Ukrainian girlfriend denied B2 Tourist visa, try again?

[robista 0]

So here's the backstory: Met her almost 4 years ago, we've stayed in contact but recently renewed the relationship. In the past year have traveled a lot together in an effort to build up country stamps on her passport. A few European countries and Israel. She is young (23) but has a good job at an international company (everyone knows the company) though her salary is very low ($600/month).

I think we took some bad advice from another forum on listing herself as the person paying for the trip even though it would be part her and part her mom. We of course did not want to lie at all, so we didn't inflate her salary and if it came up she would have said she knows me in the US even though that is almost a certain denial. We also realize how difficult it is to get a B2 visa from Ukraine especially for a young unmarried girl. Have also read through this thread in its entirety.

Interview lasted about 40 seconds. Asked the purpose of her trip (tourism, to see NY), countries she has visited (answered), who will you go with (alone she said, which is technically true), how will you pay (myself), how much do you make (answer), sorry no visa this time.

She said that when she said she is going alone he looked at her for the first time and basically started gathering the documents to hand back to her. My guess was that her answer of going alone bothered the interviewer, whereas now in retrospect saying she is paying for the trip herself on $600/month was probably not very convincing to the interviewer. He did not bother to look at any documents in the less than minute interview.

On the track to get married to her, but not sure if I'm ready to go the K-1 route and force a marriage within 3 months of her arriving in the US. I ideally want her to come meet my family, come see the US before she commits to living there and so on. I understand you can do this in 3 months but then it's hard to plan a wedding that fast.

Any thoughts on the best route to take? My initial thoughts are have her apply again in a month (she is getting a promotion at her job) and list her mom as the payee for the trip. It also seems if she does not go alone that will help her cause, but not sure how to go about that. I also have contacts at my congresswoman's office and have already spoken to them about it - they said they can make an inquiry on my behalf but that it doesn't guarantee anything.

To complicate things I have a major surgery planned for January and won't be able to travel to see her for a few months after that.

Thanks in advance for all your input. I'm new to this board in terms of posting but have been reading for some time, and it already seems fantastic from what I've seen and read so far.

Edited August 13, 2016 by robista

[Georgia16 2,858]

So she comes back after a month for a new interview and now she has a raise and suddenly won't be traveling alone.

That was a quick change. (See it from the CO's side)

I don't think it will change anything, she still reported she knew you in the US also.

There really isn't a route for you. Either you are ready to get married or you aren't, sorry if it seems hard but it really is the way it is.

With k-1 yes you have 90 days (not 3 months), but it's not a 90 days to see if this is what I want to do or not. It's 90 days to get married and you could always do it at the court house or an elopement wedding and then do a bigger one later if that is your wish.

There is 6 months until your surgery, so you have time to visit her before that. You could also marry her on one of those trips and do a CR-1 visa.

[jan22 3,064]

To return immediately with a different story that will clearly look like you are changing details to make your case look better will not end well -- the visa will be denied and she will look desperate to get to the US. The visa officer will, of course, wonder why and what she is not telling. You listened to some bad advice before the first application and, unfortunately, you are now suffering the consequences. She would have had a better chance with the truth up front -- she wants to visit her boyfriend and will be staying with him (making the trip more affordable) and her mother is helping her pay for the rest of it. It was clear to the officer that she could not afford a solo trip to NY on $600 a month, so she was likely hiding something about her situaton. Sorry, but I don't think she will be approved for a visitor visa any time soon.

[robista 0]

I see what you guys are saying, as hard as it is to accept it.

Just to clarify however Georgia16, she got notified of her new job position a few days ago, and she did not let the CO know about me the first time.

But I do realize what it seems to try again so soon. If she got denied again however, my understanding is it still has no effect on the K1, correct?

[Georgia16 2,858]

I see what you guys are saying, as hard as it is to accept it.

Just to clarify however Georgia16, she got notified of her new job position a few days ago, and she did not let the CO know about me the first time.

But I do realize what it seems to try again so soon. If she got denied again however, my understanding is it still has no effect on the K1, correct?

