Getting a US tourist Visa?

[George_123]

I need a little inform about US visa.
I have a Russian girlfriend living in Russia and she wanted to visit me in the US. She is currently working for Coca-Cola company in Moscow. She is 25 year old and she made about US$1000 a month. Is there any chances that she could get a US tourist visa?
Thanks

[Jay Patches]

Extremely unlikely (almost zero chance).  Those with a record of international travel, and with assets or obligation back home in Russia are much more likely to be accepted.  If she came on a program of study, like a student visa, or a employer sponsored visa, then she would also stand a much better chance.

[Shadow]

As long as you are not paying for the trip and visa: Yes. Otherwise: No.

[BC]

George,

Have you already met this woman?

[jb]

Russian citizens, like citizens of many countries, require a visa to enter the United States.

Nonimmigrant visas are for people with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to go to the U.S. on a temporary basis - for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work, or study.

U.S. law requires that people who apply for nonimmigrant visas provide evidence that they don't intend to immigrate to the United States. It's up to consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates to determine eligibility on an individual basis on the merits of each case.

Because each person's personal situation is different, people applying for the same visa may be asked different questions and be required to submit different documents. Consular officers may request additional information or documentation depending on their assessment of each person's situation. Our website contains all the necessary information about types of nonimmigrant visas and the application process.

Several categories of people are eligible to receive an immigrant visa. Certain applicants can apply on their own behalf. All others must have a relative or potential employer apply for them. Again, additional information regarding visa types and the application process is available throughout this website.

The above quote is from the Moscow US Embassy website.  The emphisis I added is the Catch-22 which fouls up 99% of B-1 Tourist visa applications for single Russian women.  Any evidence at all, any, indicating a young and pretty Russian girl might have an American love interest will be sufficent reason to deny a visa application.  Because - in the mindset of the Consular Officer, this will indicate an intent to immigrate, and this is strickly forbidden. Thus, as a potiential b/f, g/f situation, to avoid the taint of her being seen as an "immigration possible", you are not able to write any letter indicating support, housing, care, or protection, nor can you offer to pay for her R/T airfare and lend her pocket money for the journey.  The instant you did any of that you'd shoot down the visa yourself, you'd be viewed as a sponsor for a possible illegal immigration attempt.  For her to get a B-1 visa for tourism in the USA, she will have to demonstrate she has, on her own, enough wealth to afford the trip, a good reason to make the trip, as well as strong ties to Russia which would guarantee her return on time.   And, BTW, making $1,000 a month in Moscow is almost starvation wages now-a-days, Moscow is one of the world's most expensive cities to live in right now.  My wife is in Moscow as I write this on a visit to see her mother and family.  Everytime I talk to her on the phone she complains bitterly about how bad Moscow has become and how expensive everything is.  She can't wait to come back home.

You say she works for Coke in Russia, is it possible for her employer to write a letter to the U.S. Consulate suggesting it would be nice for her to be allowed to visit the company's home office in Atlanta, that might work, but a tourist visa is probably not possible otherwise.

There have been rare reports of a few exceptions to this general rule of thumb, but in general terms, you should forget about a B-1 Tourist visa for your Russian friend, and just go ahead and make plans to visit her in her home town.  This is the safest, surest, and the BCIS "smiled upon" method if your are leaning towards a romantic adventure with a Russian girl.

[jb]

Dan;

This is one of those FAQ I spoke of before, we get it several times a year.  Perhaps there is a better explanation than mine out there somewhere, but I'm not inclined to search for it at the moment.  Perhaps a separate section for FAQs should be incorporated into the board and the best explanations be made a sticky post where the newbie questioner could be referred for answers better than a simple one liner; "not likely" sort of answer.

Just a suggestion.

[Admin]

Dan;

This is one of those FAQ I spoke of before, we get it several times a year.  Perhaps there is a better explanation than mine out there somewhere, but I'm not inclined to search for it at the moment.  Perhaps a separate section for FAQs should be incorporated into the board and the best explanations be made a sticky post where the newbie questioner could be referred for answers better than a simple one liner; "not likely" sort of answer.

