Immigration and the Fiancee Visa

Dating a Filipino girl is very different to dating a Western girl, so trying to understand the culture and expectations is worthwhile if you are serious about developing a relationship. Keep an open mind, accept there will be cultural differences and learn about them, and who knows, you could soon be conducting a long distant relationship with a charming lady or even thinking of obtaining a fiancee visa for her to come and stay with you in the USA.

Dating is often set up by friends or relations so try and get a mutual friend to act as a go between. Once the date is set up it is usually the guy who picks up the bill. If you are in a group then the guys will generally split the cost between them.

Philippine society is all about respectability. Traditionally a chaperone goes along on the date, to ensure nothing ‘improper’ occurs. This could be a sister or close friend. The chaperone tags along with the couple and sometimes might even bring a friend along, so it becomes more of a double date. The chaperone is doing you a favor (without her there, it might not be possible to go on the date) so you have to take care of her well by paying for everything, drinks, food, etc.

Sometimes the girls’ parents will expect her home by a certain time. It is best to check with her and make sure she doesn’t arrive home late or this will be seen as a total disregard of their authority and considered disrespectful. Now days, although things are much more relaxed, parents are still quite strict when it comes to their daughter’s honor and reputation. She will have strict guidelines on how to behave when in male company.

It is polite for the girl to ask her parents permission if she wants to go out, this will be followed by dozens of questions before they agree, so expect her to have to clear the date with her parents first. Even better would be if you ask her parents for permission for the date yourself, this will be seen as showing the greatest respect to them. Parents value traditional Filipino values and will look upon you favorably.

Kissing on the first date used to be unthinkable. Today, kissing is a acceptable due to an increasing amount of self-assured and liberated Filipinos. Although attitudes are more lax, there are still many conservative Filipinos, so if you are declined a kiss on the first date, don’t take it to heart. Most Filipino girls would never dare approach a guy they really like or even introduce themselves, let alone to call a guy up. Even today, it is considered highly inappropriate for girls to do so, only really modern girls with strong personalities might.

It’s very important to appreciate that the Philippines have a strong Christian influence and, due to this, sex before marriage is not acknowledged or accepted. Society inflicts a lot of pressure against premarital sexual relations, sex before marriage would bring shame on the girl and her family especially if she was to become pregnant. Although not publicly acknowledged, the reality of the situation is that with the growing independence of young Filipinos, intimate relationships are more common before marriage.

If everything goes well and you are tired trying to maintain your relationship long distance or you want to move the relationship along then consider taking her home to meet your family and spend some time together in a different environment. To do this, you will need to obtain the K-1 Fiancee Visa by filling out all the K1 Visa immigration forms. Good luck!

Dating a Filipino girl is very different to dating a Western girl, so trying to understand the culture and expectations is worthwhile if you are serious about developing a relationship.

Michiel Van Kets provides articles for Duane J. Beadle who is an expert on Fiancée Visas. For more information on K1 fiancée visa process for the Philippines and K1 visa preparation, please visit Filipina Fiancée Visa com: "Bringing Your Bride to Your Side!"

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