Friend from Russia - USA visa interview in December QUESTIONS

[Crazy Cat 45,303]

23 minutes ago, thewildeguys said:

Here is the agency's response when asked why they did this:

 

Thank you for reaching out and we understand your concern. As per point of arrival we recommend to put New York or Los Angeles as more touristic destinations. When Liuba is going to have her visa interview with consular officer he/she will find it suspicious being that the person who have never been to the USA is going to Atlanta, but not NY, LA, SF, Miami, etc. They are very good psychologists and have a lot of experience to filter cases that doesn't have a direct tourist purpose. Therefore, we recommended to put NY. As far for the dates, it is also doesn't look good on the application that the Applicant is flying to the USA straight after the interview, in their mind the trip needs to be planned at least 3-6 months ahead, unless it is an emergency, and tourism is never an emergency. 
Nevertheless, if Liuba gets approved, she can fly the USA straight from Bucharest to Atlanta with no problem. The Visa is going to be issued from the next date of interview and it will be valid. 

As far as what to say at the airport: she can either say she had a convenient flight option from Bucharest and she is flying to NY in just couple of days and her plans changed, being that Russia has extended winter holidays she decided to use this option. 

 

That is misrepresentation....and it could cause big, big problems. 

[thewildeguys 3]

I am going to speak to her Saturday. I will suggest we just do a new application for either Kazakhstan or Warsaw for the interview. And complete honesty on the form. Do officers quickly deny if someone admits going to the USA to meet their SO or it ok?

 

Thanks all.

[thewildeguys 3]

She owns her own apartment in Russia. Has a job where she's worked for past 10 years also. Bank account with savings.  

[Boiler 47,964]

I would not make any plans

[Neonred 3,938]

5 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

Unbelievable. I'd respond saying that's misrepresentation/fraud, and then have nothing to do with this agency again. I'd also ask for a refund. 

You have to understand this is how these things are done in Russia.  

Not saying it is right.

[smilingstone 749]

7 hours ago, thewildeguys said:

Here is the agency's response when asked why they did this:

 

Thank you for reaching out and we understand your concern. As per point of arrival we recommend to put New York or Los Angeles as more touristic destinations. When Liuba is going to have her visa interview with consular officer he/she will find it suspicious being that the person who have never been to the USA is going to Atlanta, but not NY, LA, SF, Miami, etc. They are very good psychologists and have a lot of experience to filter cases that doesn't have a direct tourist purpose. Therefore, we recommended to put NY. As far for the dates, it is also doesn't look good on the application that the Applicant is flying to the USA straight after the interview, in their mind the trip needs to be planned at least 3-6 months ahead, unless it is an emergency, and tourism is never an emergency. 
Nevertheless, if Liuba gets approved, she can fly the USA straight from Bucharest to Atlanta with no problem. The Visa is going to be issued from the next date of interview and it will be valid. 

As far as what to say at the airport: she can either say she had a convenient flight option from Bucharest and she is flying to NY in just couple of days and her plans changed, being that Russia has extended winter holidays she decided to use this option. 

 

That is hilarious because ATL is the BUSIEST airport in the US. The majority of international flights into the US land at ATL. To say that landing in ATL would be suspicious because it's not a big tourist destination just shows that this agency knows nothing. Have they never heard of connecting flights? 

 

And their response to you is basically, well she can lie now and if she's approved then she can just do something different to what her DS-160 says. 

 

They are also advising you to advise your "friend" to lie to CBP. This is a real slippery slope... 

Edited yesterday at 06:12 PM by smilingstone

[smilingstone 749]

5 hours ago, thewildeguys said:

Do officers quickly deny if someone admits going to the USA to meet their SO or it ok?

 

No, they don't deny because someone wants to see their partner. They deny if they suspect immigrant intent or misrepresentation. 

[P3ACHY 39]

This is pretty typical, and like @Neonred said, how things are done in Russia. Schengen visa agencies told us similar tactics.

 

I'm sure they listened to her story, and advised her to give a general "tourism" story, because visiting a boyfriend she's never met has a higher chance of denial. Visiting New York (which most Russians want to visit) wouldn't raise any eyebrows.

 

I'm not sure if it's worth it to spend all the money to get a tourist visa to the US, when she already has a very high chance of denial. They won't care about her apartment, job or bank account documents.

Money could be better spent flying to Turkey and meeting there.

[thewildeguys 3]

What about doing a new application for an interview in Warsaw or Kazakhstan ?

[thewildeguys 3]

Astana has any available appointment dates. Not sure about Warsaw. What is my best resource to find out about possible interview dates? https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html    ?

Meeting in another country isn't a possibility right now for me.

Edited 6 hours ago by thewildeguys

[P3ACHY 39]

6 hours ago, thewildeguys said:

Astana has any available appointment dates. Not sure about Warsaw. What is my best resource to find out about possible interview dates? https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html    ?

Meeting in another country isn't a possibility right now for me.

 

Why not stick with the original plan from the agency and just meet her in New York?