US Tourist Visa for Ukrainian friend/girlfriend.

[MacUK 983]

Her asserted reason: To be immersed in English and get better at it. (She already speaks better English than I do because of her professional training in grammar and usage.) Her real reason was to come here and live with me for a while.

So she lied?

Not a very good bit of advice to give.

[Ryan H 3,796]

One post contributing nothing to the discussion removed, thread bans will follow for any more posts that do nothing more than bait and/or stir up drama.

[Jekt 0]

Do you know if the US embassy will check social networks? Facebook, Vkontakte? before approving a visa?

I don't know if they do. I believe I read in another thread entitled "Tourist Visa for Ukrainians" someone asked the same question and someone replied, "absolutely".

So everyone, I'm traveling to Kiev April 30th to May 16th. If all goes well, which I predict it will, I see myself getting involved in an international relationship. It scares me because #1. they're difficult enough as it is with distance. #2 sometimes I feel like it will be impossible to bring her here then I will be left with two difficult choices, take a risk and marry her, or move on with my life. My family thinks I'm crazy.

She's planning on re-applying for a tourist visa later this summer, as well as applying to masters programs, or even looking for a job if there are any available with her skillset. I may have mentioned this before.

btw, I appreciate everyone's responses and interest. I will keep you all updated, maybe post a picture or two from Ukraine.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Jekt

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

^Jekt,

^{The only thing difficult about an international relationship is the time apart. Look at traveling to Kiev not as only fulfilling your K-1 meeting requirement, but also a chance to see a place in the world you have never been.}

^{Your family can think you are crazy, but they will be the ones without the experience of Kiev.}

^{My family thought I was crazy too, but once my fiancee (now wife) arived in the USA, they warmed up to her and were obviously less skeptical. So don't let your family sway your decision, they are already happily married. It's now your turn.}

Edited April 25, 2014 by Mike-eeh and Odie

[Jekt 0]

^Jekt,

^{The only thing difficult about an international relationship is the time apart. Look at traveling to Kiev not as only fulfilling your K-1 meeting requirement, but also a chance to see a place in the world you have never been.}

^{Your family can think you are crazy, but they will be the ones without the experience of Kiev.}

^{My family thought I was crazy too, but once my fiancee (now wife) arived in the USA, they warmed up to her and were obviously less skeptical. So don't let your family sway your decision, they are already happily married. It's now your turn.}

How long did it take for you to bring your wife over? Did you end up spending most of your time on skype with only a few visits before you got her a K1 Visa?

Also, what if you applied for a K-1 Visa, and you couldn't get married in the allotted 90 days. I understand the K-1 Visa only allows entry into the country 1 time, but is it frowned upon if you didn't get married, and reapply for another K-1 Visa?

[Camelot13 63]

It wouldn't make sense to apply and receive a K-1 visa only to allow the 90 days to run out. It takes months to be approved for the visa and it's costly. If you apply, make sure you can get married legally in the 90 days. Take your time. You don't need to meet once and decide to get married. Being in a long-distance relationship for a while, visiting when you can and seeing if you're right for each other in the long run is much better than a snap decision, especially if you're feeling uncertain.

[JE57 239]

I feel for you. The K-1 process is pretty straight forward and there are not nearly as many gothca's as in the tourist visa process. My advice. When you in Kiev start thinking as if you'll be applying for a K-1 in the future. Take some pictures together at places that have background that is clearly in Ukraine. Keep your boarding pass. If you go to a show keep the ticket stubs and be sure to take a picture of the two of you together. One piece of advice on what NOT to do under any circumstances... do NOT get married to her while you are overseas. Doing so means you then must apply for a spousal visa and the process is MUCH MUCH longer. So no matter how things go realize that your time apart would be elongated by getting married in her country As for the K-1 one of the requirements for obtaining it is a affidavit from both of you saying you intend to marry within 90 days of entering the USA. Therefore to use the K-1 as a tourist visa without the intent to actually get married within 90 days of entering would be considered Visa Fraud. Have a great time in Ukraine.. Take the opportunity to try to see the USA from a foreign perspective. It is extremely educational to get such a perspective on the USA

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[Picasso1 0]

Jekt, Im in similar issue as you regarding vistor visas.

