B1/B2 visa with "few" ties to home

[Merrytooth 5,748]

i was referring to "Do you have a mental or physical disorder that poses or is likely to pose a threat to the safety or welfare of yourself or others?" the question directly asked after the one you cited

This website may help you:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/us-visa-esta-health-declaration-for-type-1.12073/

[TL2016 208]

It's always tough to get a B1/B2 visa from a VWP country. When I applied for mine and waited in the waiting room in the embassy, a lot of people were denied. The embassy in Berlin is relatively small so I was able to hear a lot of the other ongoing interviews. Mostly their reasons were that they want to go on a long road trip / camping trip / visiting friends and 3 months isn't enough. Bam, denied and their chance to use the VWP for a while is gone.

I only went there because a CBP officer at the US border told me I wouldn't be admitted back into the country if I came back without a visitor visa. Luckily I was approved, but that probably had to do with all my previous visits to the US where I've never overstayed. I was asked multiple times if I was employed, so be prepared for that. If you can get your employer to give you a new contract well in advance to show proof that you will be going back to work when you return would be a good idea.

If I was in your shoes I wouldn't risk it though. I only went because my fiancée and I were about to apply for the K-1 Visa anyway. I'd just go for 89 days or so. Much better than risking not being able to go at all.

[SecondLaplace 0]

It's always tough to get a B1/B2 visa from a VWP country. When I applied for mine and waited in the waiting room in the embassy, a lot of people were denied. The embassy in Berlin is relatively small so I was able to hear a lot of the other ongoing interviews. Mostly their reasons were that they want to go on a long road trip / camping trip / visiting friends and 3 months isn't enough. Bam, denied and their chance to use the VWP for a while is gone.

I only went there because a CBP officer at the US border told me I wouldn't be admitted back into the country if I came back without a visitor visa. Luckily I was approved, but that probably had to do with all my previous visits to the US where I've never overstayed. I was asked multiple times if I was employed, so be prepared for that. If you can get your employer to give you a new contract well in advance to show proof that you will be going back to work when you return would be a good idea.

If I was in your shoes I wouldn't risk it though. I only went because my fiancée and I were about to apply for the K-1 Visa anyway. I'd just go for 89 days or so. Much better than risking not being able to go at all.

thanks for the reply! i did some more digging and read almost all positive reviews, especially considering that the second most prevalent nation (after the us of course) on the trail is germany. of course, people are less likely to be writing about it if they are denied, but i will definitely go for it. thing is, its a huge part of the challenge to hike the whole thing. doing half and then the other half is not only inconvenient but also very unlikely considering my career plans.

[Californiansunset 336]

thanks for the reply! i did some more digging and read almost all positive reviews, especially considering that the second most prevalent nation (after the us of course) on the trail is germany. of course, people are less likely to be writing about it if they are denied, but i will definitely go for it. thing is, its a huge part of the challenge to hike the whole thing. doing half and then the other half is not only inconvenient but also very unlikely considering my career plans.

Actually people are way more likely to express and write about their negative experiences than about their positive, it's a well known fact. So if you only find positive reviews I would assume that very few actually get denied.

If I were you I would maybe not go through the consulate in Berlin. I've been told before by the German American Chamber of Commerce that there is still an officer working who loves denying B visas with little evidence of a return back home. What TL2016 said supports that assumption. I heard a lot of good stuff about Frankfurt though.

What would maybe help a little too is if you a have a wedding invitation from a close family member which might show that you really would like to attend this special day so you want to come back. That's obviously just a little tie though. I think a letter of an employer is the only thing you have that is some sort of a tie to Germany. However I would ask your employer to phrase the letter in a way that it talks about some sort of "garden leave" or sabbatical. It is unlikely that an employer would offer a person without higher education some sort of employment 6 months ahead of the start date. Garden leave would be more likely and that is how my German employer explained it when I applied for a B visa. You are at the age where lots of Germans go to the States to work as an Au Pair (often illegally) so that will be a red flag but since you are not a girl they are less likely to assume that. Have a lot of knowledge about the hike you will be doing because they might actually ask you some questions on that to test you.

I personally think that the fact that you've never been to the States before will actually work in your favour as they are less likely to assume that you fell in love with the country and wand to stay there or even have a partner or friends there that might help you to stay in the States forever.

