A couple of questions before applying for tourist visa

[zenom89 0]

Hello,

I am planning to apply for the second time for a B-2 (visitor) visa. My first application was refused before 2 months due to "not having enough ties to come back to my country". There is a summer entrepreneur school in San Francisco in which I was selected after a Skype conference call and I already paid the first 20% of the total tuition. The school is not accredited hence I cannot apply for a student visa so they sent me a letter that I can attach with the other documents at the embassy.

There are a couple of questions I would like to ask but before that, a few sentences about me. I'm 26, self-employed webmaster / internet marketing. Been in the industry over 10 years and most of the companies I work with are US based.

The first time I went at the embassy without actually knowing much and I was refused due to lack of showing enough ties to my home country. My response after getting refused was very friendly as I knew they might take notes based on your reactions. I have also applied for the dv lottery program and there are a lot of questions going on my mind right now.

A) Won't it look suspicious as I already got refused before 2 months for a visitor visa (a friend of mine in California invited me + sent a letter but I was refused) and now I find a school to go there and pay a hefty tuition for only 7 weeks?

B) Will getting refused again make my future applications even more difficult?

C) How can I show proof of coming back when they don't even look at the supporting documents?

While San Francisco is everyone's dream when it comes to technology and entrepreneurship, I have no intentions of staying illegally, especially when I have a decent living in my home country with my family & friends.

Your opinions are more than welcomed,

Thank you in advance,

[canadian_wife 1,823]

A) What looks suspicious is the following: Attending a non-accredited course, U.S. based clients/customers, desire to immigrate based on the DV visa.

B) No, the above listed are making your visa difficult to attain.

C) If you have a decent living at home with friends and family, then why apply for the DV lottery?

Good luck

[zenom89 0]

Hi canadian_wife,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Having a decent life in a third world country isn't the same as having a decent life in California / San Francisco

I specifically said I'm an entrepreneur / webmaster and I see a lot of potential in California for my field of expertise. That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean that I will ever want to illegally move to the States.

[arken 4,197]

Hi canadian_wife,

Thank you for your prompt response.

Having a decent life in a third world country isn't the same as having a decent life in California / San Francisco

Exactly, the visa officer will think the same. The problem is he might reject your visa for the same reason.

I specifically said I'm an entrepreneur / webmaster and I see a lot of potential in California for my field of expertise. That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean that I will ever want to illegally move to the States.

Again, the visa officer might reject the visa for the reason you stated. He might not believe your second statement.

Anyway, responding to your 3 concerns,

A. It might definitely look suspicious given the time frame, the city and the type of course you are planning to attend.

B. Might or might not.

C. They will have looked at your supporting documents before they called you at the window. What sort of ties to your country you submitted?

Edited May 2, 2016 by arken

[Caryh 5,206]

I don't know what country you're from, but I have to agree with canadian_wife. Your application for the DV lottery is proof of immigration intent. That alone seriously hurts your chances of getting a visitors visa. And your ties appear to all be to the USA, not your home country. Or at least you haven't given us any ties to your home country, other than the money you make now goes further there.

[zenom89 0]

Anyway, responding to your 3 concerns,

A. It might definitely look suspicious given the time frame, the city and the type of course you are planning to attend.

B. Might or might not.

C. They will have looked at your supporting documents before they called you at the window. What sort of ties to your country you submitted?

Hi Arken,

My biggest concern was that I was not employed somewhere that is why I brought my bank statement which contained all the payments I received from various companies online. This is another question I have, should I send my supporting documents in advance like 1-2 weeks before my interview? How do they check what ties I have if they don't even look at the documents?

How do I submit the ties? I'm planning to do so in the coming application. Are apartments, cars and shops enough as ties? They are not under my name though they are under my father but I'm still under the same family tree. Please let me know

@Caryh,

Thank you for stopping by and giving your opinion. As I said earlier, that was my first application and I didn't know well what to do. What sort of documents are needed, how do I submit them etc. While I totally agree that a DV lottery is proof of immigration intent it is not proof for staying illegally and working illegally right?

I believe my age is a bit of an issue but that being said, my friend applied for the same school program 2 weeks ago and he got accepted right away (just by showing the letter from the school)

[Pitaya 2,577]

You will have to prove to the satisfaction of the US consular official at the interviewing US embassy/consulate, that they have significant ties to your undisclosed home country such that they would return to your home country after their US visit is completed. Such ties could include, property, house ownership, current stable employment, etc. Each visitor visa applicant is presumed to have immigration intent, and must prove that they are not trying to immigrate to the US. Your prior visa rejection and your DV lottery application certainly do not strengthen your statement of going home after the completion of the unaccredited schoolwork. I agree with the other respondents.

