US visa rejections and what you should say in an interview

Me and my girlfriend have been together almost a year now and I live in the United States and she lives in Poland. She recently went to Warsaw to obtain a Tourist Visa. I live with my parents and they were fine with her coming her for a little vacation, about 2 weeks. Even with my dad serving as the sponsor, she got denied. She may try again in about a month once she has been enrolled in her university. Can anyone tell me the reasons she got rejected, even with my father serving as the sponsor? My family is very stable if that means anything. Is there anyway she can get a visa if she goes back to Warsaw? Is it better if she goes to Warsaw while she is in school, not on holiday? All of her family lives in Poland and she is going to a university. She will go back home. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to obtain this Visa? We are both 18, both going to universites for the first time.

Does she have a job? She needs to prove to immigration authorities that she will not overstay and that she has significant ties with her home country. Applying straight away after a refusal is a bad idea. I would suggest you go over to Poland first and for her to reapply again in six months or so.

I want her to come for december, i dont understand why she got rejected. and she kind of has a job but very few hours. she lives with her parents and is mainly a student. what are her chances of getting the visa in October if she doesnt mention a boyfriend and explains that we met in London and my dad was their. I was already in poland and stayed with her family during a few months ago in July. please help me more, i need more suggestions. Thank you btw Revoke

AND SHE DOES HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIES. her parents are here and she has some work and she is going to school in October!


Can you talk to me more, can anyone talk to me more about this, in the interview is it bad if she says im her boyfriend?

Ok. When she enrolls in school tell her to get documentation of this, receipt of all fees paid and if you wait a while - a letter from her lecturer stating she is progressing well and committed to her course. Get a letter from her employer stating she has been working there for x number of years. If she is a member of any sports teams, groups or what not - get a letter from them showing that she has been a member since x.

Once she presents enough evidence to the immigration officer that she has a life that she will want to return to and that she is no danger of overstaying, then her visa will be granted. I know that you are young and dying to see your girl, but dont rush it. Take your time, get all your documentation in order and you will be golden.

No. Its not bad if she says you are her boyfriend. If they dont ask, dont tell. If they do ask, be one hundred percrnt truthful.

If she has pictures of you and her in Poland and London, get her to bring them along too. Not to offer them up, but if they enquire about why she is visiting America and about her boyfriend there. If you visited her in Poland, that should work in your favour.

Thank you so much I will tell her, so you think it is still possible for her to come during christmas? if not, i might just be heading back there to Poland. I am trying so hard, i spent all my money on this from working in high school, but she is worth it. but can you tell me if its bad if she mentions boyfriend in the interview? and if you really think chances are not good she can get a visa by end of october.

I did visit her and she told them i was there with her family and she stillgot rejected, I believe she shouldnt have been. she had my dad's sponsor form and everything. so that's why they ask

Buddy, I am not an immigration lawyer. I am just giving you advice, as I want through the greencard system to help a mate set up a business. Its an arduous process at times. Tell your girl to try and gather up as much documentation as she can to prove that she has ties to Poland and her current home. Il fire off an email in the morning to a buddy of mine who is an American based lawyer and see what he advises.

Sign up/register here in the meantime so I can send you a private message. As for when she will get the visa. It might be October, it might be Christmas or it might be longer. There is no point in stressing. If what you told me is all true, then I would be shocked if she wasnt eventually awarded a visa. Once you get the first, abide by it and return home before it runs out - future applications become a whole lot easier.

Its getting the first one is the stressful part.

Its late here in Europe, but in the morning someone who has been in a similar position as yourself may see this thread and give you even more advice.

If she has a sponsor form from your father, then yeah, dShe should definitely tell them that you are her bf and attach photos of you and her in Poland and London with sponsorship form. A copy of your skype call in and call out log to prove that you are chatting regularly and if you booked a two way flight - Us - Pol, Pol-Us for yourself for a date after her trip in America, to visit her. That would probably nail it.

Does she have a fair few benjamins in her bank account? That might be a stumbling block.

Im not sure what is and whats not necessary, I would love to talk more with you but for some reason i cant message you, can you message me?

all comes down to money if her family are potless and she has no money they will automatically assume she will be working when she gets to the states because 1000's have done it in the past so many poles have overstayed on tourist visas student visas etc

also tell her to register a car in her name and to take out some credit aggrements mobile phone etc shows she has ties to poland

If you can wait a year, let her finish 1st year of studies and apply for "Work and Travel USA"

Great majority of applicant gets Visa granted.

I've heard (no direct evidence but anecdotal case is strong) that

- having connections and 'sponsors' in the US is not a help but a hindrance in getting a visa (if you have a SO and a place to stay already arranged they assume you'll overstay),

- not having a full time job (or owned property) is a sure way to be rejected,

- pursuing higher education in Poland is not taken as a sign that the person won't overstay

- in other words, she almost exactly fits the profile of people the embassy rejects,

- chances of ever being accepted after an initial rejection are very, very, very slim

- there's an element of random, dumb, luck that can't be discounted

i Think she is going to try again in about 6 weeks. this time she will bring document that she has work, receipt from school, the sponsor form my dad gave her. ( my parents make about six figures if this helps and are trust worthy). She lives with her parents and always has. She is a student now! and they are maybe under middle class but both her parents are employed, have a car, small apartment. If she brings this documentation next time will her chances be better? would it be better to bring proof that I was in poland and came home myself ( my flight itinerary?)

She is just a student! she lives with parents and isnt such a working girl! Dr. Toilet I meant to quote you last time. God i hope her chances will be better next time with more proof that she has a life in poland, i dont want her to waste her money on this visa if everyone believes she will be rejected again..

Can someone please tell me more? i don't see how having a sponsor hurts... i want her to come in december for christmas because it's our only chance until summer of next year!

Having someone responsible for you (and a place to stay) makes it easier to look for work (and a citizen SO is also regarded as a temptation to stay and not leave on time). A person with no fixed address (and paying lots more for temporary accomodation etc) is more likely to leave and go back to Poland on time.


Harsh truth: The consular offices involved do not care about what you want, they're care about keeping well educated young Poles without material resources from out of the US. I think it's a stupid policy, but that is the policy.

My wife's mother finally got a tourist visa after 2 rejections. I think it is up to the person doing the interview.

Il get back to you on Tuesday when ive got a response from me mate. In the meantime, chill and make sure your girl gets her documentation in order.

Dont sweat it too much. If you play ball with immigration, you will eventually come good. Or she could get a travel visa for Canada and saunter over the Maine border (joke).

Citizens of Poland don't need travel visa for Canada.

Sponsorship letters for tourist visas (I-134) are useless nowadays and CO's generally do not consider them during the application. Things that count the most during B-2 visa interview are:

- you - the way you present yourself, talk and give your general impression
- your ties to the country of residence (work, school, family)
- your stable income

I would generally discourage you from preparing any excessive documentation mentioned in this thread. Established relationship with a US citizen or resident might decrease your chances at getting the visa. Remember INA 214(b):


Think about your situation, what you're saying, what you're presenting, and deduce what a CO can possibly think about it.