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Q: Questions: Getting the gf an American travel visa
A tourist visa (to America) is an innocent enough thing, no? Yet after researching the process, there appear possible reasons for worry.... My first question is about relationship status and the second question is about the bank account money she may need to show.
We have been together for a few years - and are not married in either country, which means she can legally profess being single. Now, it's perfectly reasonable to predict other questions may arise in that sense. Being truthful is obviously important, but saying everything possible about us may not be. Basically, with regards to our relationship, I'm not sure how much information is beneficial information and how much information is harmful for the interview process. I know that single women get looked at with the greatest amount of suspicion, on grounds that they may be trying to have an anchor baby or get married faster than you could at a wedding in Vegas. - so saying she already is in a relationship is ideal here. However, admitting that she is going home with me, her American boyfriend of several years, that in itself may be detrimental information too... I'm not sure. While judgement may vary between interviewers, I am looking for advice in how much information about us should ideally be disclosed for the purpose of a tourist visa.
Question 2 - how much money are interviewers generally looking for there to be in her bank account? Is there a certain amount ( I know official websites say there isn't but then again, why ask in the first place then..?) She would really just be going to America for less than a month and traveling to one or two cities there, and crashing at my home for the other amount of time. We are not rich, because she always spends all her money buying shoes and jackets and other crap. She has a good job in a large American conglomerate here in China though... And she's not one of those desk workers either. If we don't need too much money, we could easily get a decent amount of money in her bank account ( in accordance to her monthly wages of course) to match up with banking statements and pay stubs..... But yeah, just curious in general how necessary it may be and to what extent.
Any advice from our experienced expat community here? Americans or just anybody in general can help me out here with some suggestions. I imagine quite a few have rescued hot chinese women from the horrors of their country that would be awaiting them (stinky tofu breath) if they couldn't get their lifeboat out!
9 years 15 weeks ago in Visa & Legalities - China
I have no idea of the internals of the US visa process, so what follows is just a bunch of general advices from personal witness and experience.
The US visa bureau makes it clear from the beginning that every applicant for a visa is considered a potential immigrant until proven otherwise. Which means everyone starts with a passive refusal with a probable extra disadvantage for women for reasons I explained in another topic.
That means you'll have to put everything you can on the table to prove your good will. Now I have no idea of the specifics of the base documents and bank statements required. You can find that on the Internet.
I'm sure the job will help in your case, the money will help, the valid certificates of everything will help, but always remember that what they can't check and be sure 100% won't be taken in consideration (so, fortunately your GF is working for a US "conglomerate", that's how you'll win it - these days, they wouldn't give two shits about whatever document a local company produces).
For the interview, what they'd expect is someone who could stand on its own in case of any problem during the stay. So obviously, maturity, knowledge of the country and its habits, and of the language. They won't allow an immature or unstable person who could potentially burn out should her BF suddenly break up or whatever. Which rules out... let's say a lot of people already.
I can't really tell you how much you should disclose on yourself, probably as much as they'd ask but always put in the perspective of the above paragraph, which is essential. I'd expect them to ask why you aren't married yet. Prepare your answer.
From what I've heard, they prefer people to show they have ties to come back. Many people show they have a house or a car. Also, I don't think there is a specific dollar amount, but she should have a bit of money in her account. I think your gf will also have to get a letter from her employer. I know there are many Chinese forums devoted to this subject-have your gf give 'em a read.
Its best to check out Hulks page, he has been through all of this and can answer better.
jetfire9000:
Thanks! I wasn't aware of that. I'll make sure to give it a look!
@ Jetfire.
Good question and good answers. As Ironman says, Hulk is your man.
Don't take me the wrong way here, but I want to ask about your last sentence of your question.
Quote" I imagine quite a few have rescued hot chinese women from the horrors of their country that would be awaiting them (stinky tofu breath) if they couldn't get their lifeboat out!"
I used to feel this way many years ago. You know, the white in shining armor on a white horse, here to rescue a damsel in distress. It's a natural reaction to being in China. But I don't think this way now.
Do you think this would create an unequal relationship if you marry your girl and move full time to the states? Yeah, I know you love each other and all that, but at times of crisis in your new life together you may end up feeling she "owes" you.
As I say, don't take this answer the wrong way. I wish you both all the best together. I just wonder about this statement. Yeah, probably said in jest.
Good luck with your visa application 
jetfire9000:
Oh, the last sentence was just an off hand joke. I wasn't being serious by any means, although I really do hate Chinese people's breath at times. 
I have met people where I had to keep a distance of several feet and still almost ended up vomiting.
I really doubt that such a situation of thinking "she owes me" would ever come up. That's not, and never has been, my way of thinking. I'm not completely selfless, ie, the gf always asks me to do a ton of small things one after the other (as Chinese girls do...) and I often comply. I do these things without even thinking about them... until they start conflicting with each other - then I get agitated and tell her she should at least try to do something too.
She's got a very good ability of adaptation, just like me. I've been living in an environment which I would say pales in comparison to living standards I was accustomed to. That goes to say in many aspects - social standards, health standards, eating standards, and those of psychological well being. We all know most expats crack after 6 months and the rest end up cracking in a year or two after that. Then the remaining ones of us exhibit a pretty amazing ability to survive for a much longer time. She is like me in that respect - very adaptable, great English, open minded. We are used to adverse situations, and in spite of that, we never get that "you owe me" type of thinking.
ScotsAlan:
I thought it was said in jest, but I think it's a subject worth exploring and thinking about. When I got married to my wife, lots of people I know in the UK assumed I would "rescue" her from China and get a visa for her to live in the UK. It's a "my country is better than yours" attitude. I think countries are different. Who is to say what is best.
I had a pretty hellish ordeal doing this a couple year's back. We painstakingly prepared bank statements, photos of our previous trips and a letter from my father inviting her but she was rejected after a 1 minute interview at the consulate in Shenyang. The interviewer refused to look at the materials we had prepared. What's worse, we had to pay about 1,000 rmb for the privilege of this interview.
We tried again after paying for interview coaching from a business across the street from the consulate. The coach suggested transferring 200,000 rmb to her bank account (she was a student at the time without a house or car) in order to show ties to China. He also suggested speaking Chinese instead of English to the interviewer in order to be more confident. There were some other suggestions he made to her that I don't recall. She succeeded the second time. Getting an interview coach to tell her what to say would not be a bad idea. It'll set you back a few hundred RMB but I'd say it's worth it if it significantly boosts your chances of getting the visa. There are many businesses that do this. Just go to the consulate or embassy and you'll see them all around the neighborhood. I can recommend one in the offhand chance that she's applying in Shenyang.
jetfire9000:
Thank you very much - we will probably do the interview in Shanghai, since its the closest... Hopefully that won't happen to us!
