Zj88

7 hours ago, Going through said:

In that country and culture it's custom for unmarried females to be fully financially supported by their father, and need permission from the father to do certain things (like leave the country).   

You're right, single/unmarried females live at home with their parents until they get married. Women are not expected to have careers or jobs here. 

3 hours ago, caliliving said:

Have you traveled before? If you have a strong travel history that will help as well. 

I have travelled to GCC countries before, but that was a long time ago and not on my current passport. 

2 hours ago, geowrian said:

They look at the nationality of the applicant as well, not just the embassy you go through. I'm not too surprised the Saudi nationals were approved without many strong ties...they only had a 4% refusal rate last fiscal year.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY16.pdf

 

Luck does play a part, but *if* you get refused I would suggest not pointing fingers at luck being the cause. Best wishes.

Yes, but I think my PR status will help, maybe not as much as I would like it to but it's definitely better than applying from Pakistan with no travel history. 

2 minutes ago, caliliving said:

what do you think? do you think you have strong ties??

On the paper, I don't think so. I don't have strong ties in terms of property or job. I can't own a house, car, or bank account here as a foreign female. Hence the question...

I do have a strong relationship with my family though, I'm also bound by my visa and permanent residency in KSA. If I don't return or overstay my visit, my family can get in trouble with the Saudi law and I'll be black listed! I have not been to my home country since I was 12, this is home to me. I can't take a risk, I won't be able to see my parents ever again. But that wouldn't matter I think. 

1 hour ago, POA said:

 

The only thing that is sure is you will not be granted a visa if you don't apply for it. Some people gets visa without strong ties and some don't even with strong ties. So if your plan is just to visit your boyfriend and not stay, try it. Long distance relationship is never easy.

It's really not, specially when it's several years long. Every time I explain my situation to someone, all I get is I'm living in a fantasy world.

I guess I'll try and leave it on fate, as my situation is not going change anytime soon. I have spoken to a visa consultant and they told me it's by luck, just try.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging response. 

3 minutes ago, Meg&Andrew said:

My husband was a saudi resident, but he's Filipino. When he applied in Saudi for a B2 visitors, they had already made up their mind before he'd walked in the room. They asked him 2 questions and he was out of there in 3 minutes. She told him that he'd only been with his company for 2 years, amd thats not strong enough ties. She said to come back when he'd been with the company at least 5 years. Also, are you Muslim? I'm not trying to sound harsh but you know how strict Saudi is. The reason for visiting may be difficult to overcome, although not unlikely. You can always try as long as you have the finances to spare. 

Yes, I'm Muslim and that's exactly why this whole situation is so difficult. As a female I'll be dependent on my father even if I have a job. I can't open a bank account without him, and can't even leave the country without his permission. That's why I thought it would be a strong tie, because I'm bound by my permanent residency (convincing my father is a difficult situation in it's own). But I guess they're going to see it as eloping with my USC boyfriend.

In my home country, I won't need any of those things but getting a visa from Pakistan at the moment is like finding a unicorn. On the other hand, I have seen Saudi women getting visas when they have nothing but just a lot of bank balance. 

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It is not, totality of the circumstances matter.

So if I start a new job, and apply after a few months, that would be a red flag as well? 

2 hours ago, f f said:

tell the truth. you want to visit your long time Internet boyfriend to see where thing go. telling half truths only causes problems down the line.

 

it is not unusual to meet someone online and then want to visit them.

I meant unusual for a Muslim girl from KSA to visit a boyfriend in the US. 

I do want to be honest, but will I be given a chance to explain my situation? 

I didn't know having a job was a prerequisite for B2 visa. I will be starting a new job soon. 

Thank you. 

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

First, good luck!

 

You don't have to disclose a boyfriend on any forms, but I can almost guarantee they will ask your purpose for going to the US. Saying "to visit a friend" or similar will almost certainly result in "Boyfriend?" being the next question. So you don't need to volunteer the info, but be ready to be asked about it. Be honest and upfront. Do NOT lie under any circumstance as that is a quick path to both a denial and a misrepresentation (permanent but technically waivable) bar on any future visa. Plus, your timeline for your K-1 visa attempt later wouldn't match up. Lies beget more lies. Just be honest - you're not doing anything wrong by wanting to visit a boyfriend, and many people do this.

 

While KSA has a very low refusal rate for tourist visas, Pakastani nationals have quite a high refusal rate worldwide (just under 50% last fiscal year). It will be difficult, but the only thing to lose - as long as you're honest - is the $160 application fee. My fiancee worked in KSA and applied for a tourist visa, and is a Filipino national (also with a high refusal rate, albeit not nearly as high as Pakastani nationals).

 

As for your particulars, you do have a few minor ties, but the lack of a current job and being able to afford it yourself would make me (if I were a CO) concerned. I don't see strong ties personally. I think the chances are low (sorry!), but it's worth trying still.

 

The other thing to consider for the future...only meeting once before applying for a K-1 is likely to raise a lot of scrutiny. Be sure to gather lots of evidences together when you are there and then send it with your I-129F when the time comes. I highly, highly suggest multiple visits. I understand it's hard to meet elsewhere due to work and such, but spending ~$1000+ and 6-8 months of your life on the visa process without being fully ready for it is worse.

 

Best wishes!

Thank you! I'll definitely gather lots of evidence if we do meet in another country. I have to go through a lot trouble from my family just to be able to travel, so I'm not taking this lightly. 

I will be starting a new job in a month or so but then again, a new job won't help either. I'm in a really  lose-lose situation here I guess. 

59 minutes ago, missileman said:

One more thing to the OP-  I wish you well in your journey.  I certainly don't want to discourage you, but I was trying to be realistic.  Demonstrating strong ties to resident country is critical in every B2 visa case.  Lying to the officers will often result in very serious consequences.

Good Luck!  Please keep us informed....

I understand what you're saying, and that's why I'm hesitant to apply. I don't plan on lying during the interview. I don't have any other reason to visit US nor do I want to ruin my chances of getting a K1 visa in the future if we do meet in another country. Thank you.

Hello,

I'm new to this website. I'm in a really difficult situation at the moment, I would really appreciate any advice or help.

I met my (online) boyfriend 5 years ago, on a dating website. I'm 27 and he's 32. I'm a permanent resident of Saudi Arabia (I live under my father's sponsorship/visa) and a Pakistani national. He's US citizen, from Nebraska. 

I want to apply for a B2 visa, but I'm skeptical as I have read various posts on this website suggesting I should not disclose this information during my interview. 

Now my sole intention is to go see him, come back and apply for a K1 visa. I want to be honest during my interview as I'm not good at making up stories, but at the same time I don't want to be denied a chance to see someone I love. 

I've worked as a teacher in the past, I quit my job in 2015. So I'm unemployed at the moment. I do have my savings, but as things go in Saudi, I don't have a bank account so I will be relying on my father's sponsorship. My family is financially well off. My entire immediate family lives in KSA, and we haven't been to our country of origin in past 15 years. Do you guys this will be considered as strong ties to my country of residence? As I'm under my father's sponsorship, I can't leave without my father's permission, and if I don't return my current permanent resident permit will be cancelled and I'll be banned from entering KSA for God know how many years. I think it's a pretty good reason to return. 

Do you guys think I have a chance? Or they'll send me back as soon as they hear about my boyfriend? Because I understand my situation is unusual, but I don't think they will give me a chance to explain my situation.  

We could meet in another country and apply for K1 visa, but unfortunately my boyfriend can't take another vacation this year and I really don't want to wait another year because the distance is already starting to strain our relationship.  

Help! 

ZJ