invitation to visit usa

[dorjisabelle 0]

Hi, we are invited to visit the us by our relatives in california, they will submit the invitation letter to the consular office there.

Just want to ask, after they submitted the letter how long will it take to know if its approved or not, and when am i going to make an appointment to the embassy here in the philippines.

Thanks

[Girl from Celebes 588]

I applied a tourist visa back in 2010 and denied on the spot. It won't take long to know whether you have been approved or not. One more thing, invitation letter is not a guarantee of an approval. Most of times actually hurts chance to get an approval.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Just out of curiosity. What do you mean "they will submit invitation letter there?" If you mean there is in the US, I have to tell you that there is no any US consulates inside the country.

[Cathi 5,624]

there is no such thing as an invitation letter. You must apply for visitor visas on your own and be approved on you own merits, and your merits alone. You have to prove very strong ties to your home country to prove you will return, in order to be approved. Your relatives have NOTHING to do with your visa process. Fill out and application and send it to the consulate along with the fee and you will be called for an interview. Once again, sending an invitation latter from relatives isn;t how to get a visa. Not sure were you ever heard such a thing. Read the guides at the top of the page for the correct process

Edited September 11, 2014 by mimolicious

[Ian H. 207]

A letter of invitation isn't considered. You have to prove that you have strong reasons to return after your trip. Like a job, property, bank account, family, etc.

[aaron2020 11,651]

An invitation letter has no bearing on a tourist visa.

[dorjisabelle 0]

I applied a tourist visa back in 2010 and denied on the spot. It won't take long to know whether you have been approved or not. One more thing, invitation letter is not a guarantee of an approval. Most of times actually hurts chance to get an approval.

What do u mean most of the times it actually hurts? U mean it wont really help? And may i ask what do u think is the reason y u did not get an approval from the embassy? Were u also invied that tym?

Just out of curiosity. What do you mean "they will submit invitation letter there?" If you mean there is in the US, I have to tell you that there is no any US consulates inside the country.

Sorry i really dont know the process, where are they going to submit the invitation instead?

[Ian H. 207]

I'm not sure about the letter hurting or not, but it's not a factor that is considered in issuing a visa. The person writing the letter could be urinating gold and that wouldn't matter.

The CO by law, has to consider every person applying for a visa an intending immigrant until proven otherwise. The proof a person needs are things that the CO believes will make the person HAVE to leave the US.

Things like a job, property, family, assets, etc. They CANNOT take someone's word for it, there have to be compelling reasons backed up with evidence.

[dorjisabelle 0]

there is no such thing as an invitation letter. You must apply for visitor visas on your own and be approved on you own merits, and your merits alone. You have to prove very strong ties to your home country to prove you will return, in order to be approved. Your relatives have NOTHING to do with your visa process. Fill out and application and send it to the consulate along with the fee and you will be called for an interview. Once again, sending an invitation latter from relatives isn;t how to get a visa. Not sure were you ever heard such a thing. Read the guides at the top of the page for the correct process

I made a research and it states there that a us relative can invite their family members outside the us, u can do that by making an invitation letter to the consulate of course all the supporting documents should be presented also. Im just confused where are they going to send that letter, to consulate here in the philippines or to me.

[dorjisabelle 0]

I'm not sure about the letter hurting or not, but it's not a factor that is considered in issuing a visa. The person writing the letter could be urinating gold and that wouldn't matter.

The CO by law, has to consider every person applying for a visa an intending immigrant until proven otherwise. The proof a person needs are things that the CO believes will make the person HAVE to leave the US.

Things like a job, property, family, assets, etc. They CANNOT take someone's word for it, there have to be compelling reasons backed up with evidence.

My relatives just think of an invitation letter might help coz in the letter it states there that their going to support all the necessary expenses that will incur.

Of course i have also my documents to proof that i have all the reason to go back here, like school records of my daughter and my work.

[aaron2020 11,651]

My relatives just think of an invitation letter might help coz in the letter it states there that their going to support all the necessary expenses that will incur.

Of course i have also my documents to proof that i have all the reason to go back here, like school records of my daughter and my work.

Hi,

Your relatives are wrong in thinking the invitation letter will be helpful.

From the US Embassy in Manila; http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhniv7.html

The following documents are not considered helpful:

In general, affidavits of financial support will be of little value to an applicant (exception: a student visa application must have an affidavit of financial support). The affidavit of support is a requirement only for immigrant visas. The interviewing officer is less concerned about how the applicant will be supported during his/her stay in the United States than in whether s/he has reasons to return home.

Letters of invitation (except for business travel).

Edited September 11, 2014 by aaron2020

[Boiler 43,818]

They can send you a letter if they want to, as others have said it is immaterial.

[Torete 121]

OP,

Agree with the previous posts. It's immaterial and not considered.

Good luck.

[msbau764 245]

there is no such thing as an invitation letter. You must apply for visitor visas on your own and be approved on you own merits, and your merits alone. You have to prove very strong ties to your home country to prove you will return, in order to be approved. Your relatives have NOTHING to do with your visa process. Fill out and application and send it to the consulate along with the fee and you will be called for an interview. Once again, sending an invitation latter from relatives isn;t how to get a visa. Not sure were you ever heard such a thing. Read the guides at the top of the page for the correct process

I wouldn't even go as far as to say that "you have to prove very strong ties". It depends on the officer. Many do not even give you a chance to show or say much of anything. Their mind is already made up. A lot depends on luck. For example, my fiance was denied a few years ago for not having her degree at the time and because the officer didn't like her work experience as a travel agent. This year, a friend of mine got a tourist visa despite not having a job, degree, nor a steady history of a job. Talk about arbitrary.

[Ian H. 207]

Wow. That is very arbitrary. And I agree a lot of the times their minds are already made up. A cousin of mine and her husband had all sorts of proof of ties, not to mention they were applying for themselves and not their 3 minor kids, the CO didn't even bother to look at them. Something should be done about this because it really isn't fair to those who don't intend to overstay.

I wouldn't even go as far as to say that "you have to prove very strong ties". It depends on the officer. Many do not even give you a chance to show or say much of anything. Their mind is already made up. A lot depends on luck. For example, my fiance was denied a few years ago for not having her degree at the time and because the officer didn't like her work experience as a travel agent. This year, a friend of mine got a tourist visa despite not having a job, degree, nor a steady history of a job. Talk about arbitrary.