lawyers don't want you to know this

[mck]

I just found something kind of cool. If you look at the application for a tourist visa, you are permitted to be the financial sponsor for a girl's trip to the U.S. This tourist visa costs only about $45. As soon as the girl gets the tourist visa approved and comes to the U.S. you can change the status to some kind of spousal visa and she never has to leave the U.S., if you get married. Right now the cost for changing the staus to this visa by lawyers is around $1500. On the K1 visa the going rate is about $1000 from lawyers just to get her in the country. After you marry the lawyer wants another $1500 for the change of status from the K1 to the other visa. In simple terms, if you can be listed as the girls sponsor for her trip on the tourist visa application and get the tourist visa approved for her or if she has a tourist visa, it will save you $1000 rather then going with the old K1 route.

[Pete E]

... in response to lawyers don't want you to know this, posted by mck on Apr 2, 2002

Tourist visas are almost impossible to get now.My brother in law waited as year for an interview and got turned down flat.They told him "I'm sorry but we have been told not to issue tourist visas."Thats probably not entirely true but what it takes to get one recently(as opposed to in the past) I don't know.
Fiancee and spousal visas are almost automaticic if you have your paperwork in order.

Pete

[mck]

... in response to Re: Anybody know anyone who got a touris..., posted by Pete E on Apr 3, 2002

A year for appointment. I never heard about that one. My girl has her appointment May 13. She claims tourist visas are easy to get for middle class mexicans. I mean she owns property, has money in the bank and has documentation she has a job. Last I heard the minimum requirements in Mexico to get a tourist visa were $500 a month.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Anybody know anyone who got a to..., posted by mck on Apr 4, 2002

Mexico may be much easier.We talk about Colombia so much I presumed that was the country.

Pete

[Kit]

... in response to lawyers don't want you to know this, posted by mck on Apr 2, 2002

It is indeed possible. The only thing to keep in mind is that great majority of ladies will not be able to get tourist visa. You sponsorship will have no bearing on the application outcome. Only a few fortunate ones will get a (tourist) visa if they prove substantial financial and economical ties with Colombia and convince US immigration officer of such. For tourist visa (B1/B2), discretion is a major factor. Once visa is denied, US consulate will stamp her passport and it may be very difficult for her to get entry to other countries as well. If it was so easy to get tourist visas US would be flooded with hundreds of millions from Latin America, Asia, East Europe etc.

Contrary to that K1 visa guarantees (bearing no obvious inadmissibility) a safe passage to the US.

2 pesos.