Tourist visa. What are the secrets if there are any?

[GregfromGa]

A little background, She is 38 and teaches at a University.Been there for years. She co owns her flat with her parents. She has an EU visa, been to 15 different countries including Canada. It cost $160 to roll the dice. What about hotel reservations?etc etc.   Does she need an invitation? That might sound suspect you think. She does have a former student in Orlando area.

[jmana]

I wouldn't think it would be too difficult?  I had a girl from Moscow visit me several years ago on a tourist visa.  She was an engineer, but also a recent graduate and didn't really have any assets.  She paid for the trip entirely, I don't know if that helps?  But if you're worried about spending $160 for a possible negative decision, then you should give up on dating a Russian woman before you start.  You need lots of money if it works out and you decide to bring her here permanently.

[GregfromGa]

I wouldn't think it would be too difficult?  I had a girl from Moscow visit me several years ago on a tourist visa.  She was an engineer, but also a recent graduate and didn't really have any assets.  She paid for the trip entirely, I don't know if that helps?  But if you're worried about spending $160 for a possible negative decision, then you should give up on dating a Russian woman before you start.  You need lots of money if it works out and you decide to bring her here permanently.

Really? I'm kind of hung up on the $160. I really don't have a clue as to what any of this might cost. Please elaborate.

[jone]

I'd send a PM to CalMissile if you are really interested.

[Jumper]

Really? I'm kind of hung up on the $160. I really don't have a clue as to what any of this might cost. Please elaborate.

lol ok Greg, let the guy off the hook?


jmana,
Greginga was previously married to a FSUW and has been down this path prior, so he knows the $160 is nothing in this venture.

[jmana]

lol ok Greg, let the guy off the hook?


jmana,
Greginga was previously married to a FSUW and has been down this path prior, so he knows the $160 is nothing in this venture.

Ah, I unfortunately don't know everyone's history    
Well I'd say rolling the dice on this one would probably be in your favor.  Unless I'm wrong about how hard it is to get a tourist visa.  But like I said before, it didn't seem too difficult.  In fact she was going to get another one a couple months after she came here but I had to put a stop to it because I just wasn't that into her.  But she didn't make it seem like it was a difficult process at all. 

[BillyB]

I dated a Russian University professor on a tourist visa. She was living with a RW friend in an apartment while staying in America. Your lady should have a good shot at getting a tourist visa.


I wouldn't give her an invitation letter or have her mention she has a former student in Orlando. The less ties she has in America, the better. The more ties she has in Russia, the better.

[GregfromGa]

I dated a Russian University professor on a tourist visa. She was living with a RW friend in an apartment while staying in America. Your lady should have a good shot at getting a tourist visa.


I wouldn't give her an invitation letter or have her mention she has a former student in Orlando. The less ties she has in America, the better. The more ties she has in Russia, the better.

I think you are right about the invitation Billy. The less ties here the better. She's actually from Ukraine. I have a neighbor who lives 4 miles from Canada. He is a bit of a renegade, no make that a lot of a renegade. Although he lives in the mountain region he said it would be impossible to see her there and bring her back to go to Disney or wherever. I cant imagine it being that hard. I cant throw a rock around here and not hit an illegal Mexican in the head. She had no problem going to see her friend who lives in Canada. Would I try something like this if all else fails? Absolutely, LOL

[BillyB]

She's actually from Ukraine.

That's right, you were just there. I seen the "Russia" in your profile and it was late at night when I responded so my brain was half dead. Now that we're talking about Ukraine, that changes everything. There's a rude female interviewer in Ukraine who denies everybody a tourist visa. She recently had a baby and is possibly taking an extensive leave at this moment, so maybe people will have more success getting their visa approved. My MIL got her twice but the third time with a congressional letter of support, she had her visa easily approved by another interviewer. Some people on visa journey say third time applying is a charm and some say on third time they got approved is only because they got a different interviewer.


Another factor is that with the crisis in Ukraine, the number of people applying for a tourist visa or any other visa may have gone up. America's policy could've changed in either approving or denying a higher percentage of Ukrainians. It's worth a shot and better to have your lady visit you and to see her future home over you going over there a second time.

[Jumper]

Greg, I as going to ask you whether she was Russian or Ukrainian.

Russia has what seems to be a far higher approval rate for US tourist visas in the scenario you mention.
Ukraine seems far lower.

Someone pasted the  rates by country, not so long ago.

If she was Russian i would certainly give it a shot.It seems quite common anymore , so why not?

Ukrainian, seems much less likely to happen ,
 so it;'s just up to you and her, and how well she'd take a denial or if it would reflect on the budding relationship.

[Jumper]

I think you are right about the invitation Billy. The less ties here the better. She's actually from Ukraine. I have a neighbor who lives 4 miles from Canada. He is a bit of a renegade, no make that a lot of a renegade. Although he lives in the mountain region he said it would be impossible to see her there and bring her back to go to Disney or wherever. I cant imagine it being that hard. I cant throw a rock around here and not hit an illegal Mexican in the head. She had no problem going to see her friend who lives in Canada. Would I try something like this if all else fails? Absolutely, LOL

Why?
Since *all else*  ,like you going to visit her, is sure to not fail?
Just go see her again! and there or any of the countries she can easily get a legit visa too?.

As a Ukrainian she can likely has a bit more chance with a Canadian tourist visa than USA? i'm note sure?.
 or for certain Mexico .A Mexican tourist visa- a ukrainian can
EASILY get a Mexican tourist visa, it is a simple online application , generally authorized that moment top print out, and free?

You consider trying a remote area border crossing away from immigration  if all else fails?