Just a suggestion.

And a good suggestion jb. Trying to take it onboard. It'll go onto the list, and I'll try to get onto it soon.

Thanks,

- Dan

[Michelangelo]

But of course some things change, so the FAQ section would have to "frequently" be updated :-)

For example, 2 years ago it was difficult for an FSU girl to get a EU visa.  Now it's easy...

[George_123]

Thanks for the advise.
OK here we go..
We met in the internet over two years. I have been to Moscow twice and met her family too.  We also been to difference country on vacation.
Now she is thinking of visiting me in the US and she wanted to know how difficult to get a tourist visa. Wow, after reading you guys respond..is almost impossible for her to get a visa.
Thank you again for the help.

[jb]

Yes, things do change,,, just about everything is different now than it was when my wife and I started dating back in the mid-late 90's, especially post 9-11.  However one of the things which hasn't changed is the visa requirements for Russians and Ukrainians trying to visit the USA.  That part has remained fairly constant.  The explanation I gave above is as valid now as it was in 1997.  There has always been a problem with Russians coming to the USA and overstaying their visa, and our government has always addressed the issue in the same old fashion; i.e., no visas for people, especially young single people, who have no urgent reason to go back home.

There are several good reasons for this governmental mindset.   The pathology is pretty easy to dissect if you are any kind of political animal at all.  Prior to 1991 Russian immigration was not a huge problem, not because there weren't plenty of Russians wanting out of Russia, but because of CCCP exit visas needed for them to leave.  Generally speaking, a citizen of the USSR could only get the exit visa if he/she had a travel permit to a USSR friendly location.  The Soviets kept a secure lid on their borders, the iron curtain kept their citizens in as well as keeping travelers from non-friendly countries to a minimum.  The Russians even have the OVIR police who do nothing, to this very day, other than register visas and keep tabs on Western visitors.

Secondly, the US has always had a problem with illegal immigration on it's southern border.  As far back as I can remember, no administration, Democrat or Republican, has ever made a big issue of Mexican border security until recently, and they do so now solely because of the criminal element crossing over with drugs and gangs.  Previously, the usual Mojado (wet back) came to work, they provided a much needed source of low cost labor and didn't cause too much trouble, and most of them eventually went back home to Mexico anyway.  Then after 1975, we had the big influx of Asian immigrants from Vietnam and Cambodia, which created some rather large social and economic problems, because these people were not content to work forever at low wages and eventually go back home.  They worked hard, their children studied hard, and they have succeeded in achieving the American dream on a scale which far surpasses any other historical wave of immigrants.  As an ethnic mass they've done much better in a much shorter period of time than the Irish, Italians, Jews, or the Nords, or any other single ethnic group.  The problem is,,, they started taking traditionally held American jobs and businesses for their own, they seemed to gravitate towards convenience stores, mom and pop motels, the gulf coast fishing industry is largely Vietnamese today.  They have been successful, and in the meanwhile their kids were graduating with honors with good degrees and moving into mainstream American cooperations. 

Now, our government is stupid and slow, but not entirely blind.  Somewhere up there in the dim recesses of Washington, someone saw the handwriting on the wall when the iron curtain came down.  Here was a whole continent populated with fairly bright and well educated men and women, (over 60% of Russians were college educated in 1990, compared to less than 20% Americans), and eager to immigrate if given half a chance.  Unregulated immigration from the FSU would have wrecked the American job market, simply because the average idjit American could not compete with his/her high school education.  Our response is to basically close the borders to Eastern Europeans while continuing to allow the riff-raff a free pass. 

I could continue with this rant, but the obvious conclusions we now have to draw from the previous administrations allowing the non-professional, non-job threatening peoples, i.e., Mexican workers and especially Arabs from oil rich countries which gave us 9-11 free access, is that all our foreign hopefuls are given extra tight scrutiny.  Thus, very few B-1 visas for Russians and Ukrainians.

