B2 Visa Interview

[Fitzy1 0]

Hi All!

I am new to the forum and have been browsing for some time for information on providing proof of sufficient funds for travelling through central America. I have also browsed other forums for information but it all seems conflicting, however, I have received some sound, solid advice from another forum, but was looking for other people's views.

Myself and my partner are planning on going travelling for around six months next October in the US and are saving like crazy to be able to fund it.

I note on the embassy website it says that the consular might ask for bank statements for proof of sufficient funds to travel without being a burden on the US. Following scouring the internet, the information that I have come across is somewhat confusing.

Some forums advise that they don't ask to see proof of sufficient funds but it would prudent to take bank statements, credit cards, payslips etc to show that you have an income and a reason to return to the UK. Other advice is that you must show you have enough money to cover the whole of your stay otherwise your visa will be rejected.

We are looking to apply for a visa in January, or as soon as possible really, however, if we are to provide proof of our savings that will be sufficient to cover us for the whole period, we won't be able to do this until a couple of weeks before we intend on leaving, and this would be cutting it too fine to obtain a Visa. So, my quetsion is, what information do you have to provide, in regards to funds, during the interview process?

You might be querying why we would want to apply so soon, or why we can't wait, but work have requested notification as soon as possible in order that they can put in the necessary provisions, and I have also read that in some cases it can take up to six months to get the approval. Also, if we were not to get the approval, I wouldn't have wanted to save all that time and get excited about something, if we did not get a visa.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

Fran

[Teddy B 17,252]

Hi All!

I am new to the forum and have been browsing for some time for information on providing proof of sufficient funds for travelling through central America. I have also browsed other forums for information but it all seems conflicting, however, I have received some sound, solid advice from another forum, but was looking for other people's views.

Myself and my partner are planning on going travelling for around six months next October in the US and are saving like crazy to be able to fund it.

I note on the embassy website it says that the consular might ask for bank statements for proof of sufficient funds to travel without being a burden on the US. Following scouring the internet, the information that I have come across is somewhat confusing.

Some forums advise that they don't ask to see proof of sufficient funds but it would prudent to take bank statements, credit cards, payslips etc to show that you have an income and a reason to return to the UK. Other advice is that you must show you have enough money to cover the whole of your stay otherwise your visa will be rejected.

We are looking to apply for a visa in January, or as soon as possible really, however, if we are to provide proof of our savings that will be sufficient to cover us for the whole period, we won't be able to do this until a couple of weeks before we intend on leaving, and this would be cutting it too fine to obtain a Visa. So, my quetsion is, what information do you have to provide, in regards to funds, during the interview process?

You might be querying why we would want to apply so soon, or why we can't wait, but work have requested notification as soon as possible in order that they can put in the necessary provisions, and I have also read that in some cases it can take up to six months to get the approval. Also, if we were not to get the approval, I wouldn't have wanted to save all that time and get excited about something, if we did not get a visa.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

Fran

I would say a good rule of thumb for travel money would be approx. $50 per day per person for food and lodging.

I think you should also be concerned about proving solid ties to your homne country, six months is an awfully long vacation for most people with legitimate lives (housing and employment) to take. Why do you need a six month vacation?

Edited September 6, 2012 by Teddy B

[Fitzy1 0]

Thank you for your reply

We will have plenty of money to take with us, my question was more to do with how do we prove this before we actually have the money as we won't have our final figure until a couple of weeks before we go.

We're not treating it as a vacation, we're treating it as a tour, same as when people go to Australia, Thailand etc for 12 months, it just so happens that that side of the world does not appeal to us whereas the US does and that's the place we want to experience as completely as possible. It might be that after four months we've seen everything we want to, but we just so happen to be saving to be able to keep us for six months with no money worries.

We do have legitimate lives, we both have very well paid careers and in particular my partner, and we're very lucky that our jobs are being kept open for us. We both have families that we wouldn't leave, particularly our nieces and least of all we have a house waiting for us and a life planned out for when we get back, we want to live a little and splash out a bit before we settle down, get married and have children and then won't be able to travel.

[av8or 34]

Thank you for your reply

We're not treating it as a vacation, we're treating it as a tour, same as when people go to Australia, Thailand etc for 12 months, it just so happens that that side of the world does not appeal to us whereas the US does and that's the place we want to experience as completely as possible. It might be that after four months we've seen everything we want to, but we just so happen to be saving to be able to keep us for six months with no money worries.

there is no guarantee, provided that you do get a visa that you will be allowed to stay here for 6 months.. my friend came as a tourist and was only given 30 days.. i think the most you can get nowadays is 3 mos, if you get lucky..

Edited September 6, 2012 by av8or

[Fitzy1 0]

Believe me, I don't think there are any guarentees! I think I'd be pretty silly to think there was.

We could go via the VWP route being in the UK and would do this if we thought 90 days would be sufficient, but we don't want to have to limit ourselves so if we apply for the B2 and get the time we want, then brilliant! If not, then at least we can say we gave it a go

[Teddy B 17,252]

Thank you for your reply

We will have plenty of money to take with us, my question was more to do with how do we prove this before we actually have the money as we won't have our final figure until a couple of weeks before we go.

We're not treating it as a vacation, we're treating it as a tour, same as when people go to Australia, Thailand etc for 12 months, it just so happens that that side of the world does not appeal to us whereas the US does and that's the place we want to experience as completely as possible. It might be that after four months we've seen everything we want to, but we just so happen to be saving to be able to keep us for six months with no money worries.

We do have legitimate lives, we both have very well paid careers and in particular my partner, and we're very lucky that our jobs are being kept open for us. We both have families that we wouldn't leave, particularly our nieces and least of all we have a house waiting for us and a life planned out for when we get back, we want to live a little and splash out a bit before we settle down, get married and have children and then won't be able to travel.

Bank statements, travelers checks, credit cards and cash will all suffice as proof of sufficient funds.

Your being from a VWP country will raise some questions as to why you need 6 months in the US instead of 3, so you may want to have detailed itinerary of where you'll be going, how long and why.

Copies of mortgage statements and proof of solid ties to the UK will be a major plus in getting the extended time.

Good luck!