I'm sorry that seems particularly reckless?
 Yes there are millions of illegal immigrants here,
but if she was caught, and dodging around in remote ares is sketchy at best..
 you almost guarantee she could never get a legit visa to reside here, if you two end up in a relationship.
That seems a very wild risk to take, when your ease of travel to visit her in her country, in mexico, in DR,europe,  in Canada  etc .

Next you are going to be considering taking a fishing charter from florida to Cuba or DR and back with a stowaway..
 

If you are pursuing this venture again, and really want the women to visit you in your hometown as part of the vetting process, my serious advise is to date women from countries who can have a chance of traveling to you. If stuck on FSU, then  Russia ,Belarus, Estonia etc,,  and forget Ukraine.

If you like her, then just go see her again! 
I wouldn't sweat the details of her visiting you in the USA.
You have plenty of time to see her in a dozen countries to find out if there is even any need to think about this part.

[XMan]

Friends of mine from Ukraine, a family of three, highly educated, fluent in English, cash in the bank, own their apartment, a business, and have other ties to Ukraine as well, went through the entire process, spent about $500, traveled to Kiev for the interview, declined.  No real explanation.  I think it's pretty tough in Ukraine to get approval.

[alex330]

If she has a child the reason is Disney World.

[GregfromGa]

Why?
Since *all else*  ,like you going to visit her, is sure to not fail?
Just go see her again! and there or any of the countries she can easily get a legit visa too?.

As a Ukrainian she can likely has a bit more chance with a Canadian tourist visa than USA? i'm note sure?.
 or for certain Mexico .A Mexican tourist visa- a ukrainian can
EASILY get a Mexican tourist visa, it is a simple online application , generally authorized that moment top print out, and free?

You consider trying a remote area border crossing away from immigration  if all else fails?

I'm sorry that seems particularly reckless?
 Yes there are millions of illegal immigrants here,
but if she was caught, and dodging around in remote ares is sketchy at best..
 you almost guarantee she could never get a legit visa to reside here, if you two end up in a relationship.
That seems a very wild risk to take, when your ease of travel to visit her in her country, in mexico, in DR,europe,  in Canada  etc .

Next you are going to be considering taking a fishing charter from florida to Cuba or DR and back with a stowaway..
 

If you are pursuing this venture again, and really want the women to visit you in your hometown as part of the vetting process, my serious advise is to date women from countries who can have a chance of traveling to you. If stuck on FSU, then  Russia ,Belarus, Estonia etc,,  and forget Ukraine.

If you like her, then just go see her again! 
I wouldn't sweat the details of her visiting you in the USA.
You have plenty of time to see her in a dozen countries to find out if there is even any need to think about this part.

Cant disagree with you more on going to see here in another country. We are not going to be living in another country. We will be here in good ole South Georgia. I'm going to take a roll of the dice so to speak and try for the tourist visa. Of course a private charter  fishing boat from the Bahamas is booked and on stand by. Cuba was too expensive. We will just have to see.

[Jumper]

lol Greg - fishing charters  all the way to bahama's wont help since she'd need a pre approved visa for there.
   If your taking her stowaway style.. in a banana crate-
 you'll have to stick to Cuba, DR, mexico, jamaica, st lucia....

On the not living there, so wont meet there.. I agree that meeting for holidays in a third country isn't the best way to sort each other out as a couple.
Absolutely it's better she visits you in your home!!

So its worth a shot at applying for a tourist visa.
roll the dice! as there is no reason not to.



It does seem unlikely, and so is using a banana crate, or sneaking across canuck borders.So second choice is you  spending extended stay at hers, or visiting in other countries.
 That is simply what a lot of members  have to work with.If it was remotely easy for Ukrainians to get a US tourist visa here, I'm sure most US guys would take that route.I certainly would have,  I couldn't so you have to choose not to date a Ukrainian resident, or move on to other solutions of getting to know each other well.We mixed time spent in her country , with time spent visiting other countries together, not the best solution, but the  most reasonable given the constraints.We learned enough about each other to move forward..
and  had a fantastic time doing so.She had no real trouble adjusting and loves it here. There were challenges that came up on holiday that showed me a lot of good things about her character...her personality and ability to adapt , overcome issues, I hope she learned some things about me as well. 
So i don't consider it wasted time at all, it furthered our relationship immensely each trip.
 I do agree if she had been able to stay here ,on a tourist visa, that would have been even better.

 It seems very important to you that  she must spend time here ,
where she will live,  to found the relationship.
 While i can understand that reasoning a bit..
US based newbies reading here need to understand if her spending time in their home country and home, prior  to filing a family visa is important to them, pursue women who have a good chance at doing that.
Ukrainian women generally don't. (shy of using the K1 90 days as a trial period)

[ML]

Try the student visa route.  It worked for me, KenC and the Professor guy.  Also Gator got it for his step daughter.

With it, you are not limited to 90 days, but rather to the degree program.  They give 3 year visas for masters students (allowing for 1 year of intensive English program) and 5 years for PhD students.

Ochka has been here two and half years plus . . . and we are starting to get to know each other.

[LAman]

I do also agree it is far easier to get a Russian tourist visa than Ukrainian tourist visa to USA. I also know that tourist visa's that are denied show up in their records, which could be a negative down the road.  I know one thing....there are many work visa's being approved from FSU.

[GregfromGa]

Try the student visa route.  It worked for me, KenC and the Professor guy.  Also Gator got it for his step daughter.

With it, you are not limited to 90 days, but rather to the degree program.  They give 3 year visas for masters students (allowing for 1 year of intensive English program) and 5 years for PhD students.

Ochka has been here two and half years plus . . . and we are starting to get to know each other.

That is something to think about. There is a jr college here in my city that has some international students. Since she teaches English at a University, that might be more understandable to want to come here and study English for 2 months. Of course that will entail there being an actual English study program there and I'm just not sure.