Going to fill DS-160 - Some doubts

[dstj]

Hi,

I'm from India and am planning to visit US in the coming months. I'm a self employed person (marketer) with several clients all across the world and a substantial income. Apart from that, I run another online business with a turnover of around $150k an year (the net profit after tax deductible expense is of course lower than that). Do I have a better chance of getting B2 visa easily or does my income not matter?

Second thing, I've a client cum friend in US who will be accompanying me while I am in US and can provide an invitation letter (and if required sponsorship too). He is a US citizen.

Now, I thought I should visit some travel agencies and apply through them, so I did. One of those said that I need an invitation letter and US ID card from my friend and that should be enough (along with my bank statements and tax returns). But they were charging $600 just to fill my form. Then I went to another agency and they told me that I need to get an i-134 form filled by my friend and that he should sponsor me, as that apparently increases chances of getting the visa. This company asked only $120 to fill my form and assist me throughout the process.

But when I did a search about i-134 form online, I found several posts on this forum and others by people saying that a "friend" should never sponsor you or use the i-134 form as that raises a red flag to the consulate because he may think that I am not able to financially support myself and that's why require a sponsorship.. which means weak ties to my country (India). That sounds right. But I would appreciate if someone can confirm.

1. Please suggest what should I do? Should I just get an invitation letter from him and show the consulate that along with my bank statements/tax returns and just tell him that I plan to visit these all states and explain my itinerary? or something else?

2. How detailed should I explain the itinerary. Can it include more than 1 state? Same goes while filling the form.

3. Do I need to show flight/hotel tickets to the consulate? is it required? If not, Is it helpful to still reserve the tickets and show it to the consulate to make my case more appealing?

4. What exactly should my friend include in the invitation letter?

I'll be grateful for your help.

[rcmax]

1) The criteria for visitor's visa issuance is your ties to your country that will make you return. Nothing else matters. Whether your
friend is a citizen, provides I-134, has a huge bank balance etc. nothing matters. If you self-sponsor yourself you do not need an
invitation letter or I-134 from your friend. In your case self-sponsor looks a better idea as that shows you are financially strong to
pay for your trip and that indicates you have a good income and ties to India which is a positive.

2) Plan a reasonably detailed and genuine looking itinerary. Yes it can be any number of states.

3). No. Do not book a flight/hotel reservations without visa, does not make any sense nor does it help in the
VO's decision.

[dstj]

1) The criteria for visitor's visa issuance is your ties to your country that will make you return. Nothing else matters. Whether your
friend is a citizen, provides I-134, has a huge bank balance etc. nothing matters. If you self-sponsor yourself you do not need an
invitation letter or I-134 from your friend. In your case self-sponsor looks a better idea as that shows you are financially strong to
pay for your trip and that indicates you have a good income and ties to India which is a positive.

2) Plan a reasonably detailed and genuine looking itinerary. Yes it can be any number of states.

3). No. Do not book a flight/hotel reservations without visa, does not make any sense nor does it help in the
VO's decision.

Thanks a ton for your help. A few more questions,

1. I don't own a property in my name in India, however I've a lot of property under my parent's name. Would it work? or should it be under my name? I do own an expensive car under my name and have a good bank balance.

2. I totally understand that I don't require an I-134 but would an invitation letter hurt? I mean I still be saying I would be sponsoring myself on my own but won't a casual letter from a US friend help at all (stating that he knows me)? I know you said it won't, but just want to be sure. Also, should I fill his name and address in the "point of contact" section in the DS-160 form?

3. When I select "yes" under "Have you made specific travel plans?" .. it asks me for "arrival flight" and departure flight". If I don't book a flight in advance.. how would I fill these fields? Should I just put in any flight name here? Same goes for "where you'll be staying?" fields.. Should I fill in just any hotel name without booking one?

4. Is it better to keep the duration of the trip shorter in the form? like 3 weeks? or should I write 3 months? Which will make it look more genuine and have better chances?

