Tourist Visa

deathnova says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:32:

Visiting a friend will not be sufficient for a tourist visa. They'll need to have a complete itinerary to include flights, hotels, places to visit, and why. Simply hanging out with Americans is not going to fly especially when they get a whiff of the real reason.

Add to this she'll also need to prove that she has the funds from her own employment to more than cover the expense and prove that she'll be returning to a decent employment thereafter.

The rules are a bit more dynamic than this but the gist of it is if she isn't just a wealthy tourist who plans on hitting up Disney or something and going right back home they won't approve it and they will keep the fee.

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Gator says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:33:

1. Always tell the complete truth.
2. RT ticket not required-the airline will not let her board without one.
3. No refunds, period.
4. She must show really, and I mean REALLY, strong ties to Colombia that will almost guarantee
her return to Colombia

And yes we will keep out fingers crossed-please let us know what happens.

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

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guacharaca says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:45:

No,not necessary.
Yes, very risky.
No chance on the $100 application fee (the US tax payer will not be paying for that interview).
Better to say she is going to Disneyland and she brings her dad. (and only if that is the real truth).

A friend truthfully explained to them that she is engaged to marry a man in Holland later that year. She successfully got her US tourist visa based on that info.

There are lots of rhymes and reasons and there all to do with over staying or side-stepping the spousal visa process. They want to see a real good reason for your friend to leave the US on time. Don't underestimate the "attachment to Colombia" criteria for getting the visa.

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

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Mononoke28 says on Jul 11, 2008, 08:16:

In my opinion it would be dumb to buy a plane ticket before having her visa in her hands, that's just a waste of money. Also, the embassy doesn't really care about that kind of stuff if she can't prove that she has very good reasons to come back to Colombia.

Now with that said, I've known a lot of people who have properties, good jobs, lots of money in their chekcking accounts and a family in Colombia and they've been denied flat out. And I've also known people who have absolutely nothing to show because they're unemployed, living at home, no bank accoutns and were approved on the spot without any questions.

It's a gamble.

Diana

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ColombianoGringo says on Jul 11, 2008, 09:27:

It is certainly a bad idea to buy her ticket before any type of visa is approved and actually issued.

On a related note ...

In a recent interview ambassador Brownfield claimed that the consulate is being less restrictive with tourist and other visitor visas. Supposedly, they only used to approve around 10%, but he claims that they are approving close to 60%.

I don't know how true this may be, but some members of my wife's family and my uncle's new wife all had successful tourist visa interviews recently. However, these are all people that own corporations and/or have substantial real estate holdings in Colombia. Still, it sounds like it MAY be getting easier for well qualified people to get visitor visas.

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Mononoke28 says on Jul 11, 2008, 14:34:

I heard that too on an interview he did for Caracol Radio along with the Australian ambassador. But a few weeks after that my husband's friends went to petition a tourist visa and they denied them all, for no reason.

My sister in-law is planning on going to see what they say. We'll see.

Diana

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