Apply US tourist visa with NO strong ties

[Susana Distor 1]

My daughter is a US citizen, I want to go to the US as a tourist first before she petition me, because I want to “test the water” so I can decide if I really want to live in the US or not. But I don’t have a job, property nor a good amount of financial ties in the Philippines. Any tips and advice on what to do for a bigger chance to get approve from apply a tourist visa? Just planning to visit for 2 weeks in the US if possible.

[Mike E 11,723]

 

 As you’ve written you plan to immigrate.  
 

You will have to explain to the consular officer  why, after a stay (likely authorized for 6 months) as a tourist in the US, you would go back to your country to wait for your immigration visa versus adjust status and stay in the US. 
 

I don’t see you succeeding. And I believe the backlogs for a B visa are months long. You might as well start the immigration process. Once you are here, if you don’t like it, you can return to your country whenever you want.  
 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Mike E

[Crazy Cat 39,229]

24 minutes ago, Susana Distor said:

My daughter is a US citizen, I want to go to the US as a tourist first before she petition me, because I want to “test the water” so I can decide if I really want to live in the US or not. But I don’t have a job, property nor a good amount of financial ties in the Philippines. Any tips and advice on what to do for a bigger chance to get approve from apply a tourist visa? Just planning to visit for 2 weeks in the US if possible.

I think you are likely to fail.  You are a classic case of someone who would be seen as wanting to bypass the long immigration process and commit fraud. That is exactly how some Consulate Officers will see it.  Anyone applying for a tourist visa, by law, is already assumed to have immigrant intent and intent to commit fraud . I see no way for you to overcome that assumption...But, it is your money.  Good luck in your endeavor. 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[Rocio0010 5,562]

1 hour ago, Susana Distor said:

My daughter is a US citizen, I want to go to the US as a tourist first before she petition me, because I want to “test the water” so I can decide if I really want to live in the US or not. But I don’t have a job, property nor a good amount of financial ties in the Philippines. Any tips and advice on what to do for a bigger chance to get approve from apply a tourist visa? Just planning to visit for 2 weeks in the US if possible.

Not that you asked for this, but I can tell you from experience that coming two weeks as a tourist is nowhere near an experience to test the water for living here. What I’m saying is, coming here as a tourist is very, VERY different than living here. All this to say it is very unlikely that the officer deciding on your case will grant you the visa. Plus, you have to be very honest about the purpose of your trip, which in your case has immigrant intent, because you’ll have to say “well, eventually I’d like to migrate, so this is just a trial to see if I like it”. Not going to work. But of course, as long as you’re honest, you’re welcome to try. 
Strong ties: a steady job, bills on your name, bank accounts etc. Given that all of that is going to take time to build, you might just as well start the immigrant petition.

[Boiler 43,434]

There is a very long wait for a tourist visa interview.

[JeanneAdil 6,197]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

 

 As you’ve written you plan to immigrate.  
 

You will have to explain to the consular officer  why, after a stay (likely authorized for 6 months) as a tourist in the US, you would go back to your country to wait for your immigration visa versus adjust status and stay in the US. 
 

I don’t see you succeeding. And I believe the backlogs for a B visa are months long. You might as well start the immigration process. Once you are here, if you don’t like it, you can return to your country whenever you want.  
 

I agree 

Start the process for staying in the US

like it -stay

don't like it -u can return to home where other family and friends are

Or -with green card in hand ,  visit the Philippines often but don't stay outside US too long 

[Verrou 1,899]

IMO...easier to file for immigrant visa then apply for tourist visa if you dont have strong ties with your home country

agree with @Rocio0010 to visit even though just " to test the water" wont be the same like when u really live there. 

 

[martinzl 91]

My step-daughter lives in the Philippines and has applied for a visitor visa.  She has had her appointment cancelled twice due to covid restrictions at the embassy. After the second cancellation, back in January, they gave her an a new appointment at the earliest available date, September 2023. Hope you have better luck.

[GEOntificator 271]

8 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

I think you are likely to fail.  You are a classic case of someone who would be seen as wanting to bypass the long immigration process and commit fraud. That is exactly how some Consulate Officers will see it.  Anyone applying for a tourist visa, by law, is already assumed to have immigrant intent and intent to commit fraud . I see no way for you to overcome that assumption...But, it is your money.  Good luck in your endeavor. 

I do not believe that this is true. Exactly 3 of my USC friends' parent received tourist visas in less than 2 minutes at different embassies. Immigration  officers understand that there is no point of denying a visa to someone who can choose to get a GC in under 12 month if they choose to. The question is what is OP's real intent and if she will decide to adjust while in the US should she decide she likes it here.

 

Yes, these days there are huge lines for B1/B2 visa but even that is not an issue if you have the means to travel elsewhere. My father got his visa 2 weeks ago in Poland because my home country has no appointments available in the next 2 years. Poland has a wait time of 30 days or so as we speak.

 

Not sure where y'all get the info from but I have not seen/heard of a USC parent get denied a visa. Siblings are a different story.

[Crazy Cat 39,229]

22 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

officers understand that there is no point of denying a visa to someone who can choose to get a GC in under 12 month if they choose to.

That doesn't make any sense.  BY LAW, they must deny a B2 visa for anyone who has demonstrated intent to immigrate. 

23 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

Not sure where y'all get the info from but I have not seen/heard of a USC parent get denied a visa.

You haven't been paying attention.  Parents are FREQUENTLY denied visitor visas.

[Crazy Cat 39,229]

44 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

Exactly 3 of my USC friends' parent received tourist visas in less than 2 minutes at different embassies.

Not a very big sample size.........I would not predict the fate of others based on such an insignificant number of people you know...especially in some countries.  The country of origin also plays a big part....

Edited June 13, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[GEOntificator 271]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

That doesn't make any sense.  BY LAW, they must deny a B2 visa for anyone who has demonstrated intent to immigrate. 

You haven't been paying attention.  Parents are FREQUENTLY denied visitor visas.

Yes, however common sense is also used while making decisions. I do not believe that OP falls under the category of people who have intent to immigrate. She stated that she simply wants to see the country first and knowing that she has an option to purse the path of the CG she may. Had she said that she intends to adjust while she is here then that would be an intent. 

 

I agree with everyone else that the OP is probably better off pursuing the immigration process vs a tourist visa but I do not believe that her chances of getting a visa are lower than the next person.

[Crazy Cat 39,229]

2 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

Had she said that she intends to adjust while she is here then that would be an intent. 

Nope.  An I-130 also indicates an intent to immigrate.......If she intends to adjust status, that is intent and FRAUD!!!!

Edited June 13, 2022 by Crazy Cat

[GEOntificator 271]

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

An I-130 also indicates an intent to immigrate.......If she intends to adjust status, that is FRAUD!!!!

There was no mention of I-130 was there?

[Crazy Cat 39,229]

2 minutes ago, kvito28 said:

There was no mention of I-130 was there?

Read the first post carefully........The ONLY way for the daughter to petition her mother is via an I-130.

Edited June 13, 2022 by Crazy Cat