Visa for Vietnamese girlfriend to visit USA

SteinNebraska wrote:

Just based on my own personal experience applying for a tourist visa with that background will simply separate you from $165.00 and a lot of time filling out paperwork.  You really have no chance.  At all.

We had everything that you had (except one child vs two)

Qutestions were:

Do you have relatives in the US?
Who are you going to see?
Will you have a job when you return?

Sorry, denied.

Wouldn't having two teenage kids and a house in Viet Nam be enough to convince the authorities you have a very good reason to return to Viet Nam.

Andy Passenger wrote:

schleger wrote:

If a mature professional adult like this is denied a travel visa B1/2 to US, who is awarded this type of visa?

At present probably only the white master race.

I didn't see where the OP said anything about Deutschland...

Seriously, you who so often laugh at Americans for their attitudes have no room to talk.

I recall you saying that you are a native of Germany?

Shall we compare current U.S. Visa restrictions with immigration AND emigration policies of the Fatherland between 1933 and 1945?

VanKhanh Ho wrote:

Maybe a service agency would help? If you want I can introduce you to my friend. I see him posting successful US visa applications on facebook everyday. He might be shows off, but you may want to try talking with him first. No harm.

That's a good suggestion, I think.

colinoscapee wrote:

SteinNebraska wrote:

Just based on my own personal experience applying for a tourist visa with that background will simply separate you from $165.00 and a lot of time filling out paperwork.  You really have no chance.  At all.

We had everything that you had (except one child vs two)

Qutestions were:

Do you have relatives in the US?
Who are you going to see?
Will you have a job when you return?

Sorry, denied.

Wouldn't having two teenage kids and a house in Viet Nam be enough to convince the authorities you have a very good reason to return to Viet Nam.

I thought so. I was in the same boat.  She had a 12 year old daughter and owns her own house.  Didn't matter even the slightest bit.

schleger wrote:

VNDreamer - During the short,  5 minute meeting your gf had where they asked a couple of questions,   what were the questions and do you feel had you known these she could have been better prepared?

Very basic questions:

1. Why do you want to go to the USA and with who?
2. Who helped you with the visa request?
3. Where do you want to go in the USA and for how long?

That's it, nothing more.  Based on what I have experienced, it appears that the Embassy already decides before you show up whether to accept or deny your visa request.  Literally, she was there for maybe 5 minutes.  Thus, the embassy already decided to reject her before the interview.  In my legal opinion, the Consular refused to look at the documentation because there was more than enough evidence to establish that there was -0- risk of her not returning to VN. 

Finally, for the tourist visa, you are not permitted to enter the Embassy with her, she has to go alone.  For the K-1, yes, you can enter the Embassy and participate in the interview with her.

SteinNebraska wrote:

It's funny, people tout the fact that there were 105,000 tourist visas given to Vietnam and a 73% approval rate.

Who are "people"? 

The article is very helpful and explains why people are rejected for non-immigrant visas.  I now have a better understanding of what the consular is looking for and explains why my gf was likely rejected.  In a nutshell, a non-immigrant visa means you have no intent of migrating to the USA, but the consular makes the assumption that you are.  So if my gf shows up and says she wants to visit the USA with her boyfriend, what is the intent, really?  To get married someday and immigrate to the USA and thus, in the Consular's mind, she has an intent to immigrate to the USA.

https://immigrationroad.com/visa/214b-i … denial.php

vndreamer wrote:

Put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer.  If a VN woman says she wants to visit the USA with her USA boyfriend to visit the country to know his family, culture etc.  What do you think is going through their mind?  Exactly, once she is there, why bother with the K-1, just get married and stay in the USA, apply for the green card.  No need to return to Vietnam and go through all the red tape and waiting in VN.  Thus, in their mind, your true intent is to immigrate, even though it may not be.

tgmcl wrote:

Bingo. This is an accurate definition of INA 214(b) -- "intending immigrant". The consular officer is less interested in what you're going to do in the US and is more interested in why you'll return home.

So true, and so, they'll pay a closer look on how much your girlfriend has (amex/visa/mastercard/...) (not YOUR money/financial guarantor/.... HER)
Based on the money she will show, and what she owns in Vietnam (house/car/boat/family ties/... anything that will prove she'll come back no matter what).
Then, either the interview will goes right, or either it will be "byebye and thanks for the money"

You might really consider sending 4-5000$ on her bank account if she doesn't have much... especially if she doesn't have a credit card.
Wait 3 months before printing the bank history, so they won't see the source of the income.
But keep in mind that a realistic bank history is mandatory (salary every month + pay slips if possible)



People with money/rich gets their visa in no time and without any trouble, right?
But no "rich" country want poor peoples... Sad but true. (USA, Europe, Japan, any OECD's country, ...)



By the way, don't even think about doing a visa application if you're not in a relationship since at least 1-2 years. You wouldn't be credible for the embassies... (you need to proof your relationship as well, so they can verify you're not a bad guy trying to send VN girls in USA for money too ==> pictures / loan / gift / ...)



Still, you might want to prepare the file, then have a visit to the consult for advises on your case, and show them that you're both honest and have nothing to hide.
At least you won't be a random visa request number anymore... It did work for me few months ago

schleger wrote:

Or should I wait until I can load $4000 into her account and wait 3 months.

In three months you will be right up against summer vacation.  Also any last minute deposits are suspect.  I am certainly no expert on this but I would say just go with what you have.  Having two underage children still in Vietnam should be a strong  factor.

schleger wrote:

I see 2 other options: the Fiance visa route where she could visit US and we'd have 90 days I'm order to get married. Then she could stay in US..... Or,  and this is where I need clarification, what if I,  US citizen marry her here in VN?   I sense it would be easier and cheaper..... Then, could she (as my wife)  simply return with me to US? I appreciate your feedback.

Check all posts by vndreamer on the K-1 fiance visa.  He did it recently and knows the ropes. 

As for getting married now, you can't "simply return" to the US.  If you made the I-130 application the day after you got your marriage finalized and the documents translated, you are still looking at minimally a year and a half, if all goes as planned, before your spouse touches the ground in the US.  As one who has gone that route, I would like to strongly suggest you look seriously at the K-1 route before you commit to marriage in Vietnam.  If you do marry, the 1-130 is the only option.

schleger wrote:

We wanted this B1/2 visa for my girlfriend to travel to US to see US and determine if she likes it there.

So what if she doesn’t like it there?  Would you be moving to VN even an option?  The presumption thus far has been “she will like it and then I will marry her.  She will break her visa stay by remaining in the US while the paperworks are in progress.”

I personally have known a few “friends” who have done just that, except, they charged a fee.  Now as an immigration officer, how do I know who’s sincere and who are illegitimate?

May be the route of marrying her in VN and wait for 3 years to bring her to the US if that’s what she wants may not be a bad idea.  It also shows commitment on both ends to immigration officer, and that you are not doing a quickie for $$.  Just saying, and not making any judgment.