Tourist visa

[Jon&Margz 132]

Difficulty obtaining a tourist visa is not limited to Indonesia. Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, etc, experience similar challenges. The US intentionally restricts visitors from poor countries where individuals might see a "visitor visa" as a golden ticket to US marriage/benefits. Right or Wrong - it's just the way it is.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

SO when she's "READY" she can apply and see all at once for the K1...

otherwise she will continue to get denied.

[Darrinos 6]

What's funny is that I read somewhere that the US claims 95% approval rate in Indonesia through the Jakarta embassy.

[Amadia 711]

Hi Darrinos,

I understand your frustration with this issue and I can tell you that B1/B2 visa denials are not limited to only Indonesia so do not think that your gf is being targeted by the US govt. Another thing is that the DHS looks at every applicant for non-immigrant visa as an INTENDED IMMIGRANT. Blame it on people's mistake in the past who abused the visa and overstayed/got deported/etc. She can try again, no harm in doing so but these applications cost a lot and they recommend trying again after 6 months of the initial application OR if the situation has changed significantly.

Wanting to visit you and being denied is nothing compared to these situations:

1) http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/25650791/immigration-officials-block-liberian-mother-from-minn-teens-funeral

2) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixuZ7C8LfPAhWHHx4KHYdkBw4QFggwMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabc11.com%2Farchive%2F6287607%2F&usg=AFQjCNH0H697Rovq3cnOiotJtg1wGGlZqg&sig2=uB0bOnnuWS-R7_xEtzIsng

3) https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwixuZ7C8LfPAhWHHx4KHYdkBw4QFghNMAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthethunderbird.ca%2F2010%2F11%2F25%2Ffilipinos-often-denied-visitor-visas-for-canada%2F&usg=AFQjCNHzvW_VcDt055pYAczSlrAhz06rsA&sig2=7CZO8JiP32YbQmlJGLlg1Q

My advice: wait and file the K1.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Amadia

[Jojo92122 1,924]

What's funny is that I read somewhere that the US claims 95% approval rate in Indonesia through the Jakarta embassy.

The 95% who do get visas don't complain or go on line to brag about them.

Many of my Vietnamese relatives have visited the US. None of them came on VJ to discuss them.

Generally, people will seek help and/or complain about not getting a visa. Rarely will someone who got a visa come on VJ to start a thread.

There is no reason for the US Government to lie about visitor visa approval rates.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Jojo92122

[Darrinos 6]

I understand what you're saying, Jojo... but who knows why the government does and says some of the things it does and says? Lol....I just wish it weren't so complicated! But, our only choice is to keep being honest, keep trying, keep loving.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Indonesia embassies refused 8.71% of B2s last year. https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY15.pdf

Does she really have friends in the US if she has never been there? Seems a little weird to go from tourism, visit friends, visit bf, like hoping they won't ask more questions. I'd just say "I want to visit my bf for 2 weeks. I am going through a divorce, blah blah blah." Just lay it on the line. Might not work, but this way isn't working either.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Harpa Timsah

[usmsbow 795]

Her answers are, tourism and to visit friends, and yes, he is my boyfriend. Here's another thing, too... she is still married.... separated for 5 years now. (Don't need relationship advice... we've got that part straightened out and are very honest about it all.) I would think that would be another "tie" to the country. She cannot divorce from another country and must be present in Indonesia to do so. She would need to return to finish the divorce, and is not the "live together" kind of woman. I understand what you're saying there, Boiler. Even with substantial, strong ties, the expectation of fraud is high. She is such a good woman and would never do anything illegal. It's just frustrating. I guess it's just time for another roll of the dice, hand over the money, and see what happens.

For what it's worth, a friend's husband, who works for an American company, has been denied a couple times now by Jakarta too. Last time he applied, they turned him down because they didn't understand why he'd be visiting the USA without his wife.

Also, in the past 12 months I've met a handful of Indonesians here in the USA who came here on tourist visas with the intention to stay and work (all who now have been here for 5+ years)... It's unfortunate, but it's due to those "lovely" people that your g/f is having so much trouble getting a visa...

[KierenHby 897]

For what it's worth, a friend's husband, who works for an American company, has been denied a couple times now by Jakarta too. Last time he applied, they turned him down because they didn't understand why he'd be visiting the USA without his wife.

Also, in the past 12 months I've met a handful of Indonesians here in the USA who came here on tourist visas with the intention to stay and work (all who now have been here for 5+ years)... It's unfortunate, but it's due to those "lovely" people that your g/f is having so much trouble getting a visa...

Working for an American company overseas does not give an applicant any additional leverage for a US visa.

[Boiler 43,433]

Unless it is a L1

[KierenHby 897]

We talking about B or H.

[Boiler 43,433]

Just saying

[Darrinos 6]

_{Harpa, yes, that's the information that I read, but it seems much higher than that... at least in our experience. And yes, she has friends here, indeed all over the world. A lot of her friends ended up marrying men on other countries. This is how she has friends in the US. One needn't visit a country to have friends there. Her story hasn't "evolved", it's remained the same all along. However, your point is well taken about being transparent. I've encouraged her to do so and believe that she has.}

_{USMSBOW.... sure, I understand. Thanks to those who do not have purely innocent intentions, those who do experience difficulty. It's just the way it is.}

_{We'll try again in November or December... it's been a few months since she tried last.}

[usmsbow 795]

Working for an American company overseas does not give an applicant any additional leverage for a US visa.

Didn't mean to imply that it was.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

_{Harpa, yes, that's the information that I read, but it seems much higher than that... at least in our experience. And yes, she has friends here, indeed all over the world. A lot of her friends ended up marrying men on other countries. This is how she has friends in the US. One needn't visit a country to have friends there. Her story hasn't "evolved", it's remained the same all along. However, your point is well taken about being transparent. I've encouraged her to do so and believe that she has.}

_{USMSBOW.... sure, I understand. Thanks to those who do not have purely innocent intentions, those who do experience difficulty. It's just the way it is.}

_{We'll try again in November or December... it's been a few months since she tried last.}

Okay, but do her friends live in your town? That'd be convenient...

Is she really going to visit multiple friends AND visit you too? That seems like a long trip.

It doesn't seem like she has an actual crafted itinerary, just that she is throwing out random stuff (oh, friends! and disneyland! and the grand canyon! and the corn palace!) That hurts her credibility.

Edited October 2, 2016 by Harpa Timsah