Staying with a family you haven’t met - visa advice

[ihaveablackcloud 2]

My boyfriend and I are currently in a long distance relationship. While we realize it is a rather unconventional arrangement, we really hope to meet soon. He is currently a medical student, studying in Poland, and he would like to come stay with my family in the summer of 2020 to get to know my family. He has found a program at a local medical facility at which he would be able to study for the duration of his visit. They would be able to provide evidence of this; he also has strong ties to his country of residence, as he has an apartment lease and he must also return for his studies. Our biggest concern is presenting his lodging to the visa officers, since he will be staying with my family and we have not yet met. My father owns a home with an apartment upstairs and one downstairs, and we would be renting it to my boyfriend during the summer. If we give evidence of this, as well as a letter of invitation, will that be enough to strengthen our case? Or does the fact that we have not first met ruin our chances of him being granted a visa?

[JFH 12,190]

If he’s coming to study a tourist visa is the wrong visa. The only form of “study” you can do on a tourist visa is something informal such as cooking classes or other hobby-related things. 

 

Letters of invitation form no part of the tourist visa process. 

[ihaveablackcloud 2]

9 minutes ago, JFH said:

If he’s coming to study a tourist visa is the wrong visa. The only form of “study” you can do on a tourist visa is something informal such as cooking classes or other hobby-related things. 

 

Letters of invitation form no part of the tourist visa process. 

Thank you for your response! I thought I read on the guides that if it’s for a short period of time, then a visitor visa would be an okay option? Or perhaps I’m not understanding it correctly lol.

[Going through 5,671]

27 minutes ago, ihaveablackcloud said:

Thank you for your response! I thought I read on the guides that if it’s for a short period of time, then a visitor visa would be an okay option? Or perhaps I’m not understanding it correctly lol.

Studying on a tourist visa depends on what type of program it is..otherwise he would need a student visa:

 

Students cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program or with Visitor Visas
A student visa (F or M) is required to study in the United States. Foreign nationals may not study after entering on a visitor (B) visa or through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), except to undertake recreational study (non-credit) as part of a tourist visit. 

 

For short periods of recreational study, a Visitor (B) visa may be appropriate
A visitor (B) visa permits enrollment in a short recreational course of study, which is not for credit toward a degree or academic certificate. Learn more about Visitor Visas.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html

[Canerican 242]

@ihaveablackcloud

 

If he was coming to study as was mentioned earlier he would have to have an F-1 (Academic Student) or M-1 (Vocational Student) visa. This would allow him to study for a period of time and would have to get an I-20 filled out by the school, I believe, more information at this link: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students-and-the-form-i-20.

 

If he applies for a tourist visa, as mentioned earlier by @JFH, there is nothing an invitation letter can do to strengthen his case. When he goes for his visitor visa interview he has to prove strong ties. What you mention such as having studies and a residence to return to may be strong enough, it is up to whether the Consular Officer (CO) is satisfied or not with his proof of strong ties to his home country. If he is granted a visitor visa you have no control over how long he gets to stay, that is up to American Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Upon his entry they will decide how long he can stay, could be 1 week, could be 2 months.  

[Dashinka 24,507]

So he is applying for a B1/B2 visa?  Letters of invitation are generally worthless.  As to his chances of getting approved, each case is decided on their own merits.  If his home country and school ties are strong enough, he should have a good chance, but a lot also depends on what country he is from.

 

Good Luck!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Depending what the program is, a J visa might also be appropriate. He should contact the international student liaison of the program he is looking at for advice on what is appropriate. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

This is already posted in the tourist visa forum. I’ve asked a mod to merge.

[ihaveablackcloud 2]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

This is already posted in the tourist visa forum. I’ve asked a mod to merge.

Thank you! I am new to this website and didn’t realize I as posted in the wrong forum 

[ihaveablackcloud 2]

4 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

So he is applying for a B1/B2 visa?  Letters of invitation are generally worthless.  As to his chances of getting approved, each case is decided on their own merits.  If his home country and school ties are strong enough, he should have a good chance, but a lot also depends on what country he is from.

 

Good Luck!

Yes. The program he would attending assists students with getting the B1 visa. And I also read that his home country has about a 22% denial rate for tourist visas (I know that’s a different visa, but those seem like somewhat decent odds). Thank you for your response!

[Boiler 45,525]

Does not sound like a B?

[carmel34 3,633]

Check with the program he is applying to, an F-1 student visa may be required to enroll.  The challenge for him is he will have to convince the officer that he intends to return home after the program, they will assume immigrant intent, and his application will be scrutinized because of his love interest in the US.  An invitation letter from you and the living arrangement you are proposing will bring even more scrutiny to his intended purpose in visiting the US.  He will need to apply for the visa on his own merits, that it is for study in the US and not to visit you for an extended period of time, and that he will return to his home country or where he is studying after the program in the US ends.  What is his country of citizenship?  This may make a difference as well.  I recommend that you go to his country and meet him in person first, before getting involved in such a relationship.  Good luck!

Edited December 7, 2019 by carmel34

[HRQX 4,145]

9 hours ago, ihaveablackcloud said:

I also read that his home country has about a 22% denial rate for tourist visas

Which country is his home country? Poland?

[Ryan H 3,812]

~~~Duplicate threads merged~~~