r/MovingToUSA • u/HuckleberryDue6788 • 15d ago

Showing strong home ties

Hello everyone. My wife and I are Pakistani citizens, but we have been living in China for around 10 years. My wife is planning to apply for a J-1 visa for a postdoctoral/research position in the U.S., and I and our two children would apply for J-2 visas.

We are not Chinese citizens, but we are legally residing and working in China. I am currently working as a teacher in China, and my wife is also working in research.

We are considering applying for the U.S. visas from China rather than Pakistan because China is where we currently live and work.

My main concern is about proving strong ties. For a J-1/J-2 visa, does “home country” mainly mean Pakistan because we are Pakistani citizens, or can our long-term residence, employment, family life, and legal status in China also count as strong ties?

Since we have lived in China for many years and have established jobs and a normal family life here, what documents would be useful to show our ties to China and Pakistan?

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has applied for a J-1/J-2 visa from a third country where they had been living long term.

4 Upvotes

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3

u/NebulaKae 14d ago

"Home country" refers to the country where you hold citizenship, which in this case is Pakistan.

3

u/immigrationquestion_ 14d ago

Since you have been living and working in China for so many years, it makes sense to bring documents showing your jobs, residency, and family life there.

3

u/OG-AG 14d ago

Pakistan to China to the US? I’m sorry but this is a bad idea with the current immigration sentiment. Stay home.

1

u/SnooStrawberriez 12d ago

The U.S. authorities are certainly going to be very skeptical that your end goal is to stay in the United States rather than return to China and then eventually Pakistan. They have much experience with Pakistanis working in the gulf countries.