Tourist Visa and Letter of Invitation to U.S.

[euforia51]

I'm going to open this subject again for some more recent feedback. During my visit to Medellin over Christmas, I talked with my girl about coming to the U.S. for only a visit. She was aware that I can write a letter of invitation for her. Of course, it seems this letter would detrimental to her approval if I was writing as her boyfriend.

While we are serious with taking our relationship as far as possible, it only makes sense that she comes to visit me here in the U.S. before making any further commitments. I asked her if she would want to live here. Of course her answer was yes so long as it is with me. The proof is in the pudding, however because her family ties are very strong; as I mentioned in other threads. I imagine a permanent future with her would mean her visiting her family in Colombia a few times a year and myself making a visit with her at least once a year. But this isn't important now.

I'm looking for some advice from the experts. Is it possible, I could write a convincing letter on her behalf as her boyfriend? Keeping in mind she has a good job, lives in a decent home with her family, has a bank account, and has every intention of leaving the U.S. after her visit here with me? How long would this process take assuming it was even approved?

I want to return to Medellin to visit with her again as soon as possible. But I think it's important for her to also visit here before making a commitment to begin the K-1. All recommendations are appreciated.

[Ray]

Generally, admitting that a single female is going to visit with a male friend (boyfriend) will be a visa killer. Why? Because this category of visitors has a bad record of returning home on time and tends to stay beyond the terms of her visa.

I would advise against any letter explaining that your girlfriend wants to visit you for the reasons you stated. Letters of invitation generally don’t contribute significantly to your chances of approval. The most important documents she can submit will be any evidence of ties showing her intention to return, including financial status, job documentation, etc. She is ultimately expected to qualify on her own merits.

Read here:
 
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/scssd.html

and here:

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/niv-key-points.html

and here:

http://bogota.usembassy.gov/gfaq.html

Ray

[euforia51]

Thank you, Ray. These links look like a good solid foundation as to where to start. As long as she has her paperwork in order, this would be the best she could do. Now let me ask you this, she does not speak English. Do you know if the interview would be conducted in Spanish for her benefit? Or would her not knowing English yet be a potential killer as well?

[Ray]

If she only speaks Spanish then the interview wil be in Spanish.

There is no requirement to speak English for a visa.

[raycjs]

Euforia51

Ray is 100% correct, a very good friend of mine just went through this same process and they approved her Visa, she had the following in her favor, she had a bank account with a few thousand dollars in the account, she had a good job with the same company for the past 6 years, she spoke decent English? not sure if that mattered, she had a letter from her employer giving her 3 weeks vacation, she had a letter from the place she was staying and copies of travel plans form the travel agency. she came to visit my girl friend a few months ago, she had a great time and went back on time. she will come again in the summer.

the number one thing you do not want to do is tell them that you and her are boy friend and girl friend

Good Luck

Ray

[william3rd]

I'm going to open this subject again for some more recent feedback. During my visit to Medellin over Christmas, I talked with my girl about coming to the U.S. for only a visit. She was aware that I can write a letter of invitation for her. Of course, it seems this letter would detrimental to her approval if I was writing as her boyfriend.

I'm looking for some advice from the experts. Is it possible, I could write a convincing letter on her behalf as her boyfriend? Keeping in mind she has a good job, lives in a decent home with her family, has a bank account, and has every intention of leaving the U.S. after her visit here with me? How long would this process take assuming it was even approved?

I want to return to Medellin to visit with her again as soon as possible. But I think it's important for her to also visit here before making a commitment to begin the K-1. All recommendations are appreciated.

Single USC boyfriends are definitely visa killers. There is a likelihood- a strong likelihood- that you two would marrry and just skip the future K visa. She is a likely future immigrant so they must say no to the visa under these facts. What do you have to offset that-your word? Worthless in this context.


Keep in mind that the consulate handles thousands of cases a year. And the burden is on HER to prove her eligibility-not on them to to disprove. Whatever they ask for to prove her case, she must provide. BRING ME THE BROOMSTICK OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST!!!

