Maranda

Happy Valentine's Day, Jen & Geert! I saw your interview date is today (what a coincidence, eh?!), so as a fellow girlfriend of an amazing Dutch guy, I just wanted to wish you some good vibes and hope all went smoothly for you!

Harpa and Bob, thank you both very much for the insight, it is definitely appreciated. We're thinking at this point we'll help him get some basic things around to prove where he lives and works, and a bank statement and such. Even if he isn't questioned or doesn't need it, better safe than sorry.

And Bob - we'd done a lot of research on the B2 before he applied, but somehow apparently I'd missed the part about not being able to use the VWP if denied. In retrospect, had we known that, we probably wouldn't have left it up to chance. However, all I can say NOW is that we're SO THANKFUL that he got it without problem. Actually, considering he lives with his dad, quit his job last year before he came to the States for his 3-month VWP visit, and really has no clear ties to the Netherlands as it stands right now, we went for the B2 understanding fully well that he likely wouldn't get it, based on all the experiences I've read about on this site, but figured (WRONGLY, I know now) that there was no harm in trying.

But, his interview lasted about 5 minutes and was painless. See, on his last trip to the States with me, he won a major jackpot at a casino, and opened a bank account in my city. So when the interviewer asked him how he was supporting himself without a job, and how he planned to support himself for 6 months in the States, he explained that. The interviewer requested an emailed copy of the American bank statement to verify the story, which we did the same day, and simple as that, his visa/passport came back in the mail a few days later. He had taken all sorts of paperwork to prove things and didn't need any of it, just proof of finances.

The interviewer also asked him about our relationship status, of course, and asked if we were planning to get married and have him immigrate to the States soon. He replied that we were planning to do that eventually, but we knew the proper ways and had considered a K1. Then, out of nowhere, the interviewer mentioned "You guys could have just gone out to Vegas last fall and got married." ... I don't know if that was some sort of trap or trick question kind of thing, but definitely unexpected advice to hear at an Embassy!

Anyway, thanks again for the advice about Arnold's dad. I surely don't anticipate any problems, but thought I'd ask just in case.

It's always good to bring ties. You might need them and if you don't, then no problems

Good luck

That's true. Thank you! I suppose the hard part then will be finding ties to prove... like I said, he doesn't own his home, no other relatives here (boyfriend is his only son), and a part-time job he's only been at for a few months now. Hmmm.

Hello all;

I've been reading up tonight on visiting versus intent to immigrate and raised a red flag in my own mind - hoping for some input on whether or not this is something to worry about. Here's what's happening -

My boyfriend (Netherlands) has visited me in the States twice now. First time, 3 weeks, last summer. Second time, 86 days, last fall. Both times on VWP. Detroit Metro airport. The second time he flew in, I had been visiting him in the Netherlands, and we both flew back together. We weren't exactly "detained" in Customs, but we were thoroughly searched and questioned about our relationship - apparently CBP was concerned he was returning so soon and planning to stay for so long, etc. etc. Anyway, he was informed that next time he came over, he should get a B2 visa and then he'd face no problems getting through at the border.

Okay, DONE. I flew back to Netherlands with him in late November, we went to Amsterdam together and got his B2 at the end of December.

We're flying back to the States together again on February 26th, with his B2 visa in passport. He'll be staying for nearly 6 months, February 26th through August 20th.

Now...

We invited his dad to come spend a month with us in the States this coming summer. So, his dad got his passport, scheduled his time off work, and bought his plane tickets (May 28th through June 25) last week. He's extremely excited for the chance to visit the States, and we're looking forward to being able to show him around.

Now - sorry for the lengthy backstory, here is what I'd like to know:

Boyfriend's dad will be a VWP visitor, visiting his son, who is in the States on a B2 visa.

I've read in a lot of cases, mothers, fathers, and other close relatives sometimes have a hard time getting through Customs to visit their children, or get denied entry altogether, if they fail to show strong ties to their home country. My boyfriend and I aren't married yet, and we don't have the intention to get married anytime soon, so perhaps it won't be an issue to begin with. But, his dad rents his home, works only part-time, doesn't have any other close relatives here. Do you think it's necessary for him to come up with evidence of ties to the Netherlands for his visit, or should we not worry about it?

