Tourist visa to visit the US Vs. Unicorn sighting

[Operator 1,927]

I've read several threads recently where people are so adamant that a tourist visa to the US for a single woman from the Philippines is an impossibility. Has anyone had an luck? I've read of one instance on here but I think she obtained it while working in the Middle East.

In China my wife was told the same thing, "it's impossible", "don't throw your money away". She was issued two actually, one before we were engaged and then another after I submitted her visa petition.

So is it really impossible or is it just difficult? What are the denial rates? Since I've been on VJ it seems to me that K-1 visas are issued such that they don't treat it like a high-fraud country.

So has anyone in this community applied and been denied, or applied and been issued one? Or, do people just not apply?

[Greenbaum 12,262]

I've read several threads recently where people are so adamant that a tourist visa to the US for a single woman from the Philippines is an impossibility. Has anyone had an luck? I've read of one instance on here but I think she obtained it while working in the Middle East.

In China my wife was told the same thing, "it's impossible", "don't throw your money away". She was issued two actually, one before we were engaged and then another after I submitted her visa petition.

So is it really impossible or is it just difficult? What are the denial rates? Since I've been on VJ it seems to me that K-1 visas are issued such that they don't treat it like a high-fraud country.

So has anyone in this community applied and been denied, or applied and been issued one? Or, do people just not apply?

My fiancée tried two times and was turned down both times. Things have gotten real tight as far as tourist visa's for travel to USA. A friend of my fiancée applied for one for he, his wife and son to visit USA on a tourist visa. The went through the interview and the wife and father were approved but the son was not. So, ok they can deal with that. But upon leaving they get to the courtyard of the embassy and a counselor taps them on the shoulder and informs them that a mistake has been made and that the only one that is approved is he the father. So they talk about it for a bit and decided that if she can't go then he will not go. So they forfeited the visa and did not go. They had a daughter in the USA who was graduating from college and they had not seen her in 4 years and they wanted to be their for the graduation as she was the first in the family to attain a degree let alone a degree from a USA college.

Now a days they are looking for a large bank account, land and home ownership and a job, all the things that would tie you down and motivate you to return to the Philippines once your visa expired. That's what you are facing. If you don't have these your just P_ _ _ ing in the wind.

Good luck.

[Operator 1,927]

My fiancée tried two times and was turned down both times. Things have gotten real tight as far as tourist visa's for travel to USA. A friend of my fiancée applied for one for he, his wife and son to visit USA on a tourist visa. The went through the interview and the wife and father were approved but the son was not. So, ok they can deal with that. But upon leaving they get to the courtyard of the embassy and a counselor taps them on the shoulder and informs them that a mistake has been made and that the only one that is approved is he the father. So they talk about it for a bit and decided that if she can't go then he will not go. So they forfeited the visa and did not go. They had a daughter in the USA who was graduating from college and they had not seen her in 4 years and they wanted to be their for the graduation as she was the first in the family to attain a degree let alone a degree from a USA college.

Now a days they are looking for a large bank account, land and home ownership and a job, all the things that would tie you down and motivate you to return to the Philippines once your visa expired. That's what you are facing. If you don't have these your just P_ _ _ ing in the wind.

Good luck.

So they are looking for strong ties just like most countries. I understand also about them not approving a whole family going to visit another family member in the US, it's situational. But say a single woman with a degree and a job, who makes an average wage and has some savings, is she going to be denied straight away?

About your Fiancée's denials, were they based on not proving strong ties?

[Darnell 8,480]

operator - Historically - many folk from the PI get a tourist visa to the USA and hide, working illegally, sending money back home for years. It's another form of 'overseas foreign worker' in the PI. Been going on for decades. So - because of 'that' ......

The 'check' at the NIV unit is just as hard as it is in China...

Edited August 20, 2013 by Darnell

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

It's not just the US, either. Just applied for a visa for my Pinay wife so we can visit Korea. IOT get said visa, we had to provide several items, one of which was a bank account with her name on it and a balance of at least $3000. I told the lady on the phone that was BS, not every couple HAS $3k in the bank, especially after buying tickets from USA to Korea to PI. She said she understood, but "it's the rule". Can't show cash in the bank, no visa to Korea.

[Operator 1,927]

I guess the reason I bring it up is because it seems whenever someone mentions getting a tourist visa for someone in the PI the responses are so negative. I had problem convincing my wife to apply for a tourist visa in China. Everyone is always told it's impossible and they don't want to fail at anything so they don't even try, turns out her interview lasted about 3 minutes and she was approved.

Maybe looking at a "visa bond" like the UK would help? Instead of just proving that you have the money you could actually let them hold it.

...not likely to stem the tide of "Overseas foreign worker"

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

Getting a tourist visa is more likely than a Unicorn sighting for 1 reason & 1 reason only = Unicorns don't exist.

The only Filipinos getting a tourist visa to the US are well connected or well to do and in most cases...both.

(I can't even recall one being granted to visit a terminally ill family member. Does any1?)

Edited August 20, 2013 by Crashed~N2~Me

[Operator 1,927]

So people are applying and being rejected? Commonly?

[Crashed~N2~Me 970]

The question comes up time to time & a PI VJ (here and there) makes a run at it - I've never read of any PI VJ succeeding.

(but) I know some PI get approved.. but they are - See prior post.

[Operator 1,927]

...connected and flush..

[Bluerose001 4]

Hi!

I’m one of the lucky ones who got a 10-year multiple entry visa. This happened in 2008 so I’m not sure if this post is still relevant if you are asking for recent B2 approvals in the Philippines. As always stated, it is a case to case basis.