[jm21-2]

When tehy found out we were BF/GF we fell into that 2.2% refusal rate. Not fun.

[euforia51]

Sounds to me like this is a crapshoot at best and alot of effort to go through for the possibility of being denied with flying to Bogota and waiting in line for hours, etc. I think her fundamentals are solid enough for her to get approved. What I am not sure of is how to front her travel plans and confirm where she would stay if she was here in order to satisfy the requirements for approval, etc.

Letters could be written by someone else, etc. But it seems to me the first question they would ask is who is the family or person she is visiting and how does she know them? Even without a letter, would they not want to know what city she plans to visit and who she knows there?

Thanks, guys!

[william3rd]

Sounds to me like this is a crapshoot at best and alot of effort to go through for the possibility of being denied with flying to Bogota and waiting in line for hours, etc. I think her fundamentals are solid enough for her to get approved. What I am not sure of is how to front her travel plans and confirm where she would stay if she was here in order to satisfy the requirements for approval, etc.

Letters could be written by someone else, etc. But it seems to me the first question they would ask is who is the family or person she is visiting and how does she know them? Even without a letter, would they not want to know what city she plans to visit and who she knows there?

Thanks, guys!

They will want to know everything about her trip. Why the US? Why that city? How long does she want to stay? One common question is- Do you have a boyfriend in the United States?

Negative factors include virgin new passport, no prior foreign travel, how the trip will be funded, the relationship between the applicant and the invitor, the nature of her employment versus the possibility of working illegally, relatives in the US or no relatives in the US (go figure). Age, marital status, motherhood all play into the decision.  Certain profiles are more likely to overstay or work than others. . . . .

On a self funded trip some consulates used to ask for the last year of bank statements to make sure that the money had been saved . . . .

[utopiacowboy]

She needs to tell them she's going to Orlando to visit Disney World. It's the Mecca for Colombians and every Colombian must make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lifetime. They'll understand.

[euforia51]

They will want to know everything about her trip. Why the US? Why that city? How long does she want to stay? One common question is- Do you have a boyfriend in the United States?

Negative factors include virgin new passport, no prior foreign travel, how the trip will be funded, the relationship between the applicant and the invitor, the nature of her employment versus the possibility of working illegally, relatives in the US or no relatives in the US (go figure). Age, marital status, motherhood all play into the decision.  Certain profiles are more likely to overstay or work than others. . . . .

On a self funded trip some consulates used to ask for the last year of bank statements to make sure that the money had been saved . . . .

To me, these points are much greater substantial challenges to overcome than to go with ''the going to Disney World.'' If only life were that easy some times.

How about this angle? Her niece's boyfriend, both living in Colombia, has a visa to visit here. He is a student and also a teacher pursuing his Master's degree. Her niece is trying to get a visa as well so she can come to visit/vacation with her boyfriend. Is it possible, an approval might have a better chance if my girl could travel within the small group of her niece and her niece's boyfriend?

[Ray]

Here’s my opinion on this whole visitor visa for girlfriend/fiancée issue:

If she is convincing and can lie out her teeth during her visa interview, without giving herself away, she may be able to get the visa even though she is from a country where it is virtually impossible for a young single female to get one. Remember also that she will likely need to lie again to the immigration officer when she applies for admission on arrival.

Additionally, she will have to perjure herself by falsifying the visa application that she attests to the accuracy of with her signature.

I know that it would be nice to have your potential mate spend some time with you in your country before you both make the big commitment to marriage, but does that benefit outweigh her character and her honesty? Are you comfortable being married to an accomplished liar and fraud?

If she initiates the visa application and decides to falsify the facts entirely on her own, then that pretty much lets you off the hook legally. If you are involved in the fraud and/or instruct her how to lie on her application and at her interviews, then shame on you!

If you both are completely honest, while presenting a convincing case for her obtaining a visitor visa, then good for you and congratulations if she is approved. If you are denied, like jm21’s fiancée was, at least you can both respect each other and your relationship may very well be strengthened because of it. She might gain a few points for her truthfulness during the interview, even if she loses those points for exposing herself as a potential immigrant.