Yes it won't effect her K-1 visa. Just don't ever lie on any application! (Not saying she attended to do so just saying)

[Boiler 46,087]

What will her new salary be?

[KierenHby 899]

A young 20-something, single Ukrainian making average wage trying to get a US visa to visit a boyfriend; chances she'll be back to live in Ukraine while having a US visa are remote.

That's how an outsider (CO) is likely to view.

[robista 0]

Yes it won't effect her K-1 visa. Just don't ever lie on any application! (Not saying she attended to do so just saying)

Not planning to do so! But good to hear it doesn't have a bearing on the K-1 application.

What will her new salary be?

Not sure, but I can't imagine a significant increase. Let's even say it doubles it is still very low for US standards.

A young 20-something, single Ukrainian making average wage trying to get a US visa to visit a boyfriend; chances she'll be back to live in Ukraine while having a US visa are remote.

That's how an outsider (CO) is likely to view.

I know. I guess I'm just trying to see what the negatives are of applying again one more time before going the K-1 route. If it's just $160 so be it, I'll play the lotto. If it adversely impacts my future plans with her, then that's a different story.

Ironically she would go back after visiting. But I understand the reality is different than what the CO will interpret the situation as.

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Rob, sorry to say you kinda put a bullet in your foot. Your woman was coming to visit you......and to stay with you....You are a gentleman and paying for her trip.....

Your GF making $600 a month is a very good salary (must be in Kyiv).....

If you look at my prior post, you will notice my then girlfriend was honest about everything and got approved during the revolution.

[zorus40k 21]

Don't try again.

Ukraine has high rate of refusals probably because of high fraud rate.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY15.pdf

If you guys are serious about marriage just visit now if possible. Ukraine is gorgeous during august/september.

[Lenchick 133]

So here's the backstory: Met her almost 4 years ago, we've stayed in contact but recently renewed the relationship. In the past year have traveled a lot together in an effort to build up country stamps on her passport. A few European countries and Israel. She is young (23) but has a good job at an international company (everyone knows the company) though her salary is very low ($600/month).

I think we took some bad advice from another forum on listing herself as the person paying for the trip even though it would be part her and part her mom. We of course did not want to lie at all, so we didn't inflate her salary and if it came up she would have said she knows me in the US even though that is almost a certain denial. We also realize how difficult it is to get a B2 visa from Ukraine especially for a young unmarried girl. Have also read through this thread in its entirety.

Interview lasted about 40 seconds. Asked the purpose of her trip (tourism, to see NY), countries she has visited (answered), who will you go with (alone she said, which is technically true), how will you pay (myself), how much do you make (answer), sorry no visa this time.

She said that when she said she is going alone he looked at her for the first time and basically started gathering the documents to hand back to her. My guess was that her answer of going alone bothered the interviewer, whereas now in retrospect saying she is paying for the trip herself on $600/month was probably not very convincing to the interviewer. He did not bother to look at any documents in the less than minute interview.

On the track to get married to her, but not sure if I'm ready to go the K-1 route and force a marriage within 3 months of her arriving in the US. I ideally want her to come meet my family, come see the US before she commits to living there and so on. I understand you can do this in 3 months but then it's hard to plan a wedding that fast.

Any thoughts on the best route to take? My initial thoughts are have her apply again in a month (she is getting a promotion at her job) and list her mom as the payee for the trip. It also seems if she does not go alone that will help her cause, but not sure how to go about that. I also have contacts at my congresswoman's office and have already spoken to them about it - they said they can make an inquiry on my behalf but that it doesn't guarantee anything.

To complicate things I have a major surgery planned for January and won't be able to travel to see her for a few months after that.

Thanks in advance for all your input. I'm new to this board in terms of posting but have been reading for some time, and it already seems fantastic from what I've seen and read so far.

I have just contacted a female friend who got her 5 years B2 visa in the empty passport. Probably she didn't show enough documents that she will return back. She needs to show roots in Ukraine. Just a paper from her company that she earns $600 is not enough. They most likely want to see her bank account and how much she has there, would be good to book a round trip ticket, hotels for how many days she is going to stay there and show roots in Ukraine. Does she have any property? Would be good to go through the agency. Would you like I give you the number of the agency who prepared the case for my friend?

