Indians: Your Experiences with Tourist Visas to the U.S.?

[Rohini 0]

I am interested in knowing how many of you were denied or approved a tourist visa from India to the U.S.? What were the reasons you were approved/denied? What was your experience like?

The reason I am interested is, my fiance was denied a tourist visa last month, and they didn't even look at his documents! They told him to try again in the future... Tell me is that even going to be worth trying for? Here are a few quick facts: He has no relatives living in the U.S., he owns a business, and will soon be owning his own property (house+land). We would like to try again- but don't want to waste time and money either.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Can we include family members wishing to visit?

OK, my MIL was denied a tourist visa in November 2006 after applying for a visa interview--due to not having the supporting documents. Pras' (oldest) brother phoned her to tell about the interview ONLY TWO DAYS prior--you try getting the docs to US consulate in that time (DHL takes longer than that to deliver US to India). We've made the second and 2 ¹/₂th attempts this year.

This time we inititally received the phone call about the interview about a fortnight prior, and priority-mailed the docs over. Even by three days prior, docs had not arrived in Chennai, so we cancelled the interview, and sent another set by DHL. The DHL set arrived, and we later found out that the mailed docs had never left US shores (they were returned without explanation a fortnight AFTER the cancelled interview). MIL has a new interview appointment next week.

[catknit 144]

My fiance wasn't able to get a tourist visa about a year ago, the reason was not strong enough ties back to India. Had I done more research I would have broached the paperwork, timings, and itinerary differently. Not sure that would have helped but I would have gone about it smarter.

On the other hand, one of my NRI friend's mom easily got a tourist visa. His father was denied because he misunderstood a question and contradicted himself. The question was something to the affect of "Do you have relatives in the US?" and he answered no. When asked who he was going to visit he responded "My sons." My friend's father thought that relatives meant family members other than immediate family [cousins, uncles, aunts etc] - that sons don't count as relatives. He was immediately denied.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Update: my MIL got the visa today!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Update: my MIL got the visa today!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Update: my MIL got the visa today!

[Ravi_Beth 0]

Very easy to get a tourist visa, atleast in my case, got a 10 year B1/B2 stamp.

Reason has to be valid, i got a invite letter to attend a wedding in USA and that was it.....moreover if you can get I-134 affidavit signed by the person in USA adds additional value to your application.

Be very frank and give them care for nothing attitude...gets you a visa pretty easily, sounds amusing but its the fact.

Ravi_Beth