China Travel Forum

[Shapiro]

Can anyone give me tips on how to get a USA Visa For a chinese woman? I am just talking about a visa for her to come and visit for a week. Not the 3 month marraige Visa. She lives in Beijing she is 32 she has a job. All I can get from my state department is that she needs to fill out the right form and I can write a letter of invitasion saying I will cover all costs. Any one have tips on what the letter should say? Or any other advice? Thanks

[kamal]

1.Have you tried looking at the US Embassy webpage in Beijing. The visa section should have all the information you need.
2.You should send her a invitation from some travel company in USA or visit relative invitation ,and she takes to the China visa handling orginization or USA counsulate to help her ,I think this is the best way
I hope you will get your aim

[sopsop]

This use to be virtually impossible as the US representatives will assume that she will not return to China. The form says that you must prove that she will return. How that can be done is the magical trick everyone wants to know. You may get lucky with your request, but more than likely she will be denied entry. If she had a child and a husband still in China and was doing something like a special business trip or conference, she might be successful.
So put on your thinking caps and try to develop believeable reasons for her to return to China.

[Ruin]

Although the reasoning of the consulate is mysterious and there is no magical sure-fire way to success, it is possible for a Chinese person to get a visa to visit the US and I have had success petitioning for people. One was denied, but asked to present further information and ultimately successful.
What you need to do, aside from hoping that you get the right visa officer, is to do everything you can to convince the officer that she really, truly intends to return to China. Since the interviews are extremely short, it is important to make this as obvious as possible to someone who will be glancing at the materials she bring to the interview. I recommend:
A short, brief letter from her employer stating that she has a job and will have a job when she gets back and they have every confidence she will return.
An itinerary for the visit to the U.S. (required in any case, I think)
A round-trip plane ticket or at least itinerary (Obviously this should be refundable in case she doesn't get the visa!)
The invitation letter should come from the most credible source possible--if it happens that she will visit a school or company or church or whatever, it is best for someone in one of those places to write the invitation letter.
No matter who writes the letter should be brief, emphasize the importance of the visit and emphasize that she will return to China, what her compelling reason is to return, and the fact that you really believe this. If you are her boyfriend, I wouldn't highlight that fact, because that suggests you really intend for her to immigrate but don't even coinsider lying--if they catch you covering something up or lying, she'll have no chance at all. The letter should be faxed to the consulate in advance, and she should also bring it to the appointment with her.
In this case the main thing seems to be her job. It will help if it is a professional job (as opposed to say a secretary) and she has ongoing projects, opportunity for advancement and is generally invested in it in such a way that it looks unlikely she would just dump it and not return to China.

Don't overlook other reasons she might have for returning to China--a family member getting married soon after her visit for example or her beloved pet cat but try to keep it as short as possible and not over a page. Also mentiopn any previous foreign travel she has had. Previous visits overseas, especially to developed countries, also seem to be very helpful convincing the officer that the applicant will return to China
By the way, the visitor visa will probably be good for three months.

[shapiro]

Thank you, great information. I think I will have a neighbor to invite her. My neihgbor is from Beijing and married. So it won't look like she is visiting a single guy. She has gone to Germany and come back. So that is a plus too. I am begining to think we have a chance. Any other comments people? Thanks a lot.

[Femila]

Be sure to show as many possible things that would support her return to China - ownership of property of value (a car, an apartment), proof of a job with good income (tax statements, bank statements, etc.) a letter from her employer indicating that they know that she is taking a vacation and when she is expected to return. Any and all evidence of long term and enduring ties to China.
Any support letters from people in the US should indicate how and where they met, and why she is being invited, and should stress that there is every reason to believe that she will return to China.
The major reason that people get denied is that there is insufficient evidence of reason to return - no property, low income, poor job, nothing that would compel her to return to China.