Im from ND and my GF is from east ukraine. She came here on a j1 and married to a man that was abusive so after a messy divorce she now has a green card and after finding me we have been struggling to get her brother and mom a visa to come visit us on some holidays. With half a dozen property and tons of banks accounts etc etc.... you frikn name it. All the Officer ever asks is questions about my gf and how she divorced so quickly after getting her greencard. Its a rediculous situation for honest familys to be in. Her familys visas seems to be denied becasue she left an abusive man making her status look like the general stereotype.

Advice i have read about on other forums for reapplications are requesting a letter from a senator and or having them apply for visa to another country to add to proof. Neither of these are really applicable to your situation. Your basically stuck marrying the woman and doing K-1. I can promise you that you will never be bored with a ukrainian woman though, but when you piss her off she will cut your nuts.. SO up to you.

Let us know how your trip is

To bad the protests have destroyed downtown kiev. Its quite gorgeous.

[Jekt 0]

I'm in Kiev right now. It's a nice city. The subway smells like piss but otherwise its a cool city.

Here are a few pictures. We took an image of our receipt from visiting St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/whxa3dnv1kd48a4/Photo%20May%2001%2C%205%2041%2029%20PM.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iqzpdg2s2t96hi3/Photo%20May%2001%2C%206%2002%2059%20PM.jpg

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yay!

[Picasso1 0]

Been there before thats neer all the cool statues.

[Jekt 0]

There are statues every where it feel like.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

How long did it take for you to bring your wife over? Did you end up spending most of your time on skype with only a few visits before you got her a K1 Visa?

Also, what if you applied for a K-1 Visa, and you couldn't get married in the allotted 90 days. I understand the K-1 Visa only allows entry into the country 1 time, but is it frowned upon if you didn't get married, and reapply for another K-1 Visa?

It took about 9 months for her to come over, but we were taking our time (delayed the interview) so she could come over in January (we applied in May). If we didnt delay it would have taken 5 months as our initial packet was approved very quickly (by July). We spent most of our time on Skype, LINE/Viber Chat applications. And we also visited in Singapore for two weeks to satisfy the K-1 requirements.

If you dont get married in 90 days, legally she would have to return home and then reapply again. There are no limits on how many times you can apply, but each time she applies she will have to genuinely prove she is going to the USA to marry. She would also need to explain why she did not marry the first time as a CO may suspect she is using a K-1 to briefly live there a few months and return home.

[Jekt 0]

Oh I couldn't go that long without seeing her at this point. I'm definitely going back to Ukraine if she can't get any other type of visa. I leave here the 16th, it's going to be very difficult for the both of us.

As for K1, do you need to show some type of income? I am currently waiting on applications to physician assistant programs here in New York. If I get accepted, I won't be working. How will that affect things? Will I need my family to sponsor her/us?

Edited May 13, 2014 by Jekt

[Avery Cates 1,141]

As for K1, do you need to show some type of income? I am currently waiting on applications to physician assistant programs here in New York. If I get accepted, I won't be working. How will that affect things? Will I need my family to sponsor her/us?

For the embassy you will need an I-134 with proof of income meeting the requirements. A co-sponsor is also an option, but some embassies may not accept co-sponsors. I'm not sure about Ukraine one way or the other in that regard.

If the visa is granted and you get married here, you will need to meet the requirements of the I-864 before you can apply to adjust her status. (Which costs $1,070 to do.) Be aware that if you don't file for the adjustment of status prior to the expiration of her I-94, she will be considered out of status and can technically be deported. (Although this is very rare, it can happen.)