Not sure what to do

[waiting for her 0]

I have spent about an hour and a half reading here but have not seen my situation. Any advice would be appreciated. I have been writing (through e-mail) with a Brazilian woman since summer 2006. Our plan was for me to visit her this spring and if we hit it off, make plans to bring her here. It occurred to me that I could visit her for a few weeks, make nice and we really wouldn't know much. I suggested she come here on a tourist visa and stay with me for a few months. This would allow both of us to see if we are meant for each other and if she can be happy not living in her home country. She is poor and has not much more than her clothes. I of course am paying for everything and have assured her return fare and her salary until she finds a job if things don't work out. If things do work out, we would like to marry.

Can I buy her a one way ticket to Maryland?

If we decide to stay together, can we apply for a fiance visa while she is here on a tourist visa? Would she have to return to Brazil? Although we want to get married, we've never met in person and so are leaving open the possibility of not doing so. From what I've read, it appears a fiance visa would not be approved because we haven't met in person. True?

She has applied for her passport. When can she apply for her visa?

We will probably visit Brazil once a year to see her family and friends. Does that affect the situation in any way?

Any suggestions, advice or links would be appreciated.

[bora bora 1]

I have to let you know that it is VERY difficult for Brazilians to be granted tourist visas to the U.S. They have to show VERY strong ties to Brazil - proof that they will return to Brazil and not overstay their visa.

This can include a steady job, good salary, owning a home, proof they're in college, family, etc.

Even Brazilians who are middle class are often denied a visa because the consulate does not think they have strong enough ties to their home country.

In my opinion, I think it'd be better for you both if you went to Brazil. Your fiance will not be granted a fiance visa if you have not met in person within the last 2 years. That is one of the requirements for the visa (having met in person).

I lived in Brazil so everything I'm saying is from my experience. My fiance is Brazilian and we never thought about applying for a tourist visa because it is too hard to get.

Let me know if I can help in any other way. Good luck.

[waiting for her 0]

I have to let you know that it is VERY difficult for Brazilians to be granted tourist visas to the U.S. They have to show VERY strong ties to Brazil - proof that they will return to Brazil and not overstay their visa.

This can include a steady job, good salary, owning a home, proof they're in college, family, etc.

Even Brazilians who are middle class are often denied a visa because the consulate does not think they have strong enough ties to their home country.

In my opinion, I think it'd be better for you both if you went to Brazil. Your fiance will not be granted a fiance visa if you have not met in person within the last 2 years. That is one of the requirements for the visa (having met in person).

I lived in Brazil so everything I'm saying is from my experience. My fiance is Brazilian and we never thought about applying for a tourist visa because it is too hard to get.

Let me know if I can help in any other way. Good luck.

[waiting for her 0]

I have to let you know that it is VERY difficult for Brazilians to be granted tourist visas to the U.S. They have to show VERY strong ties to Brazil - proof that they will return to Brazil and not overstay their visa.

This can include a steady job, good salary, owning a home, proof they're in college, family, etc.

Even Brazilians who are middle class are often denied a visa because the consulate does not think they have strong enough ties to their home country.

In my opinion, I think it'd be better for you both if you went to Brazil. Your fiance will not be granted a fiance visa if you have not met in person within the last 2 years. That is one of the requirements for the visa (having met in person).

I lived in Brazil so everything I'm saying is from my experience. My fiance is Brazilian and we never thought about applying for a tourist visa because it is too hard to get.

Let me know if I can help in any other way. Good luck.

Thanks for your advice. I will travel to Brasil in several weeks. Would it be better/easier to apply for the fiance visa in Brasil (I could go with her) or here in the U.S?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

[kitkat1 5]

Read the guides about the K1 process. You file in the US but you could certainly gather all the information you will need from her while you are there.

[msu17 0]

I have to let you know that it is VERY difficult for Brazilians to be granted tourist visas to the U.S. They have to show VERY strong ties to Brazil - proof that they will return to Brazil and not overstay their visa.

This can include a steady job, good salary, owning a home, proof they're in college, family, etc.

Even Brazilians who are middle class are often denied a visa because the consulate does not think they have strong enough ties to their home country.

In my opinion, I think it'd be better for you both if you went to Brazil. Your fiance will not be granted a fiance visa if you have not met in person within the last 2 years. That is one of the requirements for the visa (having met in person).

I lived in Brazil so everything I'm saying is from my experience. My fiance is Brazilian and we never thought about applying for a tourist visa because it is too hard to get.

Let me know if I can help in any other way. Good luck.

Thanks for your advice. I will travel to Brasil in several weeks. Would it be better/easier to apply for the fiance visa in Brasil (I could go with her) or here in the U.S?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

I dont know what you mean you could go with her? You can have her sign the papers and get the pictures and evidence etc. while you are there. Saves waiting for the mail! Enjoy your trip. I totally understand what you mean about having her visit, dont you love how they want us to show we have a real relationship, but wont let her get a tourist visa and only give us 3 months to get married... Good luck!

[meauxna 15]

Thanks for your advice. I will travel to Brasil in several weeks. Would it be better/easier to apply for the fiance visa in Brasil (I could go with her) or here in the U.S?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

A visa is a document you apply for from outside the US, for entering the US.

