My first time trying to apply for a visa with a letter from a friend (citizen) in LA

[HumbertoR 1]

Hello there! I’m a 23 years old guy from Guadalajara, Jalisco. I am going to process my tourist visa for the first time. I have heard that a citizen friend or relative in the United States can write an invitation letter to the United States to the person who wants to apply for the visa and in this way it is easier or more likely that they will grant you the visa, my question is, What does the letter need to say? Can it be a letter of invitation to work? Can a person with a criminal record but already clean write this letter? Any recommendation?.
Thanks for reading. I await your answers.

[Rocio0010 5,599]

No, a letter is neither needed nor can it increase your possibilities. If anything, it can hurt you. You need to apply on your own merits for a tourist visa -mainly proving strong ties to your home country.

[Rocio0010 5,599]

9 minutes ago, HumbertoR said:

Can it be a letter of invitation to work? Can

Wait, what? No!!! You do not have the right to work as a tourist.

Do some serios research .

[aaron2020 11,651]

40 minutes ago, HumbertoR said:

Hello there! I’m a 23 years old guy from Guadalajara, Jalisco. I am going to process my tourist visa for the first time. I have heard that a citizen friend or relative in the United States can write an invitation letter to the United States to the person who wants to apply for the visa and in this way it is easier or more likely that they will grant you the visa, my question is, What does the letter need to say? Can it be a letter of invitation to work? Can a person with a criminal record but already clean write this letter? Any recommendation?.
Thanks for reading. I await your answers.

An invitation does not make it easier or more likely that they will grant you a visa.  The US Consulate and State Department explicitly say that invitation letters are not considered in granting or denying a visa.  No one can help you get a visa.  You have to qualify for the tourist visa based on your own circumstances.  No US citizen or green card holder can guarantee anything for you.

You can't work on a tourist visa.  It's completely illegal to work on a tourist visa.  

Edited January 6, 2022 by aaron2020

[HumbertoR 1]

13 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

An invitation does not make it easier or more likely that they will grant you a visa.  The US Consulate and State Department explicitly say that invitation letters are not considered in granting or denying a visa.  No one can help you get a visa.  You have to qualify for the tourist visa based on your own circumstances.  No US citizen or green card holder can guarantee anything for you.

You can't work on a tourist visa.  It's completely illegal to work on a tourist visa.  

I know that the letter does not guarantee anything, I know that it only adds points. If I ask something, it is because I am curious, be more patient, I seek guidance and recommendations, not scolding. I’m not searching work on the eua, I’m just looking for something that make it easy

[aaron2020 11,651]

9 minutes ago, HumbertoR said:

I know that the letter does not guarantee anything, I know that it only adds points. If I ask something, it is because I am curious, be more patient, I seek guidance and recommendations, not scolding. I’m not searching work on the eua, I’m just looking for something that make it easy

 

 

You asked if it could be an invitation to work.  But you're not searching for work.  Okay.  Got it.  

 

You know that an invitation add points.  Sorry, I try to help you understand US policy.

 

I wasn't scolding you.  You got the truth and you didn't like it.  

Good luck.  
 

Edited January 6, 2022 by aaron2020

[millefleur 5,047]

52 minutes ago, HumbertoR said:

I know that the letter does not guarantee anything, I know that it only adds points. If I ask something, it is because I am curious, be more patient, I seek guidance and recommendations, not scolding. I’m not searching work on the eua, I’m just looking for something that make it easy

It seems you may have misheard the wrong info about how the tourist/visitor visa process works.

 

So, let's keep it simple: what is the purpose of your trip? How long do you plan to stay? Who are you planning to visit in the US? What strong ties do you have to Mexico?

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

"Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

• The purpose of your trip,
• Your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or
• Your ability to pay all costs of the trip. 
   

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip."

 

Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html#documentation

 

Basically the focus should be on the ties to your home country as they are proof of you just intending to travel, not to immigrate.

[Rocio0010 5,599]

6 hours ago, HumbertoR said:

scolding

We weren’t scolding. We were just answering questions that you asked.

 

6 hours ago, HumbertoR said:

I’m not searching work on the eua,

Yet somehow you ask about including work on a tourist visa invitation letter.

 

OP, back to your point: you might or might not include the invitation letter, but it is not going to help you to get the visa. You need to prove strong ties to Mexico, not the US.

[African Zealot 1,455]

On visa journey, you will get the standard response (which also happens to be posted on various US embassy websites) that an invitation letter is not required a visitor visa application. That’s correct, not required.
 

However it can help. An invitation letter for example can confirm that your inviter for example is paying your plane fare and would be hosting you etc etc. Furthermore if you’re coming for an event like I did 25 years ago for a world tournament in Washington DC, they may ask for a letter on official letterhead from the organizers confirming your participation (which they did in my case).

 

A well written invitation letter never hurts. It may add nothing to your application however it doesn’t hurt.

 

PS: Don’t shoot the messenger 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[Rocio0010 5,599]

1 minute ago, African Zealot said:

An invitation letter for example can confirm that your inviter for example is paying your plane fare and would be hosting you etc etc

Not arguing with you or anything. Genuinely asking: how would that help?

[African Zealot 1,455]

10 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

Not arguing with you or anything. Genuinely asking: how would that help?

I am from a “third world“ country where the average monthly income is $154.78. For the average middle class person in my home country, the dollar cost of a vacation in the USA is a major financial setback many or maybe most cannot afford. Three weeks in a hotel and airfare will set you back $3,500 without factoring in shopping expenses and dining and transportation.
 

It suddenly becomes very affordable and reasonable to the consular officer  when your stepson or nephew (in my case when I “invited” my stepmother and auntie) confirms he’s financing your airfare and you’re lodging with him.

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by African Zealot

[EmilyW 1,512]

Conversely, having family in the US who are prepared to fund your vacation while in the US, can also imply that they may be prepared to continue to fund you if you overstay.  It isn't always the win people think it is.

[Rocio0010 5,599]

5 minutes ago, EmilyW said:

Conversely, having family in the US who are prepared to fund your vacation while in the US, can also imply that they may be prepared to continue to fund you if you overstay.  It isn't always the win people think it is.

Yep.

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

Letter can indicate u have a friend in the US with plans to marry here and adjust your status to stay 

it will not help your chances

 

u must apply with strong country ties to Mexico 

DO u own a home?

DO u have a good job to return to?

IS the friend a romantic friend ?

 

that is what embassy will look at

 

and ,  please,  if u do a letter of invitation and are successful ,  let us know so we can reference your post if others from Mexico ask this question

 

BTW a school teacher from Peru was denied 

her letter on invitation was from family here

she had a good job

she had to return to her job,  her policeman husband ,  her 2 kids

and they owned an apartment

and this woman and her husband had lived in Louisana while he attended university in the US and had left when college was over