Travel to another country before getting tourist visa

[gregoryagu 31]

My girlfriend was talking to a friend, and they recommended going to the city of Riga in the country of Latvia for a three day weekend. Girlfriend is in Moscow.

The purpose is so that coming to the US is not her first trip from Russia.

Is this a good idea? Is there another city/country that it would be better for her to go to?

Greg

[millefleur 5,047]

Why is it necessary for her to visit another country? Hm, just seems a bit odd. I've known lots of Russians who've successfully received US visas despite having zero prior travel experience abroad.

Anywhere in the Baltics (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) would be fine to visit. Finland is a popular destination as well. Also Bulgaria is not too far. The catch is: all of these places require a Schengen (European) visa. She can't just up and go there.

But it's not at all necessary. She applied for a tourist visa you say? I suppose it can help, but it's no guarantee at all. Again, I've known Russians who got tourist visas with zero prior travel history.

Edited November 27, 2016 by millefleur

[gregoryagu 31]

Hi Millefleur,

I think without a trip somewhere, her chances are pretty low of getting a tourist Visa. No 'strong' ties to Russia. But she does have business for 5 years, but it's not a big moneymaker. No kids. No house. So about the only chance she has is going on a trip first. Even then, I think her chances of getting the Visa is low. But still want to at least try.

Were the Russians you know of that got a tourist Visa with zero travel history well financed? If she had plenty of money in the bank for the last 6 months, I think the story would be different. It's kind of sad, but I think money plays a big part in it. Good job, good money, no need to stay illegally in the US. Poor job and poor money, big need to stay. Thus Visa gets denied.

It's kind of like FBI profiling. They know what the profile looks like of people who want to stay illegally. And they know the profile of those who will come to the US, spend money on tourist activities and go home again. So they talk to the applicant for 5 minutes and drop them into one of those two buckets. End of Story and Visa.

I didn't know that about the European Visa. But she did say today she needed a Visa to go there.

Greg

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

It may help but may make no difference in the obtaining US visa. Ther're plenty of cases where people with a good travel history still being denied US tourist visa.

- Victor from Russia

[gregoryagu 31]

Oh well. At least it will not be a surprise to me if it gets denied. But still want to give it our best shot on getting approved. I will let you all know how it turns out.

[millefleur 5,047]

Oh well. At least it will not be a surprise to me if it gets denied. But still want to give it our best shot on getting approved. I will let you all know how it turns out.

Let us know how it goes. If it doesn't work out, are you planning to visit Russia or a third country together?

[gregoryagu 31]

Yes, I will let you know.

Yes, I plan to go there over Christmas/New Years if she cannot come here. I have met her in person once in Moscow for three days. Maybe meeting in a third country would be fun. I actually invited her to Mexico as my brother is going to be there with his family (who is from Mexico). But that seems a bit much for now. Somewhere nice in Europe would be really nice over the holidays. But even just seeing her in her home city would be ok to.

Hope Springs Eternal, or something like that, right?

Greg

[millefleur 5,047]

Yes, I will let you know.

Yes, I plan to go there over Christmas/New Years if she cannot come here. I have met her in person once in Moscow for three days. Maybe meeting in a third country would be fun. I actually invited her to Mexico as my brother is going to be there with his family (who is from Mexico). But that seems a bit much for now. Somewhere nice in Europe would be really nice over the holidays. But even just seeing her in her home city would be ok to.

Hope Springs Eternal, or something like that, right?

Greg

The Baltics are really pleasant during the holidays. Little Christmas markets and lots of charm in the medieval cities. It's not cheap, though, for some reason everywhere in Europe is so expensive these days, even the seemingly poorer countries. Russia would definitely be the cheaper option, as your dollar would take you farther. But I'm sure you noticed that Moscow is stupidly expensive. The rest of Russia is much more normal and affordable when it comes to pricing.

Wishing you guys the best of luck with your plans.

