A male friend of mine has met a woman on the internet from the Phillipines. He has sent her money for her Visa and has reserved a 1 way plane ticket. She claims that the man at customs said she needs to show $1200 cash in order to be able to come to the US. Has anyone ever heard of this? I would hate to see him taken advantage of....
2006-06-18 10:44:20 · 24 answers · asked by michelle_marie26 1 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Philippines
Please clarify... if (she says) this happened at the airport with ticket and visa in hand, it probably is a scam.
If this was just a question asked to prepare for the flight, it probably is not a scam. Many people think this is true. It is because for some (tourist?) visas to some countries, showing cash IS a requirement, (not always enforced.)
However, if she has already been approved for a K-1 fiancee visa, he should already know these details. So, my guess is that she does not have a visa yet, and this is a scam.
2006-06-18 12:16:14 · answer #1 · answered by Paatrick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely taken in for a ride. If she's got no US visa, how can she go there? It needs more than $US 1,200 to prove to the US consuls that one is financially capable to travel to the US and come back home and not become an illegal in the US. When I applied for my US visa, my show money was more than US$6,000 and I had a very stable job, so I was granted a multiple visa.
One thing more, the customs officials (in Manila) do not really ask people to show them how much money they are carrying. that is not their concern.
Finally, if one goes to the US for visit, a 1-way ticket is a no-no, a forwarding or return ticket should be shown, otherwise the immigration officials there would definitely think that the person has no plans of going back to their home countries or getting out of the US.
So do advice your friend that next time, he should exercise more caution, investigate, be more suspicious, don't trust readily and it would have been good for him to have asked from yahoo answers first.
2006-06-23 08:45:11 · answer #2 · answered by Mency 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bogus. Customs people do not make the rules for travel. I think they only check incoming and outgoing people and stuff at the airport. Only people at the US embassy decide who gets a visa or not. And even if you have the money, most times they deny applicants especially those without strong ties to the country. If you are a tourist, you have to have a round trip ticket.
Your friend has been totally been taken advantage of. Tell him to stop trusting people on the internet and not to be so gullible.
But, if the girl was sincere and was just ignorant, then better for them to apply for a fiancee visa.
2006-06-18 15:04:09 · answer #3 · answered by avenus 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unlike the others, who have been very negative about it, I am giving the custom guy the benefit of the doubt. You see, there are certain criterias custom follows. There are instances they do ask if you have quite an amount (like what you've mentioned) as a proof that you can afford to travel or tour and have no intention of becoming "TNT." This is called "show money" in layman's lingo. The guy is just asking to check. Now, if he asks to "have some of it", then that's another story - or definitely a scam. Did you know that even custom personel in the US also asks the same thing. My friend was asked the same question (but no exact amount), if she has money as a proof that she's really just on a tour. This was in L.A.
As long as the guy do not ask for money, direct or indirectly, i think its just a part of their policy. :-D
2006-06-20 04:30:07 · answer #4 · answered by cernad06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, I would agree with the others that this sounds like a scam to me. First, it is almost impossible for a single filipina to get a tourist visa to the USA. Immigration views filipinas as a risk to never return. If she is coming here via a fiancee visa, your friend would have filled out paperwork showing his financial abilities to take care of her when she gets here. Once she has her plane ticket, visa and passport, she is free to leave. There is NO cash needed other than some cash for food and the airport fee at NAIA.
2006-06-19 11:36:45 · answer #5 · answered by Gary 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is not easy to go to US, I don't even know if she would get the visa soon.. and she might not aware that reserving 1 way plane ticket is not recommendable. She might telling the truth that a man from the customs said she needs this amount of money.
Your friend could make his choice to send it or not, as we blame the woman we could also blame your friend if he make the wrong decision
I know men that are going to Philippines to visit their fiancee or someone they knew from internet and that is the wise decision I could only see.
If your friend could give more details how he met this woman from the Philippines and how difficult would be for her to go to US, there would be more help or advise than trying to figure if it is a scam.
2006-06-19 09:04:09 · answer #6 · answered by Ny 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For a single person to get a tourist visa to the States they have to show substancial ties to the Philippines i.e. Properties and longstanding employment in addition to substancial assets here in the Philippines. The embassy requires all this to show a definate reason(s) to return to the Philippines. A "one way" plane ticket and $1,200 will not grant her a tourist visa. I'm sorry to say your friend has been scammed.
2006-06-18 13:56:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
just tell your friend to call the US embassy for the requirements and expenses. and if she will be sponsoring the girl as a fiancee i think it takes time. she will need to be interview and wait for a couple of months for visa to be granted. it is a scam if the girl didn't prepare her papers and didnt go to the embassy for her visa. and i think there is also a paper to be filled up to both parties. has you friend done it because he will be the on sponsoring he needs to answers some questions in the form.
if it is just a tourist visa $1200 is a big money for it..
2006-06-21 01:18:04 · answer #8 · answered by pinkbloodish 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not clear, how the woman will get visa. is it a tourist visa? a fiancee visa? if its a tourist visa i think it takes about 3 months to have an appointment with the US embassy for an interview and there she needs to show some documents to prove her ownership of properties, money, as to her ability to finance her trip to the US and a very strong family ties to prove that she dont intend to overstay in the US. if she is applying for a fiancee visa, i think its ur friend who should file it from there. and from there u can check their website for all the fees and documents needed. as to the $1,200 i cannot categorically say it is a scam,,,i suggest ur friend should check if its really the customs that is asking for the money,,,or it just maybe needed for something else,,,,good luck and i wish for their happiness,,,,
2006-06-18 18:45:47 · answer #9 · answered by kristein_jabe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is it $1200 or 1200 pesos? if it is $1200 that would be too much. unless she is applying for a tourist visa. i heard that some customs in the embassy ask if there is money in your bank or if you have a property, so they will know that you will go back in the philippines and will not stay illegally in the US.
but still, i would not suggest just giving her that much money unless he really trust her.
2006-06-19 03:27:15 · answer #10 · answered by belle♥ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