US Visitor visa for Russian woman?

[jft 12]

My Russian girlfriend would like to come to my city in the US to visit later this year. She isn't the sort to jump into marriage without seeing what life is like here so she's going to give the tourist visa a shot if there is a chance at success. On the good side she's in her mid-30s with a 13 year old son who'll be staying in Russia. She also has a bank account but of course she's not rich. In addition she has a good job but once again it's not the highest-paying (she's a travel agent). Besides that her family owns a sizable apartment but it's likely in her mother's name, not hers and I am not sure if she formally pays rent. She also has friends (a married Russian couple) in my city that she will be visiting so there'd be no need to mention me as being the reason for the trip during the interview.

Any chance of success here? If not then our plan B is to meet in a Schengen country first before applying for the US visa. I have another RW friend of similar age who did get a visa several years ago but her family was more well off and she had both a husband and a younger child compared to my friend who has never married.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

[Boiler 46,003]

If she does not apply the chance is easy to calculate.

Let us know how she gets one.

[jaycali 415]

It's really impossible to say with tourist visas sometimes. She really just has to apply and see how it goes. Not applying = 0 chance.

[AmyWrites 593]

I think they give the biggest weight to whether the applicant has traveled to other places... specifically the EU... before and gotten a visa, and not overstayed.

[jft 12]

I think they give the biggest weight to whether the applicant has traveled to other places... specifically the EU... before and gotten a visa, and not overstayed.

From what I have read elsewhere on these forums that seems to be the consensus. I'm going to suggest to her that we meet again in a EU country in a couple of months and then decide at that point whether to go for a tourist or fiance visa as the next step.

[teddy k 35]

hi I think that she has a decent chance for a tourist visa because she can show ties to return to Russia and she should get an invite letter from her Russian friends in the states to make it look like a visit between old friends did she ever travel international before? Good luck

[Dave&Roza 748]

My Russian girlfriend would like to come to my city in the US to visit later this year. She isn't the sort to jump into marriage without seeing what life is like here so she's going to give the tourist visa a shot if there is a chance at success. On the good side she's in her mid-30s with a 13 year old son who'll be staying in Russia. She also has a bank account but of course she's not rich. In addition she has a good job but once again it's not the highest-paying (she's a travel agent). Besides that her family owns a sizable apartment but it's likely in her mother's name, not hers and I am not sure if she formally pays rent. She also has friends (a married Russian couple) in my city that she will be visiting so there'd be no need to mention me as being the reason for the trip during the interview.

Any chance of success here? If not then our plan B is to meet in a Schengen country first before applying for the US visa. I have another RW friend of similar age who did get a visa several years ago but her family was more well off and she had both a husband and a younger child compared to my friend who has never married.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

I'll give you may senior for my wife. Back in 2008 she decided to vist me in the US. She was a single 38 YO women from Kazakhstan with an apartment, better than average paying job, mother, brother, SIL, nephew in Almaty and a slew of relatives in Kazakhstan. She was refused. A friend of mine contacted their congressman and she applied again with no new evidence. She was approved. Difference was the first IO was a young woman and the second was a middle aged man and the congressman had been contacted. Did it help? I do not know. She applied again in 2009, and the same middle aged man was the IO and she was approved. Now fast forward to this year and the MIL applies for a tourist visa. She has a job, apartments, relatives in Kazakhstan and a Son-in-law and daughter in the US. She was approved. She has never been outside of the FSU--Russia is as far as she has travelled until this year.

Just remember that your freind must prove she will return to Russia and not stay in the US. What that proof is depends on the IO, but to not try makes the chances of getting a visa nil. Also remember that the visa fee is not refundable. As others have stated, trips to other countries and returning does help prove her intention is to visit only, but it is not the only thing.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited June 16, 2012 by Dave&Roza

[Noah Lot 391]

My Russian girlfriend would like to come to my city in the US to visit later this year. She isn't the sort to jump into marriage without seeing what life is like here so she's going to give the tourist visa a shot if there is a chance at success. On the good side she's in her mid-30s with a 13 year old son who'll be staying in Russia. She also has a bank account but of course she's not rich. In addition she has a good job but once again it's not the highest-paying (she's a travel agent). Besides that her family owns a sizable apartment but it's likely in her mother's name, not hers and I am not sure if she formally pays rent. She also has friends (a married Russian couple) in my city that she will be visiting so there'd be no need to mention me as being the reason for the trip during the interview.

Any chance of success here? If not then our plan B is to meet in a Schengen country first before applying for the US visa. I have another RW friend of similar age who did get a visa several years ago but her family was more well off and she had both a husband and a younger child compared to my friend who has never married.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Offering to leave a close relative behind as 'proof' that one will depart the US will actually work against an applicant...why? Because leaving kids behind is meaningless ... once the mind change occurs and AOS takes place, the new American spouse petitions for the left behind child(ren)...so pointing to something like this tends to end most interviews rapidly (and not in favor of the applicant!)

[rika60607 215]

And how do you know this? Pure logic, hearsay or you've worked at a US embassy?

Offering to leave a close relative behind as 'proof' that one will depart the US will actually work against an applicant...why? Because leaving kids behind is meaningless ... once the mind change occurs and AOS takes place, the new American spouse petitions for the left behind child(ren)...so pointing to something like this tends to end most interviews rapidly (and not in favor of the applicant!)

[Noah Lot 391]

And how do you know this? Pure logic, hearsay or you've worked at a US embassy?

worked at a US embassy. And, the Foreign Affairs Manual states this as guidance....because experience has shown that leaving kids or even spouses behind do not act as sufficient motitivation to return if the infamous 'mind change' takes place, and leaving relatives behind certainly does NOT preclude any 'tourist' from working illegally.

[tehans 52]

So I am starting to think there is no such thing as "strong ties" If your children and spouse are not strong ties, what are?

worked at a US embassy. And, the Foreign Affairs Manual states this as guidance....because experience has shown that leaving kids or even spouses behind do not act as sufficient motitivation to return if the infamous 'mind change' takes place, and leaving relatives behind certainly does NOT preclude any 'tourist' from working illegally.

[JohnR! 5,495]

1340023992[/url]' post='5458852']

So I am starting to think there is no such thing as "strong ties" If your children and spouse are not strong ties, what are?

According to the Dept of State, your job, home and/or relationship with family are considered strong ties to one's home country.

Leaving a child behind is therefore considered a strong tie, but nothing will guarantee a visa. She must try and see how it plays out.

Source: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/denials/denials_1361.html

[Noah Lot 391]

merely having a spouse and/or child(ren) does NOT translate into automatic visa issuance. Far too many people have left a spouse and children behind, divorcing said spouse from afar, and later petitioning the minor children via their new USC spouse....which is why offering to leave them behind will not work.

[JohnR! 5,495]

1340026900[/url]' post='5458912']

merely having a spouse and/or child(ren) does NOT translate into automatic visa issuance.

Nothing does. There are no guarantees either way. The only way to know for sure is to apply forr a visa and show up for the interview.

Edited June 18, 2012 by Gegel