How To Get A Tourist Visa To The US - Tips and Tricks!

Pea breaks down the entire process of how she obtained her US B1/B2 tourist visa as a single, self-employed Filipina — a demographic that faces extra scrutiny from consular officers. She covers every document she prepared, explains why she was denied the first time, shares specific tricks for getting an earlier interview appointment, and warns foreign partners about the difficulties of sponsoring a Filipina's tourist visa.

Pea's background gave her an advantage, but she's upfront about it ​

• Extensive travel history: visited Southeast Asian countries (visa-free), been to the United Kingdom, and had two Schengen visas for Europe (unused due to COVID)
• A strong travel record helps establish credibility with the consulate

The CFO certificate (Commission on Filipinos Overseas) is a critical but inconsistent requirement ​

• Required for any Filipina who is married to, engaged to, or even just dating a foreigner
• Even if you have your US visa approved, you can be "offloaded" (pulled off the plane) at Manila or Cebu airport if a Philippine immigration officer asks for it and you don't have it
• "Tons of horror stories" of people who wasted plane tickets and hotel reservations because of this
• The requirement is enforced inconsistently — sometimes they ask, sometimes they don't — but Pea says it's not worth the risk
• Can be obtained online at thecfo.com.ph; she believes it's free and has no expiration

Pea addresses a viewer who asked if she got her visa because she's famous ​

• Clarifies the distinction: tourist visas (B1/B2) don't take years; it's immigration visas like the K-1 fiancée visa or spousal visa that have long processing times
• Her visa is B1/B2 with multiple entry, valid for 10 years, with up to 6 months of allowed stay per visit
• Notes she couldn't afford to stay 6 months given US costs

Why Pea was denied in 2019 ​

• Single, unmarried Filipina — which she says is "a red flag" for immigration intent
• Was between jobs at the time, so couldn't prove financial stability or a reason to return home
• Describes it as "just trying my luck"

What changed for her successful 2023 application ​

• Now has financial means to support herself (YouTube income, self-employment)
• The most crucial factor: proving you have strong enough ties to the Philippines that you won't overstay
• You must establish that you have something to go back to — property, a job, a business, family obligations
• The average Filipina struggles because many lack savings, property, and stable high-paying employment; many are partially supported by foreign partners, which raises red flags

The single most important interview tip: never lie to the consular officer ​

• "When they're asking those questions, they already know the answers"
• Stick exactly to what you declared on the DS-160 form
• Lying means you have to memorize a fake story; telling the truth is easier and more convincing

Full list of documents Pea prepared ​

• DS-160 form (online, free)
• Visa fee: was $160 when she applied, has since increased to $180–$185
• Original PSA birth certificate (married/annulled people need those certificates too)
• NBI clearance for travel abroad (Philippine equivalent of FBI check) — cost about 130 pesos
• Valid passport plus previous passports (she has two Philippine passports)
• Two 2x2 colored photos on white background with collared shirt (shoulders must be covered)
• Original or notarized proof of funds: bank certificate (costs $4–$5 in the Philippines just to get the bank to certify your own money — she calls this "stupid") plus 3–6 months of bank statements to prove the account wasn't just opened for the trip
• Photocopies of assets: land titles, condo deeds, tax declarations, car registration
• For employed applicants: employment certificate, approved leave of absence, company ID, payslips (6 months), income tax returns (ITR)
• For Pea specifically as self-employed: BIR certificate of registration for her YouTube channel, ITR from BIR
• For students: school certificate, credentials, school ID
• Notes that not all documents will be asked for during the interview, but it's best to have everything ready

Two ways to apply: DIY or through a visa agency ​

• Visa agencies cost $100–$500 depending on location and agency
• Pea used an agency because she didn't have time for the administrative work, but her case was straightforward since she'd applied before
• Recommends DIY if you have the time — "it's not that difficult"

The interview appointment is the real bottleneck ​

• After COVID, there's a massive backlog of applications
• When Pea checked, the earliest available slot was November or December (months away)
• She got lucky by obsessively checking the CGI portal website in the middle of the night (between 1–3 AM Philippine time)
• Cancellation slots appear randomly; she found one at 3 AM while editing a video — a slot just one week out — and immediately booked it and flew to Manila
• Total time from application to visa: about one month (she calls herself "the exception")

Visa agencies sometimes game the appointment system ​

• They book interview slots and resell them at premium prices — up to $250 for an earlier appointment
• Pea's tip: skip the middleman, check the website yourself between 1–3 AM, refresh every five minutes

Warning for foreign men trying to bring their Filipina on a tourist visa ​

• If the foreigner is paying for the trip (plane tickets, depositing money into her account to inflate her bank balance), it raises serious red flags
• If she doesn't have a "rock solid reason" to return to the Philippines, she'll likely be denied
• Pea isn't discouraging people but says "the chances are slim" — she's "just telling it like it is"
• Suggests joining Facebook groups where tourist visa applicants exchange tips

The TNT problem and its effect on all Filipino travelers ​

• TNT = "tago ng tago" — meaning you're undocumented and always hiding from authorities
• Some Filipinos overstay visas and disappear, not just in the US but in Europe, the Middle East, and other Asian countries
• This behavior makes it harder for legitimate Filipino travelers to get visas
• Pea appeals to Filipinos to stop doing this: "Let's change the perception of other Western countries about Filipinos visiting"

Driving in the US on a foreign license ​

• Pea did NOT need a US driver's license — the US allows foreign licenses for up to 4 months (up to 1 year depending on the state)
• She uses her Philippine driver's license plus an international driver's license obtained before the trip
• International license cost 80 bucks from the AAP (National Auto Club) in the Philippines
• Also got car insurance: "it pays to cover your arse"
• Drives exactly at the speed limit — some viewers told her she could go 5 mph over, but she's not comfortable with that as a guest: "I don't want to be pulled over by the highway patrol"

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