tourist visa from Russia to usa

[teddy k 35]

hi everybody I need your help my friend wants to visit for 1month what are her chances of getting a visa even if she prove that she has strong ties to bring her back?

[Jamie and Sveta 18]

Very slim, but possible, just to be honest. The US Embassy in Moscow told me that "everyone is considered and treated equally". But almost every article I have read says it only happens in extremely rare cases.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Russia has a refusal rate of 10% for tourist visas (that's a 90% approval rate). http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY11.pdf

[Jamie and Sveta 18]

Russia has a refusal rate of 10% for tourist visas (that's a 90% approval rate). http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY11.pdf

Interesting,.. Thanks for sharing!!

[Neonred 3,524]

We have had a lot of success having friends and relatives visit us using tourist visas. I'm not buying the 90% approval rate, but I will say it has gotten much easier, probably at least 50/50. Being able to show ties to Russia is important, but even my step daughter that had a I-130 in progress and no job was able to get a tourist visa. I think one thing that helps tremendously is having traveled internationally and returned. Having had a Schengen visa is great and a big plus. We have always sent a detailed invitation letter including the reason for the trip and who will pay expenses and that we will ensure their timely return.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

We have had a lot of success having friends and relatives visit us using tourist visas. I'm not buying the 90% approval rate, but I will say it has gotten much easier, probably at least 50/50. Being able to show ties to Russia is important, but even my step daughter that had a I-130 in progress and no job was able to get a tourist visa. I think one thing that helps tremendously is having traveled internationally and returned. Having had a Schengen visa is great and a big plus. We have always sent a detailed invitation letter including the reason for the trip and who will pay expenses and that we will ensure their timely return.

The 90% approval is the official 2011 rate from DOS. It's not made-up.

[Neonred 3,524]

The 90% approval is the official 2011 rate from DOS. It's not made-up.

90% approval rate for Russia but only 48% for Canada?? Sorry, still not buying it.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

90% approval rate for Russia but only 48% for Canada?? Sorry, still not buying it.

Yes because most Canadians do not apply for a visa - they enter freely with their passports under the Canadian Visitor Program. The people that apply for visas are third party nationals living in Canada.

[Neonred 3,524]

Yes because most Canadians do not apply for a visa - they enter freely with their passports under the Canadian Visitor Program. The people that apply for visas are third party nationals living in Canada.

The link is for B visas by nationality.

Anyway probably more relevant to hear from people on VJ that have tried an failed. We did have one friend that had great ties and their own business that was refused. Would be good to hear about others experience. When my step daughter got her B visa two others that she met at the interview did not get visas.

Edited March 28, 2012 by Neonred

[AmyWrites 593]

My SO got his approved, but he'd travelled extensively around Europe before, and that's all they looked at.

[jaycali 415]

90% approval rate for Russia but only 48% for Canada?? Sorry, still not buying it.

The reason that Canada and the VWP program countries' B-2 refusal rates are so high is because Canadian and VWP citizens normally don't need visas to visit the US. The only people in those countries who need B-2 visas are people with prior criminal convictions, prior overstays or third country nationals - meaning Canada has a 48% approval rating for people with criminal histories, prior immigration violations, or third country nationals living in Canada.

The vast majority of travellers from Canada and VWP countries travel visa-free and are not included in those statistics.

Edited March 28, 2012 by jhsm85