Thank you in advance for any input on the situation, and my apology in advance if this seems like a stupid question... I just want to make sure he's prepared for everything while we're still here to help him prepare (and understand) it.

welcome,

another michigander here too ( also through immigration) though i think i'm the only one in the traverse bay area and not detroit.

so any tstate specific questions let us know

Thanks Missa! Nice to meet you!

Finances are an issue for many couples. Maybe you have assets you could use (your photography business, if you have a shop, for example? Other options are taking a salaried job for a year or so (ie through the visa and AOS process), or as you say a co-sponsor. It doesn't need to be family, it can be a friend or work aquaintance- anyone as long as they are legally resident in the USA.

Thanks Penguin. I think co-sponsor would be my best option if we went the K-1 route. I'm only 25, so by photography business, I mean I own a camera and photo shoot equipment, and work freelance from home... not a major business or shop by any means.

My parents are probably my best option for co-sponsors, but it just seems like a bold thing to ask of them (although they've aleady met Arnold and like him a lot!).

It's not illegal for you to get married in the US while on vacation.

Your boyfriend would need a heck of a reason for applying for a B2; after all, a 3-month vacation is already beyond the financial means of most working folks and he can't work in the US anyway. If he brings up a relationship to a US citizen, you'll see more red flags going up then in the late Mao-Tse-Tung's China.

Yes, he can interview but hell will freeze over before he will able to get a job-based visa to the US unless he didn't tell you about his lately successful, post-Doctorate research in nuclear fusion.

Bob - I actually LOL'd, which isn't usually easy to do when it comes to reading about this visa stuff! Thanks for that.

Yeah, at this point, I think we're abandoning the B-2 idea, based on the answers to my questions... too hard, too suspicious, the employment fiasco, and just not the right fit for our situation. Thanks a lot for your reply!

Thank you all very, very much for your responses! It's truly appreciated.

Mithmeoi - thank you for those examples and details. Yes, I've thought about getting married and spending an extended period of time in the Netherlands, but unfortunately I'm a bit tied down to the mortgage and house I own here in the States (can't just up and sell it, especially not in this housing market), as well as 2 dogs who would get rather expensive to board in a kennel if I were to be out of the country for more than, say, a month at a time.

Penguin - thanks for answering my specific questions about the B-2 and interviewing. The more we learn about the B-2 (and especially proving intent to return to the Netherlands), the less it seems to be a good option.

If all else fails, the K-1 is still considerable; however, I'm fairly certain I will not qualify as a sponsor with the Affidavit of Support, being freelance self-employed. I just don't have the personal income or financial history to back it up, and no close relatives, other than my parents perhaps, who I could consider asking to co-sponsor.

The situation seems so complicated right now, but we're holding out on "where there's a will, there's a way."

Hello! Nice to meet both of you!!

I have also heard that the B-2 visa is hard to get.

I wish I had some better advise for you.

Good luck on whatever visa you decide on!!

Hard to get... yikes.

But thanks Aly and Randy!

Using the B-2 to enter with the intention of getting married and adjusting your status to a PR is visa fraud and is illegal.

And no, he can't work on a tourist visa. That is also a violation of the visa.

Your fastest and quickest bet would be the K-1. Being apart sucks but we all deal(t) with it.

Thanks, sachinky, for your reply.

No, we're not intending to get married while he is on a visitor visa - we're aware that's illegal. But really, getting married isn't the point. Yes, of course we'd be happy to get married if we had to go the K-1 route, but we're really hoping there's a better (faster) alternative to be able to wake up next to each other everyday.

And he can't work on a tourist visa, I know. But can he interview for a job on a B-2? His current employer suggested he come over, interview for the job, and if he were to be considered hired, then the US employer would be able to petition, changing his visa. This could be totally wrong - I'm unsure, a bit naive, and just trying to wrap my head around things.

Hello!

First of all, big THANKS to anyone who take the time to read, consider, and advise on our situation here.

My boyfriend Arnold (from the Netherlands) and I are just beginning our Visa Journey, and trying to figure out the easiest and FASTEST way to bring him to the States on a long-term (hopefully - eventually - permanent!) basis.

A little backstory: we met online in February, 2010, and have been "together" through Skype webcam nearly 24 hours a day, even while we sleep, practically since we met. He came for a 3 week visit (May 29 - June 19), during which we realized we seem to be meant for each other, and we've decided to take the big steps necessary to be able to live together here.

