B1/B2 visa for my wife

[JTpolzin 0]

Ok here is the background

- I am a US and Canadian citizen
- Married to a Ukrainian woman
- We both live in Ukraine
- I also work for my company in Ukraine and hold a valid work permit for Ukraine.
- married for a year, lived with her in Ukraine for almost 2

About her

- She holds a valid Canadian visa until 2026

- she has traveled around Europe including U.K., Germany, Italy, Poland, France.

- We have a Canadian trip planned in November for a week
- Never overstayed
- she did get turned down for a US visa about 18 months ago before we got married.
- She has a daughter who I would like to get a visa for
- She has been employed for 4 years with same employer but does not have a high wage.

We want to visit USA next summer so I thought I would start to plan now

What's the best approach, What documents show we have and what are our chances of getting a visa.

 

Advice?

 

[Boiler 47,052]

Best approach is to apply for a visa, she can get the application from the US Consulate web site.

 

Not a chance based process, well maybe at the fringe.

 

If she does not apply chance is zero.

 

Let us know how it goes.

[JTpolzin 0]

I would prefer not to “apply and see what happens” I helped her get a 9 year Canadian visa by submitting a good application. Now I understand the process is different here and I am also going to ask for a visa for my step daughter as well. I will also wait until after our Canadian trip to also have that history. 

 

I would like a opinion on how this will go for us and what prep work we should do in advance. 

 

In the past two years we have traveled to Europe 6 time twice as a family in addition to place like Egypt and turkey as a family as well. 

 

 

[az2014 381]

1 hour ago, JTpolzin said:

I would prefer not to “apply and see what happens” I helped her get a 9 year Canadian visa by submitting a good application. Now I understand the process is different here and I am also going to ask for a visa for my step daughter as well. I will also wait until after our Canadian trip to also have that history. 

 

I would like a opinion on how this will go for us and what prep work we should do in advance. 

 

In the past two years we have traveled to Europe 6 time twice as a family in addition to place like Egypt and turkey as a family as well. 

 

 

I think you are missing the point here. 'Applying and seeing what happens' is all there is to it. Nobody can tell you how the interview will go. Its up to the CO to decide whether to grant the visa or not. They can deny it for whatever reason they want.

 

Sounds like you already have an idea of what can help - job, previous travel etc.

 

Apply and let us know the result.

[Boiler 47,052]

2 hours ago, JTpolzin said:

I would prefer not to “apply and see what happens” I helped her get a 9 year Canadian visa by submitting a good application. Now I understand the process is different here and I am also going to ask for a visa for my step daughter as well. I will also wait until after our Canadian trip to also have that history. 

 

I would like a opinion on how this will go for us and what prep work we should do in advance. 

 

In the past two years we have traveled to Europe 6 time twice as a family in addition to place like Egypt and turkey as a family as well. 

 

 

You fill the form in and pay the money - interview.

 

What else do you think happens?

[caliliving 606]

no one here can give you an answer! Heck, she can get a visa and STILL be denied at the border.

 

however, the proof from above, and the fact she has a canadian visa and has gone there, will weigh heavily in her favor! so i think you have a great shot:) pay 160$ have her show her strong ties to ukraine and positive travel history and go to the interview!

 

good luck and give us an update!

[geowrian 22,339]

11 hours ago, JTpolzin said:

I would prefer not to “apply and see what happens” I helped her get a 9 year Canadian visa by submitting a good application. Now I understand the process is different here and I am also going to ask for a visa for my step daughter as well.

As noted, the process is different. There isn't anything to put into the visa application besides factual information, so there's not really a "good" or "bad" application to put together. She should apply, bring evidence of her ties to return home to the interview, and hope that it's enough.

 

She was denied 18 months ago, right? The first question that comes to mind is "What has changed since then?". You getting married is a change, but not for the better in terms of getting a nonimmigrant visa. Are there any other changes?

The Canadian visit will be helpful.

[JTpolzin 0]

5 hours ago, geowrian said:

As noted, the process is different. There isn't anything to put into the visa application besides factual information, so there's not really a "good" or "bad" application to put together. She should apply, bring evidence of her ties to return home to the interview, and hope that it's enough.

