US Visa Interview Tips & Advices - Will visit my boyfriend

[Strawberryjaaam 0]

Hello! I wanted someone's advice here or someone that has the same experience/background as I have.

 

I am applying for B2 Visa (tourism)
Ngl, I've been dead honest throughout my application so here's my background:

 

- 22 years old
- Stable job & earns almost Php 700,000 a year
- I don't have any assets yet but I pay bills monthly (rent etc.)
- Planning to stay in LA (my boyfriend's place)
- Will stay for 2 weeks max. (can't afford to file a leave more than 2 weeks lol)
- I'll pay for my ticket but my boyfriend & I will be splitting all of my expenses once I arrive.
- Haven't traveled outside Philippines since I'm not really into traveling.

 

Files I prepared:

- Certificate of Employment (for visa application with annual salary)
- Proof of renting a place here in PH
- My bank certificate
- My boyfriend's bank certificate

 

Ik some will say that I might get disapproved... but I have a strong feeling that if I'll be honest... I'll get approved... but ofc I need some advices regarding my case.

 

Oh I also added my boyfriend's address in my DS-160. Again, I don't have anything to hide... it won't hurt if I'll be honest w everything.

 

I just really need someone's advices or tips! Thank you!

Edited February 19 by Strawberryjaaam

[W199 335]

24 minutes ago, Strawberryjaaam said:

Hello! I wanted someone's advice here or someone that has the same experience/background as I have.

 

I am applying for B2 Visa (tourism)
Ngl, I've been dead honest throughout my application so here's my background:

 

- 22 years old
- Stable job & earns almost Php 700,000 a year
- I don't have any assets yet but I pay bills monthly (rent etc.)
- Planning to stay in LA (my boyfriend's place)
- Will stay for 2 weeks max. (can't afford to file a leave more than 2 weeks lol)
- I'll pay for my ticket but my boyfriend & I will be splitting all of my expenses once I arrive.
- Haven't traveled outside Philippines since I'm not really into traveling.

 

Files I prepared:

- Certificate of Employment (for visa application with annual salary)
- Proof of renting a place here in PH
- My bank certificate
- My boyfriend's bank certificate

 

Ik some will say that I might get disapproved... but I have a strong feeling that if I'll be honest... I'll get approved... but ofc I need some advices regarding my case.

 

Oh I also added my boyfriend's address in my DS-160. Again, I don't have anything to hide... it won't hurt if I'll be honest w everything.

 

I just really need someone's advices or tips! Thank you!

The USA embassy knows very well that a young 22 year old female with no assets, no house, no previous international travel, and so forth would easily give up their job in the Philippines (can make a much higher salary in the USA), and not return back to the Philippines if their bf in usa asked them to get married and stay.   Therefore, you have an extremely low to zero chance of getting approved. The ticket price an all your expenses will be a large part of your salary too. That is a lot of money just for a quick visit without intent to marry or stay if asked.

 

But of course, if you are honest, then it is harmless to try, except for the fee's and time involved.  But don't expect success. And your bf's bank statement is useless for this, they won't even look at it.

 

You will need to somehow prove in 2 minutes with your words and status, after they ask you a few simple questions, and convince them you will return to the Philippines.   As soon as they hear you have a bf who will be sharing your expenses and staying with him, I am sure they will say "sorry, you are not eligible" .. I hope you can prove me wrong ..

 

 

[Strawberryjaaam 0]

5 minutes ago, W199 said:

The USA embassy knows very well that a young 22 year old female with no assets, no house, no previous international travel, and so forth would easily give up their job in the Philippines (can make a much higher salary in the USA), and not return back to the Philippines if their bf in usa asked them to get married and stay.   Therefore, you have an extremely low to zero chance of getting approved. The ticket price an all your expenses will be a large part of your salary too. That is a lot of money just for a quick visit without intent to marry or stay if asked.

 

But of course, if you are honest, then it is harmless to try, except for the fee's and time involved.  But don't expect success. And your bf's bank statement is useless for this, they won't even look at it.

 

You will need to somehow prove in 2 minutes with your words and status, after they ask you a few simple questions, and convince them you will return to the Philippines.   As soon as they hear you have a bf who will be sharing your expenses and staying with him, I am sure they will say "sorry, you are not eligible" .. I hope you can prove me wrong ..

 

 

So how should I answer if ever they'll ask "who will you visit in US?"

[Crazy Cat 41,980]

7 minutes ago, Strawberryjaaam said:

So how should I answer if ever they'll ask "who will you visit in US?"

Truthfully.  The last thing you want to do is to lie to a US immigration Officer.  There are numerous cases where that came back to haunt people later.

Edited February 19 by Crazy Cat

[OldUser 6,875]

22 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Truthfully.  The last thing you want to do is to lie to a US immigration Officer.  There are numerous cases where that came back to haunt people later.

To be more exact: if you lie this can come up next time you try to get a visa or decide to get a GC in the US. Misrepresentation can make you permanently ineligible for any US immigration benefit.

[powerpuff 6,729]

Another tip is not to volunteer any information that is not asked. Just answer questions truthfully and keep it brief and to the point and only answer what is asked without giving any unnecessary extra information.

[MaxP22 186]

Have you met your boyfriend before?

 

Has he come to visit you in the PH?

