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Not for Profit Center for Russian, Ukrainian & FSU Bride Info. > Russian Bride Forum: Red Tape Forums > Russian Fiancee Paperwork > Tips on How to Apply for U.S. Tourist Visas… |
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Not for Profit Center for Russian, Ukrainian & FSU Bride Info. > Russian Bride Forum: Red Tape Forums > Russian Fiancee Paperwork > Tips on How to Apply for U.S. Tourist Visas… |
| Moderated by: ronin1 |
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| Tips on How to Apply for U.S. Tourist Visas… | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Thursday March 15th, 2007 07:09 pm |
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1st Post |
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ronin1 Administrator 
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How to Apply for U.S. Tourist Visas… Known as a Class B-2 visa using form DS-156… So you are getting married to a Russian Woman and you want to have her parents experience the grand occasion. Or perhaps she insists that her parents are present for the joining of two hearts. Maybe you are already married and now believe its time for the in-laws to come for a visit. In any of these cases, someone will have to apply for the State Departments tourist visa (class B-2 non-immigrant visa form DS-156). It is not a difficult process. The application is a 2-page e-form that is electronically submitted. In a perfect world the visitors would fill out the form, however that is not often the easiest way since most Russians don’t have computers and internet access. The simplest way is for you and your RW to fill out the form and submit it through the Internet. Then send a copy of the filled out form to the in-laws to sign and keep for the Embassy interview. Bear in mind that you will have to submit one form for each in-law that is visiting. After a few days, your in-laws will receive a letter informing them of the interview date, time and place. Ordinarily it will be the closest U.S. Embassy. The date can be approximated by the current visa wait time of the particular Embassy. Typically it will be 2 to 4 calendar weeks from the date of application. There are some other minor details, but that is it for the typical visa. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the Embassy will approve a visa(s). They are looking for 3 things: reason for going, ability to pay and reason for returning to Russia. If you can assist in establishing these points, you will increase the chances of a given visa being approved. One way this can be done is by an invitation letter. Such will relieve the Russian relative of much of the financial burden of proof. With an invitation letter you can state that boarding and lodging will be accommodated by you. If you want to go a step future, you can state that you have a financial account that the relative(s) can draw upon to pay for said travels on their tour of the country. To support this you can attach a copy of the account’s statement (suggest obscuring the account number in case this information package gets stolen). Another point you can assist in establishing is the reason for the visit. Remember that this is a tourist visa not a coming over for a wedding visa. To be effective in this regard an agenda of places and attractions would certainly be helpful. If you can acquire reservations in their name(s), that would be even better. If you are successful in all the above points, the only thing the relative(s) has to do is to support the reasons for their return to Russia. They can't slack on this point in the least. They must have copies of written proof of family and financial ties to Russia. The stronger the better. For the interview, the relative(s) need to have a signed copy of the application and the invitation letter with any supporting documents that you may have. For an AM, the best and most secure way to send this packet of information is by registered mail. The USPS will not accept the packet for registered mail if it contains any metal or plastics. This includes the use of tapes on the outside of the envelope. It takes about 10 days and will be waiting at the Russian Post Office for the relative(s) to pick up. After the relative goes though the interview, if it is approved, they often have the option to pick up the visa at the Embassy or have it sent to them. Many will opt for the Embassy pick up since they will have to leave their passport at the Embassy to have the visa applied. Good Luck, Ronin P.S. Tell us how the visa application went. - State Departments Tourist Visa Information - State Dept: Visa wait time (Select Embassy at the bottom of page.) - State Dept: Tourist visa form DS-156 (Link at bottom of page) Last edited on Thursday March 15th, 2007 07:27 pm by ronin1 |
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| Posted: Wednesday May 9th, 2007 05:07 am |
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2nd Post |
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ronin1 Administrator
