Which Visa to apply for if a girlfriend wants to JUST visit

[Anderland 0]

Hello,

I came to U.S. 8 years ago with green card. I since acquired U.S. citizenship about 2 years ago.
I am currently full time employed and full time student.
I have visited Lithuania (where I am from) this summer.
I met a girl there that I went on a date with, and it turned out really well.
We are keeping in touch via skype and facebook and things are looking promising.
I offered her to come to visit me this winter to give us a chance to know each other better and travel a bit.
My girlfriend would like to take this opportunity and visit me then come back to Lithuania.
The visit would be for 2-3 weeks only due to her work in Lithuania. (she would not be able to spend more time in the U.S)
My girlfriend has Masters in Law and works in Lithuania.

Question: Should my girlfriend apply for visitors visa and specify the purpose of traveling to meet me or should she apply for fiances visa but specify the true reason regardless?
What purpose should my girlfriend specify and which Visa to apply for to get the best chance of getting a visa approved?

Note: We are not planning to marry, because we are not so sure about our relationship yet, but we might want to do this in the near future ( upcoming 1-2 years ) if our relationship turns out well.

Thanks in advance,
-A

[h_m 12]

I would imagine a tourist visa would be more appropriate. The fiancee visa process requires a statement of intent to marry within 90 days of arrival within the US from both parties, so that doesn't line up with the true reason of just a visit.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Wants to visit? A visitor visa.

Ahh, just checked, and Lithuania is a Visa Wavier Program country, so she needs to fill out an ESTA registration and pay a modest fee ($14) and if it is approved she can travel to the US visa-free for the purpose of tourism for up to 90 days at a time.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Anderland 0]

Wants to visit? A visitor visa.

Ahh, just checked, and Lithuania is a Visa Wavier Program country, so she needs to fill out an ESTA registration and pay a modest fee ($14) and if it is approved she can travel to the US visa-free for the purpose of tourism for up to 90 days at a time.

Thanks for an advise.

Going forward, a little more complicated question - if our relationship works out and eventually we do want to get married, what should we say during the interview? That we knew each other before she came to visit U.S. or not?

Because if we say that we did (which is true ) then I imagine the question will follow "How come she did not mention that when you went to visit the U.S. that you were visiting not just for reasons of tourism but also to see her boyfriend?"

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If she use the VWP there will be no interview. Just an online self-check and she's free to travel. At the border if asked, she should say she is visiting a boyfriend. It's not a crime to visit a boyfriend.

Lithuania joined the VWP in 2008, so after you left the country, which is why you might not be familiar with it.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[TBoneTX 43,043]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the "What Visa...?" forum, on the basis of the query. ***

[Anderland 0]

If she use the VWP there will be no interview. Just an online self-check and she's free to travel. At the border if asked, she should say she is visiting a boyfriend. It's not a crime to visit a boyfriend.

Lithuania joined the VWP in 2008, so after you left the country, which is why you might not be familiar with it.

Are you sure it's safe? Maybe it's better to say she is just visiting a friend? Can someone esle confirm this is correct?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Are you sure it's safe? Maybe it's better to say she is just visiting a friend? Can someone esle confirm this is correct?

The number 1 rule in all of this is to NEVER LIE. They can spot a lie a mile away and deny her entry. Why are you acting so guilty?

[NikLR 13,220]

It is better for her not to lie. She should bring proof of her ties to her country, such as a return ticket (or proof of paid itinerary), a letter from her employer stating when she is due back to work, bills, an apartment lease or rental agreement, etc... that way if questioned she can provide proof she would be returning to her home country. Likely she won't be asked for any of it and be told to have a nice vacation. I visited my husband 3 times, told the CBP I was visiting my husband after marriage (twice during the process), and never had a problem.

Edited August 21, 2013 by NLR

[GabiZ 0]

Tegu pildo ESTA internetu, o atvykus, jei klaus migracine tarnyba gali sakyti, kad vienas is tikslu yra aplankyti drauga. Juk tuo metu jus galit buti dar tik draugai, o ne pora, tad nebus nieko blogo, jei ji pasakys drauga, o ne BF. As tikrai sakiau, kad vykstu pas drauga, o ne BF ir tai veliau, prasant fiancee vizos, neturejo jokios itakos

[NikLR 13,220]

Tegu pildo ESTA internetu, o atvykus, jei klaus migracine tarnyba gali sakyti, kad vienas is tikslu yra aplankyti drauga. Juk tuo metu jus galit buti dar tik draugai, o ne pora, tad nebus nieko blogo, jei ji pasakys drauga, o ne BF. As tikrai sakiau, kad vykstu pas drauga, o ne BF ir tai veliau, prasant fiancee vizos, neturejo jokios itakos

English only in the upper forums please.

[GabiZ 0]

English only in the upper forums please.

ok, I am sorry.

[Anderland 0]

Tegu pildo ESTA internetu, o atvykus, jei klaus migracine tarnyba gali sakyti, kad vienas is tikslu yra aplankyti drauga. Juk tuo metu jus galit buti dar tik draugai, o ne pora, tad nebus nieko blogo, jei ji pasakys drauga, o ne BF. As tikrai sakiau, kad vykstu pas drauga, o ne BF ir tai veliau, prasant fiancee vizos, neturejo jokios itakos

ok, aciu

[NikLR 13,220]

btw i translated that and saying you're a friend instead of a boyfriend is pretty much lying isn't it? Misrepresentation (lying) can lead to a lifetime ban. Don't do it. To suggest such is against Visa Journey TOS.