Getting Tourist Visa with Ongoing Immigrant Petition

[harble 19]

I am currently being petitioned under F2B by my family. They are all green card holders already. I'm planning to take the US medical licensure exam to get in for residency in the states while I wait for this petition. To take one of the exams, I need to get a Tourist B1/B2 visa sometime this year. I've never traveled to any country and my only ties here would be the family business. I've been reading online and people have said that it would be difficult to do this. Does being petitioned really decrease the chances of getting a tourist visa? Can you give tips on acquiring the tourist visa with this status of being petitioned? Should I mention that I plan to take the exam there or is it better to just say I want to visit my family? I've had friends who also plan to take the exam that left out the USMLE exam detail from the interview and were granted 6 months. However I also do not want to compromise anything because of my ongoing petition. 

Edited March 28, 2017 by higashi

[Boiler 45,692]

Tell the truth.

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

Just be honest. Won't know unless you apply. It isn't unheard of to be denied because of it or even still be approved.

[Sagot 1,548]

1 hour ago, higashi said:

I am currently being petitioned under F2B by my family. They are all green card holders already. I'm planning to take the US medical licensure exam to get in for residency in the states while I wait for this petition. To take one of the exams, I need to get a Tourist B1/B2 visa sometime this year. I've never traveled to any country and my only ties here would be the family business. I've been reading online and people have said that it would be difficult to do this. Does being petitioned really decrease the chances of getting a tourist visa? Can you give tips on acquiring the tourist visa with this status of being petitioned? Should I mention that I plan to take the exam there or is it better to just say I want to visit my family? I've had friends who also plan to take the exam that left out the USMLE exam detail from the interview and were granted 6 months. However I also do not want to compromise anything because of my ongoing petition. 

Honestly always works best.   

 

Tourist visa are fairly simple to apply for, just not easy to be approved.  What they look for is strong ties to the Philippines - own a house, job, money in the bank and so forth.  They want strong evidence that you have a need to return to the Philippines.

 

I don't know that your current petition would be a factor at all.  It may actually show your honorable intent.

[harble 19]

Thanks for the replies!

[Hank_ 9,174]

On 3/29/2017 at 1:53 AM, higashi said:

I am currently being petitioned under F2B by my family. They are all green card holders already. I'm planning to take the US medical licensure exam to get in for residency in the states while I wait for this petition. To take one of the exams, I need to get a Tourist B1/B2 visa sometime this year. I've never traveled to any country and my only ties here would be the family business. I've been reading online and people have said that it would be difficult to do this. Does being petitioned really decrease the chances of getting a tourist visa? Can you give tips on acquiring the tourist visa with this status of being petitioned? Should I mention that I plan to take the exam there or is it better to just say I want to visit my family? I've had friends who also plan to take the exam that left out the USMLE exam detail from the interview and were granted 6 months. However I also do not want to compromise anything because of my ongoing petition. 

Not sure if a tourist visa is the right critter.  Do you have a letter from the state where you will do residency regarding the exam.. that may be valid evidence for a business visa or student visa ...  just a suggestion.

[harble 19]

On 6/7/2017 at 9:12 AM, Hank_ said:

Not sure if a tourist visa is the right critter.  Do you have a letter from the state where you will do residency regarding the exam.. that may be valid evidence for a business visa or student visa ...  just a suggestion.

Sorry for the really late reply but yes people use Tourist Visa to take the exam as we are no longer students and we are applying for training. It is not considered business either as we aren't getting paid. 

[Hank_ 9,174]

3 hours ago, higashi said:

Sorry for the really late reply but yes people use Tourist Visa to take the exam as we are no longer students and we are applying for training. It is not considered business either as we aren't getting paid. 

Thanks for the update.

 

Did you get your tourist visa?  It is almost a year later.

[AndreaPerkins 15]

11 hours ago, higashi said:

Sorry for the really late reply but yes people use Tourist Visa to take the exam as we are no longer students and we are applying for training. It is not considered business either as we aren't getting paid. 

You could take Steps 1 and 2 CK in the Philippines.

 

You have no choice for Step 2 CS but to take it in the U.S. and you have to secure an examination slot at your chosen test center a year early.

 

I know 3 people who were denied B1/B2 Visa to take the Step 2 CS because of pending family petitions. I also know another 2 people with pending family petitions who were denied B1/B2 visa to attend an interview invite for the match despite having the appropriate documents and letters of invitations from U.S. hospitals.