[W199 335]

Just to give you a brief idea on how difficult this will be, my Filipina gf had just received her BSED and then got into a Masters Degree program in the USA. The immigration officer was very happy and smiling and just about to approve her student visa when he asked her who will be paying for the school.  She was totally honest because we knew in the future we may do a K-1 and didn;t want to misrepresent.  She explained her bf from usa but then added all the extra info about how she bought a house and land in the Philippines and will be returning to the Philippines.  The officer mood changed to very sad,  ... her full answer was perfect as it perfected by a former consular officer.  That perfect answer led to several more good questions with perfect answers, such as how many times I have visited her, and our future plans ..as well as "why don't we file for a K-1" ....  In the end she got denied. Manila is just too strict when it comes ot haveing a usa bf.  Nothing else will matters, my high salary an ability to visit her often, her house and land she now owns, her status, her large family and connections .... only if I was retired in the Philippines would she have had a chance.  She could have got the visa if we lied, but that would have been very stupid.  Shortly after that, we did the K-1 and had no issues. 

[Bethie 104]

5 hours ago, Strawberryjaaam said:

So how should I answer if ever they'll ask "who will you visit in US?"

Answer truthfully!!

[top_secret 2,446]

Being young and single, traveling alone to visit a US boyfriend, US Embassy Manila often issues denials at the interview before they even ask three or four questions.  I suspect it may be denied before people even arrive and the interview is just a formality.  I can't say that I have never heard of a young single applicant being approved but I think it is exceedingly rare, so go in there with kind of low expectations.  It can be a painful letdown if you get your hopes to much.

 

You can bring the papers you describe but they are unlikely to even look at them. It's more important to be able to talk convincingly about your job and assets rather that having an Employment Certificate or Bank Certificate.   It's really common for people to complain they were denied without the consul even looking at their evidence. 

 

Before we were married, my wife was denied twice at US Embassy Manila.  She owned a condo, owned a car, owned a business with great cash flow and money in the bank.  She had valid 5 year multiple entry visas and good previous travel history for Japan and Korea.  She had a previous multiple entry visa from the Netherlands and good travel history in Netherlands, Italy and France.  None of which made a bit of difference.

Edited February 20 by top_secret

[W199 335]

Your best bet, or really your only bet, will be either for him to meet you in the Philippines or meet in a 3rd Country such as Canada (that;s what we did), or Costa Rica, Mexico, etc..

[GEOntificator 281]

1 hour ago, W199 said:

Your best bet, or really your only bet, will be either for him to meet you in the Philippines or meet in a 3rd Country such as Canada (that;s what we did), or Costa Rica, Mexico, etc..

I do not see harm in applying for B2.

[SalishSea 17,928]

1 hour ago, GEOntificator said:

I do not see harm in applying for B2.

There is no "harm."  It will not be approved, so the OP will be out $185 or whatever the fee currently is.  It will not impact future visa applications, but she will have to disclose the denial on any future application.

[JE57 239]

I agree with others that the chances of approval are extremely low but so long as the OP is completely honest there is no harm in trying.  I'll also point out that even if the visa is approved that the OP would likely face rather extensive questioning on exit from the Philippines and potentially be off-boarded as Philippine Immigration may see this as a risk of trafficking.  I strongly, suggest that the OP consider traveling to meet BF someplace else that also requires a VISA that is far easier to get for which a 700,000 Peso job and bank information would make approval of that Visa much more likely and which would raise less suspicions outbound with Philippine immigration.  Consider Japan or S. Korea perhaps?  

Bear in mind that 700,000 Peso a year is a good salary in the Philippines but not even meeting minimum wage in the USA.  Of course, it's unlikely that the US Embassy will even ask about salary. 

As others have said..  Be honest. but be prepared with alternate plans.

 

[PGA 247]

22 hours ago, Strawberryjaaam said:

Hello! I wanted someone's advice here or someone that has the same experience/background as I have.

 

I am applying for B2 Visa (tourism)
Ngl, I've been dead honest throughout my application so here's my background:

 

- 22 years old
- Stable job & earns almost Php 700,000 a year
- I don't have any assets yet but I pay bills monthly (rent etc.)
- Planning to stay in LA (my boyfriend's place)
- Will stay for 2 weeks max. (can't afford to file a leave more than 2 weeks lol)
- I'll pay for my ticket but my boyfriend & I will be splitting all of my expenses once I arrive.
- Haven't traveled outside Philippines since I'm not really into traveling.

 

Files I prepared:

- Certificate of Employment (for visa application with annual salary)
- Proof of renting a place here in PH
- My bank certificate
- My boyfriend's bank certificate

 

Ik some will say that I might get disapproved... but I have a strong feeling that if I'll be honest... I'll get approved... but ofc I need some advices regarding my case.

 

Oh I also added my boyfriend's address in my DS-160. Again, I don't have anything to hide... it won't hurt if I'll be honest w everything.

 

I just really need someone's advices or tips! Thank you!

You can always try, it's the only way you'll know for sure. Be honest with all answers to the questions asked, and as previously said, don't offer information for questions that are not asked. That said, go into the interview hoping for the best but expecting the worst....and keep in mind, these COs see hundreds of people a week that are trying to get a visa fraudulently; they have only your documents and a 2-3 minute window to decide your case....so if it's a denial, don't take it too personally.