Tourist visa

[Ruemonst 0]

Hi,

I was thinking of trying to bring my fiance to America

with a tourist visa. Instead of going to Russia again or meeting in another country.

She has a 5 year old son, who I would like to bring also. She owns her apartment

and has a little business.

What are your experiences with a tourist visa for a Russian citizen?

What advice do you have to get this visa approved?

Thank you,

Ed

[Isaac and Hilda 0]

Regardless of country, people visiting the United States on tourist visa have to prove to the consulate/embassy that they have ties in their home countries that will compel them to go back.

Owning an apartment and business is good enough. The only trick here is that she is coming to visit her fiance. That might cause suspicion but at the same time she has to tell the truth!!! They might think she's coming here to get married.

I understand you want her to bring the 5 year old son, BUT having him staying behind in Russia would increase her chances of getting the visa.......simply because HIM would be one of the reasons she'll go back home.

Good luck and hope my little knowledge will be of help!!

[baron555 934]

Hi,

I was thinking of trying to bring my fiance to America

with a tourist visa. Instead of going to Russia again or meeting in another country.

She has a 5 year old son, who I would like to bring also. She owns her apartment

and has a little business.

What are your experiences with a tourist visa for a Russian citizen?

What advice do you have to get this visa approved?

Thank you,

Ed

I don't really understand. You have your NOA2 and within two to three months she'll have her interview and then can immediately come over, for hopefully forever. Why even bother at this point in the process?

There's a 50-50 chance she will get it or she will not. I'd vote that the consulate will say the same thing as I did earlier, why bother now, just wait for the K-1.

[slim 1,523]

A tourist visa is basically "a shot in the dark."

It's her money (or yours) so if you don't mind gambling with it, go ahead and file for one. The worst they can do is say no. Recently, it seems like the embassy has been issuing a lot more visas than they did before so your chances of getting one for her/them are not bad. 50/50 as baron555 said is probably about right. We've recently had folks on here who've brought their fiancee over on tourists visa but, then again, they'd been here before.

As Isaac and Hilda said, leaving her son behind would probably increase the chances of getting the visa but, then again, it may not.

Personally, I'm with baron555 on this. If you have NOA2 already, I would suggest waiting it out. You're only talking a few months and for the thousands of dollars she'd spend getting here, you could do a lot after her arrival.

If it's just a situation of missing each other and wanting to see each other again, there's always the third country option where you could meet in Egypt or Turkey or Dominican Republic or something like that where she doesn't need a visa. I hear Thailand is really nice. As my homeboy JG Wentorth likes to say, "it's your money, use it when you need it."

[SMR 368]

Hi,

I was thinking of trying to bring my fiance to America

with a tourist visa. Instead of going to Russia again or meeting in another country.

She has a 5 year old son, who I would like to bring also. She owns her apartment

and has a little business.

What are your experiences with a tourist visa for a Russian citizen?

What advice do you have to get this visa approved?

Thank you,

Ed

My wife visited me in the US while we were waiting for a K-1 but she had a B visa before we applied for K-1. She got a lot of ####### at POE but they let her in. I would suspect that it would be very difficult to get a visitor visa while waiting for a K-1.

The problem is, you have to prove that you are not intending to immigrate in order to get a B visa. You have to prove that you are intending to immigrate to get a K visa. While it's not a direct contradiction since you can assert that you plan to immigrate only upon receipt of the K visa, it still is a little complicated, to say the least.

As has been said, give it a try if you're not worried about losing the money. Remember, though, that if your fiancee has applied for a K visa, she's already stated her intention to leave her apartment and business (unless the business is mobile in which case it doesn't help her case for ties to the country anyways). Her son does provide something if she leaves him behind since I assume you have applied for a K visa for him, too. If she leaves without him and doesn't wait for the K visa his case will become complicated. So leaving him behind will be a reason for her to come back. But you have stated that you want to take him with you.

To be honest, 50/50 may be a good rule of thumb for a random Russian but I give your fiancee a lot less of a chance. I'm not a mind-reader, government hack, or lawyer so take that for what it's worth.

