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I want to get a U.S.A. VISA for my domestic helper

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MotherOf4
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I want to get a U.S.A. VISA for my domestic helper

Post by MotherOf4 » Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:39 pm

I want to get a u.s.a. VISA for my domestic helper to accompany me back to the U.S. for a 2-3 week visit to make EVERYTHING with four young children (age range newborn to 5 1/2 yr old) more manageable.

Has anyone ever applied for a U.S.A. visa for their maid and what was the outcome? I've heard it can be difficult to be approved and I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. Any advice? Anyone lucky enough to be approved?

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pakjohn
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Post by pakjohn » Mon, 05 Jan 2009 6:46 am

I've never heard of the U.S. giving one of it's own citizens a Visa for their helper, oddly enough if you're a foreigner coming over on a temp work or student visa it's okay. Don't want to take any jobs away from our hispanic neighbors to the south. :)
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Strong Eagle
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Post by Strong Eagle » Mon, 05 Jan 2009 9:24 am

The lunatics in the current administration have determined that your maid would be a flight risk... you bring her over, she deserts you so that she can stay in the US illegally. Further, these morons conclude that because you cannot legally hold her passport, the flight risk is increased.

Let's hope the next administration exercises a bit more rational, non-xenophobic approach.

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/domestic ... visas.html

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Post by cbavasi » Mon, 05 Jan 2009 6:37 pm

has the helper been with you for more than a year? that has been a sticking point with a couple of people i know who wanted to bring their helpers home to the US.

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road.not.taken
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Post by road.not.taken » Mon, 05 Jan 2009 7:49 pm

If you can prove she has:

--money in a Singaporean bank account

--that your job in Singapore is secure and she'll definitely be coming back with you

--that your husband won't be travelling with you all the time while in the US

--that she hs family in Singapore

you'll have a much better chance of getting her visa approved. Bring the kids with you to the embassy for her interview -- that ought to do it.

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QRM
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Post by QRM » Mon, 05 Jan 2009 8:33 pm

We wrote to the embassy and they will only give approval to American citizens if they have employed the FDW for two years. (in the UK its one year)

We (British citizens) tried to take her to Disneyland last month and it didn't work. I am sure she was pleased that means she can put her feet up while we are away :lol:

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Post by jpatokal » Tue, 06 Jan 2009 1:24 am

There's this nice little requirement too:
An Employment Contract signed and dated by the employer and domestic that guarantees the domestic will receive the minimum or prevailing wages (whichever is greater) for an eight hour work-day and any other benefits normally required for U.S. domestic workers in the area of employment (including payment of social security, state unemployment taxes, etc.) and that the domestic and/or employer will give/be given at least two weeks notice of intent to terminate the employment.
That's >US$1000/month for the federal minimum wage alone. I'm sure your maid wouldn't mind though :P
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Post by earthfriendly » Wed, 07 Jan 2009 2:09 pm

All the requirements seem surmountable until I get to this. I don't think it is humanly possible for me to deal with all the paper work hassle without pulling my hair out. One may need to hire a professional, an accountant who specialised in this area, a lawyer, or a mixture? I dread dealing with government agencies on US soil. Embassy workers in SG may be more responsive. Good luck.
During the period of employment in the U.S., the employer will on a timely basis:
a. Withhold from the employee's wages federal, state, and local income tax as required by law, and pay such amounts to the appropriate revenue authorities.
b. Pay social security tax for the employee. The employer's portion of the social security tax may not be deducted from wages. (Employers should obtain Publications 15 and 393 from the Internal Revenue Service for information on tax reporting.) 1. The employer will not deduct from wages any amount for room and board, or for any other benefit provided by the employer as a condition of employment. 2. The Employer will provide medical insurance for the employee.

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Post by sillingw » Thu, 08 Jan 2009 4:19 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:The lunatics in the current administration have determined that your maid would be a flight risk... you bring her over, she deserts you so that she can stay in the US illegally. Further, these morons conclude that because you cannot legally hold her passport, the flight risk is increased.

Let's hope the next administration exercises a bit more rational, non-xenophobic approach.

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/domestic ... visas.html
This actually happened to a US friend of mine, 5 years ago, he took his helper to USA - she took off - never to be heard from again - very large Philippino community in the SF bay area apparently included her brother - I guess her earning in US could be a lot more than here

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pakjohn
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Post by pakjohn » Fri, 09 Jan 2009 1:37 pm

While I understand the inconvenience of not being able to take your helper back to the U.S. I don't see the necessity outside convenience and figure the U.S. government sees it the same way. Once in the U.S. you have to pay per U.S. laws and put up with all the legal hassles; (try doing otherwise, your maid will rat you out) so why not just hire domestic help already living in the U.S.? The cost is the same and you won't have immigration on your doorstep when and if she bolts.

Take your maid to the U.S. on vacation and she'd be a complete fool not to run and chances are no matter where you go there is a community of filipinas waiting to help her out. If she gets caught, it's a free ride back to Phil's where she can start fresh. (assuming she is filipina) No downside to leaving you at baggage claim for a better life in the U.S,

The laws are probably less likely to change when Obama is in office as he ran on protecting U.S. jobs.

Don't misunderstand, I'd like to see a free pass given to domestic helpers as they become part of our family. Just giving another perspective as to why the laws are what they are and why they're not likely to change.
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QRM
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Post by QRM » Fri, 09 Jan 2009 3:46 pm

That is of course assuming everyone wants to move to the US, when I was a student and applied for a visa to visit my folks in the US, I got rejected as they assumed I would not return to my home in the UK!! I have been to LA 5 times and still think its a total dump. Much that I slag off Singapore I would rather stay here.

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Post by Strong Eagle » Fri, 09 Jan 2009 4:07 pm

pakjohn wrote:Take your maid to the U.S. on vacation and she'd be a complete fool not to run and chances are no matter where you go there is a community of filipinas waiting to help her out.
I find this quite nonsensical and typical of the small minded thinking that has brought us the useless immigration laws we have.

My maid would love to visit and she would come back with me, your broad brush assertions notwithstanding.

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pakjohn
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Post by pakjohn » Fri, 09 Jan 2009 5:11 pm

lol! Don't shoot the messenger, I didn't write the laws and I'm not trying to defend them. I don't think I'm taking broad strokes or making assumptions, I'm relating what the immigration attorneys told me when I looked into it. They were kind enough to spare me the expense of wasting a lot of money getting a no from immegre.

But then again, I don't think they wrote them just to make you two mad either. :roll:
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carteki
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Post by carteki » Sat, 10 Jan 2009 1:31 pm

Look, on the bright side during my 3 hour wait for my visa interview at the US embassy there was a maid who was granted a visa to visit the US with her employer (apart from the fact that it is so boring waiting with nothing else to distract you, the layout of the interview room makes it impossible not to listen to every interview going on). The thing that struck me from this interview was that the person granting the visa specifically told the maid that she must keep her passport on her at all times and NOT give it to her employer.

If you read the note from the US Embassy, it basically says that the maid has to qualify for a visa in their own right. The most important of this would be to demonstrate ties to SG and reasons to return.

Good luck.

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Wind In My Hair
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Post by Wind In My Hair » Sat, 10 Jan 2009 3:53 pm

No views at this point about US visas for maids. Just wanted to say:

EF, I love your new signature!

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