girlfriend wants to visit

[lawman65]

This letter is for you veterans,


My special lady who lives in Odessa, wants to visit me this November. She has a good job there and wants to pay for the trip herself. However, she wants to know from me first before asking her consulate about what   to do and paperwork needed. She  does plan on returning back after her vacation. I know that the laws on visas  to Ukraine have laxed, but what about coming to visit here. Should I offer to pay for the visa and airfare or help?  Any advice to bypass the redtape will be appreciated, Lawman

[BC]

Lawman,

All I can say is that the process of getting a tourist visa for my RU wife to visit the US was no simple walk thru. The interview was quite 'complete' even though it was done here in IT.

If she has her duckies in a row financially with a bunch of documented ties to Ukraine she might have a good shot at it. Any hint that you are helping her out with the trip will probably blow it.

Don't know how a denied tourist visa application could possibly affect a future K1 though.. might not be worth the risk.

She might want to talk to tour operators that regularly set up organized group tours to the US.

[Shadow]

lawman, what I know the main requirement to get tourist visa is a good reason to return. This means she should have her good job to retnr to, her apartment and if present family.

General requirements (from any country in the world) are:

- not posing a threat to public safety or health

- having enough means (money) to make the trip

- having a reason to return

I presume you know her well enough  As for other links, find  the US Embassy in Ukraine for detailes information on what to present and how to obtain. And the USA based members could provide some more info I am sure.

[Bruno]

If you are business owner, maybe you can think about a business invitation ( business visa )... it is a other way not used a lot but possible...

[Michelangelo]

It will also help a lot if she is older....like 35 or so.  Kids at home would be a real winner.

In my early days, I had a number of girls make me this offer to visit me in the USA.   Those were scams...

If you do try for it, use a third party in Urkaine to handle the money part.

But really, a trip to Jamaca would make more sense...

[jb]

lawman65

This may be a silly question, but have you already visited her in Odessa?

[itstime]

[user=235]lawman65[/user] wrote:

This letter is for you veterans,


My special lady who lives in Odessa, wants to visit me this November. She has a good job there and wants to pay for the trip herself. However, she wants to know from me first before asking her consulate about what   to do and paperwork needed. She  does plan on returning back after her vacation. I know that the laws on visas  to Ukraine have laxed, but what about coming to visit here. Should I offer to pay for the visa and airfare or help?  Any advice to bypass the redtape will be appreciated, Lawman

 

You are asking this in the wrong place. The decisions on US tourist visas are made by the US embassy in Kiev and they are done in accordance with US law and with a number of strict regulations. If she is denied a visa, then I believe it is 5 years before she can re-apply. Whether this 5 years applies to K1 or K3 visas is a question for an immigration specialist.

I do know two important facts. One, is that the embassy employees are required, by US law, to assume that every applicant is a criminal who intends to overstay their visa, work illegally in the USA and not return to their home country. They can only issue a visa if all doubt is removed. The second important fact is that there are fraudulent travel agencies operating in all FSU countries. These agencies promise to expedite a visa for a hefty fee (by FSU standards) and virtually guarantee that they will get a visa. They often imply, or tell, their FSU customers that they kave contacts who they can bribe. Since bribing officials is a normal everyday occurence in the FSU, people fall for this scam. Of course, after a month or two, the travel agent disappears and sets up business in a new city under a new name. No visas are ever delivered and the promised plane tickets turn out to have never even been reserved.

Unfortunately, a lot of western men label FSU women as scammers when those women have fallen victim to the fraudulent travel agents.

 

[jb]

itstime wrote:

If she is denied a visa, then I believe it is 5 years before she can re-apply.

This not quite true.  If a non-immigrant has already been to the USA using a "J" visa they will have to wait for 2 years before they can re-enter the USA on a different visa class.  As far as I know that is the only classification of visa that would have a re-entry bar placed on it.  Any non-immigrant who overstays a visa is automatically barred from re-entry.

