Is it worth the effort to apply for this tourist visa

[Renogreg 0]

I am hoping someone can give me some insight based upon their knowledge or experience on my friend applying for a tourist visa. Here is the background

I am US citizen by birth, 62 yo single male. She is a russian woman 52 yo, divorced with daughter 21 and son 15. They live in a city outside of Moscow.

We met just over two years ago on an internet site. It would be safe to say at this point that marriage may be an option in the future. I visited her and the family on an extended trip to Russia two summers ago,. It went very well, even though we are both struggling to learn each other's language. Her daughter speaks very good english which helped a lot. We communicate on skype twice a week for maybe 3 hours. Got to love clownfish!!! I want her to visit this summer, but think a K1 is not the best route at this time since she can't move here yet. However I am concerned that her financial situation may make the tourist visa difficult and a waste of my money (for both her and the son) and worse yet, may jeopardize a K1 attempt in another year or two if it fails. Even if she got a tourist visa this summer, I don't expect us getting married while she's visiting. I have been doing a lot of reading on this subject and don't want to create a problem for us down the road with visas.

She lives check to check supporting the family with no bank account. She works at an intermediate school doing costume design for the plays (among other tasks) and also has private clients for custom embroidery. She and her son will be on vacation at the same time this summer, almost two months. Her daughter is graduating this year from a private russian university specialising in law. She is engaged to be married next year to her russian boyfriend and will not be traveling as she would be taking care of the cat and dog among her other interests. The woman does legally own her half of a shared apartment (common in russia). She has a couple family members living in russia, brother and aunt, and of course she would not stay beyond the summer because she has to help her daughter prepare for her wedding next year, which she would never miss. Her son would of course come on the trip. He does have a medical condition which is somewhat diagnosed as early arthritis. Coming to the US would be of no medical benefit to him since there is no real treatment and he has his tests and doctor visits paid for in Russia. We are aware of the documentation for that and the custody issue.

I would be paying for the whole trip. We plan on visiting San Francisco, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Yosemite park and spend some time in my home in Reno. But plunking down 320 for the two visas that may be a waste of time is not my biggest concern. I do not want to jeopardize an attempt for a K1 in a year or two. If it isn't derimental to go for the tourist visa, how much benefit would it be to provide an invite letter that states I will be paying for rt airfare and everything else? I get the sense that my financial role may not help her cause. Any insight to help our decision is appreciated. thanks

Greg

Edited February 14, 2014 by Renogreg

[Avery Cates 1,141]

A tourist visa denial won't effect a K-1.

If she can show strong ties to her country that she'll return after her trip there's no harm going for the tourist visa.

[Boiler 45,661]

You certainly do not paint a rosy picture, but no harm trying. Might be better of she came on her own.

[Dave&Roza 748]

I am hoping someone can give me some insight based upon their knowledge or experience on my friend applying for a tourist visa. Here is the background

I am US citizen by birth, 62 yo single male. She is a russian woman 52 yo, divorced with daughter 21 and son 15. They live in a city outside of Moscow.

We met just over two years ago on an internet site. It would be safe to say at this point that marriage may be an option in the future. I visited her and the family on an extended trip to Russia two summers ago,. It went very well, even though we are both struggling to learn each other's language. Her daughter speaks very good english which helped a lot. We communicate on skype twice a week for maybe 3 hours. Got to love clownfish!!! I want her to visit this summer, but think a K1 is not the best route at this time since she can't move here yet. However I am concerned that her financial situation may make the tourist visa difficult and a waste of my money (for both her and the son) and worse yet, may jeopardize a K1 attempt in another year or two if it fails. Even if she got a tourist visa this summer, I don't expect us getting married while she's visiting. I have been doing a lot of reading on this subject and don't want to create a problem for us down the road with visas.

She lives check to check supporting the family with no bank account. She works at an intermediate school doing costume design for the plays (among other tasks) and also has private clients for custom embroidery. She and her son will be on vacation at the same time this summer, almost two months. Her daughter is graduating this year from a private russian university specialising in law. She is engaged to be married next year to her russian boyfriend and will not be traveling as she would be taking care of the cat and dog among her other interests. The woman does legally own her half of a shared apartment (common in russia). She has a couple family members living in russia, brother and aunt, and of course she would not stay beyond the summer because she has to help her daughter prepare for her wedding next year, which she would never miss. Her son would of course come on the trip. He does have a medical condition which is somewhat diagnosed as early arthritis. Coming to the US would be of no medical benefit to him since there is no real treatment and he has his tests and doctor visits paid for in Russia. We are aware of the documentation for that and the custody issue.

I would be paying for the whole trip. We plan on visiting San Francisco, Disneyland, Las Vegas, Yosemite park and spend some time in my home in Reno. But plunking down 320 for the two visas that may be a waste of time is not my biggest concern. I do not want to jeopardize an attempt for a K1 in a year or two. If it isn't derimental to go for the tourist visa, how much benefit would it be to provide an invite letter that states I will be paying for rt airfare and everything else? I get the sense that my financial role may not help her cause. Any insight to help our decision is appreciated. thanks

Greg

The more important question is, "Why would she return to Russia?" What does she have that will make her return? She and her son want to come to the US to see Disneyland and San Francisco--good tourist activities. She could show her son's medical condition and that it would cost a boat load of money to have him treated in the US verses in Russia. How does her job rate compared to others in her city? Have her try and see what happens. If she is denied for a tourist visa, you are out the money and only have to list it should you go for an immigration visa. You then might see if she could get a tourist visa without the son and use the son as a strong tie back to Russia. My wife was denied her first time in applying for a tourist visa, but approved the second and third time.

Good luck,

Dave

[Renogreg 0]

Thanks for the opinions. Outside perspectives helps us assess the situation.

greg

[Renogreg 0]

I wanted to give an update. Yesterday, Tatiana and her son had their interview in Moscow. Their tourist visas were approved! It took almost two months for us to do the applications and determine and gather the documentation she needed to go with in case they asked for it. I remembered how confusing it was for me to understand the process when I got my russian visa - and I had an agency help me..The consul officer did want to see the letter I wrote to Tatiana. It wasn't formal or too personal, but it clearly said I would pay for the expenses and I mentioned all the places we would visit. The envelope stamping was clear evidence it came from the US They were also very convinced of the authenticiy when they saw the copy of my russian visa and drivers license I sent her. It did concern me to have this information out in an email, but it was a risk I had to take. I did not send a copy of my passport so there are critical identity details that were still missing for identity thieves. Rather than overload Tatiana with a lot of information / preparation before the interview, I only told her they may ask what I do for a living. Just tell them I am a director in the computer industry (which is true) and they will be convinced that I can afford the trips (a bit expensive for me, but I have the money). But my key advice to her was to smile when she met the consul officer, which is not easy for a Russian meeting strangers, be honest and be herself, and if she is asked a question she does not know the answer to, don't worry about it. Being her first trip out of Russian Federation, she is as excited as I was when I took my first trip overseas two years ago.

Greg

[Dave&Roza 748]

Congrats!!! It is always nice to read about someone being approved for a tourist visa rather than all the denials we read about here. Now for the fun part of buying the airline ticket and getting her here.

Have fun together,

Dave