Just want to visit family

[PancitBawang 0]

Really need help on this one.

 

American citizen, native born, married a Filipino and had a child. I want to take my spouse to visit my home and family, but we DO NOT want to stay. 

 

We had already tried to obtain a K1 visa before we married, but ended up at an impasse because we were unable to acquire a police clearance from a certain country because the country will not issue one to non-natives. You can get one by bribery, which we did. They then processed it for 3 months, but dated it for the date of bribery, withheld the document, and then gave it to us 3 days before it's expiration. Tried to explain everything to consulate/embassy. They didn't care, obviously.

 

We need a visa where we can skip this step as it is not possible to obtain these documents legally. Also, a visa that will not limit our travel. We wish to remain abroad.

 

Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated!

[payxibka 10,045]

6 minutes ago, PancitBawang said:

Really need help on this one.

 

American citizen, native born, married a Filipino and had a child. I want to take my spouse to visit my home and family, but we DO NOT want to stay. 

 

We had already tried to obtain a K1 visa before we married, but ended up at an impasse because we were unable to acquire a police clearance from a certain country because the country will not issue one to non-natives. You can get one by bribery, which we did. They then processed it for 3 months, but dated it for the date of bribery, withheld the document, and then gave it to us 3 days before it's expiration. Tried to explain everything to consulate/embassy. They didn't care, obviously.

 

We need a visa where we can skip this step as it is not possible to obtain these documents legally. Also, a visa that will not limit our travel. We wish to remain abroad.

 

Any and all help or advice is greatly appreciated!

Tourist visa is the only option.

 

The bribery took a year to get the police certificate?

 

Would you identify the offending nation?

Edited July 16, 2019 by payxibka

[PancitBawang 0]

5 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Tourist visa is the only option.

 

The bribery took a year to get the police certificate?

 

Would you identify the offending nation?

Bribery took 3 months to process, but by time we were able to get it at maybe 3-4 months, it was basically expired. Embassy wanted to see an updated one.

 

The Kingdom of Cambodia. The Land of Wonder.

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, PancitBawang said:

Bribery took 3 months to process, but by time we were able to get it at maybe 3-4 months, it was basically expired. Embassy wanted to see an updated one.

 

The Kingdom of Cambodia. The Land of Wonder.

Water over the bridge,  but for immigration purposes,  PCs are valid for one year and if a PC is unavailable (as it is for foreign nationals no longer resident in Cambodia) you get a waiver 

[PancitBawang 0]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Water over the bridge,  but for immigration purposes,  PCs are valid for one year and if a PC is unavailable (as it is for foreign nationals no longer resident in Cambodia) you get a waiver 

We asked if there was a way around this, and explained the situation and its illegality, but we were given no option. They wanted to see a police clearance from every country she had resided in for more than 6 months.

 

Thanks for your responses.

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, PancitBawang said:

The Kingdom of Cambodia. The Land of Wonder.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Cambodia.html

Quote

Police Certificates

Available

Fees:

• Police Certificate (for Cambodian Citizens): $7.50 (processing time: 20 working days) or $15 (processing time: 12 working days)
• Police Certificate (for Cambodian Students): $2.50 (processing time: 20 working days) or $5.00 (processing time: 12 working days)
• Police Certificate (for foreigners living in Cambodia): $62.50 (processing time: 20 working days) or $125 (processing time: 12 working days)
• Translation to a foreign language: $10 (processing time: 20 working day) or $15 (processing time: 12 working days)

Document Name: Police Certificate or Criminal Record

Issuing Authority: Ministry of Justice

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: Police certificates are green with a red seal in the bottom left.

Issuing Authority Personnel Title: Director of the Criminal Records Office and the Ministry of Justice

Registration Criteria: Request a Police Certificate at the Criminal Office at the Ministry of Justice

Procedure for Obtaining: A person must apply with the following required documents: completed application (this form can be obtained at the Criminal Records Office), one photograph (size 4cm x 6cm), a biological information form, a copy of the applicant’s passport biographical page, and a residence certification letter from the commune office where the applicant resides.  

Certified Copies Available: Certified copies are not available

Alternate Documents: There are no alternate documents

Exceptions: For foreigners no longer living in Cambodia, Cambodian criminal/police certificates are not readily available to non-Cambodian citizens who lived in Cambodia years ago.

Comments: A Cambodian Police Certificate can be used interchangeably as a criminal record or prison record.

Sounds like you presented a potentially falsified document, not just a bribery (hence why they held it).

 

Either way, what's done is done. They aren't keen to issue tourist visas to people who are known to engage in bribery. But the only thing she can do is apply. There's no other visa for the intended purpose.

[PancitBawang 0]

6 hours ago, geowrian said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Cambodia.html

Sounds like you presented a potentially falsified document, not just a bribery (hence why they held it).

 

Either way, what's done is done. They aren't keen to issue tourist visas to people who are known to engage in bribery. But the only thing she can do is apply. There's no other visa for the intended purpose.

At the time there was no other option. This was not available. We told them (US Embassy) upfront and they were absolutely apathetic. In hindsight, we are glad it didn't happen since we don't want to live in the US.

 

The Cambodian authorities held it because they wanted more money. 

 

Thanks for making me sound like a criminal with intent to commit fraud. But I suppose it did play out that way. I was up front with the US Embassy officials about the illegality of the process and they said go for it. 

 

In any case, thank you for the info. 

 

Cheers.

[Ryan H 3,813]

Moved from What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum to Tourist Visas forum.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

It’s not entirely clear to me what actually transpired, but just the fact of a previously denied K1 application (immigrant intent established) is likely to preclude a tourist visa being issued. If the document was indeed a false document (it’s not clear to me that it was) this has likely led  to a lifetime visa ban. Maybe a waiver for a spouse visa available - not sure, but anyway you have said that is not what you want to do.

[Boiler 45,693]

Not sure why you applied for a K1 when you just wanted to visit, the visa for Visitors is a B2.