How To Increase Chance for Success in Getting US Visa

[JayFromTexas 69]

I've been dating a Russian lady, age 48, for a little over a year. We've met 3 times in the past 8 months, once in Greece, once in the Dominican Republic and I recently visited her in Russia. 

 

We would like to get her a Visa so she can visit me in the U.S. I've read the other threads and I understand the challenge getting an interview appointment in Warsaw. We will have to deal with that.

 

My question in this thread is about what we can do to increase her chances of getting approval for a visa. She has contacted an agency that assists Russian citizens to get approved for a US B1/B2 visa and they tell her, her chances are only 50%, which is a bit worrisome.

 

I've read here that the main concern from the US officials is that my girl won't return to Russia. I've read that it helps her case if she has a strong tie to Russia. To that question, she has a 10 year old daughter who she has primary custody of. She has a business in Russia where she teaches English to children and young adults. She owns her flat and a country cottage. She has a good income and can pay her own expenses to visit me. She paid her own expenses when she traveled to Greece and to the Dominican Republic. She is definitely not staying in the U.S, but she would like to visit me for a few weeks.

 

She was told by the agency that the following factors hurt her case: 1) she is visiting a man 2) "her job" 3) her age

 

Does anyone know why those factors hurt her chances of success?

 

This agency does specialize in tourist visas and by all appearances is active.

 

Any advice and/or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[millefleur 5,046]

21 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

My question in this thread is about what we can do to increase her chances of getting approval for a visa. She has contacted an agency that assists Russian citizens to get approved for a US B1/B2 visa and they tell her, her chances are only 50%, which is a bit worrisome.

I would actually trust that agency because at least they're being honest. An agency who promises higher is probably lying.

 

21 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

She was told by the agency that the following factors hurt her case: 1) she is visiting a man 2) "her job" 3) her age

What exactly is her "job"? That's a bit of a weird comment to make, prior to Covid I knew people in Russia who had pretty mediocre/unstable jobs and somehow got approvals for B visas. Does she have any family in Russia? Children? (Edit: whoops did not see that you mentioned the 10 year old daughter, that is good, could be considered a strong tie.)

 

If you want to increase chances of getting a B visa there might be a kind of loophole that could help (maybe): have her apply for a Canadian tourist visa, hopefully she will get approved. Plan a trip to Canada, visit Canada and have her return back to Russia. The US and Canada share immigration data and if they she that Canada approved her and she visited Canada and left there may the the possibility that after the US sees she has successfully visited Canada and didn't overstay, they will look more kindly on issuing her a US tourist visa.

Edited February 8, 2022 by millefleur

[Dashinka 24,488]

Middle aged single Russian women are sometimes thought to be an overstay risk.  My now wife tried twice to get a B2 and was denied both times.  She had a good job, and owned a flat, but no go.  At the second interview they even asked her specifically about me.  Regardless, all your friend can do is try.  Unlike my wife, your girlfriend has a minor child, and a history of traveling outside of Russia (my wife had never been outside of Russia before she came here on a K1).  I agree with the company assessment, 50/50.  The biggest issue she will have is the long wait to even get an appointment for a B2 at the US Consulate in Moscow where they are only taking emergency applications.

 

Good Luck!

[Mike E 11,739]

16 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

 She was told by the agency that the following factors hurt her case: 1) she is visiting a man

She can marry you in the USA and file to adjust while in the USA and not have to leave to USA to get an immigration visa. IOW she can come here and get a green card through you   The government doesn’t want that.  
 

Quote

 

2) "her job"

Sounds like it is the type of job where she sets her hours and can even do remotely. So weak tie to Russia and a possibility of ilkrgdlly working in the USA.  

Quote

 

3) her age

 

Does anyone know why those factors hurt her chances of success?

At age 48 I disagree.  28? Definitely as that fits the profile of people likely to overstay 

 

Her age and her daughter are strong factors in her favor.  
 

Go for it.  She will be 50 by the time she gets the visa anyway. 

Edited February 8, 2022 by Mike E

[JayFromTexas 69]

12 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I would actually trust that agency because at least they're being honest. An agency who promises higher is probably lying.

 

What exactly is her "job"? That's a bit of a weird comment to make, prior to Covid I knew people in Russia who had pretty mediocre/unstable jobs and somehow got approvals for B visas. Does she have any family in Russia? Children?

 

If you want to increase chances of getting a B visa there might be a kind of loophole that could help (maybe): have her apply for a Canadian tourist visa, hopefully she will get approved. Plan a trip to Canada, visit Canada and have her return back to Russia. The US and Canada share immigration data and if they she that Canada approved her and she visited Canada and left there may the the possibility that after the US sees she has successfully visited Canada and didn't overstay, they will look more kindly on issuing her a US tourist visa.

I can see the suspicion on her job. She teaches English to Russian children and young adults. She works for herself. She used to work for an agency.

 

In answer to your question about children and relatives, she has a 17 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter. Her mother and father (divorced) live nearby.