Later this month, I will be flying over to spend about 6 weeks with him in the Netherlands, and after that, our hopeful tentative plan will be for him to fly back home to the States with me, on or around August 29th.

On his recent visit, the visa thing wasn't an issue, since the Netherlands is part of the Visa Waiver Program, and we knew his visit would be temporary.

However, at this point we'd like him to be able to stay here in the States for an extended period of time - even permanently, if it's possible - so we've spent the last couple weeks researching any and all visa options. We're both totally new to the entire concept of international travel, so it's been quite overwhelming to try to understand so many processes and regulations... I hope I'm at the right place for some help and answers.

The big question: Is the B-2 visa our best (and fastest!) option?

... and the little questions:

In general, how long does it take to apply for and receive a B-2 visa?

I've been searching for a timeline for the B-2 but haven't found any answers. We're hoping this would be possible to have by our target date of returning to the States, August 29th.

Is the B-2 visa able to be extended?

Although Arnold is from the Netherlands, covered by the Visa Waiver Program, we want a visa that will allow him to be in the US for longer than 90 days, or is possible to file for an extension to allow him to be here as long as absolutely possible.

If Arnold came on a B-2 visa, would he be able to attend a job interview?

Our initial plan for the easiest way to get a visa was through an employment transfer. His boss at Staples Office Center in the Netherlands originally told him he would easily be able to transfer him to the Staples closest to where I live here in the US, but we've recently found out that an international transfer is not possible. However, his boss was happy to fax a letter of recommendation to the US Staples, and I personally called and spoke to that General Manager, who assured me that if the (mandatory) interview with Arnold went well, he would definitely be hired, "no question about it". However, we're talking about a job at Staples here, so with many qualified Americans already needing jobs as it is, we obviously realize that no General Manager of a Staples is going to go out of his way to make the first move of petitioning for a Dutch guy to come fill the part-time opening; rather, Arnold is going to have to make the first move.

Now, we realize that the B-2 visa is for the purpose of pleasure travel, and that he will need a special visa or authorization to actually be legally employed here in the States, so my next question is...

If Arnold came on a B-2 visa, is it possible (and how difficult would it be) to adjust the status (or switch the type of visa?) to that with which he may be legally employed in a retail job? And how long would this process take?

And I'd also like to mention here that we've considered other types of visa - specifically, the K-1 (although being a self-employed photographer, I'm certain I will fail the Affidavit of Support form, and not sure if I could find a co-sponsor), not to mention we do NOT want to WAIT 5 to 12 months for that entire process before we can begin our lives together.

We've also considered employment-based visas, especially when we were planning on the employment transfer through Staples, but Arnold doesn't have any college degrees or specialized technical skills that would put him in high demand, that an employer would petition for on his behalf. I don't mean for that to sound negative in any way, but I'm trying to be realistic - employers aren't going to jump through visa hoops when there are Americans with the same qualifications already needing the available retail jobs, right?

So, for the moment, we're under the impression that the B-2 visa (IF it's extendable, and IF it's possible to adjust the status and be authorized to work) would be our best plan. Truly, the bottom line is finding a way for Arnold to be able to stay here as long as possible, with the ability to be legally employed. We're prepared to do whatever it takes to be together.

I appologize for the lengthy post. Any and all advice, thoughts, and comments are appreciated - THANK YOU in advance!

Hello everyone!

I'm Maranda, and I just registered here last night, although I've been lurking this awesomely informative place for weeks now.

A little about myself and my situation - I'm 25, from Michigan, and I'm head over heels for my incredible Dutch boyfriend (Arnold, he's 29). We met online, spend every day together - almost 24 hours a day, including sleep time - on Skype. He flew here on May 29th and we spent the best 3 weeks (so far!) of my life together. He is back in the Netherlands right now, and I'm preparing to fly over there later this month to stay for 6 weeks, after which he will (hopefully!) be coming back to the States with me.

I guess you could say Arnold and I are just beginning our own Visa Journey to bring him here to the States to be together permanently, and we're still at the very beginning of the process, so of course we have a lot of questions and need as much advice as possible... so I'll be heading over to the other forums to post about all that later.

For now, I just wanted to say 'hi' on behalf of both of us, and a huge 'THANKS' in advance to anyone who happens to run across my future posts and can offer any advice or input.

This is truly a remarkable place, I'm looking forward to participating and sharing our personal experiences too!

All the best,

Maranda & Arnold