Tourist Visa from China requirements?

[daveaz 0]

I am an American Citizen. I traveled to China for work and dated a girl there for a few months. I invited her to come spend a few months with me in the US. She never had a passport and she got one in order to visit. I sent her all the information to apply for the Visa. At the advice of her family, she went to a Travel Agency prior to applying for the Visa.

The travel agent told her that they would reject her application due to her having not traveled before and the passport being brand new.

She has lots of ties to China. She holds deed to an apartment there that she pays the mortgage on. She has her job there. Her parents live there, and she spends her weekends with them.

She has no ties in the US other than me.

Does this travel agency have a valid point?

Is there a good resource for determining what she should do to be able to get this visa?

[Gregory&Dyn 113]

The validity of the agency's concerns are strong and legitimate. While its not an impossible task to secure a tourist visa to the U.S., it is highly unlikely. She (your friend) would be wise to establish a pattern of travel to other countries near her own before attempting to come here. [Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, etc]. Once she she gets a few good stamps in her passport, chances of getting a visa to the United States increase exponentially.

It would also be wise to find a U.S. based sponsor other than yourself. A single male with a relational ties to the beneficiary will only raise more red flags.

Edited May 10, 2016 by Gregory&Dyn

[JFH 12,191]

It's not the travel agent that makes the decision but there is some validity in the statement that the visa will be denied.

What job does she do that allows her to take "a few months" off?

Edited May 10, 2016 by JFH

[daveaz 0]

Thanks for the replies.
As far as her career: She was a Barista, but was recently promoted to a managerial role. There is a strong possibility that they would not be tolerant of her vacation, but there are other (better) opportunities for her that she hasn't yet persued because of her work schedule. It shouldn't be a large concern to her.

[aaron2020 11,651]

It's highly unlikely that she would be approved for a visitor visa with a US boyfriend.

[daveaz 0]

At this point I'll wait for her to travel a bit and see if we are still in touch. She mentioned buying a car (A huge expense in China) so I don't think traveling is a priority to her right now.

I'll have a couple who I am friends with sponsor her if that is needed if/when the time comes.
I am a lot worse than a single male- I already married and divorced a foreigner who currently resides in the US with a green card.
Oddly enough, I'd never do that again.... But it looks horrible on paper.

[MacUK 983]

It would also be wise to find a U.S. based sponsor other than yourself. A single male with a relational ties to the beneficiary will only raise more red flags.

No such thing as a sponsor for a tourist visa

[Gregory&Dyn 113]

No such thing as a sponsor for a tourist visa

Not entirely true.

While having a sponsor is not required for a tourist visa to the U.S., it is a viable option and encouraged in some circumstances.

A U.S. based sponsor can provide the financial support and resources in proxy for the touring visitor. A sponsor can also increase the chances of approval by securing a bond in the visitor's name, providing living resources (i.e. room & board, food, temporary medical coverage, travel and living expenses). If the tourist cannot provide ample proof of resources when applying for a visa, having a sponsor in place helps.

Also, sponsors for OCONUS tourists are not limited to sponsoring just family members.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Not entirely true.

While having a sponsor is not required for a tourist visa to the U.S., it is a viable option and encouraged in some circumstances.

A U.S. based sponsor can provide the financial support and resources in proxy for the touring visitor. A sponsor can also increase the chances of approval by securing a bond in the visitor's name, providing living resources (i.e. room & board, food, temporary medical coverage, travel and living expenses). If the tourist cannot provide ample proof of resources when applying for a visa, having a sponsor in place helps.

Also, sponsors for OCONUS tourists are not limited to sponsoring just family members.

Please show us this law that allows for sponsoring a visitor visa.

The US Government seems to think that a visitor visa can not be sponsored.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-traveldocs-instrux.html

Instructions for IV Applicants Using USTRAVELDOCS.COM

http://ustraveldocs.com/sa/sa-gen-faq.asp#FAQ-GeneralVisaInformation22

Q. 22 Can a U.S. citizen sponsor my application for a visitor’s visa?

No, US Citizens may not sponsor a visitor’s application – a visitor must qualify individually for a U.S. visa, regardless of a concerned U.S. citizen’s interest in the case.

