How to get a tourist visa

[Hamlet]

All,

I invited a friend from Nicaragua to visit me in the US.  She is coming primarily for business reasons, to study and to practice her English.

I need help in characterizing responses to the "Solocitud de visa de no Inmigrante," she emailed me, which I assume is an application for a tourist visa.

She has three children in Nicaragua and an interest in a corporation that owns some real estate.  I am thinking that this will help show that she is not a flight risk, but I see nowhere on the form that she can disclose this.  Is this covered in standard interview questions?

Should she disclose that she is coming here to study or would it be better to leave it that she is a tourist?

Should she pay her own costs of travel or should I (this is a question)?  Which will look better?

Hamlet

[Pete E]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Its almost impossible to get a tourist visa out of Colombia,I would think Nicaragua would be about the same.Her best bet is probably if she can document a business purpose for the trip.We tried that with my brother in law ,had letters written,but no go.
You see these long lines of Colombians at the US Embassy in Bogota,all dressed to the hilt.I think 99%+ get turned down.My brother in law was told "I'm sorry,but we have been told not to issue tourist visas".My other brother in law is going next month.He has the proverbial snowballs chance but hope springs eternal.I think he is praying alot and hoping for devine intervention.
Does anybody here know of anybody getting a tourist visa out of Colombia or Nicaragua in the last year?I think its been tough for 2-3 years but much more so the last year.

Pete

[Kit]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Here are some point on US visas:

"Should she disclose that she is coming here to study or would it be better to leave it that she is a tourist?"

Apples and oranges. Tourist visa has a classification B1/B2 whereas student visa is F1. If she comes as a student (even for a couple of weeks of classes) she must submit application for F1 visa AFTER educational facility in US receives INS approval for her to come, which in its turn can only be obtained after payment arrangements are sorted out. A lengthy process. Also for F1 (student) visa she would have to demonstrate sufficient income. So she must decide ahead of time if she wants to come as a tourist or a student. Being a tourist assumes some kind of itinarary (excluding studing and working). If applying as a tourist she must avoid at all costs even mentioning studying or working in states. Also avoid mentioning boyfriends in US.

"She has three children in Nicaragua and an interest in a corporation that owns some real estate"

She must bring all the documents that demonstrate substantial ties to her home country as a warrant that she returns. Those are simply attached to the application.

"Should she disclose that she is coming here to study or would it be better to leave it that she is a tourist?"

Tourist visa (B1/B2) is definitely the best bet in terms of timing. Student visa will require approval from INS.

"Should she pay her own costs of travel or should I (this is a question)? Which will look better?"

She better be furnishing her own, especially if she presents interests in corporations in her country. If you are sponsoring her will attest to the fact that she has no money and therefore more likely to stay past the due date and/or engage in illegal work in US.

Also keep in mind that it is entirely up to the descretion of INS officer in her country to decide on wether or not to grant a visa.

[mck]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Sometimes they ask several questions, sometimes none at all. It all depends on the interviewr

[robbysanjuan]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Hamlet,
Aren't you a lawyer? I would touch base with one of your buddies that specializes in immagration& naturalzation law. They will know the ins and outs, and at least you know you'll be getting 100% sound advice. I am sure after the 9/11, things are a lot more tighter.

[robbysanjuan]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Hmalet,
Aren't you a lawyer? I would touch base with one of your buddies that specializes in immagration& naturalzation law. They will know the ins and outs, and at least you know you'll be getting 100% sound advice. I am sure after the 9/11, things are a lot more tighter.

[Jeff S]

... in response to How to get a tourist visa, posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Any hint that she's meeting a boyfriend or that she's doing anything other than the visa's primary objective (i.e. going to school on a tourist visa) will probably get her immediately rejected. Have her stick with the tourist intentions and don't mention any relatives or good friends in the US. There are business visas, that may be even easier to get than tourist visas, depending on her situation. It really doesn't matter who acually purchases the tickets since you probably won't buy them until after the visa is issued, but she should be able to show that SHE has the wherewithall to afford the international travel, otherwise it would be a big red flag to the embassy.

-- Jeff S.

[Hamlet]

... in response to Re: How to get a tourist visa, posted by Jeff S on Aug 17, 2002

Jeff,

So are you saying it is okay for her to go to school on a tourist visa?

Hamlet

[Pete E]

... in response to So going to school on tourist visa is OK..., posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Just joking.

[mck]

... in response to So going to school on tourist visa is OK..., posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

for simple esl classes no problem

[Jeff S]

... in response to So going to school on tourist visa is OK..., posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

What she does when she gets here is not the issue. Telling the interviewer in the embassy that her intention to attend school on a tourist visa will probably get the visa rejected. That's what student visas are for. Telling them that she's planning to "improve" or "practice" her english to improve her job skills while on vacation shouldn't matter. They're suspicious of anything fraudulent.
- Jeff S.

[Red Clay]

... in response to So going to school on tourist visa is OK..., posted by Hamlet on Aug 17, 2002

Actually it is not ok, but I think it is the INS and not the school that cares in some cases. For example, I know people who came on a tourist visa and took some ESL classes while they were here at a high school that offered adult education programs.