FSU person getting tourist visa to enter USA

[Mike78]

How do they do it?  The same way it works the world over my friend.  Money talks. One of the things I learned rather quickly about Russians is they believe that everything and everyone is for sale and the only barrier is in the negotiating process.  IME they are correct.  While the U.S. may have more safeguards, checks and balances and procedures against visa fraud the bottom line is that someone, somewhere has to make the call.  

While cash payments alone may not persuade someone to approve a visa, perhaps a threat to their family might.  Everyone has a pressure point, all that is required is for a someone to find that point and squeeze.

Honestly I don't necessarily think the intimidation or bribery happens all that often, at least not in the USA. As described above with the business and internship visa, it's not that hard to "bend" the immigration law to your advantage if you know what you're doing and don't have issues going into legal grey area (as crimnals certainly don't). I'm sure mafia has their army of lawyers that know how to play the game. I would imagine that strippers, pornstars, etc. probably go on some "artistic performer" visa or something like that... Or perhaps the good old GC marriage fraud that is not that hard to do as well...

[GQBlues]

To be fair to embassy personnel, it's difficult to blame them for having to peek through a very narrow prism on this process for no other reason than many FSUWs before are the ones who created the devil for those that follow.

[ML]

Honestly I don't necessarily think the intimidation or bribery happens all that often, at least not in the USA. As described above with the business and internship visa, it's not that hard to "bend" the immigration law to your advantage if you know what you're doing and don't have issues going into legal grey area (as crimnals certainly don't). I'm sure mafia has their army of lawyers that know how to play the game. I would imagine that strippers, pornstars, etc. probably go on some "artistic performer" visa or something like that... Or perhaps the good old GC marriage fraud that is not that hard to do as well...

But still, doesn't everyone (criminals, business persons, strippers, or what have you) have to still go to American consulate or Embassy in their home country and face an immigration agent?

Does taking a lawyer with you to an American embassy in Russia or Ukraine help get a visa to enter USA?

And you say: "Honestly I don't necessarily think the intimidation or bribery happens all that often, at least not in the USA."

But I understood that the visa approval does not happen in the USA.  I thought it happened at American Embassy in the foreign country.   Am I wrong on this?

This is all still very confusing to me.

[ML]

IME I found that providing a 'letter of support' or any other declaration by an American didn't count for squat in the decision whether or not to issue the visa.

OK, I understand that.

What about the other related point of disclosing that the visa applicant has a romantic relationship with an American?

Do you think that fact not only does not 'count for squat'  but that it actually will guarantee denial of visa? 

Seems  like it ties directly into the idea that they view all applicants as potential immigrants - - - which is what the applicant is out to try to disprove - - - right?

[Seeker]

OK, I understand that.

What about the other related point of disclosing that the visa applicant has a romantic relationship with an American?

Do you think that fact not only does not 'count for squat'  but that it actually will guarantee denial of visa? 

Seems  like it ties directly into the idea that they view all applicants as potential immigrants - - - which is what the applicant is out to try to disprove - - - right?

I think what people are saying here for the most part is to be honest.  With the authorities and yourself.  You can always fill in the blanks if something is missing.  It is impossible to cover a lie.  And the lie will hurt you for much longer.

[Gylden]

To say it simple, a letter of invitation (a good one with dates, addresses etc.) will not guarantee a visa, as I said before, the letter satisfies two of the criteria asked for in the application, so does it help? YES Does it have a decision making effect? Only in the sense that it explains the reason of the visit and part or all of the financial end of the visit. Honestly there is so much on the web about this it is not hard to find confirmation of it, you can even call the embassy and ask them about it.

About disclosing having a relationship, if you stop and think about it, if there is one (relationship) and you don't disclose it, you have allready breached the line for refusal. If they even smell that there MIGHT be a relationship at that point, the interview is over!

You know everyone has been afraid of this from the "get go" and this fear does provide motivation to lie. What is interesting is that if they catch you/her lying, then there is a reason to declare her "inadmissable",  as in Phils case she will be not able to reapply for some time. 
Here is a quote from the web page of Wolfsdorf immigration law offices:
http://cabocondosurfrental.com/immsvcs_waivers.html
"Lying to immigration or border officials, presenting false documents, or even failing to disclose certain information on an immigration application form can trigger inadmissibility. "

I understand the fear everyone has about this, but this is also a part of having a relationship with someone from a foreign land. I will also say that I have never experienced having any visa/permit denied in all of my years of international experience, both for my family members or my coworkers.

ManLooking,
FWIW, you asked for clarification and experiences and I am just giving you mine, hope you take it as such.
 

[Gylden]

OK, I understand that.

What about the other related point of disclosing that the visa applicant has a romantic relationship with an American?

