Visa questions

[Milz713]

Hey guys!  I am totally new here and I have a few questions if you don't mind..   I was introduced to a Russian woman via the internet back in July through a friend of a friend and after close to 4 months of daily email and Skye I flew to Moscow.  I was there for 9 days in November and we really hit it off very well.  We decided that it would be good for her to come to the USA to see where I live and then we will decide if maybe we want to take the next step.  I know it sounds all great and wonderfull but here is where the problem lies,,  she is a divorced single mother and we don't want to go for the fiancee visa right off the bat because she wont be bringing her young child with on this visit so she will have to return to Russia no matter what we decide.  I thought that the simple tourist visa would be the best because she has a good job, child still in Russia and she is 1/4 owner listed on the deed to their family flat.  I feel like telling the  100% truth about what we want to do would be the best thing?  We have met in person and can verify it with photos, tickets, emails etc. but would any of that make any difference or should she never mention anything about our future plans to marry if we decide that is what we both want?  No matter what she only wants to come to visit for a couple of weeks to see if she thinks she can fit into American culture and be happy.  The company she works for has a office and manufacturing plant in America and she suggested maybe talking to her boss about applying for a business visa since she has been issued a visa for Italy in the past for business.  Any suggestions are appreciated,  thanks....

[ECOCKS]

Do a search of the forum on US Visas and read through the advice, comments and stories.

You might also check on visa journey for information.

[Faux Pas]

Seems she has a couple of options available to her. Tourist visas are being issued at the current time without a lot of fanfare or the strictest (as in the past) guidelines.

The business visa if she qualifies would likely be the quickest route. I don't know what those qualifications are. You would do well to as ECOCKS mentions and read up on these over at visajourney. It sounds like either may be doable especially if she meets the qualifications to return. You can get some general information on the forum but for more specific information to your (or her) situation it is best to refer to the USCIS website or visajourney.

Good luck and let us know how it works out

[tfcrew]

The K1 visa is not intended to be set up like some  shotgun wedding.
A couple can back out of this.
This is why you get a round trip for her to fly here and for the xtra $150* or so she has a way to get back legally.
Then later if you both wish to file for another 129F petition?...smokin'
This really happens from time to time. Children being the primary consideration

 *The difference between one way and round trip is about that..$150

[BillyB]

  I feel like telling the  100% truth about what we want to do would be the best thing? 

If you feel like telling the truth, then your lady isn't going to get a tourist visa. A tourist visa is not designed for foreign women to come to America and see if she can adapt to this culture and live with him. It is designed for her to come here and spend her own(not your) money to boost our economy.

So you and her will have to lie about the reason she want's to apply for a tourist visa. Now if she applies for the tourist visa and is denied, you go to plan B which is whatever you two want it to be. Maybe visit her one more time and/or do a k-1 or k-3. But.... because she was recently denied a visa to America, you must state that on your application and it looks bad and hurts her chances in getting another visa. If you were a RW interviewer and she was recently denied a tourist visa and then a few months later an American man applies for her a k-1/k-3, wouldn't you be suspicious that the RW is trying to get to America for insincere reasons?

[Vaughn]

So you and her will have to lie about the reason she want's to apply for a tourist visa.

That's a bit harsh. They like one another, yes, but as Milz713 stated:

We decided that it would be good for her to come to the USA to see where I live....

Seeing where he lives could include absorbing the local culture, meeting new friends, hearing the American English as
spoken by a variety of locals, observing local customs and celebrations, going to the County Fair, and perhaps serving
as a guest speaker for the high school's Russian language class. Seems odd that since there's even a hint of romantic
interest that they should be tried and hung for insincerity from the get-go, especially in light of the many cases where
a K-1 is used as a "trial basis" vehicle or a simple entrance card when there was no romantic interest to begin with.

I would say that this couple appears to be exploring a possible future in a most intelligent way. Yet I also agree with
BillyB in that 100% honesty (for example, in answering Q. 27 on DS-156,  "The purpose of my trip is to see if there might
be a future with this certain fellow in his hometown") would not be advisable strategy. Where BillyB and I differ is
that I don't define < 100% as an outright lie where matters of the heart are concerned.

     

[I/O]

"Honesty" and "Disclosure" are being confused here. Telling the "bastards" nothing and taking them nowhere is not dishonest.

[BillyB]

That's a bit harsh. They like one another

 Where BillyB and I differ is
that I don't define < 100% as an outright lie where matters of the heart are concerned.

Harsh but it's the truth that Milz should hear. Nobody warned Milz about the interview his lady has to go through and if he and she wanted to be truthful at that interview that she will meet an American man she has a romantic interest in and he's paying for her trip, she will be denied a visa.

Our government didn't design the tourist visa and k-1 to be used as a trial basis for people to learn if they can live their life together. How many times have people chastised others for saying they want to use a k-1 as a trial period? Two people doing a k-1 needed to have already made up their mind. Personally I wish our government allowed the k-1 to be used as a trial period for people to get to know each other better and to figure out if a foreign finacee/fiance can adapt to a life here.