Sorry,,,,'sway it is.

[Turboguy]

I actually think it seems to be getting easier.  I had the one gal visit me twice.  In her case she has family including a teen aged daughter she was leaving in Russia.  I have another landing any day who is 25 and a knock out and never married with not ties, but does have a brother in WV.  She was here in the USA last year and is coming this time until September.   Just to be clear, she is not visiting me until September but rather her brother.  Also this is her second tourist visa and I would think they get easier each time.  We hope to meet while she is here since she will only be a 4 hour drive from me.  

[jb]

T/G,

Your post merely confirms the last sentence of the quote in my big post above.

All others must have a relative or potential employer apply for them. Again, additional information regarding visa types and the application process is available throughout this website.

Had you tried to assist in her getting a visa, it would probably have been denied.

[Turboguy]

Yes, I am sure you are right but again the one with the brother in WV is 25 or so, single, about a 9+ and even with family here, I am surprised she got it.  Of course I believe she also works for the Russian Govt and that is probably a plus too.  All in all, brother or no brother she is in the catagory who should have a 0% chance of getting one.  I do think it is getting easier, not a lot easier, just easier. 

[Shadow]

In this case I think the woman can pay for the trip by herself. If the has a $1000 monthly salaray and her own apartment she could save $300 to $500 per month, enough to pay for the trip on her own.
If she applies for tourist visa without sponsoring or reference to visiting a male friend there is a chance for her to get the visa.

[Turboguy]

I agree with Shadow.  It never hurts to try.  She has a good job and good income.  It is probably not going to happen but it is not impossible.  I asked my one friend how she managed to get her tourist visa (not the one with the brother).  She said, I don't know.  I just applied and they gave it to me. 

It is great when you have a lady with a tourist visa.  You don't have to eat Borch.  You have hot water every day, no mosquitoes and you are sleep in your own bed not one of the lumpy Russian ones with the knapsack for a blanket that wants to go everywhere you don't want it to.

[curmudgeon]

My wife never had any problems getting a Schengen visa before we married. She visited the EU mulitple times.

One of the U.S. Consulates claims a rejection rate of seventeen percent for Russians. They don't break it down by visa type, and they don't say if that represents the rate for Russia as a whole, or for just their Consular district. It seems that more than half of the visas issued in their district each year come from the Summer Work and Travel program for Russians students, though.

[George_123]

I need a little inform about US visa.
I have a Russian girlfriend living in Russia and she wanted to visit me in the US. She is currently working for Coca-Cola company in Moscow. She is 25 year old and she made about US$1000 a month. Is there any chances that she could get a US tourist visa?
Thanks

[Jet]

Is there any chances that she could get a US tourist visa?

Yes there is a chance. There is also a chance that it will snow on Ft Lauderdale beach this afternoon, though I would not get overly optimistic about either one happening.

[George_123]

I need a little inform about US visa.
I have a Russian girlfriend living in Russia and she wanted to visit me in the US. She is currently working for Coca-Cola company in Moscow. She is 25 year old and she made about US$1000 a month. Is there any chances that she could get a US tourist visa?
Thanks

Just got back from our vacation in Spain instead!! It was much easier to get a visa there. Good luck guys!!

[Michelangelo]

Just got back from our vacation in Spain instead!! It was much easier to get a visa there. Good luck guys!!

Please tell us how it went, George.  Did you like your Coca-Cola girl?   

[George_123]

I like her extremely well!! You know what i mean:)

[George_123]

I like her extremely well!! You know what i mean:)

[George_123]

I need a little inform about US visa.
I have a Russian girlfriend living in Russia and she wanted to visit me in the US. She is currently working for Coca-Cola company in Moscow. She is 25 year old and she made about US$1000 a month. Is there any chances that she could get a US tourist visa?
Thanks