Help

[Scott Thompson 0]

I have a friend wanting to come visit me for the Christmas Holidays . She is from Ukraine . Who has the responsibility for obtaining a Visa to enter the United States  ? She told me that another friend of hers was sent an invitation to come to the U S . How and through who do I accomplish this ?

  

[Unlockable 7,315]

12 minutes ago, Scott Thompson said:

I have a friend wanting to come visit me for the Christmas Holidays . She is from Ukraine . Who has the responsibility for obtaining a Visa to enter the United States  ? She told me that another friend of hers was sent an invitation to come to the U S . How and through who do I accomplish this ?

  

She is responsible for obtaining a visa. She is the one who wants to visit. You do nothing.

 

Invitation letters are not needed. It is a foreigner's myth for people seeking to get visitor visas to the US. You can send her one to make her feel better. But it won't even get looked at by the officer during the interview. The officer would want to know why she needs to return to the Ukraine, not why she wants to go to the US. That is why she must show strong ties.

 

Examples of strong ties are home/business/property ownership, good stable high level job or enrolled in higher education, good travel history to other countries, immediate family (spouse/children).

Edited November 15, 2018 by NuestraUnion

[Unlockable 7,315]

*** Moved from US Embassy and Consulate Discussion  to "Tourist Visas" ***

[gregcrs2 1,778]

It is her responsibility to obtain a visa to visit the USA.  An invitation letter does not help and more likely hurts her chances of getting a tourist visa.  She has to apply for a visa based on her own merits.  If you really want to see her, better for you to travel to Ukraine.

[Scott Thompson 0]

4 minutes ago, gregcrs2 said:

It is her responsibility to obtain a visa to visit the USA.  An invitation letter does not help and more likely hurts her chances of getting a tourist visa.  She has to apply for a visa based on her own merits.  If you really want to see her, better for you to travel to Ukraine.

I was thinking so , and I see it takes about 90 days for to obtain a Visa . I was thinking it would be best to go to her also .

[mepck 197]

16 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

She is responsible for obtaining a visa. She is the one who wants to visit. You do nothing.

 

Invitation letters are not needed. It is a foreigner's myth for people seeking to get visitor visas to the US. You can send her one to make her feel better. But it won't even get looked at by the officer during the interview. The officer would want to know why she needs to return to the Ukraine, not why she wants to go to the US. That is why she must show strong ties.

 

Examples of strong ties are home/business/property ownership, good stable high level job or enrolled in higher education, good travel history to other countries, immediate family (spouse/children).

I agreed. She has to show strong ties, invitation is not needed. Prepare all itinerary, 3 months bank statement, copy of all stamped passport’s pages to show travel history, employment letter etc. 

 

Invitation letter will lead to many questions during interview. It’s better to prove as genuine tourist and show ability to cover expenses by herself.

 

In my case last time 2016, B1B2 visa was granted right after interview and will get my passport delivered to office with visa within 3 days. I am Indonesian passport holder anyway, lucky enough to be granted 5 years multiple.

[Boiler 45,693]

Normally quicker than 90 days, varies by Consulate, how soon an appointment is available.