1. I was a single Filipina at that time.
2. I haven’t traveled anywhere outside of the Philippines at that time.
3. It was my first time to apply for a visa.
4. I am not well connected, I came from a simple family. I am not connected to any government official, nor did I paid anyone. (I know the modus operandi of these people, why should I pay if I can do it on my own?) I just read the manila US embassy guide, did not even used a travel agency.
5. I was employed in a multinational company at that time.
6. I was very honest, I’m a bad liar. I told the CO I’m going to visit my bf.

Like your wife, the interview was over in less than 3 minutes. I remember trying to show the CO the title to my condo unit (to show that I did have strong ties) but he dismissed it and said “No need, you are already approved.”. He didn’t even asked for my bank account statements. I was waiting for more questions but he ended the interview quickly.

I did remembered that about 90% of the applicants were denied at that time. It was easy to spot them as their heads are bowed, they look sad and they have their passports with them.

Again, this happened in 2008 and it is always a case to case basis. You will never know until you try.

[Greenbaum 12,262]

So people are applying and being rejected? Commonly?

I guess what we are alluding to is that more than likely you will get disapproved. But, as you have read it can happen. So if you have the time and the money, then I say go for it. See what happens with your case. The wind might be blowing in the right direction when you have your interview and you get approved.

Good luck.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I've read several threads recently where people are so adamant that a tourist visa to the US for a single woman from the Philippines is an impossibility. Has anyone had an luck? I've read of one instance on here but I think she obtained it while working in the Middle East.

In China my wife was told the same thing, "it's impossible", "don't throw your money away". She was issued two actually, one before we were engaged and then another after I submitted her visa petition.

So is it really impossible or is it just difficult? What are the denial rates? Since I've been on VJ it seems to me that K-1 visas are issued such that they don't treat it like a high-fraud country.

So has anyone in this community applied and been denied, or applied and been issued one? Or, do people just not apply?

I had a young lady visiting from cebu in my home last week. She had been in the USA all Summer.

First Pinay I ever dated was here on a tourist visa.

So yes they can get them Both had good jobs..One was a principal of a upper scale private school in Cebu. The other worked for PLDT in Manila

[The Conqueror 47]

Tourist Visa is given by LUCK!

It is true there are intentions upon entry to America, they tend to over stay. But not all. Unfortunately, USEM decides whom they feel can enter America. I've known a lot that was given a visa with false documents "How" I don't know. I guess USEM are so smart to figure it out. NOT! Sadden by those who have clean intentions visiting America but not granted visa because CO feels that they have no strong ties in their home country.

You will never now if you will be granted not unless you give it a try. However it sure hurts when denied. They will not explain further but just give you a piece of paper. Even you die searching in the internet for an answer why you'd been denied there no such accurate answer. CO doesn't decide by EMOTIONS. They said they decide according to LAWS. People of any nationalities around the world was given a visa with false documents. Now anyone tell us how clever their decisions are.

[Operator 1,927]

Hi!

I’m one of the lucky ones who got a 10-year multiple entry visa. This happened in 2008 so I’m not sure if this post is still relevant if you are asking for recent B2 approvals in the Philippines. As always stated, it is a case to case basis.

1. I was a single Filipina at that time.
2. I haven’t traveled anywhere outside of the Philippines at that time.
3. It was my first time to apply for a visa.
4. I am not well connected, I came from a simple family. I am not connected to any government official, nor did I paid anyone. (I know the modus operandi of these people, why should I pay if I can do it on my own?) I just read the manila US embassy guide, did not even used a travel agency.
5. I was employed in a multinational company at that time.
6. I was very honest, I’m a bad liar. I told the CO I’m going to visit my bf.

Like your wife, the interview was over in less than 3 minutes. I remember trying to show the CO the title to my condo unit (to show that I did have strong ties) but he dismissed it and said “No need, you are already approved.”. He didn’t even asked for my bank account statements. I was waiting for more questions but he ended the interview quickly.

I did remembered that about 90% of the applicants were denied at that time. It was easy to spot them as their heads are bowed, they look sad and they have their passports with them.

Again, this happened in 2008 and it is always a case to case basis. You will never know until you try.

These are words to live by!

I guess what we are alluding to is that more than likely you will get disapproved. But, as you have read it can happen. So if you have the time and the money, then I say go for it. See what happens with your case. The wind might be blowing in the right direction when you have your interview and you get approved.

Good luck.

The reason for my post was only because I've read so many posts where someone suggests they might apply for a tourist visa and members respond that it's impossible and a waste of time. I really just wanted to see if it was impossible and people were speaking from experience or it's just a case of opinion.

I'm 'merican and my wife is Chinese so we won't ever have the opportunity to find out for ourselves. We do plan to visit there in the future though.

I had a young lady visiting from cebu in my home last week. She had been in the USA all Summer.

First Pinay I ever dated was here on a tourist visa.

So yes they can get them Both had good jobs..One was a principal of a upper scale private school in Cebu. The other worked for PLDT in Manila

So again it's not impossible. You have to show that you are not likely to immigrate, it's the same everywhere.

Tourist Visa is given by LUCK!

It is true there are intentions upon entry to America, they tend to over stay. But not all. Unfortunately, USEM decides whom they feel can enter America. I've known a lot that was given a visa with false documents "How" I don't know. I guess USEM are so smart to figure it out. NOT! Sadden by those who have clean intentions visiting America but not granted visa because CO feels that they have no strong ties in their home country.

You will never now if you will be granted not unless you give it a try. However it sure hurts when denied. They will not explain further but just give you a piece of paper. Even you die searching in the internet for an answer why you'd been denied there no such accurate answer. CO doesn't decide by EMOTIONS. They said they decide according to LAWS. People of any nationalities around the world was given a visa with false documents. Now anyone tell us how clever their decisions are.

I'm glad people still feel this way.

It's too bad that we all have to pay the price when people break the law but just because it's a challenge doesn't mean people shouldn't try.