Invitation letter for tourist visa- helpful or do more harm?

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

HI everyone,

My brother is planning to visit me from Jordan end of summer for 3 weeks. He's 34, has solid financials- high paid job/position, owns assets/properties, savings and cares for our elderly father- so has very strong ties to Jordan and absolutely no reason to stay, beyond visiting us. He also lived in the UK, got an MBA from there.

Is there any reason he would be denied ? is there a way he can be 'more prepared'?

Finally I'm wondering if providing a personal 'letter of invitation' would help or harm his application. He has the means and financial stability as well as business to return to, but I thought a letter that he'll be staying with us would help? but I've heard otherwise and am confused as to why it may harm his application.

I'm just kindly asking the visa officer to consider his application to come visit us for 3 weeks. he will be staying with us not at a hotel.

Letter of invitation- has anyone used it, has it been helpful ...or should we just skip it ?

[AA100 19]

Aslamualaikum,

I applied for US tourist visa in 2011 and was refused. I applied for the visa while I was working in London and I was on a good salary too and was invited by my cousin. My friend who also applied for the visa on the same date was granted one approxmiately after 6 months and his brother sent him the invitation letter. My friend was able to show strong ties to london and I think that was the reason that they issued him the visa. So Insha Allah your brother should get one too.

[SennaBrigante 92]

I don't think an invitation will mean much at all. He'll be reviewed according to his own capacities. When I was interviewed for my tourist visa I wasn't even asked to produce a document so he might not have the opportunity to present it.

[Hypnos 6,576]

A letter of invitation will do nothing to help the issuance of a visitor's visa; the applicant must satisfy the conditions on their own merits (by showing ties to their home country, such as financial, employment, university, etc.).

[Cathi 5,771]

Your brother must apply and be approved for a visitor visa on his own merits, plain and simple, an invitation letter means nothing. He must show very strong ties to Jordan in order to get a visitor visa. If he can prove he will return to Jordan without a shadow of a doubt he shouldn't have a problem getting approved.

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

Ok thanks everyone, I do understand that he gets approved based on his own merits and of course he has his own documents as evidence of strong ties - but I guess it won't harm either way to have a letter from your sister wanting you to visit. That is the reason he's visiting after all so I would consider that just providing extra info for reason of visit. Some officers who will look at your papers and others won't. Helps to have more info than less in all cases.

[Cathi 5,771]

actually the fact that he has a sister living here, works against him. Having family in the US gives him immigrant in the eyes of the embassy. best not to send any letter in my opinion

[AA100 19]

Ok thanks everyone, I do understand that he gets approved based on his own merits and of course he has his own documents as evidence of strong ties - but I guess it won't harm either way to have a letter from your sister wanting you to visit. That is the reason he's visiting after all so I would consider that just providing extra info for reason of visit. Some officers who will look at your papers and others won't. Helps to have more info than less in all cases.

Aslamualaikum,

I think an invitation letter does not necessarily work against the application if the applicant has relatives living in US. But if the applicant is on a low salary, posseses no assets or bank balance, then YES it could be problematic since strong ties can not be established. In my case I was on a good salary but did not own any asset while I was residing in London but my friend who was on good salary plus he owned an asset worked in his favour and he was granted the visa. In short send him the invitation

Jazak Allah

Edited June 10, 2013 by Aoun

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

actually the fact that he has a sister living here, works against him. Having family in the US gives him immigrant in the eyes of the embassy. best not to send any letter in my opinion

I have to disagree. Wether I send it or not, its established that he has his sister residing in the US- since it explicitly asks in the application if you have family living in the US- well he's not going to lie about that is he, and it also asks for an address while you're in the US- he'll be providing my address of course.

So given that he HAS to provide those 2 pieces of information on his application, it would help to also establish the reason for his visit: hence a letter from us inviting him to stay with us for a short known duration( couple weeks) of the summer holiday. His visit would be too open to interpretation if we didnt just send a simple letter stating the what/when/where/why. With all his others docs showing his ties, and means I still don't see why this would harm.

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

Aslamualaikum,

I think an invitation letter does not necessarily work against the application if the applicant has relatives living in US. But if the applicant is on a low salary, posseses no assets or bank balance, then YES it could be problematic since strong ties can not be established. In my case I was on a good salary but did not own any asset while I was residing in London but my friend who was on good salary plus he owned an asset worked in his favour and he was granted the visa. In short send him the invitation

Jazak Allah

Thanks, I agree I don't think it works against him. In some cases it could actually help establish more explicitly his reason for visiting us, as he's coming for Eid-time and staying another week. Wether the officer chooses to look at his prepared paperwork or not is another story, but it doesn't hurt to have more than less.

Will give an update on his interview and status. thanks everyone!

[stevie b 141]

I have to disagree. Wether I send it or not, its established that he has his sister residing in the US- since it explicitly asks in the application if you have family living in the US- well he's not going to lie about that is he, and it also asks for an address while you're in the US- he'll be providing my address of course.

So given that he HAS to provide those 2 pieces of information on his application, it would help to also establish the reason for his visit: hence a letter from us inviting him to stay with us for a short known duration( couple weeks) of the summer holiday. His visit would be too open to interpretation if we didnt just send a simple letter stating the what/when/where/why. With all his others docs showing his ties, and means I still don't see why this would harm.

what mimi is saying is that it is about his home ties, and sorry but I agree

you have said he has a good job and such..

that is what needs to be the focus at the interview NOT invitations. I think it would be more advantage that the family be a speaking point at the interview rather than a documented invitation.

also I would expect it to be a pretty tough interview, possibly a gap in between the interview and the decision.

maybe try the advanced filter and see if you can find any successful tourist interviews through that consulate

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Chances are the officer made his decision long before the interview based solely on the application. Rarely does he do more than ask a couple questions before informing you of his decision. He will almost never look at any documents you bring with you, or even give you a chance to plead your case.

[Boiler 45,658]

Chances are the officer made his decision long before the interview based solely on the application. Rarely does he do more than ask a couple questions before informing you of his decision. He will almost never look at any documents you bring with you, or even give you a chance to plead your case.

I agree.

Taking such a letter should be no problem either way.

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

Ive seen officers ask for paperwork and others not. My question really was just about wether a letter would harm or not and I got my answer. I think it's silly that they make a decision long before an interview as there's no way for an applicant to bring forward their evidence of anything. You don't submit documents with your online application so I dont see how officers can make a judgement based on the few answered questions or brief pieces of info provided in the application. But oh well will keep people posted. Thanks

Edited June 10, 2013 by Bibi and Beebti

[Dave&Roza 748]

. You don't submit documents with your online application so I dont see how officers can make a judgement based on the few answered questions or brief pieces of info provided in the application. But oh well will keep people posted. Thanks

Interesting as the Consulate in Almaty specifically tells you to include all supporting documents with the application. My MIL did that and was approved. They accept no documention at the "interview". The "interview" is to tell you that you are approved or denied. Amazing how each Embassy/Consulate does things their own way. We did send an invitation letter that she included in her documentation. IMHO, it boils down to the IO and how prepared the applicant is. I have given the example of my wife's two attempts at a tourist visa two weeks apart. Same information. Different IO. First denial. Second approved.

Good luck,

Dave