Tourist visa - meeting for the first time, avoid scam

[Sandra G. 5,023]

A person not willing to Skype after a few messages you need to stay away, even if she is a woman she is probably a scammer. There is no medical visa for tourism visa,and second man imagine her moral values. I would not spend one more second talking to a person like her or maybe him....who knows.

Edited October 16, 2015 by sandranj

[Boiler 43,717]

I have never Skyped

[almost_umrican 53]

May be she is falling for you , i am just kidding. seems to be a pretty lame scammer this girl. anyways , be cautious man.

[Amhara 460]

I have never Skyped

Yeah, not everyone does. However, being able to see a stranger (because that's what she is at this point) and hear their voice and see their mannerisms are important to building trust and affection. It's one thing if she invited him to visit her whenever he felt comfortable and they maintained a friendship just to get to know each other, but that's really not what this is. There already seems to be physical overtones, at least minor ones. So to me, there is already a possible different motivation than just exploring if there may be a possible future with each other. Mix in the lack of virtual face-to-face communication, hmmmmm, you need to start wondering if your own judgement has been clouded by something else. Good thing the OP turned to other opinions!

People can already scam others out of anything when they are in close proximity, but keeping up that rouse is harder for any fraudster over time. They tend to look for easier marks rather than invest more energy and time in a guarded person. I don't think requiring them to Skype with you is unreasonable. I know Google hang outs has a video chat option. Is her email address Gmail? Are you on her Facebook? I know Messenger has an awesome video chat option. Facebook used to only have it on the laptop, but when they put it on their mobile app, boy, we ate up all kinds of MBs on that!

What about Viber or Whatsapp? Do those have a video chat option? Does she not have a smart phone? I know the OP already said he would discontinue the communication, but for any future interactions with this person or any other potential foreign relationship you may or may not have, it's best to send a few hundred dollars for them to buy a used smart phone than to be out of pocket more than she (?) was initially planning for.

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Although this is a forum for DIY visa issues, you have come to the right place to get the real information. We all have the same thing in common....International relationships. You know now that you are being scammed.....most of us have been in your shoes at one time or another. I wish you good luck in your quest.

There are web sites that list rules for international dating......try to follow them....

I think it is great you came to VJ to ask this question and got the right answer

[Dave&Roza 748]

Thank you all !!!! Very helpful. I am cutting contact with "her" and report it to website.

Turn this around to see if this is a real relationship and of "she" is really interesting in you and not your money. Suggest that a tourist visa for someone from the PI is hard to obtain and you have always wanted to see China, then you get a tourist visa to China and you come to visit her there--and wait for the reaction.

A scammer will make up all kinds of excuses that she needs to visit you in the US rather that be happy that the two of you will finally meet. Plus it is far easier for you to get a tourist visa to China than for her to get a tourist visa to the US.

Dave

[Jo Së 200]

I just came here to say this: RUN!

Cut communications with this person all together.

As mentioned already, there is all kinds of red flags just from the details you mentioned. She has online access yet doesn't want to skype? Skype is free to download. No medical is needed. As a Philippina in China it would be a little difficult to get a B2 Visa, unless she has very strong ties, which is not the case if she is asking you for money.

Try your luck somewhere else, with a real person, at least someone that is willing to prove that they really are who they say they are, or go to your local bar, I'm sure you can meet someone there.

[Mike-eeh and Odie 192]

Its a scam. Here are your red flags:

1. The mention of a travel agent. - A travel agent cannot guarantee her a tourist visa.

2. One does not need a medical exam to visit the US on a tourist visa.

3. You can buy her plane ticket. - Offer to but her ticket and watch her stop contacting you or try to convince you that you cant buy her ticket.

4. She wont Skype you. - As an online gamer we have a saying, "All players are considered men until verified on Skype." She can totally go to any one of hundreds of net cafes and Skype you. My wife lived in the poor provinces in the Philippines and still could Skype me.

