Inexperienced traveler B2 Visa - Help!

[LouLouBee 0]

Hello everyone,

I have decided to take a gap year before beginning university to visit a very close friend of mine and his family who live in Georgia, USA. I wish to travel to the US early July and stay with his family for up to 6 months in which both my accommodation and food will be provided. I have done a lot of research about the B2 visa but still have a few questions I hope I can get some help with.

Sufficient funds - I am currently saving like crazy but aim to have my visa interview end of April/ beginning of May. I am going to be saving and working right up to the week prior to leaving for the US so when I go for my consulate interview I wont have all the money I intend to have. Will this hinder me in my interview? Will it be ok if I just show the officer consistency in my saving and the fact that I will have a bunch of money saved at the time of my interview?

Another question I have is how much is considered sufficient? I understand an exact amount is difficult to estimate because It differs from case to case but any idea will help, keeping in mind that my accommodation and food is provided.

What is the story with the onward ticket? I have read that on a B2 visa I must have an onward ticket or return ticket upon entry to the country to show evidence that I have plans to leave. My problem is that because I wish to stay for 6 months airlines don't allow tickets to be bought 6 months prior to departure. I don't need an onward ticket because after my stay in the US I just wish to return home so I can start university. Do I even need a return ticket to present to the officers at the border or do I just need to show them that I have sufficient funds to buy a return ticket home while I'm in the US?

B2 visa interview - In the interview I know that I need to provide a convincing case that proves I have every intention to move back to my home country. I should provide the consulate officer with proof of ties to my country. My problem is that I am only 18 I do not own a house or business, have a husband nor children. My current ties are: My friends and family all live in New Zealand and we are a small family so I am unlikely to leave them. I have an acceptance letter from the university of Auckland showing I will be attending in 2015. I have been apart of my hockey club for 13 years so it is unlikely that I will leave. Hopefully these ties are sufficient.

If anyone can provide information from their experiences with the consulate regarding the B2 visa I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks

[RhettVoe 282]

How many kids do your friends have and what age are they? (a question that will likely be asked of you, since they are going to provide room and board in exchange for.......?

[milimelo 4,776]

Don't even attempt B2. New Zealand is part of visa waiver program and 90 days should be sufficient for any visits. Showing up and asking for B2 visa with your circumstances will get you denied and then you won't be able to use visa waiver (ESTA) for 6-12 months.

US doesn't have gap year programs - if you want to do that - look into Australia.

Now this male friend of yours wouldn't happen to be an online boyfriend?

Edit: a return ticket is a must on pretty much all but immigrant visas.

Edited February 19, 2014 by milimelo

[LouLouBee 0]

How many kids do your friends have and what age are they? (a question that will likely be asked of you, since they are going to provide room and board in exchange for.......?

They are a family of five: Mother, Father, Son (10yrs), Daughter (18yrs in college), Son(20yrs also in college). I have discussed paying a sort of board during my stay but the parents believe It is unnecessary and that I can use my money on other things. They are all very excited for my visit and I want to help them start a vege patch and things. Sorry that's probably unnecessary information. I will also have a room to myself so I won't be pushing it for space in their house.

[LouLouBee 0]

Don't even attempt B2. New Zealand is part of visa waiver program and 90 days should be sufficient for any visits. Showing up and asking for B2 visa with your circumstances will get you denied and then you won't be able to use visa waiver (ESTA) for 6-12 months.

US doesn't have gap year programs - if you want to do that - look into Australia.

Now this male friend of yours wouldn't happen to be an online boyfriend?

Edit: a return ticket is a must on pretty much all but immigrant visas.

Thanks for you input milimelo. I am aware of the visa waiver program but if I went for the 90 days it leaves a lot of spare time in NZ for the remaining 9 months. If I am able to get 6 months that would be ideal, allowing me to experience the summer and winter over there. Giving me time to travel and see a couple NZ friends of mine who go to colleges in the US under sport scholarships. I also want to experience the american holidays there and be there for my friends birthday in January.

May I ask what circumstances specifically would hinder the acceptance of the B2 visa? You seem so believe there is a high chance of my case getting denied. So if I get denied I cannot then apply for the visa waiver program? I must wait 6-12 months? Thanks for making me aware of this. This will definitely require me to re-think whether I want to take the risk.

He is not my boyfriend. More of a Skype-pal, like a pen-pal. I have bonds with the entire family, having known them for a couple years now and his sister is my age. I understand that if the consulate thought he was my boyfriend I will be denied the visa in an instant.

[Lainie B 465]

You can book tickets up to 12 months in advance. I don't know where you got the idea that you can't get a return date 6 months ahead. They will absolutely not let you into the US unless you have a return ticket (or an onward ticket), whether you have a tourist visa or use the VWP.

The B-visa refusal rate for New Zealand is 14%. So it's not true that just because you are from a VWP country that you can't get a B-visa. However you will need to convince them that you are just there to visit, you have funds to support yourself, you won't be working, and that you will be returning after you leave, which is not always easy to prove. It is also true that if they deny the visa then you will have trouble getting ESTA approved, which you need to use the VWP, so this is a risk you need to consider.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

Another suggestion would be to visit under the VWP for 3 months, come back for 6 months, and then go again for another 3 months.

[LouLouBee 0]

You can book tickets up to 12 months in advance. I don't know where you got the idea that you can't get a return date 6 months ahead. They will absolutely not let you into the US unless you have a return ticket (or an onward ticket), whether you have a tourist visa or use the VWP.

The B-visa refusal rate for New Zealand is 14%. So it's not true that just because you are from a VWP country that you can't get a B-visa. However you will need to convince them that you are just there to visit, you have funds to support yourself, you won't be working, and that you will be returning after you leave, which is not always easy to prove. It is also true that if they deny the visa then you will have trouble getting ESTA approved, which you need to use the VWP, so this is a risk you need to consider.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

Another suggestion would be to visit under the VWP for 3 months, come back for 6 months, and then go again for another 3 months.

Thanks for your help. Yes going for the b-2 definitely something I need to rethink. If i happen to get denied then there will be no travelling for me this year which would be terrible. even though there is a chance still I could get the visa the fact that I could get denied and not be able to enter the US this year, taking the chance could not be worth it. I wish I could just know how strong and likely my case is...

thanks again for your help

[Boiler 47,673]

You can book tickets up to 12 months in advance. I don't know where you got the idea that you can't get a return date 6 months ahead. They will absolutely not let you into the US unless you have a return ticket (or an onward ticket), whether you have a tourist visa or use the VWP.

The B-visa refusal rate for New Zealand is 14%. So it's not true that just because you are from a VWP country that you can't get a B-visa. However you will need to convince them that you are just there to visit, you have funds to support yourself, you won't be working, and that you will be returning after you leave, which is not always easy to prove. It is also true that if they deny the visa then you will have trouble getting ESTA approved, which you need to use the VWP, so this is a risk you need to consider.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

Another suggestion would be to visit under the VWP for 3 months, come back for 6 months, and then go again for another 3 months.

It would be reasonable to assume that many applications are from those not eligible for the VWP.

t certainly seemed in London there were many ethnicity applying.

VWP is 90 days.

[Lainie B 465]

It would be reasonable to assume that many applications are from those not eligible for the VWP.

t certainly seemed in London there were many ethnicity applying.

VWP is 90 days.

The table shows refusal rates by nationality, not by consulate.