First visit to U.S. - (Tourist visa)

deathnova says on Jul 24, 2008, 10:56:

They should have verified all of this before issuing the visa. I don't really see a need to bring anything except for maybe cash/credit since it will be obvious that she has immigration intent if she isn't properly equipped as a tourist.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

guacharaca says on Jul 24, 2008, 12:16:

Only debit/credit card (plus system) and I doubt that they will require a yellow fever shot.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Jul 24, 2008, 13:34:

No vaccination needed. Only required for an immigrant visa. Generally speaking this is what happens at the port of entry:

1. Immigration officer looks for your travel documents( passport, visa, I-94 form).

2. May ask questions about your USA visit.

3. Take digital picture and digital finger print.(known as us-visit program)

4. Stamp your passport and provide a departure date on I-94.

Always double check the dates and other relevant information on the I94.
If there is any mistake like wrong type of Visa, date given by the officer for length of stay immediately let the officer know and get it corrected. The you will porceed to the customs area for inspection.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Jul 24, 2008, 18:04:

Definitely no immunizations needed. And tell her not to worry about the amount of cash-money she has on her person. Tell her to bring $100 in cash just to pay for incidentals - like(coffee, cab, etc). The USCIS doesn't care what form of, or how much, money a person with a valid visa has. The visa already took care of that concern.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Pirate2late says on Jul 24, 2008, 19:45:

Thanks to all.......

She has all her papers in order and she got spooked when a friend told her she needed to have plenty of cash to avoid the "immigration intent" and not being able to support herself as a tourist. Most all of her advice has been from her friends who have never left the country! I also told her not to bring much cash on her person.

Thanks again........Oh, she did receive her visa today!

"Fly it until the last part stops moving!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jul 24, 2008, 20:53:

DisneyWorld,....$800

Tell her, $30,800.00

Why Colombianitas? Personally... I just don't like pink areolar tissue.

2 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Jul 24, 2008, 20:54:

Night out in SoBe - $2000. Take $32,800.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Jul 24, 2008, 21:03:

Ahhh, just joking kalico - hang in there.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

1 funny, 0 helpful.

Pirate2late says on Jul 24, 2008, 21:22:

What a great bunch!!!!!! Very funny! I pass along info! ha ha ha!

Tks.................

"Fly it until the last part stops moving!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Pirate2late says on Jul 25, 2008, 10:57:

This is getting more expensive by the "post"!!!!

"Fly it until the last part stops moving!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jul 28, 2008, 03:03:

Never worry about cash at the border, in terms of customs. My wife comes here to visit, while we wait for her immagration papers to be processed. She has NEVER been asked about money when entering. I did write a letter to give to the embassy official when she had her visa interview, guaranteeing her support, and sign a blood oath that she will return to Colombia.

Actually I give many cudos to the Bogota embassy and the customs people, (Los Angeles and Houston), for their extremely polite treatment of my wife during this people.We havent had any of the issues other people talk about, (we aren't done yet so I am praying the tide won't change).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Jul 28, 2008, 04:55:

Pirate,
How about sharing some insights into how your friend was able to acquire the tourist visa? What process did she follow? The general consensus on this forum is that the odds of getting a tourist visa are like hitting the lotto. It's nice to know it can be done, please help others who might be interested.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jul 28, 2008, 11:11:

My wife and I always have friends from Colombia visiting, they don't seem to have trouble getting tourist visas.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jul 28, 2008, 13:16:

Saltador- tourist visas aren't that hard to get. If you are unemployed and trying to get a "tourist visa" for you, 5 kids, grandma, grandpa, and 13 cousins, ain't going to happen.
Have a productive job, a focused story why you are going, (I want to go the the US of A to visit family and friends for 45 days this fall), plus some visable means of support why you are in the US, (bank account with cash, or family and friends that will vouch their financial support while present) helps.

There whole focus is to keep criminals and people trying to immigrate illegally out of the country.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

deathnova says on Jul 28, 2008, 13:49:

My attorney has advised that any tourist visa story that involves family and friends is probably going to receive an automatic rejection. Those types of requests generally involve immigrant intent and USCIS knows this.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Jul 28, 2008, 19:26:

Does your attorney offer a better strategy?
It's strange, we have one camp here saying it's easy to get a tourist visa, and the other camp says it's impossible.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jul 28, 2008, 20:43:

The thing that makes a tourist visa impossible is being unemployed and having no visable means of support, either in Colombia or the States. Also, taking a "family" on a little summer vacation, with little money in the bank won't help either.

