Two B1\B2 denials, success strategy and GC lottery

[galephys 12]

An old friend of mine wanted to visit, and I wrote him an invitation with a detailed plan of activities and so on I am on GC here and I already wrote email invitations to my friends and family and never had problems.

My friend is a scientist, PhD, teaches several classes, head of the department in the university and so on. He also has a second carrier as a performer, his band is quiet popular in my hometown - they got concerts scheduled few months in advance. He is young, divorced and has a son in Russia, got some property, but not much. To me looks like a good case, why not let him spend a vacation here? But he never went outside the country before - clean passport. So he got denied and advised to go somewhere else first.The officer didn't even look at any of the supporting documents! Saw his passport and denied! Argh!

Few weeks later he got an invitation to a conference in my area and applied again, brought his outstanding resume, long list of publications and all stuff. Denied. No explanation, no reason, not even a slightest look at his papers - nothing. Just no. Annoying.

He still wants to come here for both science and pleasure, so one more try, maybe he'll get lucky.

He'll go to Spain this Winter, maybe somewhere else... I think he needs to get at least 2 other visas before re-applying. But this is the only thing I can think of besides supporting documents, and as I see, officers don't care about them.

Any advice?

Also, if he enters DV lottery, it's not considered an immigration application unless he wins, right? If he enters, nothing will change in the way he files a B1\B2 application, and will not be know to the consulate and will not affect his ability to get a tourist visa. Unless he wins again, but that's a different story. Am I correct?

(omg, I'm wordy!)

Thanks!

[Inky 1,111]

Yes they will know he applied for the GC lottery. Yes it will probably make it harder to get a visitor visa showing he has immigration intent now since applying for GC lottery.

[aaydrian 479]

Your story has 'immigration' intent written all over it. If I were the interviewing officer I would deny this applicant every single time. If your friend truly wants to only visit and so improve his chances of getting a B2 visa then tell him to wait 5-10yrs before reapplying, go get married, have 2 more kids and travel to other parts of the world then reapply with his wife and kids for said B2. As for the DV app most likely it will show up on the system when your friend submits his tourist visa application and he will be denied...again.

You can't or anyone for that matter has any effect on the outcome of this kinda interview, it's ALL on the qualification of applicant. Your friend most likely got refused because of his age and marital status and considering his educational accomplishments maybe even his travel history.

[Neonred 3,636]

Once he visits Spain or any other Western European country on a schengun visa his chances will improve dramatically.

[Boiler 46,003]

Few weeks later he got an invitation to a conference in my area and applied again

Small world.

Why is he considering applying for the DV if he only wants to visit?

[galephys 12]

Yes they will know he applied for the GC lottery. Yes it will probably make it harder to get a visitor visa showing he has immigration intent now since applying for GC lottery.

I read somewhere that it shows up only if he wins... do you have a prooflink?

Your story has 'immigration' intent written all over it.

I'm sorry, but why?

Once he visits Spain or any other Western European country on a schengun visa his chances will improve dramatically.

That's what I thought.

Small world.

Why is he considering applying for the DV if he only wants to visit?

Not really considering, more like curious. "what if" kinda idea. I heard a lot of people saying "yeah, I heard you can win a green card, maybe I should try! but then they won't let me in... we'll see"

P.S. about the world. You can't imagine HOW small. I went to a spa once, and I was chatting to the specialist, told her where I work. She says "oh, then you know my husband". Huh? Turns out, yes! they live an hour away from both spa and my work, but I work with her husband every day.

A week ago I got a facebook message from someone from Russia, asking if I live in my city. Well, yeah.. few messages later turns out 2 students from Russia came on a Work and Travel program and they live in a building next door - we waved at each other trough the window. In a small city in VA, out of thousands of apartment complexes, they picked this one.

A month ago my dog passed TDI test, and there was another puppy, who barked constantly and was disturbing everyone. 3 weeks ago I found a co-worker I didn't know before, who will take care of my dog while I'm out of town. We go meet his dog and it's that barking one from the test facility in a nearby city. I mean, really??

So yeah, conference right here doesn't surprise me so much now:))