5. I am self employed..however I run my business under my individual name as a sole proprietor and not a company name. Should I fill in my own name in the company details section? All my tax returns and invoices are under my name. Also, should I tell during the interview that my business is huge and has big turnover? I mean, would that help to prove strong ties?

6. Do I have to write a cover letter? If yes, will the interviewer read it?

Thanks a lot for your help. (I'm 24, male and single, btw)

[rcmax]

Thanks a ton for your help. A few more questions,

1. I don't own a property in my name in India, however I've a lot of property under my parent's name. Would it work? or should it be under my name? I do own an expensive car under my name and have a good bank balance.

2. I totally understand that I don't require an I-134 but would an invitation letter hurt? I mean I still be saying I would be sponsoring myself on my own but won't a casual letter from a US friend help at all (stating that he knows me)? I know you said it won't, but just want to be sure. Also, should I fill his name and address in the "point of contact" section in the DS-160 form?

3. When I select "yes" under "Have you made specific travel plans?" .. it asks me for "arrival flight" and departure flight". If I don't book a flight in advance.. how would I fill these fields? Should I just put in any flight name here? Same goes for "where you'll be staying?" fields.. Should I fill in just any hotel name without booking one?

4. Is it better to keep the duration of the trip shorter in the form? like 3 weeks? or should I write 3 months? Which will make it look more genuine and have better chances?

5. I am self employed..however I run my business under my individual name as a sole proprietor and not a company name. Should I fill in my own name in the company details section? All my tax returns and invoices are under my name. Also, should I tell during the interview that my business is huge and has big turnover? I mean, would that help to prove strong ties?

6. Do I have to write a cover letter? If yes, will the interviewer read it?

Thanks a lot for your help. (I'm 24, male and single, btw)

1. Having property under your name is better. Though it helps property alone does not guarantee a visa because property can always be sold through power of attorney. Good bank balance definitely helps as VO may ask for it especially if you are self
sponsoring yourself.

2. Sure a letter for friend does not hurt. In fact you can show it as a reason to visit US. Yes fill up his name as point of contact. It makes more sense to show you know someone in US than not knowing anyone and going on a solo trip for tourism.

3. Select 'NO' to you made specific travel plans. Then it will ask you for intended date of arrival and length of stay, fill up those with approximate date and duration. Don't have to be accurate. In the interview tell VO that you will book tickets and hotel
after getting visa.

4. yes keep duration short 3-4 weeks.

5. Yes in your name. Where it asks for salary info fill in your annual income and VO will know. Don't have to specifically state you have huge turnover, VO can read the DS-160...LOL

6. May or may not, no body can say for sure.

7. You are young and single male so that might be one major odds against you but just hope for the best.

[dstj]

Perfect, your answers help a lot. Thanks!

3. Select 'NO' to you made specific travel plans. Then it will ask you for intended date of arrival and length of stay, fill up those with approximate date and duration. Don't have to be accurate. In the interview tell VO that you will book tickets and hotel after getting visa.

1. The first travel company I visited said that one major reason for disapproval is when you select 'No' under this field. She even said that you have to select Yes and they will fill in a detailed itenerary and that I don't have to book any flights or hotel. I am not sure what to do... If I select Yes, in the flight name field, it does say "If known" though, so that field is certainly optional. Can I select Yes and leave this optional flight name field blank? But the "where you'll stay" field is not optional and I don't know what to fill there. I was thinking of filling in my friend's address there but that would make the consulate think that I can't pay for a hotel. What do you suggest? Also, in your first answer you said that I should write a detailed itinerary but not book flights/hotels.So, I am confused now.

2. If I fill the form today, I will certainly get an interview date around January 30 next year. Given that, would it be fine to fill in the "arrival in US" date to be 25th February? or should I move it further away to march?

Don't have to specifically state you have huge turnover, VO can read the DS-160...LOL

Lol, I was just worried.

3. My tax returns show a lot lesser income than the turnover because of several business expenses that I have put in there. However, it does show the turnover and expenses breakdown on the next page.. but I am not sure if the consulate will turn to the next page. When stating my monthly salary in the DS-160 should I put in my turnover divided by 12 there or my tax return profit divided by 12 ?