Address on B2 Application Issue

[frodolives 7]

My dad and I became good friends with a family from India about five years ago. I also got in contact with one of their relatives who was still living abroad at the time. It was just friendship of course, and we corresponded via email and Facebook. He had recently received his masters degree, and wanted to come visit and look for employment opportunities while visiting his family and his friends (us). Well, my father had a vacant apartment upstairs from us which he offered to him during his stay. On the B2 visa application, he put down our address. He ended up being refused during his interview for dishonesty. We fell out of contact eventually after that. 
 

Fast forward to now, my boyfriend and I have been in a relationship for three years. I’ve visited him, but he has not yet had the opportunity to visit us. I’m concerned that when he applies for the b2 visa with our address as the location at which he will be staying, they will also be able to see the application from before which was denied. There is no dishonesty on my part. And I’m extremely concerned that if they see it they will think that my family is just randomly bringing strangers over here. This is absolutely not the truth; my father, out of kindness, opened his doors to people we thought we could trust, and it backfired. And I’m afraid it’ll cause problems now. This has really been disturbing me. Will our address come up from before, or am I just overreacting for nothing? Thanks 🙏 

[SalishSea 17,839]

Is this boyfriend the same person as the family friend?

 

The family friend's B visa was refused not because of the address, but because of suspected immigrant intent.  Consulate officers are, by law, required to view all visitor visa applications as potential immigrants.

 

The BF's application will be evaluated similarly, although separately.  It is entirely evaluated on his ties to his country and likelihood of returning to his country.

 

[frodolives 7]

7 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Is this boyfriend the same person as the family friend?

 

The family friend's B visa was refused not because of the address, but because of suspected immigrant intent.  Consulate officers are, by law, required to view all visitor visa applications as potential immigrants.

 

The BF's application will be evaluated similarly, although separately.  It is entirely evaluated on his ties to his country and likelihood of returning to his country.

 

No, he is not the family friend. Not related to the friend at all, and he is coming from a different country. My concern is that will they be able to see our address from before? Would it be brought up at my boyfriends interview?

Edited July 25, 2020 by frodolives

[SalishSea 17,839]

Just now, frodolives said:

No, he is not the family friend. Not related to the friend at all, and he is coming from a different country. My concern is that will they be able to see our address from before? 

Like I said, that address is irrelevant and not the reason the first guy was denied a visa.

 

All B visa applications are adjudicated based on the applicant's ties to home (not ties to USA), and likelihood of returning home after a visit.

 

Your BF's application  will be stronger if he has concrete ties, like a job to return to (with an employer letter specifying dates).

[frodolives 7]

3 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Like I said, that address is irrelevant and not the reason the first guy was denied a visa.

 

All B visa applications are adjudicated based on the applicant's ties to home (not ties to USA), and likelihood of returning home after a visit.

 

Your BF's application  will be stronger if he has concrete ties, like a job to return to (with an employer letter specifying dates).

Thank you so much! I was just scared that it would cause them to be suspicious, but now that I know it has nothing to do with the evaluation during my boyfriends interview, I feel so much better lol. My OCD mind creates problems where there aren’t any! Haha 

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

14 minutes ago, frodolives said:

and he is coming from a different country.

In what country does he currently reside?

[SalishSea 17,839]

7 minutes ago, frodolives said:

Thank you so much! I was just scared that it would cause them to be suspicious, but now that I know it has nothing to do with the evaluation during my boyfriends interview, I feel so much better lol. My OCD mind creates problems where there aren’t any! Haha 

I get that!  Please let us know how it goes for him.

[frodolives 7]

Just now, Lucky Cat said:

In what country does he currently reside?

Russia 

[Crazy Cat 41,894]

1 minute ago, frodolives said:

Russia 

The B2 refusal rate in FY 2019 was only about 15% for Russia.  As stated by @Jorgedig, he needs to be honest and prepared to show evidence of strong ties to his country.  Good luck...

[frodolives 7]

9 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

The B2 refusal rate in FY 2019 was only about 15% for Russia.  As stated by @Jorgedig, he needs to be honest and prepared to show evidence of strong ties to his country.  Good luck...

Thanks for the response! We believe he has pretty strong ties, though, of course we know it’s ultimately up to the visa officer. But we are hopeful they’re enough proof that he will return. My main concern was that my friend from five years ago put down our address as well. But now that I know it won’t be an issue in my boyfriend’s case, I am less worried.

[frodolives 7]

15 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I get that!  Please let us know how it goes for him.

Thank you, will do! Though, I’m sure it’ll be some time due to the closure of all the embassies. We were supposed to try for a visit this summer, but covid had different plans for us lol.

[millefleur 5,046]

15 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

The B2 refusal rate in FY 2019 was only about 15% for Russia. 

Yup, for Russia, it's not exactly easy to get a tourist visa, but word on the street is that it's much easier for males to get them than females (especially unmarried ones). If he has some ties to Russia, such as a job, getting a B shouldn't be too hard.

 

8 minutes ago, frodolives said:

But now that I know it won’t be an issue in my boyfriend’s case, I am less worried.

He might get more scrutinized if he's going to visit a significant other who is a USC though. Of course nobody can say for sure but hopefully it'll work out for him.

[frodolives 7]

17 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Yup, for Russia, it's not exactly easy to get a tourist visa, but word on the street is that it's much easier for males to get them than females (especially unmarried ones). If he has some ties to Russia, such as a job, getting a B shouldn't be too hard.

 

He might get more scrutinized if he's going to visit a significant other who is a USC though. Of course nobody can say for sure but hopefully it'll work out for him.

I know that because he has an American girlfriend, that could be a bit more of an issue. But my previous comment was about someone else who my family had been friends with. Five years ago he was denied a B2 visa. He had used our address because my father had offered a vacant apartment to him during his stay. I posted here because I was worried that when my boyfriend applies now, they’ll see that the other guy had used our address too. But according to what everyone is saying, that doesn’t seem like it’ll be an issue. 

[frodolives 7]

46 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I get that!  Please let us know how it goes for him.

Oh actually I do have one more question, I’m sorry lol. We’ve been discussing getting married the next time I go visit him. Would the address be an issue during the spouse visa process? Or is that a non issue too?

[millefleur 5,046]

19 minutes ago, frodolives said:

Oh actually I do have one more question, I’m sorry lol. We’ve been discussing getting married the next time I go visit him. Would the address be an issue during the spouse visa process? Or is that a non issue too?

A non-issue. Although, I'm a bit confused as to why he'd be putting down an address in the US as his home when he doesn't even live in the US? Are you talking about the "Home Address" line on the DS-160 or the "U.S. Point of Contact" address?

 

DS-160 example for reference: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/PDF-other/DS-160-Example_11012019.pdf