Based on my personal experience, a visit to your country is not necessary to find out if she will be happy or able to adjust to her new life there. If you are completely honest and take your time, you both will have a real good idea of what to expect when she comes to live here as a fiancée/spouse with the appropriate visa. Be cautious, pay close attention to character issues, and you should do fine.

And don’t blame your government for making it extremely difficult for your female friend to come for a visit. They are only doing their job. The blame for the difficulty in obtaining visitor visas in some countries invariably lies with her countrymen who came before her and cheated the visa process solely for their own selfish benefit.



Ray

[euforia51]

Ray, you are absolutely correct.

Neither her or I have intentions of lying to obtain a visitor visa. I am asking some questions to see if there are ways to stack the odds in our favor by using a letter, etc.

As I stated, her visit would be to see how she might adjust. The climate is different, her way of life would be different than what she is use to, etc. Sure, she would have me as her rock to lean on but is that enough to keep her happy? On paper, it ought to be but only experience can answer that question.

I am planning another visit to see her within a few months. By then, I believe I will know whether or not an engagement is probable and we can begin the K-1 process. And certainly, we do not want to do anything with the government that could put that in jeopardy.

Thanks guys!

[utopiacowboy]

You think I'm kidding. Every member of my wife's family has gotten a tourist visa to the US all on the basis of going to Disney World. It's an obsession with most Colombians. Their lives are not complete unless they can see it at least once.

[jm21-2]

My experience is probably different since she's from a country where tourist visas are likely to be approved (and where soon she will be visa exempt for the EU and Canada), but it was a bad idea for us. Now she and her mom are convinced the immigration officers hate her and our fiance visa is going to have problems. This is causing some pretty major stress and difficulties. I don't think I would have asked her to apply if I had to re-do it. But maybe we were just unlucky.

[Ray]

You think I'm kidding. Every member of my wife's family has gotten a tourist visa to the US all on the basis of going to Disney World. It's an obsession with most Colombians. Their lives are not complete unless they can see it at least once.

Cowboy is absolutely correct, and it isn't just Colombians either.

I strongly recommend that all of you guys out there, who are bringing over a foreign bride, schedule a Disneyland/Disneyworld trip near the top of the list of things to do together soon after she arrives...

You can forget Hawaii, Las Vegas, etc., but don't you dare forget a visit with Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh!   

Ray

[euforia51]

The concept makes sense. OK, how about a real simple scenario spelled out for my case? I've been thinking about this all afternoon.

Girlfriend applies for tourist visa. Why? She wants to see Disney World. OK. She is traveling alone? Yes. For how long? 10 days to 3 weeks. She is traveling alone and roaming around Disney World for 10 days to 3 weeks? Yes.

Do you see where I'm going?

[Ray]

It worked for a guy on the Asian Board...

[thekfc]

Cowboy is absolutely correct, and it isn't just Colombians either.

I strongly recommend that all of you guys out there, who are bringing over a foreign bride, schedule a Disneyland/Disneyworld trip near the top of the list of things to do together soon after she arrives...

You can forget Hawaii, Las Vegas, etc., but don't you dare forget a visit with Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh!   

Ray

Noted & on my list.

I also have a big surprise for Ahya, I am not tell her about it. We will just go out one day & I will take her there - to see the Broadway play "The Lion King".

[Woody]

Noted & on my list.

I also have a big surprise for Ahya, I am not tell her about it. We will just go out one day & I will take her there - to see the Broadway play "The Lion King".

When you do go to Disney World, make sure you hit the Lion King show. It is really good.

[thekfc]

When you do go to Disney World, make sure you hit the Lion King show. It is really good.

I have seen it a few times on Broadway (NYC) both at the old & new Broadway theatre locations. We will be on the mezzanine level at the Minskoff Theatre.
The people in the seats/rows right before me are paying $65 more per ticket than people in my row & rows behind me. The theatre is small & no matter where you sit - you have a good view.