 

We had a co-resident from the Philippines who had a pending family petition but was granted a B1/B2 to take the Step 2 CS. With proper timing and schedule, she applied for the match after passing Step 2 CS and applied for an extension beyond the 6 months stay granted to her after she was pre-matched during one of the interviews.

Edited May 8, 2018 by AndreaPerkins

[RichCzech 0]

On 3/28/2017 at 10:53 AM, higashi said:

I am currently being petitioned under F2B by my family. They are all green card holders already. I'm planning to take the US medical licensure exam to get in for residency in the states while I wait for this petition. To take one of the exams, I need to get a Tourist B1/B2 visa sometime this year. I've never traveled to any country and my only ties here would be the family business. I've been reading online and people have said that it would be difficult to do this. Does being petitioned really decrease the chances of getting a tourist visa? Can you give tips on acquiring the tourist visa with this status of being petitioned? Should I mention that I plan to take the exam there or is it better to just say I want to visit my family? I've had friends who also plan to take the exam that left out the USMLE exam detail from the interview and were granted 6 months. However I also do not want to compromise anything because of my ongoing petition. 

I was given a B1/B2 visa evethough I have a pending petition last 2013, now i am back in the US as an immigrant. Just answer with all honesty that you have a petition. 

[harble 19]

On 5/8/2018 at 4:20 PM, Hank_ said:

Thanks for the update.

 

Did you get your tourist visa?  It is almost a year later.

Not yet I'm just about to apply for it this month. 

 

On 5/9/2018 at 12:28 AM, AndreaPerkins said:

You could take Steps 1 and 2 CK in the Philippines.

 

You have no choice for Step 2 CS but to take it in the U.S. and you have to secure an examination slot at your chosen test center a year early.

 

I know 3 people who were denied B1/B2 Visa to take the Step 2 CS because of pending family petitions. I also know another 2 people with pending family petitions who were denied B1/B2 visa to attend an interview invite for the match despite having the appropriate documents and letters of invitations from U.S. hospitals.

 

We had a co-resident from the Philippines who had a pending family petition but was granted a B1/B2 to take the Step 2 CS. With proper timing and schedule, she applied for the match after passing Step 2 CS and applied for an extension beyond the 6 months stay granted to her after she was pre-matched during one of the interviews.

I already have my Step 2 CS schedule for July so I was hoping to fly to the US by then. Yeah that's really scary. I'm afraid of getting denied because of all my red flags. But there's no other way in but to try, right? I'm hoping what I have is enough for them to grant me a visa.  That one case of your co-resident still gave me hope, thank you.

 

On 5/10/2018 at 1:24 PM, RichCzech said:

I was given a B1/B2 visa evethough I have a pending petition last 2013, now i am back in the US as an immigrant. Just answer with all honesty that you have a petition. 

Thank you for the advise! And I hope to be granted the same as you.

[harble 19]

Just to update this thread, I applied for a visa already... and got denied.  They only asked me these questions:

1. US Travel plans - exam + visit family

2. What is the exam - USMLE Step 2 CS with a little explanation that it is for training

3. Who are in the US - family

4. What is the exam for - everyone who wants to apply or medical training needs to undergo this process

5. How long am I staying - 1 month

THAT'S IT. No opportunity to let them know of my ties to my home country. I feel that I was judged solely on my family's presence (LPRs) and the exam (possible work?). I didn't even get to show any documents. It's so sad.

 

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve for my next attempt, please help. I'm planning to go as soon as possible.

[Boiler 45,692]

Can you take the exam locally?

[Canerican 242]

I would not go soon as that would make you look desperate to get to the US and they will see the previous attempt and deny you again. I would say that the fact you have family in the US and that you have a pending F2B petition are your nail in the coffin. It is almost impossible to get a tourist/business visa with a pending immigrant visa from the Philippines. 

[harble 19]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Can you take the exam locally?

For this particular exam, no. It has to be in the US

 

1 hour ago, CDN(ON)-USA(VT) said:

I would not go soon as that would make you look desperate to get to the US and they will see the previous attempt and deny you again. I would say that the fact you have family in the US and that you have a pending F2B petition are your nail in the coffin. It is almost impossible to get a tourist/business visa with a pending immigrant visa from the Philippines. 

Is there really no other way?  I was planning on telling them of my ties and shortening the trip. I don't even have to see family. Just need to take the exam.