General Info

When you are dealing with the embassy they will try to deny her a visa by telling your fiance that if she has tried drugs it will show up in her blood test. So if you have tried drugs write it down and be honest about it. This will disqualify her visa. Everything the medical doctor will ask her she must always say no. The doctor is trying to get her visa denied and is instructed to do this from the embassy. So even if she has passed the drug test she could still fail the Medical and this gives the embassy reason to deny which makes them happy. They are very crooked at this embassy. They lie all the time to get what they want. They will give misinformation etc. because they answer to no one.

And the answer is that it's almost impossible. Young filipinas, without substantial assets are typically not viewed as good risks by the Immigration officials and are considered likely to "disappear" when they get to the US. That's why sponsors with substantial assets are required and even then the granting of the visa is no sure thing.

[QUOTE=Santa]She was not refused a fiancee visa because it never got that far.

My friend thinks it will be quicker and easier to get a tourist visa. The main question is this, how difficult is it for a young and single filapina to get a tourist visa into the USA?[/QUOTE]

Much, much more difficult to get a tourist visa than a fiancee visa.

[QUOTE=Csun213]Much, much more difficult to get a tourist visa than a fiancee visa.[/QUOTE]


... and both is nonsense anyway! I am always wondering why should one bring a pinay to our home countries? The much, much better deal is to save this money in order to spend it later for a great time in Angeles City.

And before I am getting grilled here, gentlemen, that's of course just MHO!


Cheers - Hesekiels

Santa,
I have to agree with GE, he stated the chances of your friend getting a tourist visa for his girl more eloquently than I could. One point I have to clarify, there is no option of sponsorship for a tourist visa (this applies only to fiancee and spousal visas).

Tourist visa is almost impossible to get for a Filipina. I have tried it once myself and found it very frustrating. The criteria are simple. The girl has to have compelling reasons to return to the Philippines. This includes criteria like verifiable long term, high earning employment. Significant verifiable assets, especially real estate owned in the girls own name, high long term bank balances (can't just deposit $5000 in her account the week before the visa appointment).

GE also probably knows a lot more about the embassy employees and the process than I do. What I saw was that the interviewers are Americans (long term career State department employees). While a Filipino could easily be bribed for $1000, my view is it would take a lot more money to bribe one of these American staff. There are several steps and reviews in the process, too many chances that even if a bribe was passed, a red flag would cause the application to be rejected.

The purpose of a tourist visa is to allow someone to visit for a holiday, then return to their home country. Most Filipinas who apply for a tourist visa have no intention to return, and the embassy is keenly aware of this.

Is there a reason your friend initially was looking to do the fiancee visa and now wants to go a different route? If he really wants to bring the girl and to marry her, this is the fastest route.

Fiancee visa is not that difficult to obtain, if the relationship is real and is serious. The key criteria are reasonable and the timeframe, while a bit long is faster by far than the spousal visa.

1) Both parties must be eligible to marry (ie, either single or divorced/annulled).
2) The parties must have met in person within a reasonable time (I think it's within the past 2 years).
3) There must be a bonafide relationship and intent to marry. (Meaning, not just for a Green card).
4) The sponsor must have sufficient income to support his fiancee. Even with this, if the sponsor's income is below the requirement he can obtain a co-sponsor.

The timeframe for the fiancee visa approval does vary, but seems to be around 6 to 9 months from the first submission of application (provided all forms are in order). Note that from what I've read, it's more like 1 - 2 years for a spousal visa.

CS

[QUOTE=Cebu Steve]The purpose of a tourist visa is to allow someone to visit for a holiday, then return to their home country. Most Filipinas who apply for a tourist visa have no intention to return, and the embassy is keenly aware of this.[/QUOTE]So very true! Folks, be honest, actually we cannot be thankful enough that our embassies protect mongers like us in a way like that! :)

Why? Simply answer the following questions:

1. Is your age 40 plus?
2. Are you rather homely, or even ugly?
3. Is your Filipina 22 years young and damn pretty?

If your answer is three times 'yes' then you have a fair chance that you will be ripped off earlier or later! Either you will be dumped when she has the American passport after a couple of years (spouse visa), or she disappears after 10 weeks, leaving her seat on the plane back to Manila empty (tourist visa).

Since the only target of any pinay is to stay in the promised land such a
result was/is undoubtfully more the rule than the exception. Again, I highly appreciate that our embassies save us from such a trouble. Or is there anybody here who likes to be abused? :)

IMHO, of course!

Cheers - Hesekiels

I researched this too. My findings correspond with GE's and Cebu Steve's. But I'll add my $0.02 that they haven't mentioned:

What I have heard is not only that business and/or real estate owners have the best chance, but also that they need at least 700,000 pesos in the bank for a long time (about US$15,500). And they need to show a long term history as a business and/or real estate owner. The slightest hint of BG/GRO work will kill the application.

With the average wage less than 10,000 pesos per month, the bar is set far too high for ordinary pinays to even think about it. Or their potential benefactor to do something about it. Sure, someone will say they know a fixer for this. Sorry to burst your bubble, it ain't happening. As mentioned below, too many eyes are going to see the application before it can get approved.