Do you think that fact not only does not 'count for squat'  but that it actually will guarantee denial of visa? 

Seems  like it ties directly into the idea that they view all applicants as potential immigrants - - - which is what the applicant is out to try to disprove - - - right?

The only guarantee in this whole process, is the guarantee that if they catch you in a lie or missrepresentation, you are guaranteed of being denied.

If "they" stick to the belief that everyone is an immigrant, there would be no visas for anyone. Obviously some are able to demonstrate that they are worthy of trusting them, because there are visas which are granted. (It is all based on trust, because we all know plenty of women have immigrated, who own apartments, have good jobs, have family in the FSU etc.)

My point is that honest people have a better chance of being trusted.

[Aloe]

Its so humiliating having to go and prove someone what they are asking you to prove. I prefer to stay home  Luckily, i dont need a visa anymore to travel in Europe, cuz i do like travelling 

[Aloe]

I didnt feel it was humiliating, until i got denied an australian visa for no obvious reason. Embassy dumbasses wrote that ive never been abroad (i guess turkey was annexed by Russia and i missed it?), and that indicated length of my visit (2 weeks) does not correspond with indicated intentions of visit (tourism). Assholes

[roykirk]

I've posted my experiences on the B-2 tourist visa process several times, so please ignore me if you've heard this all before. 

When I was trying to get my then-fiancee' here for a visit two years ago, I was told by several people (here and in other forums) that it was impossible for a single, young, Russian woman to get a tourist visa, so don't even try.  We tried it anyway and she had no problems.  The biggest obstacle was that she had to fly to Moscow from Novosibirsk just for the interview.  She also reported several other young women she met in line at the Consulate who got B-2s as well (plus a couple who got student visas while admitting to my wife that they had no intention of ever returning to Russia, but that's another topic).  The keys we learned to getting a tourist visa were:

1.  Own property in Russia (a car is sufficient, but they really like to see a flat or house)
2.  Have a bank account with a decent amount of money in it.  Who knows how much is enough, but I would suppose a few thousand dollars would be good.
3.  Have a full time job that you weren't just hired at, and provide a letter from your employer confirming this, and your salary.
4.  Evidence of family remaining in Russia (they'll want copies of their passports)
5.  Evidence of having traveled to other countries (not just FSU ones either) and returning

I'm sure some people get tourist visas with less than the above, but it's my belief that having all of it gives you the best chances.  It worked for us.  Now, to the question of whether my then-fiancee' told them that she had a boyfriend in the United States, the answer is "no," sort of.  What she did tell them was that she had "friends" in the United States that wanted to show her around.  She provided my name and address on the form where they asked who she would be staying with.  They didn't ask any further questions about me or boyfriends. 

Your mileage may vary! 

[Mike78]

Another thought - go after girls from EU member countries:) Baltic or Visegrád Group countries have no or easy to get US tourist visa requirements... For Western European countries it gets even better as you don't even have to marry her for her to stay there

[XMan]

At the risk of offending someone:
We let Mexicans stream across the border, and stay here in the country, work (often illegally), gave amnesty to hundreds of thousands back in the Reagan era, etc., but letting Easter Europeans in requires a mountain of paperwork, interviews, guarantees of financial support, etc.
What is wrong with this picture?

[CanadaMan]

...I will also say that I have never experienced having any visa/permit denied in all of my years of international experience, both for my family members or my coworkers.

 Gylden I respect and agree with most of what you have had to say in this thread.
However when you revealed the above statement it made me step back a bit.
Wouldn't you agree that your 100% positive experience in this matter has coloured your viewpoint even just a shade?

Say you did everything exactly as you had, and yet you still were knocked down 90+% of the time or more on your applications. Would you still be as confident in the advice you were giving out? Try to be honest about it.

[Gylden]

CanadaMan,

Of course it has coloured my view point, you are absolutely right. Just as someone who has been knocked down a few times will be coloured in a different direction. Experience is not a bad thing, we learn from both the good and the bad.

If I had been knocked down as you say, I would have analysed what I had done and try to determine the reason for it.

IMO it is easy to become discouraged and lay blame to someone else or to the "system", but in the end it is up to us to stay on track and make it work.
The US is not against immigration. We can see many examples of it, Take for instance the "Green Card Lottery", there are many examples.

I am not saying that it is easy, just wanting to emphasise the importance of being honest and prepared. Honesty and preparedness are two separate items, together they equal the best chances.

[Chris59]

My apologies for reviving an older thread,...but I would like to pose to the board a slightly different twist on this process.

I can be rather long-winded with my posts, so apologies again, if it takes me paragraphs to say, what could normally be said in a few sentences, but here goes....