[Lenchick 133]

So here's the backstory: Met her almost 4 years ago, we've stayed in contact but recently renewed the relationship. In the past year have traveled a lot together in an effort to build up country stamps on her passport. A few European countries and Israel. She is young (23) but has a good job at an international company (everyone knows the company) though her salary is very low ($600/month).

I think we took some bad advice from another forum on listing herself as the person paying for the trip even though it would be part her and part her mom. We of course did not want to lie at all, so we didn't inflate her salary and if it came up she would have said she knows me in the US even though that is almost a certain denial. We also realize how difficult it is to get a B2 visa from Ukraine especially for a young unmarried girl. Have also read through this thread in its entirety.

Interview lasted about 40 seconds. Asked the purpose of her trip (tourism, to see NY), countries she has visited (answered), who will you go with (alone she said, which is technically true), how will you pay (myself), how much do you make (answer), sorry no visa this time.

She said that when she said she is going alone he looked at her for the first time and basically started gathering the documents to hand back to her. My guess was that her answer of going alone bothered the interviewer, whereas now in retrospect saying she is paying for the trip herself on $600/month was probably not very convincing to the interviewer. He did not bother to look at any documents in the less than minute interview.

On the track to get married to her, but not sure if I'm ready to go the K-1 route and force a marriage within 3 months of her arriving in the US. I ideally want her to come meet my family, come see the US before she commits to living there and so on. I understand you can do this in 3 months but then it's hard to plan a wedding that fast.

Any thoughts on the best route to take? My initial thoughts are have her apply again in a month (she is getting a promotion at her job) and list her mom as the payee for the trip. It also seems if she does not go alone that will help her cause, but not sure how to go about that. I also have contacts at my congresswoman's office and have already spoken to them about it - they said they can make an inquiry on my behalf but that it doesn't guarantee anything.

To complicate things I have a major surgery planned for January and won't be able to travel to see her for a few months after that.

Thanks in advance for all your input. I'm new to this board in terms of posting but have been reading for some time, and it already seems fantastic from what I've seen and read so far.

She didn't get prepared for the interview good enough from what I am reading. All her words that she said at the interview are just words for the officer. Do you know that they look at any non-immigrant who applies for a tourist visa as at a potential immigrant. This is the rule. And it is the burden of the applicant to convince otherwise, if an applicant isn't convincing enough, they get refused.

[Lenchick 133]

Don't try again.

Ukraine has high rate of refusals probably because of high fraud rate.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY15.pdf

If you guys are serious about marriage just visit now if possible. Ukraine is gorgeous during august/september.

Funny to note that Russia actually has very little rate of refusal compared to Ukraine according to that statistics....They probably love Russians more...just kidding

Edited August 14, 2016 by Lenchick

[Michael and Ganna 104]

Don't try again.

Ukraine has high rate of refusals probably because of high fraud rate.

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY15.pdf

If you guys are serious about marriage just visit now if possible. Ukraine is gorgeous during august/september.

On the US government site it shows 46% Approval ...... close to a coin toss

[gregcrs2 1,778]

On the track to get married to her, but not sure if I'm ready to go the K-1 route and force a marriage within 3 months of her arriving in the US. I ideally want her to come meet my family, come see the US before she commits to living there and so on. I understand you can do this in 3 months but then it's hard to plan a wedding that fast.

Any thoughts on the best route to take? My initial thoughts are have her apply again in a month (she is getting a promotion at her job) and list her mom as the payee for the trip. It also seems if she does not go alone that will help her cause, but not sure how to go about that. I also have contacts at my congresswoman's office and have already spoken to them about it - they said they can make an inquiry on my behalf but that it doesn't guarantee anything.

You are supposed to have proposed marriage prior to going the K-1 route. You are both either ready to get married or not. If you are both ready to get married, I would suggest going the CR-1 route. Getting married in Ukraine can be a wonderful experience at a fraction of the cost of a US wedding. Plus she will have the extra pleasure of having her relatives and friends share your wedding day. And if it's important for you to have a formal wedding in the USA because of your friends and family, you can do that too.