The rules for application for a tourist (B-2) visa are spelled out very clearly on the Embassy website.

http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_nonimmigrantvisas_eng.html

For tourist visas (B-2):

   1. A letter of invitation explaining the nature of applicant's travel to the U.S. and the nature of the relationship between the inviting party and the applicant is very helpful.

I would suggest you refrain from memtioning that you have a romantic interest in this woman as you write the letter of invitation.  You might go so far as hinting that she is some sort of relative that your family wishes to have come visit an aging great aunt or uncle.  If the C.O. gets the slightest inkling that she might get married while visiting the USA, I'm sure the visa application would be denied out of hand.

Bruno wrote:

If you are business owner, maybe you can think about a business invitation ( business visa )... it is a other way not used a lot but possible...

This is totally wrong, unless you can prove a non-citizen possesses skills not available on the US labor market they have very little chance of getting a business or work visa. Besides, the government has stopped issuing H class visa at this time, regardless of where the applicant is from.  In addition, the fee for a company requesting a visa for a foreign worker is $1,000.00 on top of the usual filing fees and the waiting period is usually over a year.  Unless you are just rolling in money, you might find this a bit steep.



P.S.  I'm still wondering if lawman65 has been to Odessa to visit this woman, or is this just another classic visa/airfare scam.

[Michelangelo]

dear lawman,
as you can see, the US visa is one of the most difficult ones in the world to get.  Better to meet your girl in Ukraine or at some romantic place in another country.  The Delta Airlines website has a tool to show you what counties a girl can vist visa free...

[Bruno]

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1) or for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2). As examples, if the purpose for your planned travel is to consult with business associates, travel for a scientific, educational, professional or business convention, or conference on specific dates, settle an estate, or negotiate a contract, then you would apply for a visitors visa. As additional examples, if the purpose of your planned travel is recreational in nature, including tourism, amusement, visits with friends or relatives, rest, medical treatment, and activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, then you would apply for a vistors visa. The visa allows a foreign citizen, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission of the U.S. immigration inspector to enter the U.S

http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

Since USA have a lot of type of visa, for more information, take a look at :

- http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/visas.htm for all-non immigrants visa ( with link to procedure and info )

- http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/imm_visas.htm for all migrants visa ( with link to procedure and info )

[BC]

Bruno,

Visitors visa to the US B1/B2 and requirements are so similar they seem to be issued together. The visa that was issued to my wife was B1/B2 (both) and she never mentioned business during the interview or on the application.

Sure if there was a nuclear physics conference somewhere in the US and a RU woman nuclear physicist was invited to the conference then her chances might be a bit better than the norm.

Otherwise same old story..

I think our B2 application may have raised eyebrows at the consulate.. we could easily have been a K3 couple that wanted to get around the 'system'.

Our document package was about 3 inches thick substantiating our ties here.

Obviously the consulate folks are quite good at what they do. If the visit is justified and properly documented there likely won't be a problem... Try to get around the 'system' with homebrew tricks and you're in trouble.

[jb]

Bruno,

You didn't read my post,,, I have it on good sources that there will be no more business visas issued, at least this year. They have run out of the quota for the next few months, probably won't start issuing business visas until sometime next April or May.

Take it from me, some of us know a bit more than you can get from a stale website.

[Michelangelo]

No more business visas?

Strange, I have a friend who just got a business visa for his girlfriend.  He kept it removed from himself and placed the requriements really specific....someone who translated the Ukrianian language and had teaching experience in Ukraine.  Naturally, none of the rest of us would have that specific of a business...   He just told me last week, so maybe he got one of the last ones JB speaks of...? Anyway, he was excited about beating the system.  His father is CEO of the business...

[Bruno]

Bruno,

You didn't read my post,,, I have it on good sources that there will be no more business visas issued, at least this year. They have run out of the quota for the next few months, probably won't start issuing business visas until sometime next April or May.

Take it from me, some of us know a bit more than you can get from a stale website.

JB, these stale website are the official website of your gouverment... it is your gouverment who make all the rule and i think that they know own law better that the first citizen you can find...

