopefully it won't take long also to get an interview scheduled. Hindi din kasi masyadong marunong yun eh Thanks for the info again and hope things go well for you and your parents

Any more ideas guys and gals?

[Marizhell 11]

Good day!

I am still waiting for my NOA2 to arrive but I'm just wondering on how my mom can come to the US to attend my wedding. We are thinking of a tourist visa but my mom (beneficiary's mother) doesn't have any of those "strong ties" here in the Philippines. She does work as a cashier for my aunt's school but has only been working for 5 months so no income tax return for a year. I was wondering on how long it would take to process a tourist visa and would the K1 beneficiary's mother have a good chance in attending the wedding considering that the mother does not have "strong ties" and can only start processing the tourist visa once K1 is approved and that's in a span of less than 3 months.

Other info: My aunt and uncle would want to come to the wedding also. My aunt was once denied of a tourist visa because she answered the income wrongly. This would then be the second time that she will apply with my mother. My aunt just recently retired from her work though both my mom and my aunt have bank accounts here in Philippines but there really isn't much there also. Other than going to my wedding they would also want to go to California and Hawaii to visit my other relatives who are already US citizens and if it helps, they have vouched that they will shoulder the expenses that my aunt, uncle, and mom will incur. That's from plane tickets to board and lodging so what my aunt, uncle, and mom would bring is their pocket or extra money which would maybe only close to $2,000 each.

I hope you can help me to shed some light in this dilemma. I would really want to see these people in my wedding as my aunt is the only sibling of my late father and my of course my mom is very important.

Thank you.

As for my opinion, getting a tourist visa is LUCK...I previously wish that my aunt can easily get a tourist visa with the same reason of attending my own wedding. I don't hav anymore parents and she is my only aunt who look after me while im still in the Philippines..she do have a strong ties to the Philippines, lots of properties,has her own business, big money in bank, travel to some countries, with a son still studying, had this red ribbon support from my USC husband, but still she got DENIED. I guess PRAYERS PLUS LUCK would be the only key coz I myself don't know why still consul said that she still doesn't show strong ties to Philippines.

[TBoneTX 48,961]

You may face what we did. A year after our marriage, Mrs. T-B.'s parents traveled 14 hours by bus to interview for tourist visas to visit us. They had plenty of evidence of ties to home. They were ejected from the visa interview in 2 minutes with a dismissive "You need to visit another country first, like Peru or Colombia, and THEN maybe we'll consider it." I've never been so embarrassed on behalf of my country as I was when I heard about this treatment.

If I were wagering my own money, I'd bet heavily against any visas being issued for attending a K-1 wedding. I'd bet on a higher (but not guaranteed) chance that a second attempt at a tourist visa, later, might prove to be more successful.

Frankly, knowing what I know today, I wouldn't dream for one second of wasting the money on an attempt at a tourist visa to attend a K-1 wedding.

[EAS 45]

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If employment ties are not strong, maybe you can temporarily loan money to start a small business, like a sari-sari store?

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I would not recommend putting too much hope in this course of action. The Immigration Officer is not likely to be fooled by such a ploy. One of the first questions that will be asked about the business is 'How long have you been in business?' another one will be 'May I see your tax returns/filings for XXX period?'. Money suddenly appearing in a bank account or a business that is short-lived brings up more questions than are answered.

[aaron2020 11,652]

I don't want to jump the gun because they're not yet approved, but my parents are also applying for a tourist visa to attend my wedding (interview on the 25th). I think the main thing you should do now is to look for ways to strengthen/show their ties here.

One of my parents' strong ties here include my younger brothers who are still in school that they will temporarily leave behind. Do you have anything like that - dependents on your parents?

If employment ties are not strong, maybe you can temporarily loan money to start a small business, like a sari-sari store?

Good luck. to both of us

Leah,

Once again I applaud your creativity, but what you are suggesting is going to get her parents a denial at best and a ban for misrepresentation at worst.

While it is common to transfer money between family members in the Philippines, it is not in the US.

Creating sudden ties to home with a temporary loan from a child in the US and claiming the assets your own could be viewed as fraud.

Think of it this way. No ties to home. Sudden temporary loan from US to create ties to home right before visa application. US sees this as a trick because money is temporary loan from US. The ties is US and not the foreign country.

Since US consider this a trick, the US can impose penalties from a denial to a ban.

One cannot suddenly manufacture strong ties to home with money from the US or borrowed money. Either a person has strong ties or don't.

[notusinganymore 31]

As for my opinion, getting a tourist visa is LUCK...I previously wish that my aunt can easily get a tourist visa with the same reason of attending my own wedding. I don't hav anymore parents and she is my only aunt who look after me while im still in the Philippines..she do have a strong ties to the Philippines, lots of properties,has her own business, big money in bank, travel to some countries, with a son still studying, had this red ribbon support from my USC husband, but still she got DENIED. I guess PRAYERS PLUS LUCK would be the only key coz I myself don't know why still consul said that she still doesn't show strong ties to Philippines.

Is that so? Well that is sad to hear. Still waiting on how things go though. My aunt who was going to sponsor my mom, aunt, and uncle had a niece before who made the cake for a couple (whom I think she is related with) in the US. The cake maker along with the cake and the whole entourage was from the Philippines and they were relatives and friends in college. Just makes me think that they are lucky but also at the same I'm hopeful because no one gets a chance such as that.

[notusinganymore 31]

You may face what we did. A year after our marriage, Mrs. T-B.'s parents traveled 14 hours by bus to interview for tourist visas to visit us. They had plenty of evidence of ties to home. They were ejected from the visa interview in 2 minutes with a dismissive "You need to visit another country first, like Peru or Colombia, and THEN maybe we'll consider it." I've never been so embarrassed on behalf of my country as I was when I heard about this treatment.

If I were wagering my own money, I'd bet heavily against any visas being issued for attending a K-1 wedding. I'd bet on a higher (but not guaranteed) chance that a second attempt at a tourist visa, later, might prove to be more successful.

Frankly, knowing what I know today, I wouldn't dream for one second of wasting the money on an attempt at a tourist visa to attend a K-1 wedding.

That's a pretty sad kind of treatment. My relatives aren't only going for my wedding but also to visit my other relatives who had been earnest in vouching their support for the trip. I have opened this with my mom and though she said that it was ok not to attend the wedding, I know she is sad. She has also said that she would rather want to wait until I'm settled before visiting. I guess I'm just so persistent with wanting to take this luck or chance.

[notusinganymore 31]

I would not recommend putting too much hope in this course of action. The Immigration Officer is not likely to be fooled by such a ploy. One of the first questions that will be asked about the business is 'How long have you been in business?' another one will be 'May I see your tax returns/filings for XXX period?'. Money suddenly appearing in a bank account or a business that is short-lived brings up more questions than are answered.

Yeah I was thinking about that being questionable. I guess I'll just take the chance. I still have to consult my mom if she wants to push with it. I'm sure she is already disheartened but I wouldn't mind saving for her expenses to take this chance in case she wants to.