Sponsoring my girlfriend for tourist visa

[jagsfl 14]

Hello, I'm new here and have a couple of questions!

 

I plan on sponsoring my (Indonesian) girlfriend (of over 7 months now) to come visit the US. We have done some research and seen that another Indonesian girl was denied a visa even when her boyfriend was sponsoring her. The reason she was denied (they say) is because they only knew eachother for 3 months. They had reason to believe she would not return back to Indonesia. So...

 

Is there a specific amount of time that immigration wants to see/have proof of us two being in a relationship for her to be approved to go?

 

Next question: I plan on marrying my GF as well. After doing a bunch of research I see the best route in doing so is with the K-1 Fiance visa. I want to go ahead and start this process because it apparently takes at least 4 months before she is able to go have the 1-on-1 interview to get approved. So...

 

If I started the process for the K-1 Visa now, would we be able to also apply for a tourist visa while waiting on the K-1 process to be finished?

 

The reason I ask is because the K-1 visa can be a lengthy process and I want to bring her to the U.S. for the Christmas/New Years holidays.  Thank you in advance for any advice/contribution!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  Having a boyfriend in the US makes it hard for a young single woman to prove she will not stay in the US.  Don't count on a visitors visa  , it most likely won't happen.  Try if you like

 

  The first part of a K1 takes 4 months,  the second part ( the medical and interview )  adds a couple more months.   

 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

You do not sponsor anyone for a tourist visa. She will only be granted one based on her own merits i.e. she needs to be able to prove her strong ties to her home country.

 

If you intend to meet, then she can try to apply for a tourist visa first. If that fails, you guys can consider meeting in a third country. During the meeting, make sure to collect a variety of evidences that you guys have met within 2 years preceding the I-129F petition filing. File the I-129F after you have met as you'd need those proofs. 

 

[jagsfl 14]

Thanks guys for the quick responses. I should add a couple of things in here to consider (I will also try editing the Original Post):

 

We met in March. When we met she had just recently quit her job. We started dating and ever since, we have been together traveling around South East Asia. I have been supporting her the whole time since then. (Therefor she does not have strong ties back home... hence no job.)  

 

I can see why the tourist visa won't work out. We'll try anyway and hope for the best. If it doesn't work, then so be it... we will have the K-1 visa soon enough anyway.

[Suudsu 66]

59 minutes ago, jagsfl said:

If it doesn't work, then so be it... we will have the K-1 visa soon enough anyway.

A note: based on current timelines, you won't have the K-1 approved in time for Christmas. But submitting the application soon is a good idea.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1historical

[jagsfl 14]

Yeah... I know it won't be ready by Christmas. I hope everything works out well after submitting it! Have you seen any cases where they denied K1?

 

Thank you for that link! That surely will come in use

Edited October 25, 2017 by jagsfl

[JFH 12,189]

On 10/25/2017 at 12:56 PM, jagsfl said:

Yeah... I know it won't be ready by Christmas. I hope everything works out well after submitting it! Have you seen any cases where they denied K1?

 

Thank you for that link! That surely will come in use

Many K-1s are denied for many different reasons. Immigration fraud (pretending to be a couple just to get into the USA), not being legally eligible to marry (too young, still married, already married, too closely related), criminal inadmissability (previous convictions that make one inadmissible to the USA), AWA (Adam Walsh Act), health grounds (something that makes the applicant inadmissible to the USA such as severe mental disorders), financial reasons (inadequate financial support of the foreigner demonstrated), previously banned or removed from the USA, drug abuse to name just some of them. Some of these can be overcome.