Hi,
I am writing a letter of invitation to invite my Ghanaian friend to the U.S. on a tourist visitor visa (we are not romantically involved - I already married an English man!). I'm just wondering if anyone has an example invitation letter they would be willing to share. I just want to put in the right things and leave out the wrong things. I understand that his ties to Ghana and financial background are more important considerations to the embassy than my letter, but I really want him to be able to visit the U.S., and I don't want my letter to hurt his chances of getting a visa. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance-

Z

I am sorry to say it is a waste of time and money.......been there, done that.
For developing countries it is impossible. For European countries no problem.
It is not going to happen in Ghana. If anyone on VJ knows of an approved case
for a tourist/visiting visa from Africa then I stand corrected !
The main things are strong ties to his home country and a lot of money in the bank,
a house, land etc. Your letter of invitation means nothing in reality.
I had included in a previuos letter that I would take care of all room and board and
financial needs that may arise during the visitors stay here from ......insert date to
......evidence of the above ties were presented and still denied.
I got a congessman involved and the chief consul officer wrote a letter to the congressman
stating that the requirement of the applicant is to be able to demonstrate his own
ability in selfsufficiency.....blah blah.......he did and it was just a big joke.
It is humiliating to go through the process, do all they require 100% and still
get denied.
They just do not believe that he will return to his home country.
The embassies make a lot of money from denied tourist visas, that's for sure.
I just hate for him to waste that money, $100 goes far in Ghana.

It's true: if it is a man between 18-45 years of age and he's not an MP or a head of a large company here, or has a connection to someone working in the consular department, chances are very slim that he would get a tourist visa for the U.S. You have a better chance of inviting him to visit London next time you're there.

Sometimes organized groups (like church or cultural group) can manage to get visas for people on a specific tour or invitation, but that's the only time I hear things go well. even people who win contests with a trip to NY, for example, are denied visas (this just happened again to a young woman who won a trip from SoftSheen Carson hair products company after a haridressing competition).

Anyway, if you have the $100 to spare, it won't hurt to try but, as they say here in Ghana with a special emphasis when it comes to the U.S. consulate: "It's not easy, o."

Thanks so much for your advice, both of you. I didn't realize that the chances are so slim. That is really depressing. I guess entering the diversity lottery makes more sense.

Z