I-134 for US Visa Application in Russia

[Sapiens 0]

My apologies for making a topic so similar to Justinc87's, but I felt this would be more appropriate than hijacking his discussion.

A brief summary: I live in the United States and my girlfriend lives in Russia. We originally met online and have known each other for 2 years. In this time we've traveled to Iceland together twice for about a week each time, and I've traveled to see her in Russia once, spending about a week and a half there with her and her family. She has applied for a US tourist visa once in the past, was denied, and was not given any specifics by the consulate as to why (this seems to be standard practice).

She would like to try for another US tourist visa but we're looking for ways of increasing the chances of success. We're also worried that because she is 20 and living with her family that it will be impossible to show sufficient ties to her home country. Initially I thought an I-134 affidavit of support would help, but now I'm not so sure (especially after reading some of the comments in Justinc87's thread) since that deals more with not becoming a "ward of the state."

While I have a lot of questions bouncing around in my head, I guess initially the most important one is: would an I-134 improve her chances in the application process? And if not, do we have any other recourse?

Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. If I've left out any important details let me know, and I will do my best to fill in the blanks.

[Mariana2012 89]

I am not familiar with I -134 ( i just briefly looked just now to see what it is ) but my guess is that it would be decreasing the chances of getting a visa since your girlfried will have now someone ( a boyfriend ) willing to support her. That only shows the embassy that she has the means to overstay her visa or apply for adjustment of status ( having a boyfriend can make the embassy assume you are shortcutting the system by not going for a K1 fiance visa to travel to the US with the purpose of getting married ) . Speaking of k1 which can take up to a year, why don't you bring her over as a finace, you guys have 90 days to figure out weather you guys want to be married.

Edited March 31, 2013 by Mariana2012

[Ryan H 3,834]

but I felt this would be more appropriate than hijacking his discussion.

I guess initially the most important one is: would an I-134 improve her chances in the application process? And if not, do we have any other recourse?

No and no. Consular Officers have complete discretion on whether or not to approve a visa application.

Before she decides to apply again, she needs to ask herself this question, "how have my personal circumstances changed since last time?" If the answer to that question is something along the lines of "very little" then another denial for lack of ties to home country is likely to be the outcome again.

[Ryan H 3,834]

Speaking of k1 which can take up to a year, why don't you bring her over as a finace, you guys have 90 days to figure out weather you guys want to be married.

Bad advice, the purpose of the K1 is for a US Citizen to bring their foreign fiance(e) to the US for the specific purpose of getting married and living together in the US. It is NOT a "get to know you" visa or a "see if we want to be married" visa. The 90 days is meant to allow sufficient time for the couple to fulfill the marriage requirement of the visa.

[Mariana2012 89]

Bad advice, the purpose of the K1 is for a US Citizen to bring their foreign fiance(e) to the US for the specific purpose of getting married and living together in the US. It is NOT a "get to know you" visa or a "see if we want to be married" visa. The 90 days is meant to allow sufficient time for the couple to fulfill the marriage requirement of the visa.

Let them decide that, they've been knowing each other for two years. Other people start petitions for people they spent a week with.

[Sapiens 0]

Bad advice, the purpose of the K1 is for a US Citizen to bring their foreign fiance(e) to the US for the specific purpose of getting married and living together in the US. It is NOT a "get to know you" visa or a "see if we want to be married" visa. The 90 days is meant to allow sufficient time for the couple to fulfill the marriage requirement of the visa.

That was my understanding as well. While we've been discussing marriage at length we'd really like to spend more time together (i.e. a month or two instead of just a week on "vacation" somewhere) before making that type of commitment if we can, without abusing the system.

Unfortunately no, her situation has not changed significantly since her last application. We were hoping that we could provide additional supporting documentation to allay some of the concerns the consulate may have had, either in the form of something like the I-134, or some other way of my shouldering the responsibility of making sure she doesn't overstay the visa or apply for a status change. So far it looks like that may not be possible.

So it sounds like a K-1 is probably the only reasonable way forward so far, aside from my continuing to make relatively short trips to see her?

Edited March 31, 2013 by Sapiens

[Mariana2012 89]

If she is young she can apply for a work and travel visa look into that as well

Edited March 31, 2013 by Mariana2012

[vegas12 12]

My recommendation would tell her not to apply again. This happen to my girlfriend who is now my wife. She applied twice and she is in her 40 with kids. This was in Brazil but I think you will have to be the one to go see her. Save your money so if you do want to be together. Then you can join the rest of us waiting for a Visa.