That being said, ITS EASY to get a tourist visa to visit family and friends if the person shows some sort of ties to Colombia, like family and a good job AND have the means to finance a trip, with either money in the bank, or a commitment from the people you are visiting to pay your expenses.

My wife and her family has never been denied a visa and the embassy interviews have been a cake walk. The last interviewer spent 30 minutes joking about why in the hell my wife would want to come to Seattle and Idaho in the dead of winter? Out of 8 Bro's and Sis's, plus mom, all have come to the states multiple times without any problems what so ever.. Even her sons get visas.

Bottom line, saying that you are going to NYC with no money in the bank will cause the interview to fail. Coming to the states with a commitment, by family to pay your way, or cash in hand, and being honest and open about your intent gets you a visa.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Jul 29, 2008, 05:01:

JL,
Got it. Can you point me in the direction I need to go to get the process started for my novia colombiana? We have friends in the US who will commit to paying for her expenses while she is here, and she has had a good job in colombia for over a year now.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jul 29, 2008, 05:28:

for a tourist visa.. She needs to make an appointment at the embassy. They will tell her to pay, at a bank, the fee, (can't remember what it is), Your friends need to send a letter to her stating that they will support her during her trip. They also need to state the purpose of the trip and the approximate length of travel. When she goes, she needs to talk about that she is employed in colombia and her ties back to colombia. In addition, if the trip is to see you, she needs to be honest, but if she mentions anything about getting married in the US, while she is here, they will flatly deny her visa. The big thing is she needs to be adament about her desire to return to Colombia because of her Job and family. That's been the process for us..

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Saltador says on Jul 29, 2008, 08:01:

Thanks for the info. Is the embassy in bogota where she will need the appointment?
She lives in cartagena...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 29, 2008, 09:16:

A letter from the employer stating the period that she has been working there and that she has been granted vacation time and the time she is expected to come back would also help to show ties to Colombia. Remember the most important thing is for her to show strong ties to her home country (family, property, a job, on going education, etc...)

The embassy is in Bogota and she would need to go in person the day of the interview. If approved, the visa will be sent by certified post to Cartagena. Go to for all the info:
http://bogota.usembassy.gov/b1b2visa.html

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Pirate2late says on Aug 31, 2008, 18:16:

Yes, getting a tourist Visa seems like hitting the lotto!! To be honest, we didn't have high hopes. She is a medical student and lives at home with her mother and sister. She is not employed either. She spoke with many individuals who applied and were turned down. From this we approached the application with the intent of convincing them of the reasons why she will return to Colombia.

She obtained a letter from the university showing that she is enrolled for the next semester year and a copy of the bill paying for the semester. Her mother wrote a letter and I also wrote a letter (to whom it may concern type) providing them with my address and phone number where she will be staying and that I would be providing for her during her stay. In my letter I stated that I had been to Colombia on three occasions; have met her family; that she wants to know my family; that she has no intentions of staying; that finishing her degree is her main goal; that while she is my novia, we have no immediate plans of getting married.

She said that she thought the letter I wrote and the one from her mother weighed heavily. She was very, very polite during the interview, but also felt like taking an active roll in the process helped too. Instead of just sitting there and answering questions, after the initial "meet & greet", she handed all her papers & letters to the interviewer and begin to explain why she wanted the tourist visa and why she had reasons to return. She felt this was very important. She had a medical student friend who went the week before and she was denied after just 3 or 4 questions. We think she was just not prepared. You must be prepared to convince them of her ties to her country and why she will return. Be polite, but take active roll in the interview.

Everyone has to go to Bogota for the interview and wait hours. There are plenty of places to stay within walking distance to the U.S. Embassy.

She was granted the tourist visa for 5 years! She came for 27 days and just returned last week to begin classes again.

Having said all that, she still thinks a lot depends on the mood of the person doing the interview at the time!!

Good luck!!!

"Fly it until the last part stops moving!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.