Byaka
04-15-2005, 12:29 PM
Задался я тут вопросом о том, на каком основании некоторые люди получают туристическую визу в США, а некоторые - нет. Исходя из огромного количества примеров, я совершенно не вижу логики в решениях работников посольства. Вот и написал я письмо в посольство США в Москве (электронное). Сегодня получил ответ. Интересны будут ваши комментарии... Что же им нужно ТАКОЕ представить, чтобы визу эту @#$*& получить?
++++++++++++++++ ПИСЬМО В ПОСОЛЬСТВО ++++++++++++++++
Hello,
I am an American citizen, but was born in Russia. I am thinking about inviting an old friend of mine from Moscow to visit me here in the USA. However, I am hearing conflicting stories about who gets and who is denied the tourist visa. Could you please clarify some of the factors that are considered when issuing an American visa? In one example there is a 30-year old single woman who wanted to visit her girlfriend in the USA during her 30-day vacation. This woman had a well paying job, a son, who would stay in Moscow with his grandmother while his mother is away, a “dacha” in the suburbs of Moscow, a car… She was denied the visa. Another woman of similar age and life situation, however with seemingly less “ties” to Russia (not so well-paying job, no car, no summer house), was approved to receive a visa. Both women had stamps in their passports about traveling abroad and returning back home…
Another example... A 60-something-year old single woman visiting her daughter (who is married to a Russian) in the USA receives a visa. Another woman of similar age who wanted to visit her daughter (married to an American) did not receive a visa. Both women had a history of visiting their children in the USA and returning back to Russia in the past.
Could you please provide some specific examples of what is considered “binding social, familial, and/or economic ties to Russia”? This is not evident from the examples above and other examples that I did not include. It seems like pretty much any “binding tie” can be discarded as a non-significant. A child, left in Russia for the duration of his/her parent’s trip to the USA, should the parent decide not to return to Russia, can join the parent later, once the parent establishes his/her immigrant status, an apartment (a car, a summer house, etc.) in Moscow can be sold by relatives given the power of attorney, a well-paying job can be left behind. The same applies to the favorite dog Fluffy and the prized stamp collection… If somebody is determined to immigrate to the USA no physical “binding ties” will stop him/her, don’t you think? There is got to be something else that is considered when a tourist visa is granted. What is it? Do people planning on going to the USA on a business trip get a different treatment?
I have never invited anybody to visit me in the USA, so I do not know what to expect. Will a letter from me to the Embassy, saying that I vouch for the person I am inviting and give my word that he will return to Russia, help? Does an immigration status (non-immigrant visa, green card or citizenship) of the inviting person matter? Should I expect somebody from the Embassy or State Department to contact me? Should I provide any paperwork about myself, my status, history of my trips to Russia? Will it even matter in the final decision on whether to grant a visa to my friend or not?
I understand I am asking too many questions and I will not be surprised if some of them will be left unanswered, but I would appreciate if you could provide some SPECIFIC guidelines on what is really required to ensure a person receives a tourist visa in a most painless way possible.
Thank you very much.
Regards,
++++++++++++++ ОТВЕТ ИЗ ПОСОЛЬСТВА ++++++++++++++++
Please be aware that the burden of demonstrating visa eligibility under our law rests on the applicant, not on the consular officer. We can’t provide more specific information in this case.
Applicants for nonimmigrant visas are presumed to be intending immigrants. In order to overcome this presumption, applicants must prove the existence of strong ties to their own country that are sufficient to compel their return after a short stay. This is done by providing convincing evidence of a combination of permanent social, family or economic ties to a residence abroad. Applicants must also prove that they have sufficient economic resources to make the trip and not work while in the United States, and must convince the interviewing officer that the purpose of their trip is truly represented. A consular officer's determination of whether an applicant qualifies for a nonimmigrant visa must be made on the basis of the objective circumstances presented by the applicant, and what these circumstances indicate about the applicant's intentions. The decision cannot be based on the assurances of friends, relatives, or other associates of the applicant.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy, Moscow
++++++++++++++++ ПИСЬМО В ПОСОЛЬСТВО ++++++++++++++++
Hello,
I am an American citizen, but was born in Russia. I am thinking about inviting an old friend of mine from Moscow to visit me here in the USA. However, I am hearing conflicting stories about who gets and who is denied the tourist visa. Could you please clarify some of the factors that are considered when issuing an American visa? In one example there is a 30-year old single woman who wanted to visit her girlfriend in the USA during her 30-day vacation. This woman had a well paying job, a son, who would stay in Moscow with his grandmother while his mother is away, a “dacha” in the suburbs of Moscow, a car… She was denied the visa. Another woman of similar age and life situation, however with seemingly less “ties” to Russia (not so well-paying job, no car, no summer house), was approved to receive a visa. Both women had stamps in their passports about traveling abroad and returning back home…
Another example... A 60-something-year old single woman visiting her daughter (who is married to a Russian) in the USA receives a visa. Another woman of similar age who wanted to visit her daughter (married to an American) did not receive a visa. Both women had a history of visiting their children in the USA and returning back to Russia in the past.
Could you please provide some specific examples of what is considered “binding social, familial, and/or economic ties to Russia”? This is not evident from the examples above and other examples that I did not include. It seems like pretty much any “binding tie” can be discarded as a non-significant. A child, left in Russia for the duration of his/her parent’s trip to the USA, should the parent decide not to return to Russia, can join the parent later, once the parent establishes his/her immigrant status, an apartment (a car, a summer house, etc.) in Moscow can be sold by relatives given the power of attorney, a well-paying job can be left behind. The same applies to the favorite dog Fluffy and the prized stamp collection… If somebody is determined to immigrate to the USA no physical “binding ties” will stop him/her, don’t you think? There is got to be something else that is considered when a tourist visa is granted. What is it? Do people planning on going to the USA on a business trip get a different treatment?
I have never invited anybody to visit me in the USA, so I do not know what to expect. Will a letter from me to the Embassy, saying that I vouch for the person I am inviting and give my word that he will return to Russia, help? Does an immigration status (non-immigrant visa, green card or citizenship) of the inviting person matter? Should I expect somebody from the Embassy or State Department to contact me? Should I provide any paperwork about myself, my status, history of my trips to Russia? Will it even matter in the final decision on whether to grant a visa to my friend or not?
I understand I am asking too many questions and I will not be surprised if some of them will be left unanswered, but I would appreciate if you could provide some SPECIFIC guidelines on what is really required to ensure a person receives a tourist visa in a most painless way possible.
Thank you very much.
Regards,
++++++++++++++ ОТВЕТ ИЗ ПОСОЛЬСТВА ++++++++++++++++
Please be aware that the burden of demonstrating visa eligibility under our law rests on the applicant, not on the consular officer. We can’t provide more specific information in this case.
Applicants for nonimmigrant visas are presumed to be intending immigrants. In order to overcome this presumption, applicants must prove the existence of strong ties to their own country that are sufficient to compel their return after a short stay. This is done by providing convincing evidence of a combination of permanent social, family or economic ties to a residence abroad. Applicants must also prove that they have sufficient economic resources to make the trip and not work while in the United States, and must convince the interviewing officer that the purpose of their trip is truly represented. A consular officer's determination of whether an applicant qualifies for a nonimmigrant visa must be made on the basis of the objective circumstances presented by the applicant, and what these circumstances indicate about the applicant's intentions. The decision cannot be based on the assurances of friends, relatives, or other associates of the applicant.
Sincerely,
Customer Service Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy, Moscow