[1HappyGuy 45]

It seems that you are so close to being completed, that getting the visitor visa looks to be a waste of time and money. Use your resources in a more judicious way and be patient. Everyone here has been through the hardship of waiting. A few more months and they will both be with you for good.

Think of ways you can spend that same money on them, when they arrive. After all, you don't want to turn her into a spoiled American wife.

[baron555 934]

It seems that you are so close to being completed, that getting the visitor visa looks to be a waste of time and money. Use your resources in a more judicious way and be patient. Everyone here has been through the hardship of waiting. A few more months and they will both be with you for good.

Think of ways you can spend that same money on them, when they arrive. After all, you don't want to turn her into a spoiled American wife.

Actually.....looking closera at the OP's timeline, I see that they did receive their NOA2, but back in July of 2009.

So what's the deal with that? If they are stuck in AP for some reason then I can see their wanting to get together.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Hey, My wife had a tourist visa before we filed for her K-1. She came back to visit me during the adjudication of our petition she had no problems getting past the CBP. I wish I could say that it is that is that easy for everyone, but like others have said it's a 50/50 shot in the dark. If you have the money go for it, just be prepared and bring lots of evidence that your S/O absolutely has to return to Russia for the tourist visa interview.

Best of luck to you.

And a quick "Sup" to the RUB forum ppl.

[Ruemonst 0]

Here is the situation. My fiance had her interview in November.

The embassy requested more documentation. Financial, proof of relationship

etc.

In the meantime, my fiance needed her passport. She had to go to Germany

for business. The embassy sent the passport back to her. Then sent our entire

package back to USCIS for review.

We don't know where we are now. USCIS said if we haven't received information

after 120 days to call back. It is way past 120 days. Now another 60 day wait

before they want me to call again.

Thanks,

Ed

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Here is the situation. My fiance had her interview in November.

The embassy requested more documentation. Financial, proof of relationship

etc.

In the meantime, my fiance needed her passport. She had to go to Germany

for business. The embassy sent the passport back to her. Then sent our entire

package back to USCIS for review.

We don't know where we are now. USCIS said if we haven't received information

after 120 days to call back. It is way past 120 days. Now another 60 day wait

before they want me to call again.

Thanks,

Ed

Hey, I think you need one of the resident vets of the RUB forum to help you. I think you need to do some serious stuff to make sure you petition doesn't get denied and you start all over. I think you are supposed to try to keep your petition at the embassy before they send it back (if you can). I'm not the expert on this but some of the other guys/gals can help. I would try posting your situation in one of the other forums asap. I wouldn't worry about the tourist visa right now, instead get more help with your k-1. Best of luck.

[Neonred 3,551]

Just read about your K-1 petition being sent back. You need to get working on that. Seeing what is going on with the K-1, I don't see much hope for approval of a tourist visa. Of course they will think you are trying to get around further delays by using the tourist visa for them to immigrate. You could try, but no one should be surprised if it is denied.

[Turboguy 6]

I have to agree with everyone. Based on the circumstances you describe I would say the chances of a tourist visa being issued are close to zero. If you want to spend some time together there are lots of good choices of places she can go to easily. We were in A/R for a long time and spent the summer in Granada and Barbados while we waited. Good luck,

[slim 1,523]

And a quick "Sup" to the RUB forum ppl.

Good to see you on here again, Chris. Married life treating you well?

Seeing what is going on with the K-1, I don't see much hope for approval of a tourist visa.

I'm with Neonred and Turboguy on this. Chances of a tourist visa being issued are slim to none. You should probably contact a congressman or senator or someone like that to look into this. It's odd that your case would be sent back to USCIS. A/R can take a long time but it's typically not "kicked back" during that time. Have someone check it out.

As TG suggested, go to a third country for a visit. If she's able to travel to Germany, that'd be an easy place for you to go too.

[1HappyGuy 45]

That makes a big difference. If your file is back in the wasteland called USCIS god help you.

Go for the visitor visa.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Good to see you on here again, Chris. Married life treating you well?

Been pretty damn good. If your ever back down in the dirty, dirty hit me up and we'll grab a pop downtown.