Self Sponsored, Tourist Visa - Some questions About Invitation Letter

[Din]

I have applied for a B2 visa (for me n wife) and in the place where we are planning to stay in the US - I wrote my friends address - in the form. Hes American, met through internet and good friend of mine. He is not sponsoring our trip, but will provide accommodation for us. Do I need an invitation letter from him, for the visa interview ? If needed, he will send it, but fax is ok ? Or he need to send it by normal post to me ? I also mentioned the purpose of trip as - Meet my friend and his family & visit tourist places in USA with him/ his family (my true intention). Any idea of type of questions the VO will ask based on this situation ?

Thanks in Advance
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[peace]

Excuse me for being blunt, but going to visit an "internet friend" in US as the
purpose of visit will most likely get you a visa denial. Visiting US is fine , but I advise you not to mention anything about your american friend, as going to visit someone you have never actually met is very "unnatural" and will arouse suspicion in the officer's mind that you wish to settle in the US with the help of your friend.

Please answer the following, so I can advise you on how to present your case;
1. What do you do in India?
2. Is your wife employed? Where?
3.. What is your annual income(roughly) that you show on papers?
4.. Do you have any children? What ages?
5.. Do you have any relatives in US? On what visas?
6. Have you ever visited a foreign country before? What purpose?
7. Have you ever been denied any visa?


.

I have applied for a B2 visa (for me n wife) and in the place where we are planning to stay in the US - I wrote my friends address - in the form. Hes American, met through internet and good friend of mine. He is not sponsoring our trip, but will provide accommodation for us. Do I need an invitation letter from him, for the visa interview ? If needed, he will send it, but fax is ok ? Or he need to send it by normal post to me ? I also mentioned the purpose of trip as - Meet my friend and his family & visit tourist places in USA with him/ his family (my true intention). Any idea of type of questions the VO will ask based on this situation ?

Thanks in Advance
Edit/Delete Message

[Din]

Visiting US is fine , but I advise you not to mention anything about your american friend, as going to visit someone you have never actually met is very "unnatural" and will arouse suspicion in the officer's mind that you wish to settle in the US with the help of your friend.
.

Yes, I know my case sounds un-natural ! I will answer all your questions honestly

1. What do you do in India?
Freelance web programmer

2. Is your wife employed? Where?
Freelance web programmer (working with me)

3.. What is your annual income(roughly) that you show on papers?
Average annual income - 4.8 Lakhs

4.. Do you have any children? What ages?
No

5.. Do you have any relatives in US? On what visas?
No

6. Have you ever visited a foreign country before? What purpose?
No

7. Have you ever been denied any visa?
No

Explaining it a bit more

I have clients in the USA, but purpose of my visit is not business. I mean true intention is to visit my internet friend, his family , then visit tourist places in the USA and come back to india in 3 weeks. I may visit some of my clients, but again that will be personal meetings, so I didn't mention anything like business in the visa application (not sure whether that was wise, but I thought I will do things honestly)

I also posted a question sometime back

http://www.immihelp.com/forum/showthread.php?p=48361

Would you please advise me more on this and help me how to present my (our- thats myself and wife) case to the VO ?

This is what exactly I wrote in visa application form -

TO VISIT MY FRIEND MR.XYZ OF ABC address,State name,US AND HIS FAMILY.TO VISIT TOURIST PLACES LIKE NIAGRA FALLS,DISNEY WORLD AND LOS ANGELES WITH HIS FAMILY.

Thanks in advance

[peace]

Sir,
It is good to be honest but this world is not a perfect place and the US tourist visa system is hardly perfect. It looks from your posting that you think it is very easy to get a visitor visa to US. Not so. They suspect everyone to be an immigrant and denial rate is high ,so it is better to prepare a strong application smartly by showing strong ties to India and a concrete purpose of visit.


From the info you have provided( do not get disheartened), chances are very slim.
Reason; THe officers will most importantly assess if you have
strong compelling ties in India to come back to. Ties that they look for are family( spouse and children) and occupation. You do not have any family ties (no children and both of you wish to go). Occupation wise
there is no compulsion for you to stay in India , since both of you are freelancers.
On top of that , your purpose of visit is "unnatural", (meeting a stranger), and not so concrete. You have never visited any foreign country for tourism so your purpose of visit as a tourist is questionable too.

Advice; Withdraw your application for now if you really wish to go.

Wait a few months. You have business contacts in US so apply alone
(without your wife) for a short business trip by getting business letters from
US. That way , your wife will act as a tie in INdia for you to return to. Business visas are more easily granted than tourist visas.

Once you have made a trip , your wife can independently apply for her business visa. This is the best way to approach.

good luck.

Excuse me for being blunt, but going to visit an "internet friend" in US as the
purpose of visit will most likely get you a visa denial. Visiting US is fine , but I advise you not to mention anything about your american friend, as going to visit someone you have never actually met is very "unnatural" and will arouse suspicion in the officer's mind that you wish to settle in the US with the help of your friend.

Please answer the following, so I can advise you on how to present your case;
1. What do you do in India?
2. Is your wife employed? Where?
3.. What is your annual income(roughly) that you show on papers?
4.. Do you have any children? What ages?
5.. Do you have any relatives in US? On what visas?
6. Have you ever visited a foreign country before? What purpose?
7. Have you ever been denied any visa?


.

[Din]

Peace, Thanks a lot for the detailed post and advice. No, I never thought its easy, but I agree I made mistakes in preparing the application, I mean mentioning about my internet friend etc.

And yes, I know my chances are very slim, but I decided to give it a try, the main reason is I won't be able to go after this December, after that I will get more busy, then family, then new kid may be in next year etc etc

Well, I am going to attend the interview confidently. I will try not to give much importance to my friend. Sorry for not acepting your advise (regarding cancellation of interview), but I will sure keep you posted about my interview experience (visa granted or visa rejected), may be helpful for anyone havin a similar case

Thank you again

[BF_IN_SEATTLE]

Peace, Thanks a lot for the detailed post and advice. No, I never thought its easy, but I agree I made mistakes in preparing the application, I mean mentioning about my internet friend etc.

And yes, I know my chances are very slim, but I decided to give it a try, the main reason is I won't be able to go after this December, after that I will get more busy, then family, then new kid may be in next year etc etc

Well, I am going to attend the interview confidently. I will try not to give much importance to my friend. Sorry for not acepting your advise (regarding cancellation of interview), but I will sure keep you posted about my interview experience (visa granted or visa rejected), may be helpful for anyone havin a similar case

Thank you again

DiD you got your visa ?