Milz can Google "tourist visa interview questions" and he'll find some of the questions interviewers ask and mistakes people make at the interview. Interviews are well trained, smart, experienced and know how to ask questions to get the facts or catch lies. If Milz lives in NY, Las Vegas or near Disneyland, she has a good reason to apply for a tourist visa. If Milz lives in small town USA of a few thousand people, site seeing is a bad reason for the tourist visa. She definately needs to tell them she's visiting a friend.

http://www.immihelp.com/visitor-visa/visitor-visa-interview-guide.html

http://www.path2usa.com/visitor-visa-guide/visa-interview

http://www.path2usa.com/top-10-mistakes-at-visa-interviews

6 pages of different type of interview questions below.

http://www.path2usa.com/us-visa-interview-questions

Milz, The interview can ask questions politely or even hammer your lady to shake her up.

I've dated a few local RW who came here on tourist visas. Some had an easy time getting it because they visited Europe previously and went back home. That behavior is good news for the interviewer.

[Chicagoguy]

I think the Business Visa would be the quickest and easiest.

What you don't want is a denial marked on her passport so don't play games.

[GQBlues]

Milz-

IIWY, I wouldn't make this anymore complicated than it needs to be. She's got all the qualifying ties back home that would normally give her a better than a good chance to acquire a tourist visa e.g. child, property, previous travel itinerary, good job, age (? I'm assuming she's of relatively advanced age - dunno) etc...She doesn't even need to mention you.

Of course, and unless the company she works for sees the opportunity to send and sponsor her to be shipped abroad, then you simply can't beat a business visa, maybe even a H1-B1 with full sponsorship.

[Turboguy]

Tourist visa's are much easier to get than they used to be and the fact she would be leaving a young child behind would be a big plus.  It wouldn't be a lie to say she wanted to visit a friend and do some sightseeing. 

Since she doesn't intend to say on this trip even if they do hit it off a fiancee visa would be a bad move.  Of course it also takes much longer and is more expensive.   Applying for a business visa would be telling a lie and might be hard to justify. 

The cost for a tourist visa is reasonable and she would most likely be able to get a 2 year mulit entry visa which would be really good.

[ECOCKS]

Individual circumstances are always the determining factor for a visa decision but you really need to get a handle on reality here. Within the last two weeks we had a guy in the chat room complaining that he believed the forum advice that tourist visas were not that big a challenge anymore. His gal went through a 4 minute interview, received a denial slip and no sympathy when he called up the embassy complaining. We advised him to write up his experience for the forum since there is a difference of opinion on this issue, but he was so upset he wasn't in the mood to do so.

Don't let what you want to hear cloud your judgment on this. Research and make a carefully considered decision on this question. Most agree that you will need 2-3 trips with the right girl anyway so use those on the front end as you build a relationship, meet the family and learn about her culture and background, all of which will stand the test if you proceed to the K-1/3 visa process.

[wicheese]

Individual circumstances are always the determining factor for a visa decision but you really need to get a handle on reality here.

This is the truth as all the FSUW I know were approved, but they all had a lot of things in common, with these being lots of travel experience in the EU, good jobs with known companies and official incomes close to western levels, owned outright apartments and cars.  If the lady is in a similar situation then I think her chances go getting approved is good, but be honest with her situation as each case is judged individually. 

BTW, the reason  used for wanting to visit the USA was "shopping" which is the truth as they did do some shopping and not a word about visiting a boyfriend.

[GQBlues]

This is the truth as all the FSUW I know were approved, but they all had a lot of things in common, with these being lots of travel experience in the EU, good jobs with known companies and official incomes close to western levels, owned outright apartments and cars.  If the lady is in a similar situation then I think her chances go getting approved is good, but be honest with her situation as each case is judged individually. 

BTW, the reason  used for wanting to visit the USA was "shopping" which is the truth as they did do some shopping and not a word about visiting a boyfriend.

Same experiences with me. There are qualifications that need to be met, and if so, not much of chance to be denied. There will be circumstances that may prove to be incriminating and defer from the norm, but those I believe is where subjectivity occurs.

[Manny]

BTW, the reason  used for wanting to visit the USA was "shopping" which is the truth as they did do some shopping and not a word about visiting a boyfriend.

That's an excellent reason! "Shopping" demonstrates disposable income. The US (as with most countries) likes you to leave some money behind.

I know from personal experience that all tourist visa applicants to the US are "intending immigrants". They even write that on the forms! Give them the slightest reason to think she may not go home and they will err on the side of caution.

[Al_C]

My money is on the business visa.  If you go the tourist visa route, she should assert some career or cultural oriented experience that she wants from seeing America.  She needs to keep you out of it because that will trigger a major fire alarm in the visa office.