Yes, i have read your post but it seem that you don't read my post... you mix work visa and business visa... business visa have no quota... no, for the work visa for these year, i have already find some info but not all categorie ( date 05 Aug 2005 ) :

Visa type             quota          approved       pending        Total 

H1-B FY6             58200            22383         29556      51939  

H1-B ADE FY5      20000              9557             822      10379

H1-B ADE FY6      20000              4212           4000       8212

H2-B FY5             35000            12814           3870     16684

H2-B FY6 Half      32000                382                 7         389

(ADE : Advanced degree exemption )

Like you can see, the quota are not already finish !!! But since some specialy know here know better that info from gouverment... it will be the last time i help American man... they can find themself all information on the internet or believe was some write without evidence... Be happy, from now, i reply only to post from European...

[Michelangelo]

But since some specialy know here know better that info from gouverment... it will be the last time i help American man... they can find themself all information on the internet or believe was some write without evidence...

Please, Bruno...please continue to assist us American guys! JB already has his wife and does not need your information like the rest of us do.  JB is also good, perhaps the best, on this issue, but in this case he or his source must be mistaken.  I just talked to my friend again and he confirmed that his girl is coming on a business visa...the US government is still granting these.

The trick is to make the job requirements so specific that an American cannot do the job.  In this case, the publishing company wants to translate American books into the Urkrainan language so they required a native speaker who also had experience teaching in Ukraine.  That did the trick...

So yes, you can still get a business visa.  But really, you would have to have an "in" or contact with a company to do so.  SO my advice to Lawman is to meet his girl somewhere else...[/quote]

[Photo Guy]

... it will be the last time i help American man... they can find themself all information on the internet or believe was some write without evidence... Be happy, from now, i reply only to post from European...

I don't see the logic in that. It does not seem fair.
Doug, another American

[KenC]

it will be the last time i help American man... they can find themself all information on the internet or believe was some write without evidence... Be happy, from now, i reply only to post from European...

You over estimate your importance, like most Europeans.

KenC

[Michelangelo]

No Ken, its we Americans who overestimate our importance....when you travel a lot--and not just in Europe--you see the world in a more accurate context.

We live in the greatest place in the world, but attitudes like this will doom us.

On Labor Day, watch the special on the Roman Empire on TV.  Like the Romans, Americans are not guaranteed forever a place in the sun.

But if we fail and fall, it will be because of our attitudes and becasue we underestimate the rest of the  world...

[Bruno]

But since some specialy know here know better that info from gouverment... it will be the last time i help American man... they can find themself all information on the internet or believe was some write without evidence...

Please, Bruno...please continue to assist us American guys! JB already has his wife and does not need your information like the rest of us do. JB is also good, perhaps the best, on this issue, but in this case he or his source must be mistaken. I just talked to my friend again and he confirmed that his girl is coming on a business visa...the US government is still granting these.

The trick is to make the job requirements so specific that an American cannot do the job. In this case, the publishing company wants to translate American books into the Urkrainan language so they required a native speaker who also had experience teaching in Ukraine. That did the trick...

So yes, you can still get a business visa. But really, you would have to have an "in" or contact with a company to do so. SO my advice to Lawman is to meet his girl somewhere else...[/quote][/quote]
Same you, you don't understand the difference between a work visa ( jobs ) and a business visa...

A example of business visa... Larisa, the girl from TurboGuy is beautician and she ask a business visa for visit a beautician convention in USA...  Of maybe TurboGuy know a friend who have a fabric of beauty product who can invit Larisa to visit the factory...

So business visa is used each day... for international contract, convention, visa, collaboration between business... it is very needed for the system of import / export...

And i say that i stop help American man over visa system... your system is very complicated and ask a lot of time for search info... Since your own gouverment have a several site who explain it, American can read themself the info... theyt just need click a link and read... several are too much lazy to search and it is not my problem... and in anycase, you have a very good forum at VJ for this only...

But over the rest of process, i am always here for help or try help...

Ken, i don't over estimate my importance... it is some people here who over estimate my importance... all i say about American visa is already writen somewhere on the internet... i don't invent something or know something... it only seem that some people have problem for find the info or don't wish use time for search info...

