Tourist Visa from Colombia

[mitchpa13 0]

Hey Folks,

My wife's sister and brother in law who live in Colombia are wanting to come visit this summer. They are both School teachers in Colombia and so they have very good proof of ties to their home country. I have heard rumors that it's important to have a somewhat substantial amount of money in the bank when you go for the Consulate interview. Is this truly a factor, and if so how much is a substantial amount?

As for everything else, they have no criminal background and no other experiences requesting visas.

Thanks you for any help and advice you can give!

In the journey together,

Mitchell

[KierenHby 899]

No such thing as a 'substantial' amount. Travelers should expect to have sufficient resources at their disposal for transportation to the US, plus meals, lodging, & incidental expenses.

That being said, Consular Officers interview applicant(s) on purpose of visit.. and their intent to return back to the home country at the conclusion of the US visit.

[Boiler 45,541]

Depends what you mean, holidaying in the US is relatively expensive so they will not be paupers.

[ryna 132]

Hey Folks,

My wife's sister and brother in law who live in Colombia are wanting to come visit this summer. They are both School teachers in Colombia and so they have very good proof of ties to their home country. I have heard rumors that it's important to have a somewhat substantial amount of money in the bank when you go for the Consulate interview. Is this truly a factor, and if so how much is a substantial amount?

As for everything else, they have no criminal background and no other experiences requesting visas.

Thanks you for any help and advice you can give!

In the journey together,

Mitchell

Based on the experience of my wife's friend and former co-worker who wanted to visit us, the only real advice I can give them is to be as specific as possible regarding their itinerary and plans for the visit.

The first time she went, she had intended to get the visa in hand first and worry about planning a trip later. Even being moderately well-off, with multiple houses/properties, cars, etc. and with her own accounting business with clients that she had contractual obligations to return to, she was denied because she had no specific plan in mind and was very vague about plans for a specific trip. Instead, she gave them a "wish list" of places she'd like to see one day: Grand Canyon, the beach, etc... She was denied.

Two years later, with the same economic conditions but with a specific itinerary in mind - to visit her friend in Orlando for 2 weeks during the Christmas/New Years holiday break - she was approved. I guess the only difference was, after being denied the first time, she spent her vacation time in India instead, so she now had a (small) history of international travel in her passport. And, since I believe it was a 10 year/multiple entry B1, she now can plan a trip to the U.S. with a more flexible itinerary.

In any event, good luck. My sister-in-law and her family want to visit to take the kids to Disney World sometime in the next year or two and will be in the same boat.

[HFM181818 750]

any sudden influx of $$$ into their bank account won't be believed as legit; rather it will be viewed as an attempt to fool the COs....there is no specific sum of $$ one needs to qualify for a tourist visa....available funds is just one of many aspects examined by a CO...

[aaron2020 11,651]

The rumors you heard are false. There is no magic amount in a bank account that makes getting a visitor visa easier.

Sudden appearance of money in a bank account will be a BIG NEGATIVE since the reasoning will be that it's a loan disguised as the visa applicant's money to fool the US Embassy.

Your wife's sister and brother-in-law would apply for visas based on their circumstances and if the CO believes they would return after their trip to the US.