Just this week, I sent a notarized "Invitation Letter" to Elena, who I have known for 8 years now (yep, that's right, 8 years this month!)

Elena currently holds a Russian passport, but is a permanent, legal resident of Norway. (She moved there after marrying a Norwegian man, but separated from him after less than 3 years of marriage).

For the sake of ease-in-travel back to see family in Russia and Belarus, she retained her Russian passport instead of converting all her documentation and passport to Norwegian.

Elena is now living separately in her own apartment (renting), and has a good job with a boutique company in western Norway.

I want Elena to come visit the U.S. this fall for 2-3 weeks, and we have discussed the possibilities of her getting a B-2 "tourist visa". Since she still has a Russian passport, but is legally able to reside in Norway permanently, will that have any positive impact on her getting approved?

In my opinion, Norway is great country to reside in, maybe even better than the US, so why would she want to remain in the US? (Guys, I'm trying to think like a Consular Officer). Didn't Norway recently take 1st place on the list of "Best Countries to Live in"?

I sent the notarized Invitation Letter just to show that she has a friend in the US, but I realize that it doesn't really carry much weight. In addition, I printed-out about a dozen photographs of us together, in all sorts of settings, just to show that we have been together many times, and we're not trying to scam anyone.

I flew to St.Petersburg 3 times to spend time with her (2002-2004), and we both met in Spain, once in Barcelona (2005), and most recently, the Canary Islands (2009). So she has demonstrated that she will return home after vacationing abroad.

I want to approach this process as honestly as possible. We are good friends, and have remained in contact over these last 8 years, even while she was married to another man.

When she applies for the visa in Oslo, I don't want her to attempt to hide anything. We are good friends, who may be re-assessing each other after not actually seeing each other for 3-4 years. However, some here are of the opinion that if we mention that we are romantically involved, it's almost a certain denial. If CO's really apply this logic, I would personally be very offended, as we're only wanting to be honest in this process.

I've told Elena that she may not get approved, and we'll just vacation again in Europe if such is the case, but I'd really like to show her Florida and other parts of the United States.


Has anyone else heard of, or had any experience with this sort of visa request? Anyone have any positive or negative feedback to add to this situtation?

[Gylden]

Chris59'
IMO it shouldn't be a problem for her to get a visa. The permanent residence stamp in her passport will help, as will her job and apartment, assuming she has a decent salary and she has never had any trouble in Norway. The staff at the embassy in Oslo are excellent. She can make an appointment for a specific time on line through the embassy website. Make sure she has renewed her residence stamp in her passport. Many are not aware of the fact that even though her residence is permant, she still has to renew the stamp every other year, with a fresh picture. This is important for both the interview and getting back into Norway after her visit.

My wife was able to get a tourist visa to the US in Oslo.

Feel free to PM me if you want.

Good luck!

Good luck!

[Chris59]

Gylden,

Thank you very much for the response! That's what I was hoping to hear. I figure that her current residency eligibility in Norway would increase the probability of receiving an approval.

To be honest, she's a bit nervous about traveling to America. I think she's been watching too much "Miami CSI". I will leave this decision to her, but I have offered her a free Caribbean cruise to help the decision-making process.

Thanks also for the PM offer,....I'll leave you in peace for now, but may take you up on that at a later date. Thanks also about the "residence stamp" advice. I will see that she is up to date.

Cheers!

Chris

[Blues Fairy]

An invitation letter from a single US guy would probably annihilate any positive effect her Norway residency would produce on a consular officer.  It would be a clear indication of immigration intent.  If she must have an invite letter, she should try to arrange one from a US-based relative or female friend.   

[I/O]

I didnt feel it was humiliating, until i got denied an australian visa for no obvious reason. Embassy dumbasses wrote that ive never been abroad (i guess turkey was annexed by Russia and i missed it?), and that indicated length of my visit (2 weeks) does not correspond with indicated intentions of visit (tourism). *snip*s

I'd really like to read the original application and official response on this one.

[Chris59]

An invitation letter from a single US guy would probably annihilate any positive effect her Norway residency would produce on a consular officer.  It would be a clear indication of immigration intent.  If she must have an invite letter, she should try to arrange one from a US-based relative or female friend.   

She has no US-based relatives or female friends here. If our intentions were to have her immigrate, we'd just file a K-1 instead. I'm not trying to pull the wool over on anybody here. She'd like to visit on holiday for 2-3 weeks. I know the "presumption" is that everybody is intending to immigrate, but such is not the case here. Some people actually have a quality life to return to, once they depart the United States. I'm just hoping that her residency status in Norway is sufficient to show that she has a better life to return to in Norway.

I do appreciate the opinions either way. Who knows, it might just come down the CO him/herself, and what kind of mood they're in.

