B1 Tourist Visa Brazil

[GarrettB 8]

A friend of mine in Brazil wants to visit the US.   She is single, no children,  works a regular job, most of her family lives in Brazil. She has been here before, about 4 years ago she received a B1 tourist visa to be at her sister's wedding (her sister lives in the US with her husband).   The visa was valid for only 14 days.   There were no problems.  Before Covid she tried to get a visa again but was denied.    She did not have a letter from her employer giving her time off from work and setting the dates she could be gone on vacation (she had such a letter the first time that she received the B1) .  Any other suggestions for when she applies again, other than this letter?  I will be helping her with the DS 160 form.  Her sister will pay for her flight and she will stay with her sister.   Thanks

[Timona 3,950]

Just apply but prepare strong reasons that will compel her to go back to Brazil 

[Boiler 43,561]

B2 sounds more appropriate.

[PaulaCJohnny 712]

1 hour ago, GarrettB said:

.  Before Covid she tried to get a visa again but was denied.   

What changed since that?  Does she have more ties with Brazil than the last time she applied?
 

If nothing changed is really hard that now she will be approved.

 

She fits in the profile that they consider a person with possible immigration intention: family in the US, from a country with a right number of people that use tourist visa and overstay, single, no children, etc.

 

She can definitely plan better and see what kind of changes she can make to improve her chances. The current waiting time for a tourist visa in Rio, for example, is more than 1 year.

 

Nonimmigrant Visa Type	Appointment Wait Time
Visitor Visa	465 Calendar Days

 

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by PaulaCJohnny

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

You say she works a regular job, so why can’t she get the same kind of letter this time?  It sounds like Brazil is one of the countries where they look at things like that, judging from what you’ve said.

 

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[carmel34 3,531]

Brazilian tourist visa (B2) applicants seem to be more scrutinized every year, this is because there is an increasing trend from Brazil to use a B2 to enter the US, then overstay and do everything possible to find a path to permanent residency (marriage to a USC, asylum claims, etc.).  The US Consulate in Rio is aware of this trend and is looking more closely at all applicants.  The best way to overcome this is to show stronger ties to Brazil (evidence of a good job to return to, ownership of property, etc.).  The fact that she has a sister in the US, who will be financing her trip, is a strong tie to the US and will make it more difficult to get a B2 visa.  All she can do is try, it is impossible to predict what will happen, but she has to overcome the assumption by the officer that she will overstay, on her own merits.  Good luck!

[Cathi 5,614]

Sounds like she received a b2 visa, not a b1.

[African Zealot 1,453]

There’s no special advice. She should prepare just like any other applicant making sure she has all employment documents etc ready in case they ask.

 

Good luck to her!

[GarrettB 8]

Thanks for the replies.  I would think the fact she had a visa before and didn't overstay would be helpful.  Yes, she can get the same kind of letter from her employer now, which is what she did not have the second time around. (wasn't working at that time)    The rest of her family is in Brazil  (parents,  4 other sisters, etc) so she has stronger family ties there.  What 'changes' can someone make to improve their chances?  It's not like she will get married and have kids, just so she can get a tourist visa.🙄  She doesn't own property but she rents and is obligated to pay that every month, obviously.  

[Boiler 43,561]

1 hour ago, GarrettB said:

Thanks for the replies.  I would think the fact she had a visa before and didn't overstay would be helpful.  Yes, she can get the same kind of letter from her employer now, which is what she did not have the second time around. (wasn't working at that time)    The rest of her family is in Brazil  (parents,  4 other sisters, etc) so she has stronger family ties there.  What 'changes' can someone make to improve their chances?  It's not like she will get married and have kids, just so she can get a tourist visa.🙄  She doesn't own property but she rents and is obligated to pay that every month, obviously.  

Read the DS160 and see what they ask, for most people there is nothing they can reasonably change.

 

Many on the site have left family behind to move to the US.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

2 hours ago, GarrettB said:

What 'changes' can someone make to improve their chances?

Strange question. Your ties are what they are. You can’t manufacture a spouse or owning a home etc… The CO will either believe that you’ll return home, or not. Responsibly using a visa in the past and the fact that they seem to look at employment ties is helpful. Hopefully it will be enough.

[GarrettB 8]

Yes strange question, because strange comment made above about "what kind of changes she can make to improve her chances".   Nothing can be changed, and I know getting a visa from Brazil for a single woman is hard, though I personally think her chances are slightly better than average.    Thanks for help guys, will give it a try and see what happens 

[SalishSea 16,809]

47 minutes ago, GarrettB said:

Yes strange question, because strange comment made above about "what kind of changes she can make to improve her chances".   Nothing can be changed, and I know getting a visa from Brazil for a single woman is hard, though I personally think her chances are slightly better than average.    Thanks for help guys, will give it a try and see what happens 

No.  If you reread, the question was what has changed about her circumstances/ties, not "what changes can she make."   

 

Like Susie said, you cannot manufacture ties.  You either have them, or you don't.  If someone applies for a B visa when they are a student living at home and is denied, then applies years later when they have a profession, a job, a family -  their ties to home have changed.