The fiance visa (K-1) process is not a one-day deal-- from first paper mailed to Ms Brazil arriving can be about 6-9 months total.

You can file your first papers *after* you've met in person.

The tourist visa application is just as Bora Bora describes--highly unlikely.

[waiting for her 0]

This is a great site. Each response has helped clear a little confusion (still a long way to go with the confusion!)

I realize the fiance visa is applied for here. I was thinking maybe she could apply for a tourist visa while I am there, not withholding any truth about what we'd like to do.

Now trying to figure out if I should marry her there or here. Guess I have a lot more reading to do. ANY advice is very much appreciated for speeding up my learning curve.

[TimsDaisy 0]

This is a great site. Each response has helped clear a little confusion (still a long way to go with the confusion!)

I realize the fiance visa is applied for here. I was thinking maybe she could apply for a tourist visa while I am there, not withholding any truth about what we'd like to do.

Now trying to figure out if I should marry her there or here. Guess I have a lot more reading to do. ANY advice is very much appreciated for speeding up my learning curve.

Have you met her yet? In person?

If you haven't met her at all yet and you're wondering what path to take once you get there - then you can pretty much go either way (once you read up on everything, of course). The two timelines are similar, with the K3 taking slightly longer, but if you're starting from complete scratch on both (because you haven't met her in person yet), then there's not much fo a real difference.

Start with www.uscis.gov, then hit the guides and FAQ here, and the timelines, and then figure out what will be best. Assuming you actually like her enough to commit to marriage after you finally meet her in person.

[Yodrak 8]

waiting for her,

Yes, you are still confused.

The fiance(e) visa is not applied for "here". It is applied for at the US consulate in the applicant's country. What happens here is that the US citizen fiance(e) petitions for their foreign fiance(e) to be allowed to apply for the visa.

She can apply for a tourist visa any time she wants. Where you are has nothing to do with it.

If she should be granted a tourist visa, she does not want to try to travel on a one-way ticket. She will almost certainly be turned around at the POE if she asks to enter the USA without a ticket to leave again. And knowing that they will have to foot the bill for such return trip, the airline will not likely let her board the plane to the USA in the first place without a return ticket.

Yodrak

This is a great site. Each response has helped clear a little confusion (still a long way to go with the confusion!)

I realize the fiance visa is applied for here. I was thinking maybe she could apply for a tourist visa while I am there, not withholding any truth about what we'd like to do.

Now trying to figure out if I should marry her there or here. Guess I have a lot more reading to do. ANY advice is very much appreciated for speeding up my learning curve.

Edited April 27, 2007 by Yodrak

[truffles 3]

[b]I am probably going to sound like a damp squib here ,,,,but ...it seems that you are putting " cart before horse". First thing first - marriage to anyone is a life changing thing - marraige to a foreigner adds extra issues - soooo slow down and just ensure the person you are going to see and spend time with is actually the person you LOVE and wish to spend the rest of you life with. Please remember the addage " marriage in hast repent at leisure". Sorry if this sounds negative i dontmean it to - just think you need take one step at a time.[/b]

[Ana Paula 2]

Check first if the thing will work out for you guys...

Go to Brasil, there is my home, and i can tell you that you`ll love each square meter of that place, people there are awesome, and you`ll have an opportunity to know a little bit more about her.

With me and my husband the K1 was like this:

We met online and then he flew to Brasil to see me in person. He stayed there for 12 days and yes, believe me, he proposed. Oh well, of course we had a relationship over the computer and we knew a little of each other, but when he went there is when we realized that we wanted to stay together.

Our papers got lost and till now i dont know how, and then we realized that the best thing to do was live together and see if the things would really work out to us. He flew again to Brasil, i got an appartment to us (after 7 months apart), i was working with my mom and he couldnt so i paid all our bills and everything to him because he needed to know that this is how i am, and we lived there for 6 months together until come to Texas.

So, figure out first if she is the girl, then, if she is, go for it. And ah, my husband knew every informtion about my family, like adress, phone numbers, and even police records, because when you know someone online, you never know if the heart that beats there is the same as yours.

But i wish you good luck and a good time in Brasil!! You`ll love there.

I love there better than any other place in the world

Goos luck to you all

[dai2000 0]

Hi there!

I read your posts and i thought I would write some information to help you out also.

Firstly - you are in a computer/internet relationship - that's fine - half the people on this website met through a computer/internet relationship. Only you can decide if the girl is the one for you - however, do not rush into marriage lightly - you must confirm that you are 100% compatible with each other. However - this is your decision.

Secondly - applying for this visa requires a lot of information and proof. You must start collecting it now. Start writing letters to her. Tell her to keep the letters. Tell her to write you letters. Keep everything. When you fly to visit her - take a lot of photographs of you both together. Take pictures in obvious places (that have well known parts of Brazil in the background, etc). Keep your ticket stubs. Everything relating to you as a couple can be submitted as evidence - this evidence is crucial to your case. Keep exchanged emails.

Make several trips to Brazil if possible over a period of several months - I read somewhere that the embassy will look at the duration of your relationship - I think 2 years is something they are looking for. Me and fiance were together over 3 years before getting engaged. I made almost a dozen visits to the USA during that time.

K