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Posts: 372

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Q: Have you ever tried to help a Chinese friend get an American tourist visa?

I had no idea it was, not difficult really, but bullshit-like. We appied for his visa a month ago, prepared many documents to show proof of multiple Chinese properties he owns, bank accounts and bonds, business licenses etc., to only arrive there a realize that the officers don't even look at the documents. They only ask for your passport, ask you 4 or 5 questions. Then make their decision based of a 1-2 minute conversation wirh you. I was shocked and flabbergasted. I mean I get it, there were 100s of Chinese people in line everyday trying to get a visa, so they need to be quick to do their job, but I feel that they also need to be thorough. My business partner has no desire whatsoever to live in America, or any other country for that matter. It was just so fucked up. So now, we are trying again.

We have an interview next week and I wrote an invitation letter for him, a letter to give to the embassy, and also an I-134 (Affidavit of Support) form to show that I am willing and Able to support him if necessary and to ensure that he does not overstay his visa or become a public charge of the American government. I hope it works, but the problem is getting them to ask him for the invitation letter. The officers only ask for your passport and only if they feel like it, will they ask for an invitation letter or something else. Last time we didn't put on the DS-160 that we had a specific itinerary, this time we do, so hopefully that will prompt them to ask for it or other documents. Ugh.

Have you guys been through this process?

8 years 49 weeks ago in  Visa & Legalities - China

 
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And this is exactly why my Chinese wife doesn't want to go to America, or even to transit through the country. We've successfully got UK & Schengen visas for her through ensuring we'd supplied the right paperwork. She's heard too many stupid horror stories of Chinese citizens getting rejected on the flimsiest of reasons that she really begrudges wanting to give the U.S. a cent of her hard earned cash, whether in visa fees or spending money "on the ground" there. 

 

Doesn't look good for a country when they get a bad reputation for issuing legitimate visas. 

xinyuren:

Yet, the United States always ranks at the top of International tourist destinations (ranked 2 last year)  Maybe the visa handlers were being lazy or maybe they were being more discrimate for a particular reason.

8 years 49 weeks ago
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BHGAL:

Canada is just as bad, maybe worse.... but my wife will not give up the dream..   getting her to Canada is something I have given up on. At least for now and a couple more years probably. I like it here better than there (home) ...  home is here for me now.

money, property and connections, I have none of the above. Just a love for my girl and a wish to be with her.

A good Indian friend from USA, San Fransico, has told me that he can get her a visa real simple .... all about connections he says...  and he just may be right. low-life clerks just do as/per policy, unless directed from above to bend the rule.

8 years 49 weeks ago
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Hotwater:

Yep, you're right. USA is 2nd in number of tourists. Be interesting to know what % needed to get a visa in advance. 

8 years 49 weeks ago
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8 years 49 weeks ago
 
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Has he been anywhere outside of PRC?  I ask because every mainlander that I know who has received an American visa had multiple trips to other countries first.

WanderingTeacher:

No, he's never traveled anywhere before. He's 42 and married with a child. My fiance got a 10 year tourist visa to America back in October his first time applying, and he's 32, not married and has an average job. So I would think he would be more of a "flight risk" in the big leagues, than my business partner who really does have more ties to China that would compel him to return. It's just so stupid I don't understand.

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Spiderboenz makes a point.  He can't expect to go from the sandlots directly to the big leagues without getting some travel experience first.  He should do his tour of duty in Thailand, Japan, Phillippines....etc.  Then maybe he will get invited to the Big Show.   My god, I really miss baseball.

WanderingTeacher:

As I told Spider, he's never traveled anywhere before. He's 42 and married with a child. My fiance got a 10 year tourist visa to America back in October his first time applying, and he's 32, not married and has an average job. So why would they approve him and not my business partner. But the big question is how is it right, to make a decision based on asking a few questions in 1-2 minutes without ever actually looking at any of the documents that these applicants prepared. They literally only take you passport and ask a few questions. If you try to give them your documents, they will refuse them.

8 years 49 weeks ago
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Did u have a nice, fat Red envelope in the PP when u handed it over?  

 

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8 years 49 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Maybe your friend did so well in his spoken interview that the officer didn't see any needs to double check any information that would be provided in reports. Technically unless you're one of them, then you have no idea what their training is or what they're looking for. Had a similar experience myself, but hey, better being prepared than not. Most things in life are like that anyway. Another reason could be that the process of getting visas has gotten a lot easier recently. The old advice on which documents to procure still technically exists... but that's just a procedural technicality that doesn't have much point considering the relaxation of the process that has occurred. 

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8 years 49 weeks ago
 
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And this is exactly why my Chinese wife doesn't want to go to America, or even to transit through the country. We've successfully got UK & Schengen visas for her through ensuring we'd supplied the right paperwork. She's heard too many stupid horror stories of Chinese citizens getting rejected on the flimsiest of reasons that she really begrudges wanting to give the U.S. a cent of her hard earned cash, whether in visa fees or spending money "on the ground" there. 

 

Doesn't look good for a country when they get a bad reputation for issuing legitimate visas. 

xinyuren:

Yet, the United States always ranks at the top of International tourist destinations (ranked 2 last year)  Maybe the visa handlers were being lazy or maybe they were being more discrimate for a particular reason.

8 years 49 weeks ago
Report Abuse

BHGAL:

Canada is just as bad, maybe worse.... but my wife will not give up the dream..   getting her to Canada is something I have given up on. At least for now and a couple more years probably. I like it here better than there (home) ...  home is here for me now.

money, property and connections, I have none of the above. Just a love for my girl and a wish to be with her.

A good Indian friend from USA, San Fransico, has told me that he can get her a visa real simple .... all about connections he says...  and he just may be right. low-life clerks just do as/per policy, unless directed from above to bend the rule.

8 years 49 weeks ago
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Hotwater:

Yep, you're right. USA is 2nd in number of tourists. Be interesting to know what % needed to get a visa in advance. 

8 years 49 weeks ago
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8 years 49 weeks ago
 
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