Documentation for a Tourist Visa

[DEHeart2Heart25 0]

After talking over things with my fiancee he's decided to apply for a tourist visa to come visit me. On the website it says that when you go for your interview you may be required to bring other documentation besides the conformation code though it doesn't specify exactly what documentation is going to be required?.. We both tried finding out what's going to be need on the consulate website. I do know it said he will need to show he can finance the trip though it also says possibly needing to show what purpose the visit is for... Also is there a form he will need to fill on being able to fiance the trip?... Any and all help on what documentation that's required for the interview at the consulate would be greatly helpful. I wish they laid out what is exactly needed, I mean really how are you suppose to know if they don't tell you what to bring to the interview?!.... Thanks for all tips, suggestions, advice it's much appreciated!

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

They want proof that he has ties to his home country/ will return home at the end of his trip. Good proof are things such as being enrolled and having paid for the next semester at university, a letter from his employer stating when he is expected back, showing he runs a business he cannot be away from too long, having minor kids he needs to return home to etc.

[Chris_Ayaka 0]

Heart..

I have to be honest. Be careful with what you are attempting. The state department website can be a little misleading as to how simple a visitor visa is. I went through this process with my girlfriend, now wife. Once they heard she was engaged/had a fiance they almost denied the VISA on the spot. I am not sure if the country he/she is traveling from is apart of the VWP, but you should look into this first. If not.. make sure they have very strong ties to their country. They need money in the bank, enrolled in college or steady job (need letter from employer), car statements, housing statement/rental agreements. They should also have a strong itnerary with hotel reservations already established. DO NOT mention anything about marriage or fiance objectives or they will deny you and tell you to apply for a K1..

[Boiler 45,982]

Japan is a VWP country.

[livindadream 156]

What you ultimately feel is the best for the two of you to do, then that is what you should do...HOWEVER, knowing how the Nigerian embassy is, I would STRONGLY caution you to reconsider having him apply for a Tourist Visa. Someone mentioned bringing a letter from employer as a show of strong ties to the country....but even THAT will never prove that enough to satisfy them to issue visa. Do you know how much even a banker is paid in Nigeria? Not enough to make someone want to come running back to that job. Owning a successful business, YES. Having paid school fees in advance, MAYBE. Children, Possibly...but this is Nigeria we're talking about and even if he had all three, they could still deny him. If he mentioned that he had a girl/fiancé in the states, they will tell him to apply for K1 and then you're back to square one. However, if he applies for the Tourist visa and then gets denied and THEN later on down the road you want to apply for a fiancé visa and start showing proof that you've been talking since way back when....they are going to look at the denied tourist visa app and see that you had known each other since the time he applied for the tourist visa and it's going to look suspicious. Am I making sense? It just all spells problems and complications. I really think the K1 is the best way to go. I know you said in an earlier post that you had disabilities that prevented you from going. I don't know what those disabilities are, but they do accommodate a lot of handicaps on the plane and in airports, you may want to reconsider trying to get there.

[DEHeart2Heart25 0]

Thanks everyone for the great advice and for the suggestions and also for sharing your personal experiences, I do know that the whole process, from a K1 to a tourist visa truly is a long and difficult process, but I guess all I can do is pray and hope for the best. At least if he's able to get the visa to come visit we will have a chance to see each other, and it will show great proof once we do apply for the K1. I do believe he does have a strong case to show he has strong ties to his country... I am going to be talking to him about getting a letter from his work, also he does have a lot of family ties there as well.. I really am just praying so hard that something can work out for us... AYO'sGirl, Thank you so much for your advice and truly I do understand what you mean as it may look suspicious later on in trying for a K1, though I do know we have to try something, as things stand right now though we have great communication through facebook, I don't believe we have enough evidence to try for a K1. Also being that trying to get the waiver for not meeting is so very difficult really this seems to be the only way for us... All we can do is pray and be hopeful that he will be able to get the tourist visa... as I really don't see any other way for us having success later on with the K1 visa without having met.... I wish the whole process were different, easier, but it is what it is.. I know everyone has gone through, or is going through similar things and I wish the best to all in this long journey through immigration. I do know I love him so much and really just want for us to be together I can't imagine having to live my life without him. Though I will be sure to follow all the advice here as I am confident this can work out for us.....

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Don't even bother applying without meeting , it will just be denied and you waste time and money. Why can't you travel to Nigeria ? Most people that did not start their relationship by meeting in the US , the USC ends up being the one that travels to Nigeria ( 90%) or they meet in a third country. With Lagos having relatives in Nigeria isn't a valid reason to return unless those relatives are a spouse and children. Most jobs in Nigeria have such a low pay scale they aren't very good ties to Nigeria. A nearly completed degree may work, a significant business interest may work, having about 10k USD in the bank may work , or record of prior travel to say the UK will also help.

[Boiler 45,982]

No harm trying, he only has the application fee at risk.

Does sound a long shot from what little you have said.

[livindadream 156]

Thanks everyone for the great advice and for the suggestions and also for sharing your personal experiences, I do know that the whole process, from a K1 to a tourist visa truly is a long and difficult process, but I guess all I can do is pray and hope for the best. At least if he's able to get the visa to come visit we will have a chance to see each other, and it will show great proof once we do apply for the K1. I do believe he does have a strong case to show he has strong ties to his country... I am going to be talking to him about getting a letter from his work, also he does have a lot of family ties there as well.. I really am just praying so hard that something can work out for us... AYO'sGirl, Thank you so much for your advice and truly I do understand what you mean as it may look suspicious later on in trying for a K1, though I do know we have to try something, as things stand right now though we have great communication through facebook, I don't believe we have enough evidence to try for a K1. Also being that trying to get the waiver for not meeting is so very difficult really this seems to be the only way for us... All we can do is pray and be hopeful that he will be able to get the tourist visa... as I really don't see any other way for us having success later on with the K1 visa without having met.... I wish the whole process were different, easier, but it is what it is.. I know everyone has gone through, or is going through similar things and I wish the best to all in this long journey through immigration. I do know I love him so much and really just want for us to be together I can't imagine having to live my life without him. Though I will be sure to follow all the advice here as I am confident this can work out for us.....

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. I think it's so horrible that people in love have to be separated by an ocean and the fate of them being together is in the hands of someone else. It's not fair and when Im home in America without my husband, at times I look out the window and just wonder why it has to be like this. I believe unless you have a criminal record or something, then anyone should be given the chance to travel wherever they like. On the other hand, I do respect the process and appreciate having the system to keep our country safe. I just wish they would make exceptions for our spouses. lol