As long as she doesn't mention you, her chances of getting it are quite good, especially with property ownership, a family, her own child and a good job back in Russia together with a history of responsible international travel.

[Gylden]

Tourist visa's are much easier to get than they used to be and the fact she would be leaving a young child behind would be a big plus.  It wouldn't be a lie to say she wanted to visit a friend and do some sightseeing. 

Since she doesn't intend to say on this trip even if they do hit it off a fiancee visa would be a bad move.  Of course it also takes much longer and is more expensive.  Applying for a business visa would be telling a lie and might be hard to justify. 

The cost for a tourist visa is reasonable and she would most likely be able to get a 2 year mulit entry visa which would be really good.

I agree 100% with Turboguy


Don't worry about being denied either there is no such thing as a denial mark in the passport and one can reapply if it is denied, please read the information at the following link:   http://www.usavisitorvisa.com/visitorvisa/us_visa_denial.htm

[viking]

I agree 100% with Turboguy


Don't worry about being denied either there is no such thing as a denial mark in the passport and one can reapply if it is denied, please read the information at the following link:   http://www.usavisitorvisa.com/visitorvisa/us_visa_denial.htm

True. Nothing is in your passport, BUT..embassies do keep track of applications and approvals and denials. It is in the system. So you really do want to make the best effort and do it right the first time around. Does sound like she has a good shot at a tourist visa.

[ECOCKS]

This is true V. Another instance where people only hear. see what they wish. Denials still happen. Frequently in Ukraine and the story last week was out of StP.

[Milz713]

Thanks for your suggestions,  there seem to be some rather strong opinions on this subject I have noticed..   I think the best bet will be if her company will agree to help her with a business visa but if they refuse she still has a good chance with the tourist visa.  I also have a relative who is married to a Russian woman that has been here for quite some time and she has agreed to write a invitation letter and let her use there address as her destination.  I live about 90 miles East of Chicago very close to Lake Michigan so there are plenty of reasons for anyone to come and visit from anywhere in the world I guess.  Thanks for all of the links and information and I am sure it will all help in some shape or form to get her prepared for the interview...  Rob

[johnichka]

As stated by others up thread, each circumstance is different.  My wife's sister lives in Western Ukraine.  Wanted to visit us in Chicago.
Sister owns house in Zaricha, Western Poland.  She speaks fluent English and works as a English Teacher and Translator at the University in Chernivtsy.  Sister is 28 years old

She had her boss draft a letter stating how much money she made from teaching, how long she had worked, how she had to be back from USA by x date for a new semester.  Sister had bank documents showing a good sum of money in a bank.  She had an "invitation" letter from me to the Embassy stating that I would be with her in the US and would be sure that she does in fact return.  Everything was all set.

She takes overnight train to Kiev for about 9 hours.  Gets to the Embassy for her AM appointment.  Gets to Officer.
Officer asks for passport, flips through passport, then says "You have never been out of Ukraine?"  Sister states "No"
Officer says "Not even to Poland?"  (Poland is about a three to four hour drive from Chernivtsy.)  Officer hands back passport and says "Denied".  Sister says "Don't you want to look at all my documentation of my bank account, my property records?"  Officer says "Denied"  The whole thing was over in about 20 seconds.  So, yes, each circumstance is different.  She lacked travel experience outside Ukraine.
It was not a fun 30 hour ordeal for her..............

[Milz713]

The only thing I am really worried about is her travel experience.  She just went to Italy without a problem with a business visa and I think she has been to Czechoslovakia but that is it.  I hope it is enough..

[Jumper]

Good Luck Rob..

and FWIW i live in the same general area..
a little closer to Chicago than you though.

[Faux Pas]

The only thing I am really worried about is her travel experience.  She just went to Italy without a problem with a business visa and I think she has been to Czechoslovakia but that is it.  I hope it is enough..

Thats likely enough travel experience. As I understand it they just need enough history to show they have traveled east  and returned. That only takes one trip.

[BC]

As long as she is not requesting a visa with intent to overstay or immigrate (which seems to be the truth) there should not be a problem justifying the trip in minimalistic terms.  She wants to see some sights, visit her company's stateside operation and see some friends along the way.

Sure, she should not lie, but instead do like lawyers do and state as little as possible to get the job done.  TMI just gives more reasons to dig.

A documented job - great, take along your tax/employment paperwork. Employers tatement allowing vacation that shows duration.
Enough funds to support the trip - a necessity, copy of credit card, bank statements.
An invitation from the US affiliated company - great if possible.
Some information about the place she wants to see as tourist is good, pamphlet, printouts from internet.
Having a dependent remain at home is good grounds that one will return. Residency paperwork showing child lives with her.
Owning some property also good.
Get one of those those worldwide travel insurance vouchers, costs only a few rubles but can help make the impression that one is prepared and will not become a burden if something happens.

KISS Keep it simple and to the point without any fluff.

Stick to the basics, provide documentation to support the facts and all should work out well.