 

Interesting idea about going to Canada. That is definitely a possibility.

[Dashinka 24,488]

4 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

I can see the suspicion on her job. She teaches English to Russian children and young adults. She works for herself. She used to work for an agency.

 

In answer to your question about children and relatives, she has a 17 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter. Her mother and father (divorced) live nearby.

 

Interesting idea about going to Canada. That is definitely a possibility.

My wife does the same thing via Skype/Viber from here in the US.  The time zone differences can be an issue, but it is easy to do  remotely.

[millefleur 5,046]

3 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

I can see the suspicion on her job. She teaches English to Russian children and young adults. She works for herself. She used to work for an agency.

If she's an English teacher, maybe she can secure a more stable job working at a company or a school? I don't see being an English teacher as a negative, she can even say part of the reason she wants to visit the US is to practice English and buy materials for her job. The more "business" reasons she has for visiting the US, the better. Also using her job and bringing these materials back to her students indicates she would be planning on returning.

 

4 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

In answer to your question about children and relatives, she has a 17 yr old son and 10 yr old daughter. Her mother and father (divorced) live nearby.

Sorry I overlooked that you mentioned the 10 year old the first time! That's definitely a strong tie. If her daughter is dependent on her then at least she has a legit reason to return home. Of course, in all cases, visiting a man in the US is hard to overcome which is why the agency is being pessimistic about approval. Just be realistic about the odds, but especially now that I know she's an English teacher I think the Canada trip prior to visiting the US would only strengthen her case.

[Boiler 45,467]

Leaving children behind is quite common, only yesterday there was a lady who left a 10 year old daughter behind and now 6 years later is looking for her to immigrate

[JayFromTexas 69]

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Leaving children behind is quite common, only yesterday there was a lady who left a 10 year old daughter behind and now 6 years later is looking for her to immigrate

There are always exceptions, but having a minor child has to help her case compared to someone whose children are grown and gone. 

[Boiler 45,467]

1 hour ago, JayFromTexas said:

There are always exceptions, but having a minor child has to help her case compared to someone whose children are grown and gone. 

That would be down to the CO just saying it is not a given

[Dashinka 24,488]

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

That would be down to the CO just saying it is not a given

Definitely, many examples of parents leaving minor children with a relative, etc., coming to the US and then getting the child after.

Edited February 8, 2022 by Dashinka

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

I agree traveling history might be a positive, but in her case it was just to meet you, which could be a negative. 

 

As someone mentioned already, her job could also play against her, as she is self employed, working from home with no issues to do it remotely. 

 

That being said, there is no way to know but trying. A tourist visa is pretty cheap, but unfortunately the wait will be quite long. 

[millefleur 5,046]

13 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

That being said, there is no way to know but trying. A tourist visa is pretty cheap, but unfortunately the wait will be quite long. 

There's also the added expense of booking flights to Warsaw, Schengen visa, booking hotels to stay there and bringing your own translator. So, it's a bit more for Russians right now but still the only way to know is to go to the interview and find out, indeed.

Edited February 8, 2022 by millefleur

[JSWH 262]

@JayFromTexas I don't have much to add to what already has been said here, just want to encourage you a bit. As a middle-age Russian lady who was dating an American, did not have a job at that time, and whose daughter was enrolled into college in the US, I applied for B1/B2 visa and was completely honest at the interview about dating American and wanting to visit him. I told a CO that we were thinking about marriage but would do it in a proper way via fiancee visa. I had an extensive travel history, including almost all European and manySouth-East Asian countries. I also owned real estate in Russia but was never asked about it or how much savings I had.

I got the visa, visited my boyfriend 7 times in the span of two years, we applied for K1/K2 (for daughter) and got married. We've been happily married for 5 years and I have my citizenship interview next month. 

Have your GF apply for a visa. Do not use visa agency, they do nothing but filling out the forms which shouldn't be an issue for your English speaking lady. It's a straight forward process with only obstacle of having to go to another country for an interview. No need to go to Warsaw which is quite busy, Russians as "homeless nation" can apply in other countries too. F.e. Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Cyprus, Serbia, Greece, etc. Have your lady read Форум Винского, https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=326&t=400571&start=460, the best Russian traveling site (think Russian TripAdvisor) for the most recent information related to US visas for citizens of Russia. 

Good luck with the visa and your relationship! I love my American husband to pieces and meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me. 

[millefleur 5,046]

4 minutes ago, JSWH said:

No need to go to Warsaw which is quite busy, Russians as "homeless nation" can apply in other countries too. F.e. Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Cyprus, Serbia, Greece, etc. Have your lady read Форум Винского, https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=326&t=400571&start=460, the best Russian traveling site (think Russian TripAdvisor) for the most recent information related to US visas for citizens of Russia. 

Is this 100% true? I would make sure before paying the $160 fee that these other embassies are accepting third country nationals for B visas. I understand things may have been easier before Covid but now with all the backlogs, it would be a shame to pay the $160 fee only to have the embassy/consulate say "Sorry, you can't interview here."