Israeli Boyfriend Denied for Tourist Visa

[Moriah Ivy 0]

My Israeli boyfriend applied for a tourist visa to visit the US twice last year, once in April and once in May. At the time he had just been released from the army and was renting an apartment and working as a security guard. He brought all of the necessary paperwork and was denied both times. I believe the fatal error was telling the truth- he told the embassy officer he wanted to visit his girlfriend. Fast forward to a year later, he is working with his father's family business (which he will take over some day), is attending university, and is receiving an expensive medical treatment that he will need to return to Israel to receive. He has proof of all of these things and plans to apply for the visa this month. Should he tell the officer the truth that he wants to visit his girlfriend again or say he is planning to visit family (which he has here) or travel around? We are trying to figure out what his "purpose of travel" is that will give him the best chance to get the visa. He doesn't want to get caught up in a lie, but telling the truth got him denied. Also, they should have on record that he mentioned a girlfriend last time; will they ask him about me and should he lie? Thanks for your help!

[Ben&Zian 4,397]

2 minutes ago, Moriah Ivy said:

My Israeli boyfriend applied for a tourist visa to visit the US twice last year, once in April and once in May. At the time he had just been released from the army and was renting an apartment and working as a security guard. He brought all of the necessary paperwork and was denied both times. I believe the fatal error was telling the truth- he told the embassy officer he wanted to visit his girlfriend. Fast forward to a year later, he is working with his father's family business (which he will take over some day), is attending university, and is receiving an expensive medical treatment that he will need to return to Israel to receive. He has proof of all of these things and plans to apply for the visa this month. Should he tell the officer the truth that he wants to visit his girlfriend again or say he is planning to visit family (which he has here) or travel around? We are trying to figure out what his "purpose of travel" is that will give him the best chance to get the visa. He doesn't want to get caught up in a lie, but telling the truth got him denied. Also, they should have on record that he mentioned a girlfriend last time; will they ask him about me and should he lie? Thanks for your help!

 

 

First, always be honest. They also have it on record from previous denials that he has an American girlfriend, so do not try to play games with them about his true intent.

 

As to the previous two denials, the second denial probably was more because it was so quickly after the first denial. No change in his circumstances at home and it can come off as 'desperate' to get a visa.

 

It is good that it has been a year now since his last attempt... again though, always be honest.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Telling the truth was not the fatal error as you stated.  It was the correct and smart move.  You may want to search VJ for people who have problems with bringing a fiancee or spouse to the US because of lies on previous visitor visa applications.

 

Tell the truth.  Always.

 

The US Embassy/Consulate is well aware of the word games that people play when applying for visas.  If they suspect that he is playing with them, he will get a quick denial.

 

Tell the truth and don't play word games.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Always tell the truth.  Anything else will get you banned.

[Moriah Ivy 0]

17 minutes ago, Ben&Zian said:

Thank you so much. Do you think what I have mentioned is enough proof that he will return to Israel? Is there anything else he should bring for proof? He lives with his parents so his name is not on the ownership papers. He will obviously bring bank statements, he has a letter from his dad about the job, a letter from university stating that he is studying there and has paid for his courses, a receipt for his medical treatment and statement from the doctor saying the treatment will take 3 years. Do you think these are sufficient?

 

"First, always be honest. They also have it on record from previous denials that he has an American girlfriend, so do not try to play games with them about his true intent.

 

As to the previous two denials, the second denial probably was more because it was so quickly after the first denial. No change in his circumstances at home and it can come off as 'desperate' to get a visa.

 

It is good that it has been a year now since his last attempt... again though, always be honest."

 

Edited May 24, 2017 by Moriah Ivy

[millefleur 5,035]

You don't know for sure that "telling the truth got him denied." If he has already mentioned you in previous interviews, it would look even more suspicious to apply and not mention you.

 

If he also doesn't mention you this time, let's say he does get a tourist visa. Let's say later on, you want to petition him on a K-1 or a CR-1/IR-1. They will see that he mysteriously didn't mention you during his tourist visa interview. They keep records of these things. Honesty is the best policy.

Edited May 24, 2017 by millefleur

[Moriah Ivy 0]

Thank you all so much. Do you think what I have mentioned is enough proof that he will return to Israel? Is there anything else he should bring for proof? He lives with his parents so his name is not on the ownership papers. He will obviously bring bank statements, he has a letter from his dad about the job, a letter from university stating that he is studying there and has paid for his courses, a receipt for his medical treatment and statement from the doctor saying the treatment will take 3 years. Do you think these are sufficient?

[Jojo92122 1,924]

No one can tell you if what he has is sufficient.  You do your best and hope for the best.  

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Don't lie for a short term gain and hurt yourself in the long term.

 

Don't lie for a visitor visa that lets you temporarily into the US and hurt yourself from getting a fiancee or spousal visa for a lifetime with your love one down the line.  

[Moriah Ivy 0]

Just now, Jojo92122 said:

Don't lie for a short term gain and hurt yourself in the long term.

 

Don't lie for a visitor visa that lets you temporarily into the US and hurt yourself from getting a fiancee or spousal visa for a lifetime with your love one down the line.  

We've decided on telling the truth. We never wanted to lie, we were afraid that telling the truth about him having a girlfriend is what caused his denial.

[millefleur 5,035]

23 minutes ago, Moriah Ivy said:

We've decided on telling the truth. We never wanted to lie, we were afraid that telling the truth about him having a girlfriend is what caused his denial.

It happens. Unfortunately having a relationship with a US citizen is often seen as a red flag for a tourist visa. My husband's tourist visa was denied so I speak from experience.

 

It might even happen that your boyfriend never gets a tourist visa and keeps getting continually denied. If that's the case, you'll just have to figure out how to go visit him in Israel. I know that it's frustrating and feels unfair. Just have him apply again and see what happens. If he gets denied again, you should plan to visit him instead.

Edited May 24, 2017 by millefleur

[Moriah Ivy 0]

39 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It happens. Unfortunately having a relationship with a US citizen is often seen as a red flag for a tourist visa. My husband's tourist visa was denied so I speak from experience.

 

It might even happen that your boyfriend never gets a tourist visa and keeps getting continually denied. If that's the case, you'll just have to figure out how to go visit him in Israel. I know that it's frustrating and feels unfair. Just have him apply again and see what happens. If he gets denied again, you should plan to visit him instead.

What did you two end up doing after he was denied? So did you apply for the fiance visa after that?

[millefleur 5,035]

57 minutes ago, Moriah Ivy said:

What did you two end up doing after he was denied? So did you apply for the fiance visa after that?

We applied later for the CR-1 spouse visa as by that time we were already married. So now my husband will be moving to a country he has never even visited! Yep, that's just how it goes for some of us unlucky ones whose spouses/fiances are from tourist visa countries. I'm happy to say that the spouse visa interview was a much more pleasant experience than the tourist visa one.

[Boiler 43,433]

If he is taking over the family business presumably the plan is for you to move, evidence of that may help.

[Moriah Ivy 0]

20 hours ago, millefleur said:

We applied later for the CR-1 spouse visa as by that time we were already married. So now my husband will be moving to a country he has never even visited! Yep, that's just how it goes for some of us unlucky ones whose spouses/fiances are from tourist visa countries. I'm happy to say that the spouse visa interview was a much more pleasant experience than the tourist visa one.

Oh how wonderful!!! Congrats to you both! Yeah that's what I'm worried about, I want him to come visit so he could see if he would like to move here, but I guess we can't always get what we hope for haha. I think the fiance visa may be our next plan if his tourist visa is denied.