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Interview questions… There is a forth aspect of the visa process that I had neglected to mention. It goes along the lines of Regan’s famous words, “to trust but verify.” In general, the interview process is designed to verify the validity of information previously submitted and to draw addition information if needed. In fact, based on the information submitted before the interview, the Embassy can make a tentative decision of whether the applicant will be granted a visa or not and for how long. There are two tentative cases, one for granting a visa and the other for denial. There is little in between since the Embassy will likely side toward denial when there is reasonable doubt in the paperwork. Those applicants that maybe earmarked for denial can do little to bring themselves up to be granted a visa. The applicant can provide more favorable supporting information, however the interviewer will wonder why it wasn’t submitted in the first place with the application. For all I know these applications maybe tentatively decided by committee and the interviewer maybe unable or unwilling to risk going against a committee decision. In the other camp are those applications that are earmarked for being granting. This may sound great for those in this camp, however a good number of these applicants also may fail to be granted a visa based on the results of the interview. My theory is that the interviewer only has the power to deny a visa to an applicant that has been already tentative approved, everything else has been pre-ordained before hand. Even if this theory is not correct it is a good premise to work from. If my theory is correct an applicant should be a critical listener and answer the interviewer’s questions exactly, else they will find themselves not being granted a visa after all. Divulging any information not asked for may reveal unfavorable facts. Sure, additional info may reveal favorable facts, however if the applicant was earmarked for being granted a visa, additional good info is not necessary and indeed risky. The interviewer may use various techniques to ascertain the validity of information. Often they will ask the same questions in several different ways. For instances an interviewer can ask, “When do you plan to start your visit?” He is asking for a date and not this… ”Well, it depends on if I get an visa.” The interviewer may ask some other questions and then ask when you plan to return from your trip. After a few more unrelated questions the interviewer may ask how long you plan to be abroad. The answers to these 3 questions about the trip timetable must match-up exactly otherwise the applicant maybe deemed non-eligible for a visa. How can the Embassy trust the written info if the source (applicant) is not reliable? The main point is that the applicant should know their application information well. This goes double if they didn’t create the application. Their supporting documents (i.e. proof of holding, family ties, etc) should be well organized with no clouds. There is no doubt that the interview is an oral test. Remain open and honest, yet be a critical listener and answer exactly what is being asked. Ronin
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| Posted: Tuesday August 7th, 2007 07:16 am |
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3rd Post |
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ronin1 Administrator
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Bad & Good Indicators A member has asked why his Russian in-laws were denied a US Tourist Visa. It is clear to me how the Embassy thinks in these matters. I will spell it out so there are not misunderstandings: Good Indicators: - In-law has a big bank account for a long time (can prove it with several bank statements). - In-law owns property. The more the better (can prove it with deeds). - In-law is employed and makes good money (can prove it with several pay statements or letter from employer). - In-law has other Russia based holding or interests (can be proved with documentation). - In-law has other important obligations in Russian. This can be care of other family members, financial, or religious (the more the better and they all have to be in writing attested by someone other than the in-law). - In-law is in good health. Has a recent physical exam (can prove it with the results). - In-law is married. Shows family ties (can prove it with a marriage cert.) This is a good indicator only when one of the in-laws is applying for a visa. - In-law has a large family and extended family in their neighborhood (and can prove it). - In-law has depended children (can prove it with documentation). - In-law has a relatively current track record of travel to several countries outside of Russia (can prove it with their passport). - In-law answers the Embassy's interviewers questions properly and has all original documents to substantiate all claims. Bad Indicators: - In-law had few good indicators. - In-law is or was associated with organizations that are counter to US interests (KGB, FSB, military, mafia, radical groups, etc.) - In-law has a criminal record. - In-law makes a false statement in the visa application or supporting documents. - Claims are not supported by written documents. - In-law can't keep facts straight or doesn't answer questions correctly in the interview. - In-law has a previously denied application. (Not 100% on this but is stands to reason that they will look more closely as to why it was denied before) Ronin Last edited on Monday August 13th, 2007 06:16 am by ronin1 |
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