Belizean Resident with Guatemalan Passport Looking to Get US Tourist Visa for a 2 Week Visit

[jjbanks 0]

Hi everyone. I'm a US citizen, and my boyfriend and I have been together for almost a year. We're really hoping he can come visit me (just for 2 weeks) early next year, but he's stressed out because he keeps saying it's really hard for Central American's to get visitor's visas to the US.

 

So I looked it up, and it seems that statistically almost 90% of applicants are denied. And now I'm stressed out, too.

 

Our situation is a little more complicated, too, because although he currently has a Guatemalan passport, he lives in Belize (and has for years). I've read that what the government looks for is ties to the home community. Since he doesn't have ties to Guatemala (as he lives in Belize), our thought was that it'll be easier for him to get a visa if he applies using a Belizean passport. So he's in the process of getting his Belizean passport.

 

But now I'm reading that, even with ties to the home community, it's STILL a toss up to whether or not you get approved. I originally thought that what they were looking for was a long term home, family, job, etc. All of that he has in Belize. And as for a letter of invitation, I can provide that. I also read on the US Immigration website that one of the requirements is a medical examination (costly, but he can get it), and proof of income to cover all travel expenses for the duration of his stay (which I can provide proof of, no problem). But NOW I'm reading that a long term home = a mortgage in the home country, and family = kids, and a job = something high paying. And none of that he has.

 

I'm not sure if it matters or helps, but he's visited Europe a few times and always returned to Belize. And actually lived in Germany for almost a year, and also returned to Belize. All of that was using his Guatemalan passport, though, so I'm not sure if it's even relevant (or can be brought up?) when applying for a visa using his Belizean passport. (And if that travel history IS beneficial, would it be better for him to keep and apply for a US visa using his Guatemalan passport, even though he lives in Belize?)

 

Does anyone have any experience with something like this? Any and all advice is much appreciated. Thank you.

[Dashinka 24,731]

I don’t know if it matters which passport he uses to apply, maybe someone else has more experience with this aspect.  However, what you have heard about applying for the visitor visa is correct.  Visitor visas are all about the person applying, no one can sponsor a visitor.  The consulate will evaluate each individual application, what are the reasons for traveling, what the ties are to their current country or residence and make a decision.  Unfortunately, it is a fact that with what are considered high fraud countries, the consulates deny applications more often than not.  My then girlfriend applied twice for a B1and was denied both times even though she owned property, had a good job and had family including a son at home.  We assumed these were denied since she was coming to visit me along with a few other friends.  Regardless, all one can do is try, and prepare all the evidence they can to show there is no immigration intent.

 

Good Luck!

[Boiler 45,939]

Medical?

 

Income he needs to prove is his own, nothing to do with you.

[Going through 5,671]

5 hours ago, jjbanks said:

and proof of income to cover all travel expenses for the duration of his stay (which I can provide proof of, no problem).

The proof of income they are going to want to see is his own....your income in irrelevant to approval or denial.

 

5 hours ago, jjbanks said:

I also read on the US Immigration website that one of the requirements is a medical examination

Not sure where you read that this is required for tourist visas.  

[jan22 3,056]

Although the non-immigrant visa (NIV) refusal rate in many Central American countries is high, it is nowhere near 90%. I'm not sure where you got that statistic. According to the State Department Fiscal Year 2017 statistics, 53% of Guatemalans applying for visitor visas were issued visas. 

 

It won't matter which passport he uses to apply for the visa. What the consular officer will be looking at are his ties to his home country and/or country of residence, i.e, Belize, in his case.

Edited December 11, 2017 by jan22

[jjbanks 0]

Thank you all for the replies. It seems I was mixing up some requirements for a visitor's visa with an immigration visa (medical records, sponsor). And yes, there's currently a 53% approval for Guatemalan citizens (thanks for the clarification).

 

Rapidvisa.com has an approval odds calculator (https://rapidvisa.com/tourist-visa-odds/). It seems that having a girlfriend/boyfriend or family member in the US is almost an automatic denial. I know it's important to be 100% honest on the application, but it feels like saying he's coming to visit me as his partner is completely pointless. He does have friends in the country and he definitely would be traveling around as a tourist/vacationer to check out the area. Any thoughts on the interview?

[Boiler 45,939]

21 minutes ago, jjbanks said:

Thank you all for the replies. It seems I was mixing up some requirements for a visitor's visa with an immigration visa (medical records, sponsor). And yes, there's currently a 53% approval for Guatemalan citizens (thanks for the clarification).

 

Rapidvisa.com has an approval odds calculator (https://rapidvisa.com/tourist-visa-odds/). It seems that having a girlfriend/boyfriend or family member in the US is almost an automatic denial. I know it's important to be 100% honest on the application, but it feels like saying he's coming to visit me as his partner is completely pointless. He does have friends in the country and he definitely would be traveling around as a tourist/vacationer to check out the area. Any thoughts on the interview?

I would not trust Rapidvisa, they totally screwed a VJ Member recently, as they pointed out they are not lawyers, not sure what they are.

Actually suggesting it is some sort of lottery is totally misleading.

[geowrian 22,338]

10 hours ago, Boiler said:

Actually suggesting it is some sort of lottery is totally misleading.

Definitely this.

 

Plus I looked at their code for the calculator and it's ridiculous. It's basically a weighted list of "if you answered x then you gain/lose y points".  The points / 100 = your "chance" (with hard boundaries of 3% and 97%). It's not based on any actual data...everything else is an arbitrary number assigned to a choice.