Ask the Consul
It’s Your Visa, Not Your Relative’s
When applying for a visitor visa,
many people come to their interview with invitations or letters of financial
support from friends or relatives. If these applicants are denied visas, they
often say, “But I have an invitation!” or “But my sister will pay all my
expenses!”
While we understand these
invitations and guarantees are made in good faith by family and friends, they
have little effect on visa applications. In most cases, such letters are only a
first step in a visa interview. To qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, applicants
must demonstrate two things: first, that they have a legitimate purpose of
travel, and second, that they intend to return to their home country after the
authorized visit.
In simple terms, legitimate
travel is a visit for a purpose that is allowed under U.S. law on a visitor's
visa. A letter from an applicant's sister about a family gathering, or an
invitation to a conference or business training, may help demonstrate a
legitimate purpose of travel. The consular officer takes into consideration
whether the statements made by the applicant during the interview and the
proposed purpose of travel make sense. For example, a person appearing at the
Consular Section with an invitation to attend a conference on medical
technology, but who does not have education or work experience in that field may
have a difficult time qualifying for a visa.
In addition to having a legitimate purpose of travel, an applicant
must demonstrate to the consular officer’s satisfaction that he or she will
leave the United States after the authorized visit, and that the applicant’s
social, economic, professional, or family ties compel him or her to return
home. Under U.S. law, every person must qualify for a visa on his or her own
merits. A person who is unable to demonstrate strong ties to the Dominican
Republic would not qualify for a visa, regardless of a guarantee of support from
his U.S. citizen relative earning a good salary in the United States. There is
no “magic” combination of documents or factors that will guarantee that a visa
will be approved or denied. In each case, the consular officer evaluates the
applicant’s professional and personal situation and makes a determination based
on the requirements of U.S. law. |