 

[jb]

In the course of my little consulting business, I come in contact with Customs and Immigration officials frequently.  We have a bulk chemical tanker arriving at the Port of Corpus Christi tonight and I will supervise the loading of a fairly explosive material, (Vinyl Cloride) (Thank you, Department of Homeland Security for creating this little business for me.)  I'm sure there will be one of my friends from the BCIS present, since almost all of these ships have foreign crews.  

Whenever I pass on a bit of information like that, it's because I generally got it straight from the horses mouth.  I will clarify my information tonight and pass on what I learn. These agents deal specifically with various work and business visas on a daily basis.  

I have learned not to trust government website information too much. In my experience, those sites are not maintained with a lot of dedication and accuracy.  Even though, whether or not, there are unfilled quotas for business or worker visas won't affect 1% of this boards readership in any case, I'll see what the real experts say about it tonight.

[Michelangelo]

 I will clarify my information tonight and pass on what I learn. These agents deal specifically with various work and business visas on a daily basis.  .

Thanks, JB.  But I agree--this type of visa is too specific and hard to obtain for the guy who simply wants to have a vacation with his girl in the US.  

To get the work visa I mentioned earlier would be overkill--like shooting one of your Texas armadillos with a cruse missle instead of with a shotgun.

[Michelangelo]

...you don't understand the difference between a work visa ( jobs ) and a business visa...

You are correct.  I just knew the business firm had applied for it so I assumed it was a business visa.  Thanks for the correct name

[jb]

A business or work visa would, IMHO, be the worst possible route to take to spend a few vacation days with a g/f. As BC wrote:

Sure if there was a nuclear physics conference somewhere in the US and a RU woman nuclear physicist was invited to the conference then her chances might be a bit better than the norm.

That invitation would have to come from the Conference officials, not from a b/f.  This little story strikes very close to home because the first two times my wife visited the USA, it was because she is a physicist and was invited to lecture at two different northeastern Universities.  But, IIRC, those invitatons were pending for over a year before the visa were granted.

In the long run, it's just a lot easier for the man to get on a plane and fly to her country for the visit.

[Michelangelo]

Sure if there was a nuclear physics conference somewhere in the US and a RU woman nuclear physicist was invited to the conference then her chances might be a bit better than the norm.

That invitation would have to come from the Conference officials, not from a b/f.  
In the long run, it's just a lot easier for the man to get on a plane and fly to her country for the visit.[/quote]Right, in the case I mentioned, the business applied for the work visa and the bf had nothing to do with it.  Plus, it was legit--the company really wanted to try their product in that market and the girl could do the work.  That gives the bf an extended time, beyond the K-1 90 days, to get to know the girl.  But as JB says, if you just want to see your gf, get on a plane and fly to her...

[Bruno]

JB, you fresh information will be welcome...

Now, a work visa is a hell... but the business visa is almost the same that a tourist visa... only in these case, it is a American business who give the garanty...

I think that some people here are owner of own business like Turboguy... we don't listen a lot from him since his lady is in USA... somebody know if he is always living .

About visa, i don't like close door... you have the usual way but in anycase, other are possible... i know a Belgium man who have use a student visa for her lady... she ( 30 y.o. ) have follow course for interpreter Dutch-Russian in the university in Belgium with a student visa... he have marry her at the end of her two year university...

Now, why i have speak about business visa !!! From the 21 Augustus to the 4 september, 11 young woman from several country ( 3 from ex-USSR ) have visit Belgium with a business visa... they was invited by "natuur punt", a organisation who help to protect nature... they have follow some course and make practice in our wood... The russian woman  ( Olga from Novogorov, 19 y.o. ) and the yougoslave one have find a boy-friend during these stay in Belgium...

Of course, a European business visa is not a American one... but he exist too...

EDIT : in my case, the first trip in November for Larisa will be in Belgium, she visit me... she will see the country before take the decision to follow our relation or not... i think that it is interesting for a woman to see her potential place of future life before begin heavy administrative procedure... and so, she is able to see how you life really...