[Gregory&Dyn 113]

Laws vary from country to country regarding tourism / visitor policies and sponsorship requirements. What you provided was an obscure Russian visa FAQ page that is in no way specific to tourist visas. In fact, it references Immigrant Visas which are altogether different. It helps to read. The other link was for Saudi nationals. After 9/11 there are a whole new set of laws and rules for Saudi countries and states. If you need more information, please ask Uncle Google. He loves these sorts of questions.

GENERAL REFERENCE

US residents, citizens, or temporary workers (H1B, L1 ,E visa, etc.) living in USA can invite their parents, relatives or friends to visit USA.

A B2 visitor visa (Tourist Visa) can be applied by a foreign visitor at a US consulate in applicant's home country. If the purpose of the trip is not temporary, or if the purpose of the trip is something other than tourism, like business, study, or work, there is a separate visa category and qualifying criteria for each of these purposes.

What does sponsorship mean?

In general, sponsorship means the sponsor is taking the responsibility to take care of all the expenses for the visitor's trip.

How can sponsorship help?

Although consulate and visa authorities look for the overall eligibly of the visa applicant, having a legitimate and qualified sponsor can increase the chances of getting the visitor visa.

• Sponsorship indicates that the person sponsoring the trip will be able to bear the cost of travel USA and less chances of becoming public burden.
• It makes it easy for authorities to establish a contact / relationship with a US resident, just in case. This may be useful from security perspective as well.

Who can sponsor : Any US-based person can sponsor visa for his/her parents, relatives, and friends. The sponsor should provide an affidavit of support (form I-134). The form is a confirmation that the sponsor is ready to undertake the financial liability of the applicant during the visit.

Sponsoring does not guarantee the approval of visa. The applicants must fulfill the required criteria to be approved for a US visitor visa.

Documents required from the sponsor

• Invitation letter: The applicants will need an invitation letter from their sponsor in order to visit US. They might need to show the document at the interview. Invitation letter for Tourist visa to USA.
• Affidavit of support: form I-134.
• Copy of the sponsor’s passport.
• Letter of employment if the sponsor is an employee in USA.
• Letter to US consulate from the sponsor requesting that visa be granted to the applicants.
• A Bank account verification letter from the sponsor’s bank proving that the sponsor has an account with that bank. The letter can also show the sponsor’s bank balance.
• Copy of the sponsor’s last income tax returns or W2 forms.
• If the sponsor is self-employed or owns a business, copy of personal tax return is required.
• Letter of employment of the sponsor.
• If the sponsor is a visa holder then copies of the visa (H1/L1), H1 approval form (I-797) and I-94 are required.
• If the sponsor is a Green card holder or a citizen then copies of those are required.
• Copies of sponsor’s recent pay stubs

[aaron2020 11,651]

Source?

It's a disservice when newbies come on here saying people can sponsor a visitor visa. Guess all of us long time posters are idiots for saying no one can sponsor a visitor visa.

[JFH 12,191]

I'd rather take information from the official source, not some random commercial website thrown up by a simple Google search:

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visitor.html

In particular:

Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a nonimmigrant tourist visa. If you do choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember that it is not one of the factors that we use in determining whether to issue or deny a nonimmigrant tourist visa.

[Gregory&Dyn 113]

Please show us this law that allows for sponsoring a visitor visa.

The US Government seems to think that a visitor visa can not be sponsored.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-traveldocs-instrux.html

Instructions for IV Applicants Using USTRAVELDOCS.COM

http://ustraveldocs.com/sa/sa-gen-faq.asp#FAQ-GeneralVisaInformation22

Q. 22 Can a U.S. citizen sponsor my application for a visitor’s visa?

No, US Citizens may not sponsor a visitor’s application – a visitor must qualify individually for a U.S. visa, regardless of a concerned U.S. citizen’s interest in the case.

Misquoting an obscure Russian Immigrant FAQ page and a Saudi visa FAQ page are not substantial evidence. The Russian FAQ page is specific to immigrant visas.

[JFH 12,191]

Misquoting an obscure Russian Immigrant FAQ page and a Saudi visa FAQ page are not substantial evidence. The Russian FAQ page is specific to immigrant visas.

That doesn't answer his question on YOUR source.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Misquoting an obscure Russian Immigrant FAQ page and a Saudi visa FAQ page are not substantial evidence. The Russian FAQ page is specific to immigrant visas.

When is the webpage for the US Embassy in Moscow considered an obscure Russian Immigration FAQ page?

If you consider the US Embassy to be obscure, then you have proven your lack of knowledge.

Edited May 10, 2016 by aaron2020