So a pinay's best chance of getting into the US is via fiance or work visa. Cebu Steve speaks of the fiance visa. I'll mention what I found about the work visa: the most easily available work visa is for nurses. But the really hard part is for the pinay (or pinoy) to satisfy the prerequisites of obtaining a nursing school degree and passing the exam. Here, there are not that many pinays who have high enough educational level, are smart enough and have enough money to make it that far. Which again leaves out your typical BG or village girl.

Thanks for your excellent posts. If my friend does not learn from them, maybe other readers will.

I was reading up on all the info here about tourist visas to U.S.. Is it any easier for Filipinas working over-seas, say in Hong Kong or Canada to obtain one?

I have a gf in Canada working under the Live in caregiver program there, shes been there about a year now. Shes in her 30's has 2 kids at home in the Phils and is separated or technically married still. Her passport is still Phils though and she has very little money saved. I also have another "friend" that wants to visit me here in U.S. as well and she is 36 single no kids. My guess is they are considered same until they have Permanent residence status in Canada in a few years time.

Or maybe I should move to Canada

I've actually did a search on this and I don't think anyone has asked this before.

Am I allowed to bring Viagra or generic viagra with me to the Philippines, will I be stopped at the airport? Do I need a prescription with me?

[QUOTE=King Dong]Boxing is THAT big in the PI?[/QUOTE]
AFP silences guns for Pacquiao fight
By Marichu Villanueva
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Today, there is only one battle that matters.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is observing an “undeclared” nationwide ceasefire with all rebel groups to lead the Filipino nation in cheering for Manny Pacquiao in his World Boxing Council (WBC) International superfeatherweight title defense against Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas, Nevada.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. has, in fact, opened to the public the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to accommodate the pay-per-view airing of the fight, the proceeds of which will go to a fund-raising campaign for the benefit of enlisted AFP personnel.

Esperon told The STAR yesterday that all AFP camps would observe the “unwritten SOMO” or suspension of military operations even for a brief period to enable troopers in camps all over the country to watch and root for Pacquiao, an Army reservist with the rank of duty sergeant.

“There is unwritten SOMO, undeclared SOMO to give way to the Pacquiao fight and to cheer for Pacquiao,” Esperon said.

But just the same, troops in the frontlines are under orders not to let their guard down.

Unlike before, most troops deployed in advance command posts, like the battalions, companies and platoons, including those in the far-flung mountains of Basilan and Sulu, already have their own television sets.

The AFP traditionally declares SOMO with communist insurgents during the observance of religious holidays to enable soldiers to spend these occasions with their families.

The AFP has an existing ceasefire agreement in Mindanao with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) while the government is conducting peace negotiations with it.

Esperon pointed out that even rebels would surely watch the fight and cheer for Pacquiao in this boxing match that would be aired live via satellite on cable TV. GMA Channel 7 will also carry the fight live.

The AFP put up a wide screen for the Dream Cable TV at the air-conditioned AFP Theater, and those who wish to watch the bout without any commercial interruptions will have to pay P300.

Esperon said other military camps have their own cable TV systems where soldiers can watch the match with their families in the comforts of their homes.

[QUOTE=Styles12]I've actually did a search on this and I don't think anyone has asked this before.

Am I allowed to bring Viagra or generic viagra with me to the Philippines, will I be stopped at the airport? Do I need a prescription with me?[/QUOTE]

Why bring it with you. You can find it it any Mercury Drug store, just ask at the counter and tell them which dosage (25, 50 or 100mg) you want and how many tablets.

[QUOTE=Member #2718]Why bring it with you. You can find it it any Mercury Drug store, just ask at the counter and tell them which dosage (25, 50 or 100mg) you want and how many tablets.[/QUOTE]

Pfizer doesn't make 50 or 100 mg dosages.

You can buy fake C that works just the same (I've used both) for really cheap in AC. One 20 mg pill in Mercury will set you back 1000 pesos, You can get 30 pills @ 50 mg. for 500 pesos in AC off the street.

[QUOTE=Cebu Steve]Note that from what I've read, it's more like 1 - 2 years for a spousal visa.

CS[/QUOTE]

I don't think so, it is probably only a few months longer than Fiancee Visa. It also starts the clock faster for being eligible to work in US and receiving her Provisional Visa. I've done it before by marrying over seas and it took about less than a year.

I would appreciate a little more explanation on this topic. I've bought C at bars in AC and it worked fine. How do you know if it's "fake" or not? What do you mean by "fake"? Do you mean it's a generic version?

Is the stuff in the bars the same stuff as on the streets of AC?

I think I paid 3 or 400 for a box of 4 pills. Well, I thought it was money well spent since it every time I brushed up against the lucky lady, I sprang to attention.

X

[QUOTE=FireWalker]Pfizer doesn't make 50 or 100 mg dosages.

You can buy fake C that works just the same (I've used both) for really cheap in AC. One 20 mg pill in Mercury will set you back 1000 pesos, You can get 30 pills @ 50 mg. for 500 pesos in AC off the street.[/QUOTE]