Whatever the final result holds, will stem from us applying in a 100% honest manner. I'm not going to jeopardize either of our reputations, just to get her a tourist visa. Afterall, she's coming here to  vacation with ME,...so even if there was a relative or female friend, this would not be the most honest approach. We'll live with the consequences, whatever the decision.

[Blues Fairy]

Whatever the final result holds, will stem from us applying in a 100% honest manner. I'm not going to jeopardize either of our reputations, just to get her a tourist visa. Afterall, she's coming here to  vacation with ME,...so even if there was a relative or female friend, this would not be the most honest approach. We'll live with the consequences, whatever the decision.

An invite from a relative will not jeopardize anyone's reputation.  But if you care about the process more than the result, then good luck, do it your way.  Why even ask for advice then. 

[Gylden]

I really don't think it will be a problem for her. I don't want to get into a pissing match with anyone, but it is my experience, from which I make my opinion and not some paranoid belief. Being honest is by all means the Best method.

[Chris59]

An invite from a relative will not jeopardize anyone's reputation.  But if you care about the process more than the result, then good luck, do it your way.  Why even ask for advice then.  

Blues Fairy,....again, she has NO relatives or female friends here.  
There is NO OTHER WAY to do this! We're going to approach the Consul 100% honestly.

My point about jeopardizing a reputation only meant that, what if her relative or female friend invited her (assuming she had one here), and she spent 3 weeks with me instead. If the authorities ever got wind of that, I don't think they would hold us in the highest regards. I am her only friend in America.

If she goes to the interview, and makes no mention of me,...what is the CO going to assume then?

Gylden stated: "I have been told by the consulate that a foreign woman having a relationship with US man is not a reason for rejecting a visa. However, if a young single woman applies for a tourist visa and she is claiming not to be going to the US to see a man and they believe she is not being truthful she will be rejected just because she is suspected of not being truthful."

I agree with this statement completely! I supplied the Invitation Letter to establish the honest reason for her wanting the tourist visa. If we get denied anyway, at least I'll have peace-of-mind knowing we applied honestly and truthfully

[Seeker]

Blues Fairy,....again, she has NO relatives of female friends here. 
There is NO OTHER WAY to do this! We're going to approach the Consul 100% honestly.

My point about jeopardizing a reputation only meant that, what if her relative or female friend invited her (assuming she had one here), and she spend 3 weeks with me instead. If the authorities ever got wind of that, I don't think they would hold us in the highest regards. I am her only friend in America.

If she goes to the interview, and makes no mention of me,...what is the CO going to assume then?

Gylden stated: "I have been told by the consulate that a foreign woman having a relationship with US man is not a reason for rejecting a visa. However, if a young single woman applies for a tourist visa and she is claiming not to be going to the US to see a man and they believe she is not being truthful she will be rejected just because she is suspected of not being truthful."

I agree with this statement completely! I supplied the Invitation Letter to establish the honest reason for her wanting the tourist visa. If we get denied anyway, at least I'll have peace-of-mind knowing we applied honestly and truthfully

I admire your honesty, and agree it is always the best thing to do.  Yes, I may be naive, but there is no guilt or repercussions from being honest.  Things may not work out, but you did it with honor.

That is what I respect.  I hope the best for both of you.

[Faux Pas]

Blues Fairy,....again, she has NO relatives or female friends here.  
There is NO OTHER WAY to do this! We're going to approach the Consul 100% honestly.

My point about jeopardizing a reputation only meant that, what if her relative or female friend invited her (assuming she had one here), and she spent 3 weeks with me instead. If the authorities ever got wind of that, I don't think they would hold us in the highest regards. I am her only friend in America.

If she goes to the interview, and makes no mention of me,...what is the CO going to assume then?

Gylden stated: "I have been told by the consulate that a foreign woman having a relationship with US man is not a reason for rejecting a visa. However, if a young single woman applies for a tourist visa and she is claiming not to be going to the US to see a man and they believe she is not being truthful she will be rejected just because she is suspected of not being truthful."

I agree with this statement completely! I supplied the Invitation Letter to establish the honest reason for her wanting the tourist visa. If we get denied anyway, at least I'll have peace-of-mind knowing we applied honestly and truthfully

I agree with BF. Your are offering too much information and information they will not even ask for if she doesn't choose to disclose it in the first place. She will better her chances of obtaining the tourist visa by not even affiliating herself with you.

Glyden's wife's situation doesn't apply here as she is married to a US citizen, Elena is not. Play the Seeker and your position of complete disclosure and honesty and hold on to that while she gets denied. BF's and my suggestion is not dishonest. Keep the information on a need to know basis. This is US immigration you are dealing with here, not your Parrish Priest.