Do not send her any money. The lovely Asian that will one day steal your heart, won't steal your bank account. They will never ask you for money and will move mountains on their own to be with you.

[AllanGrace 9]

Hello,

First of all, if she wants to see you, she should be paying for her flight round trip. You pay your part when she gets here. Why would she have somebody pay for her to get here. She should be embarrassed at first.

[kates43 13]

I doubt any decent human being would not be asking a stranger from overseas to pay for flights and visas etc. you do that s*** yourself if you wanna go meet someone.

I know everyone's saying its a scam, but did it ever come up in conversation about you going to visit 'her'?

It doesn't look/sound good, and you should be mindful of your safety and finances.

[Helpme123 9]

Seems legit. Send the $1300 OP.

[Unchained 37]

Seems legit. Send the $1300 OP.

Hahahahahah.....omg this just cracked me up. What do you mean by that?

[Helpme123 9]

it means OP dun goof'd

[Unchained 37]

it means OP dun goof'd

Hahahahahhaahahahahahha...omg...im laughing my guts out. You're not nice.!

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

I've met a Philippine woman online who is living and working in China. We have been chatting for about six weeks. I would like to meet her over Skype but she does not have access to it. She wants to come to the US to visit me next month. She needs a tourist/visitor visa, the B-2. She says that to visit the US she must have a medical exam. She wants me to pay for her flight, visa and medical examine to the tune of about $1300. I would wire the money to the travel agent or to her. I don't want to send $1300 never to hear from her again. The site that I met here on says to never send money to anyone that you have not already met in person. I do not feel that I know her well enough to send the money. She is willing to stay at my home for 2 weeks during her visit. This is surprising. I would think that she would be concerned about her safety. But maybe she is willing to say this if in fact she's just after money and has no intention of traveling here. I should mention that she is gorgeous. She has sent me several photos, but for all I know it could be a guy (or girl) doing a scam. As they say "if it seems to good to be true".

She would go to the travel agents office to do all the documents, visa photo etc. but I figured out that the agent's office is about 500 miles from where she lives!

I have been honest with her about my concerns and all of the above details. She replied that I don't trust her, but has not answered to any of the details.

Do you know is a medical exam required on a B2 visa?

Any thoughts on this are appreciated, particularly if you have been in a similar situation where you were expected to send money for travel expenses or visa, etc.

Thanks

Better option is for you to meet her in China. Even if this wasn't a scam, the chances of her getting a tourist visa for the US aren't that great.

I've met a Philippine woman online who is living and working in China. We have been chatting for about six weeks. I would like to meet her over Skype but she does not have access to it. She wants to come to the US to visit me next month. She needs a tourist/visitor visa, the B-2. She says that to visit the US she must have a medical exam. She wants me to pay for her flight, visa and medical examine to the tune of about $1300. I would wire the money to the travel agent or to her. I don't want to send $1300 never to hear from her again. The site that I met here on says to never send money to anyone that you have not already met in person. I do not feel that I know her well enough to send the money. She is willing to stay at my home for 2 weeks during her visit. This is surprising. I would think that she would be concerned about her safety. But maybe she is willing to say this if in fact she's just after money and has no intention of traveling here. I should mention that she is gorgeous. She has sent me several photos, but for all I know it could be a guy (or girl) doing a scam. As they say "if it seems to good to be true".

She would go to the travel agents office to do all the documents, visa photo etc. but I figured out that the agent's office is about 500 miles from where she lives!

I have been honest with her about my concerns and all of the above details. She replied that I don't trust her, but has not answered to any of the details.

Do you know is a medical exam required on a B2 visa?

Any thoughts on this are appreciated, particularly if you have been in a similar situation where you were expected to send money for travel expenses or visa, etc.

Thanks

Better option is for you to meet her in China. Even if this wasn't a scam, the chances of her getting a tourist visa for the US aren't that great.