Tourist Visa for Girlfriend

[jslade1945 0]

I am a US citizen currently enrolled in a Master's programme in a Russian university. My girlfriend and I are in the same programme (which, of course, is how we met). I would like to have her travel with me back to the USA for a couple of months during the summer holiday, so she has applied for a tourist visa. After browsing this website a lot, it would seem that the success rate is rather low for situations like this one, but I wanted to get the community's feedback on our somewhat unique situation; that is, we didn't meet over the internet or anything like that, and we both must return to Russia in the fall. She will bring enrolment confirmation to the interview (though, again, reading this forum seems to suggest this is not a very "strong tie"), and I figured that if she presses the point that both me and her must return to Russia to complete our education, this would improve our chances. She has visited EU countries (Scandinavia) before and, of course, did not overstay, so I assume that will help somewhat as well. I appreciate any thoughts/hints/experiences this community could share. 

Edited May 29, 2017 by jslade1945

[millefleur 5,047]

Hmmmmm. The chances do indeed seem low. The US government doesn't think Russian universities are that strong of a tie in my experience. Especially if she has an American boyfriend. How much time left does she have in her program and what is she studying?

 

The problem is US tourist visas in Russia are usually issued for 3 years (because of the whole Russian-US visa agreement) and they will assume that she has intent to immigrate because of that, as a tourist visa would be longer than the time she needs to study. That's my hunch.

 

So you've already applied? Or you're planning to apply? I would definitely apply anyway, because despite the low odds I've see people on this forum and in real life get visas despite rather weak ties to Russia.

[jslade1945 0]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Hmmmmm. The chances do indeed seem low. The US government doesn't think Russian universities are that strong of a tie in my experience. Especially if she has an American boyfriend. How much time left does she have in her program and what is she studying?

 

The problem is US tourist visas in Russia are usually issued for 3 years (because of the whole Russian-US visa agreement) and they will assume that she has intent to immigrate because of that, as a tourist visa would be longer than the time she needs to study. That's my hunch.

 

So you've already applied? Or you're planning to apply? I would definitely apply anyway, because despite the low odds I've see people on this forum and in real life get visas despite rather weak ties to Russia.

We both have another year to go in our programme. We've applied and her interview is in two weeks; I'm guessing I can't come with her into the consulate. We're both getting a master's in "European Studies", i.e. political science.

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, jslade1945 said:

We both have another year to go in our programme. We've applied and her interview is in two weeks; I'm guessing I can't come with her into the consulate. We're both getting a master's in "European Studies", i.e. political science.

Nope. Unfortunately you won't be allowed in for a tourist visa interview.

 

It's worth trying as I said. Did she put your contact info on the DS-160 already? If so, then I'm pretty sure they will ask about you and your relationship during the interview.

[jslade1945 0]

Just now, millefleur said:

Nope. Unfortunately you won't be allowed in for a tourist visa interview.

 

It's worth trying as I said. Did she put your contact info on the DS-160 already? If so, then I'm pretty sure they will ask about you and your relationship during the interview.

Yeah, I'm her "American Contact". Which, again is why I thought our chances would be improved by the fact that we both have to return to Russia for the start of the new school term.

[millefleur 5,047]

Just now, jslade1945 said:

Yeah, I'm her "American Contact". Which, again is why I thought our chances would be improved by the fact that we both have to return to Russia for the start of the new school term.

I see. It might help but it's not the strongest tie, even for you in Russia. Well, just have her be totally honest during the interview about your relationship. They may try to ask her confusing questions to make her even more nervous (there are some real jerks working as tourist visa CO's here in Russia) to "press" her to tell the truth. So she needs to go in expecting that. Expect them to be really unfriendly and to speak extremely busted Russian.

 

Also, the better her English is, the more skeptical they'll be that she has ambitions to do things in the US other than visit. So speaking only in Russian anyway is probably an advantage, even if the CO's Russian is abysmal and painful to listen to.

[Dashinka 24,579]

All she can do is try.  Although it is thought to be difficult, I have been hearing of more and more people from Russia getting tourist visas, so who knows.  Make sure she takes anything else, in addition to what you already mentioned, that shows her ties to come back.  As you said, she has already created a travel record with no issues which may look good.

 

Good Luck and let us know how things go.

[jslade1945 0]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

I see. It might help but it's not the strongest tie, even for you in Russia. Well, just have her be totally honest during the interview about your relationship. They may try to ask her confusing questions to make her even more nervous (there are some real jerks working as tourist visa CO's here in Russia) to "press" her to tell the truth. So she needs to go in expecting that. Expect them to be really unfriendly and to speak extremely busted Russian.

 

Also, the better her English is, the more skeptical they'll be that she has ambitions to do things in the US other than visit. So speaking only in Russian anyway is probably an advantage, even if the CO's Russian is abysmal and painful to listen to.

This is very helpful; her English is excellent. I've told her to expect trick questions though. It's sad that they're apparently unfriendly; it was very simple for me to get a visa to come to Russia, both as a tourist and as a student.

[jslade1945 0]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Make sure she takes anything else, in addition to what you already mentioned, that shows her ties to come back.  As you said, she has already created a travel record with no issues which may look good.

 

Good Luck and let us know how things go.

I assume these are things like a bank account, etc. What about family? What's a good way to prove strong family ties (Mother, Father, Siblings, etc.)?

[millefleur 5,047]

17 minutes ago, jslade1945 said:

I assume these are things like a bank account, etc. What about family? What's a good way to prove strong family ties (Mother, Father, Siblings, etc.)?

Bank accounts, docs from her university showing that she needs to finish might be good. Her family members don't really mean anything in terms of strong ties. Focus on the reasons that she herself needs to be back in Russia.

 

Also, don't be shocked if they don't ask to look at supporting documents. They rarely do. But it's always good to have just in case.

[Michael and Ganna 104]

I say apply...you never know. My wife got one during the invasion. She was ready for the big "no" as she saw the women before her leaving the window crying

[jslade1945 0]

What if I wrote a letter spelling out my (our) intentions, would that hold any weight? Is there a special form?

[Lenchick 133]

15 minutes ago, jslade1945 said:

What if I wrote a letter spelling out my (our) intentions, would that hold any weight? Is there a special form?

I think it would definitely help.

[millefleur 5,047]

18 minutes ago, jslade1945 said:

What if I wrote a letter spelling out my (our) intentions, would that hold any weight? Is there a special form?

You can try. Only the CO can decide if it will have any bearing on the decision. I think that her showing her reasons to return to Russia will be more important to them than any letter written by a USC though. So I would focus on that if I were you.

 

Don't forget to update us with the result.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

1 hour ago, jslade1945 said:

What if I wrote a letter spelling out my (our) intentions, would that hold any weight? Is there a special form?

Anyone can write a letter