I am an American Citizen currently married to a filipino gal who has a permenent resident visa to stay in the United States. We want to bring our niece, an 11 year old female here from the Philippines and educate her in the United States. Can I bring her into the United States on a tourist visa, and when she's here, apply for a student visa to remain in the United States in that manner? If I'm correct, how do I obtain form package for tourist visa for minor to enter the United States from the Philippines. Her parents will approve and sign whatever papers are required for her to visit the United States. We are financially able to provide housing and educational expenses for our niece. Thanks for your help. Phil

If you want to sponsor her to go to school, you should contact the school, apply, obtain I-20, and send it to her parents along with your financial documents, so they can apply for F-1 visa.

To get visitor's visa for minor in case the parents are not traveling with her is not easy, even with written consent from her parents. The other disadvantage of getting visitor's visa and then change to student visa is her status changes but not her visa, which means if she leaves US even for a short trip, she will have to submit application for F-1 visa from the Philippines.

If she obtain student visa (F-1) in the first place, she can leave and return as long as her I-20 is valid.

BTW, foreign students ( up to K-12 level) are no longer accepted in public schools in US, they must go to private schools only.

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Originally Posted by lawanwadee

If you want to sponsor her to go to school, you should contact the school, apply, obtain I-20, and send it to her parents along with your financial documents, so they can apply for F-1 visa.

To get visitor's visa for minor in case the parents are not traveling with her is not easy, even with written consent from her parents. The other disadvantage of getting visitor's visa and then change to student visa is her status changes but not her visa, which means if she leaves US even for a short trip, she will have to submit application for F-1 visa from the Philippines.

If she obtain student visa (F-1) in the first place, she can leave and return as long as her I-20 is valid.

BTW, foreign students ( up to K-12 level) are no longer accepted in public schools in US, they must go to private schools only.

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Your last sentence, I quote "BTW, foreight students", what is BTW stand for, and if I'm reading you correctly, this last sentence does not apply to my situation if I obtain 1-20 from school and apply for F-1 visa, is that correct? And thank you.

I have one more question. I have retired friends that have asked me to provide my wife's sister, whom is 32, single and living in the Philippines, for a live in housekeeper and care for those elderly folks. What would be the best way for me to act upon this. Apply for a work visa here in the US and send the appropriate papers, or apply for tourist visa and when she arrives, the apply for work permit in the United States. Thanks so much for you time and information. Phil

Immigration officers no longer allow visitor's visa holders stay in US as long as 6 months like they used to do.

Generally speaking, only registered nurses and doctors are eligible for employment based visa, if she is not qualified for this, then temporary worker visa maybe a better choice. Consider the current situation, you should consult an experienced immigration attorney.