 

She was denied 18 months ago, right? The first question that comes to mind is "What has changed since then?". You getting married is a change, but not for the better in terms of getting a nonimmigrant visa. Are there any other changes?

The Canadian visit will be helpful.

 

I think the key differences are 

 

1) We have traveled a lot and all were short quick trips of a week or less 

2) Long term Canadian visa and I also know they will have access to her Canadian file so they will see all those documents and the VO notes 

3) A trip to Canada and back. Since I am also Canadian I could just stay there and apply for PR inland

 

Major difference is we do want to bring her daughter. We promised this time to take her west, she’s a pretty typical 11 year old and wants to see the west. 

 

So before I toss away 320 I want to make sure I have done everything needed to be successful. 

 

I don’t know if this is a good option but what about asking the consulate in Toronto for a short visa so we could go to the USA side of the Niagara Falls. Don’t know if that would increase chances at all. 

[BuiQuang 95]

4 hours ago, JTpolzin said:

 

I think the key differences are 

 

1) We have traveled a lot and all were short quick trips of a week or less 

2) Long term Canadian visa and I also know they will have access to her Canadian file so they will see all those documents and the VO notes 

3) A trip to Canada and back. Since I am also Canadian I could just stay there and apply for PR inland

 

Major difference is we do want to bring her daughter. We promised this time to take her west, she’s a pretty typical 11 year old and wants to see the west. 

 

So before I toss away 320 I want to make sure I have done everything needed to be successful. 

 

I don’t know if this is a good option but what about asking the consulate in Toronto for a short visa so we could go to the USA side of the Niagara Falls. Don’t know if that would increase chances at all. 

no such thing as short visa to go to US. ur wife need visitor visa period.  people tell u but u don't believe. 

Edited October 1, 2017 by BuiQuang

[Boiler 47,052]

5 hours ago, JTpolzin said:

 

I think the key differences are 

 

1) We have traveled a lot and all were short quick trips of a week or less 

2) Long term Canadian visa and I also know they will have access to her Canadian file so they will see all those documents and the VO notes 

3) A trip to Canada and back. Since I am also Canadian I could just stay there and apply for PR inland

 

Major difference is we do want to bring her daughter. We promised this time to take her west, she’s a pretty typical 11 year old and wants to see the west. 

 

So before I toss away 320 I want to make sure I have done everything needed to be successful. 

 

I don’t know if this is a good option but what about asking the consulate in Toronto for a short visa so we could go to the USA side of the Niagara Falls. Don’t know if that would increase chances at all. 

What is this short visa you speak of? link?

[JTpolzin 0]

Would there be of any benefit to try while we are on vacation in Toronto or best to wait tell we get back?

[az2014 381]

32 minutes ago, JTpolzin said:

Would there be of any benefit to try while we are on vacation in Toronto or best to wait tell we get back?

Considering she has zero ties to Canada that does not sound like the brightest idea.

 

Stop trying to game the system.

[Going through 5,674]

On 10/1/2017 at 3:28 AM, JTpolzin said:

I don’t know if this is a good option but what about asking the consulate in Toronto for a short visa so we could go to the USA side of the Niagara Falls. Don’t know if that would increase chances at all

Let me save you a trip to the consulate----they will say "no".

 

I understand wanting to do everything perfectly thinking then that nothing can go wrong...However there is no guarantee that your application will be approved, and even with an approved visa in hand they can still deny admission into the States at POE (it has happened to plenty of people before).

 

Her Canadian visa is a good mark in her favor, so the best option you have is to apply for the US visa and take your chances so long as she can prove her ties to the Ukraine.

[JTpolzin 0]

Yes yes I understand that. I have proven strong enough ties for both her and us as a family unit that Canada gave her a long term visa.

 

my initial plan was to go to Canada for a week trip in November as planned and apply sometime in the spring. I want to take us all for a trip to USA next summer so I have time I could also get Karina my step daughter a visa to Canada next year and go to Alberta but they both very much want to go to USA and I don’t blame them.  

 

I suspect this is still the best path overall. 

[JTpolzin 0]

I mean I’m ecstatic that I got her a Canada visa. If I ever move them west that’s where I would prefer to live especially with all the issues facing USA these days but USA is fun to visit and of course Karina the 11 year old very much wants to see California