Showing posts with label travel visa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel visa. Show all posts

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Fraud in Obtaining US Visas

Fraud in Obtaining US Visas


Every year, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos apply for a U.S. visa, whether it be for tourist purposes or to become an immigrant to live out the American dream. However, some have found the process to be too long or the risk of denial to be too great. To ensure approvals, they look to other avenues for help in getting their U.S. visas approved so they can enter the United States. 

Some make use of visa agents who assure the approval of U.S. visas. Some visa agents provide their clients with documents such as fake passports or identities with an approved U.S. visa. They assure their clients that it is okay to travel under the fake documents. Other visa agents provide fake documents such as bank books, bank certifications, deeds of sale of real property, tax documents and business registration certificates to prove financial capacity to travel to the United States and to establish legitimate ties to their country of origin. Those seeking U.S. visas pay fees ranging from exorbitant, non-refundable fees for orientation, coaching and the fake documents. If they are successful in their visa applications, the applicants are required to pay their visa agents a “success fee,” which is just as exorbitant, if not more. 

In scenarios like these, it is not just the visa agencies that may be criminally charged. The applicants will also face consequences such as deportation for their use of fake documents.

On the other hand, some make use of recruiters who take advantage of the applicant’s economic needs. As it could take years for visas to be approved, it is hard to predict what needs will have to be met by the workers. Recruiters have the advantage of being able to move people around according to the demand. However, applicants don’t realize the underlying risks of signing with a recruiter. There are some instances where the applicant signs contracts wherein their recruiters take a percent of their salary or they are paid less than the minimum wage. The recruiters hold them hostage to their contracts through the constant threat of deportation. The workers become especially vulnerable due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of what it takes to get a new contract to maintain their visa. 

Applicants from the Philippines should be wary of visa agencies and recruiters that are using illegal means to obtain a visa to the United States. They should be more circumspect in choosing immigration consultants lest they fall victim to unscrupulous groups. In doing so, applicants should be informed that only licensed attorneys can legally offer immigration assistance. 



Article Disclaimer: This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Pregnant Travel:What you need to know!

So you are pregnant and want to travel?


Pregnant Travel

Getting travel visa if you are pregnant

While you may not plan on giving birth while traveling, you need to keep some things in mind, especially when doing your interview with the admitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer for travel to the USA.


Most important, do not lie in your Interview!!! 
- Ryan Barshop, Atty.


 Is this your goal?

Although there are no specific regulations prohibiting pregnant foreign nationals from entering the U.S., entry is allowed or denied at the discretion of the admitting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer.

If the interviewer thinks Citizenship  is your only goal, expect the tourist visa to be denied. If your due date is before your planned return date, expect the tourist visa to be denied. If you say your due date is beyond your travel return, yet your baby bump looks like a watermelon in your belly, expect the Visa to be denied. 




So can you tell the truth that you want to go to USA to give birth, and get that approved?  Yes, you can, here are some reasons that might justify that. 

You may get approved even if you are near term if:

  • Your spouse is a USA Citizen;
  • You want to use USA Doctor or Hospital for medical reasons;
  • You want to use USA Doctor or Hospital for personal or family reasons;
  • You can afford (including insurance) to get the medical procedures done in the USA;
  • Bottom line as long as you have a better reason that JUST USA Citizenship, you may be approved.

Also, Medical Tourism to the Philippines is common, but there is no advertised Medical Tourism to the USA so don't try to use that as a reason.

Best of luck, but to be safe consult and immigration attorney.



Article Disclaimer: This article is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. Use of this article does not create an Attorney Client Relationship. This article does not offer or dispense legal advice. By using the article, the reader agrees that the information does not constitute legal or other professional advice and no attorney-client or other relationship is created. The article is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. The information on the article may be changed without notice and is not guaranteed to be complete, correct or up-to-date. The opinions expressed at or through the article are the opinions of the individual author. The article should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your jurisdiction.