[Caryh 5,206]

Hi Arken,

My biggest concern was that I was not employed somewhere that is why I brought my bank statement which contained all the payments I received from various companies online. This is another question I have, should I send my supporting documents in advance like 1-2 weeks before my interview? How do they check what ties I have if they don't even look at the documents?

How do I submit the ties? I'm planning to do so in the coming application. Are apartments, cars and shops enough as ties? They are not under my name though they are under my father but I'm still under the same family tree. Please let me know

@Caryh,

Thank you for stopping by and giving your opinion. As I said earlier, that was my first application and I didn't know well what to do. What sort of documents are needed, how do I submit them etc. While I totally agree that a DV lottery is proof of immigration intent it is not proof for staying illegally and working illegally right?

I believe my age is a bit of an issue but that being said, my friend applied for the same school program 2 weeks ago and he got accepted right away (just by showing the letter from the school)

You bring the information with to the interview. As to bills in your father's name, that might help him, it is zero help to you.

These things prove ties, owning a home, having a lease on an apartment, a job you need to return to, a wife and kids. Things that are easily walked away from or sold are not good proof.

As I mentioned, you haven't given us ties to home, in fact you've only given ties to the USA. You do work for American companies, you can do that work anywhere in the world with a computer and internet access. Your customers are mainly in the USA. You applied for a DV lottery. Those all show you wish to be in the USA and will not return. Which is generally the consular officers original bias of anyone applying.

Your intent to go to the unaccredited schooling is a good one. But think about what would compel you to return to your country afterwards. Those are the ties you want to show. But what ever you do, be totally truthful about everything. Sincerity can go a long ways in the interview. Trying to manufacture something that does not exist, will only hurt you.

[Boiler 45,651]

The information they need is asked on the application.

Not sure how property owned by somebody else is a tie for you.

Is the 20% deposit refundable?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

You can take courses online from this website:

https://www.coursera.org/

[zenom89 0]

The information they need is asked on the application.

Not sure how property owned by somebody else is a tie for you.

Is the 20% deposit refundable?

Yes the 20% is refundable only if I show proof of visa refusal ... which is a bit awkward that is why I really have to apply even though the odds are against me.

[Boiler 45,651]

Cost of doing business.

[HFM181818 750]

suddenly changing the reason why you want to go to the US in such a short time will likely look like what it is.....desperation. It is way too convenient that this 'opportunity' has appeared....such courses are a dime a dozen; most can be taken online....

documents, no matter what they are, cannot and do not prove with a 100% certainty why an applicant would return to their country.....papers have no physical control over your actions nor decisions...which is why COs don't really need to look at piles of papers.

Bills and property belonging to others do not provide nor prove ties or reasons why YOU would depart the US....I would not get my hopes up.

Edited May 2, 2016 by HFM181818

[az2014 381]

OP you sound very very very (did I mention very?) desperate to get into the USA.

You even stated that life would be a lot better for you over there. And that you see potential for employment. And you entered the lottery.

All these things are reasons to deny you entry. You were rightly denied the first time as I am sure the CO could see all these things.

You are applying for a tourist visa...ie. to visit as a tourist. If you can't go then move on and find another country to visit. The fact you even made this topic shows that you did not plan to just visit as a tourist.

[bigjailerman 318]

"................................... prove ties, owning a home, having a lease on an apartment, a job you need to return to, a wife and kids. Things that are easily walked away from or sold are not good proof.

As I mentioned, you haven't given us ties to home, in fact you've only given ties to the USA. You do work for American companies, you can do that work anywhere in the world with a computer and internet access. Your customers are mainly in the USA. You applied for a DV lottery. Those all show you wish to be in the USA and will not return. Which is generally the consular officers original bias of anyone applying.

Your intent to go to the unaccredited schooling is a good one. But think about what would compel you to return to your country afterwards. Those are the ties you want to show. But what ever you do, be totally truthful about everything. Sincerity can go a long ways in the interview. Trying to manufacture something that does not exist, will only hurt you.

Absolutely.... they already have intent in their mind and will even more difficult to overcome that in a couple of months without much different new concrete information. You could also get the same agent. Honestly, do not expect much of a different response. I know its a hard pill to swallow but it is true.

In any event they will be happy to cash your $160 check to apply.

Edited May 2, 2016 by bigjailerman