[Dashinka 24,651]

I know Katya was in the same boat when she tried twice to get a tourist visa back in 2013. She did have strong family ties, but her money was not so great, and she had no travel experience. She heard the same thing about visiting another country, but it wasn't in the cards. Well, she was denied both times, so we went the K1 route after my second visit. Like Victor, I have heard of people (one from Romania specifically) that had gotten visas from all over the world, but was denied a US tourist visa even when it was tied to a tour group.

Regardless, Good Luck!

[millefleur 5,047]

I forgot to add: it's generally harder for young, unmarried Russian/Eastern European women to get tourist visas. I get the feeling sometimes that the just look at three things: age, sex, marital status....and that's it.

[Dashinka 24,651]

I forgot to add: it's generally harder for young, unmarried Russian/Eastern European women to get tourist visas. I get the feeling sometimes that the just look at three things: age, sex, marital status....and that's it.

Not sure age is that big a factor. Katya is in her 50's and was denied. I do agree with the other two though.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I forgot to add: it's generally harder for young, unmarried Russian/Eastern European women to get tourist visas. I get the feeling sometimes that the just look at three things: age, sex, marital status....and that's it.

I don't think it's that simple or that age matters a lot. I've heard of many cases when parents (married and clearly not young) of foreign fiance(e) who arrived on K-1, had been denied visitors visa they wanted to get to attend the wedding of their child in the US.

- Victor from Russia

[millefleur 5,047]

I don't think it's that simple or that age matters a lot. I've heard of many cases when parents (married and clearly not young) of foreign fiance(e) who arrived on K-1, had been denied visitors visa they wanted to get to attend the wedding of their child in the US.

- Victor from Russia

Ah, ok, so the process is even more random and haphazard than I thought. Nice!

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Ah, ok, so the process is even more random and haphazard than I thought. Nice!

I don't think it's so random, I think it's just way more complicated system of grades/scores we know nothing about at our level. Like every K-1 visa (not sure about other types) has 1 to 3 stars printed under the photo of it's holder and people speculate about it for years but nobody knows for sure what these stars mean and what is better for you - if you have 1 star or 3 stars on your visa?

Reading a lot of stories and experiences on VJ I got an impression that this system regarding tourist/visitors visas pretty much goes to the main question: "How big is the risk that this foreigner will want to violate the terms of visa?"

Basically - risk or intent to overstay visa, stay in the US illegally or stay and try to legalize (e.g. to marry US citizen and file for Green Card), violate other US laws etc.

There're tons of factors that increase or decrease this risk, like family and personal ties in both countries, owning a property, job, assets, reason to visit... We don't know for sure but I believe they consider every visa applicant as a possible visa terms violator and evaluate how likely it can happen. Any other thoughts?

- Victor from Russia

Edited November 30, 2016 by Amy_and_Victor

[millefleur 5,047]

I don't think it's so random, I think it's just way more complicated system of grades/scores we know nothing about at our level. Like every K-1 visa (not sure about other types) has 1 to 3 stars printed under the photo of it's holder and people speculate about it for years but nobody knows for sure what these stars mean and what is better for you - if you have 1 star or 3 stars on your visa?

Reading a lot of stories and experiences on VJ I got an impression that this system regarding tourist/visitors visas pretty much goes to the main question: "How big is the risk that this foreigner will want to violate the terms of visa?"

Basically - risk or intent to overstay visa, stay in the US illegally or stay and try to legalize (e.g. to marry US citizen and file for Green Card), violate other US laws etc.

There're tons of factors that increase or decrease this risk, like family and personal ties in both countries, owning a property, job, assets, reason to visit... We don't know for sure but I believe they consider every visa applicant as a possible visa terms violator and evaluate how likely it can happen. Any other thoughts?

- Victor from Russia

I've just known a number of Russians who seemingly had huge "REJECT ME" signs on their faces (due to lack of ties and basically being lower middle class or even poor by US standards) who ended up getting tourist visas no problem, so the whole system just really confuses me.