Also I'd like to add regarding the health insurance that there are long-term insurances as the ADAC. I can really recommend ADAC as a long-term travel insurance for us Germans in the States. They are great!

[SecondLaplace 0]

Actually people are way more likely to express and write about their negative experiences than about their positive, it's a well known fact. So if you only find positive reviews I would assume that very few actually get denied.

If I were you I would maybe not go through the consulate in Berlin. I've been told before by the German American Chamber of Commerce that there is still an officer working who loves denying B visas with little evidence of a return back home. What TL2016 said supports that assumption. I heard a lot of good stuff about Frankfurt though.

What would maybe help a little too is if you a have a wedding invitation from a close family member which might show that you really would like to attend this special day so you want to come back. That's obviously just a little tie though. I think a letter of an employer is the only thing you have that is some sort of a tie to Germany. However I would ask your employer to phrase the letter in a way that it talks about some sort of "garden leave" or sabbatical. It is unlikely that an employer would offer a person without higher education some sort of employment 6 months ahead of the start date. Garden leave would be more likely and that is how my German employer explained it when I applied for a B visa. You are at the age where lots of Germans go to the States to work as an Au Pair (often illegally) so that will be a red flag but since you are not a girl they are less likely to assume that. Have a lot of knowledge about the hike you will be doing because they might actually ask you some questions on that to test you.

I personally think that the fact that you've never been to the States before will actually work in your favour as they are less likely to assume that you fell in love with the country and wand to stay there or even have a partner or friends there that might help you to stay in the States forever.

Also I'd like to add regarding the health insurance that there are long-term insurances as the ADAC. I can really recommend ADAC as a long-term travel insurance for us Germans in the States. They are great!

thanks for the reply! yes I am aware of the fact that people are more likely to express negative views than positive ones, but most experiences are from hiking blogs, which wouldn't exist in the first place if their visa got denied, hence my assumption. I also didn't read too many positives about the embassy in Berlin, luckily I live 50km away from Frankfurt so I will be going there anyways. Wedding invitations are pretty much out of the picture, since no one is getting married quite soon (and I hope that no one ever has to cope with my cousins in a relationship). As I stated in my opening post the business I work in is very seasonal (selling Tea, roughly 60-70% revenue is during fall/christmas) and it would be more cost efficient for them (my boss and his wife) to up the hours of themselves during the offseason than hiring and having to teach all the stuff to a completely new person. Basically you need a person during christmas that you don't need when it's not christmas.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

You could go and do part of the trail on VWP, come back next year and start from where you left off the first time.

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

You need strong ties as everyone said. Showing college acceptance and enrollment would definitely help.

If you decide not to go for the Visa, just keep in mind doing the A.T. over two years is not so bad an idea. I started a through hike and had a knee injury and did it over two years. Better to do over two different summers than not at all. One question is, how do you have to be gone between trip if you came over for 90 days left and then came back?

[SecondLaplace 0]

You need strong ties as everyone said. Showing college acceptance and enrollment would definitely help.

If you decide not to go for the Visa, just keep in mind doing the A.T. over two years is not so bad an idea. I started a through hike and had a knee injury and did it over two years. Better to do over two different summers than not at all. One question is, how do you have to be gone between trip if you came over for 90 days left and then came back

you cannot aply to colleges before may. it is impossible to have an accaptence letter. and doing it over the span of 2 years is problematic, since i have to pay double for the flights and i dont have 90 days to spare, since the availability of the at is during the semester.

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

Actually doing the A.T. is locked into a season, I did the A.T starting in February 2000, NB (north Bound) has a knee injury in Dalton Mass, got off and finished the following year. I also volunteered at Nantahala Trail Club in Franklin NC, one day a week for two years. You can do the northern most part one year and do the southern part any time of the year, that is if you do not mind the cold and carrying an extra 10 lbs of gear. I know I am off subject but just so you know there are options.Send me a pm we can discuss further on how I would recommend doing it, depending on your 90 day available windows. ANd yes it would cost more money in airline flights, but if you book well in advance you can save a lot.

Beside that option if you are going to apply for the visa, I would go at in the same manner you would in planning your AT hike, that is when you go for the interview be ready to explain what you are going to do, how you plan to re-supply, how often and such, you never the Interviewing officer just may be a hiker or outdoors person themselves or in the past, My point is be ready to explain it could make the difference in an approval or denial.