K, I have been late on this, very late in fact. But then again I promised to write on US Visa process, so I waited till some good news comes. There were other things to write, but a word is a word. That could be an advantage when one is a nice Jewish boy like myself….
If you are planning to apply for US visa, here is the breakdown:
Decide before you apply! That is decide if you are going for studies, holiday, business, or some other affaire – such as getting married, applying for residence, etc.
Get yourself a piece of paper and write down the reason you are going there, and then check out the type of visa you need through http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html
So you won’t get cross-eyed while filling the visa application.
Now decide how long you intend to stay over there. Kindly be realistic on this. About a month is more or less a max for a tourist visa, less than 3 weeks for a family visit + some event, about two weeks for paying a bedside visit to a dead (!) relation, a week is enough for a short interview or ilk. Ah, and a business trip is less than a month, ideally 3 weeks. Simply, just don’t write 3 months anywhere.
Having decided why and for how long, now you need to get your finance in order. Remember you need to show sufficient funds for the journey – so a cool 300,000 for a week would certainly help you get the visa. Going there for over 3 weeks? Have about one million in the bank.
If you don’t have good finance or pre arranged accommodation, you need a letter from the sponsor. This should have sponsor’s daytime telephone number on it, as well as the current address. Ideally, mention your relationship with sponsor on the letter: Relation, business partner, student (by college), etc.
If you are not visiting anyone who is hosting you, then you ought to have some pre arranged accommodation in place and the money I mentioned above, roughly.
How much do you actually have to spend week in USA? It depends, about $600 p/w will do unless you want to max it out. The money I mentioned above is just for show, so US Embassy knows you can afford the trip…..
Now get your US related documents in order. These may be invitations, ticket bookings, accommodation letters & bookings, business contact details, a letter from college, etc. this list is very important as it is the first set of evidence to prove genuine-ness of your journey.
Make sure these are legible, traceable, and recent (pertaining to time of application).
Next you need to have a set of documents indicating your present status in Sri Lanka, that is employment, salary, business income, properties, family etc. this is vitally important as this is the place where visa officer gets an idea if you’d ever come back here!
Remember: US visa officer considers EVERY applicant as a potential immigrant. Its up to you to prove its otherwise!!
Last but not the least, arrange flight booking letter, your plan in US (OK, visited the relation/business partner/college in US – then what?), what you going to do afterwards, what you do when you come back, etc. This will really improve your chances of getting a visa.
Now you go to TTS (in front of Liberty Plaza – not inside there, which hosts a house of ill fame if you climb up a bit….), fill in your application, fix a date for the interview and off you go. In simpler words, when you tie up your end, the TTS will fix the rest.
Do not go to TTS and ask for favours, they can’t influence the visa process. Please. This is a common matter people refer us to. No we can’t give you visa either. We can only advice, and TTS only submit documents on your behalf. OK.
Interview only lasts for few minutes. So do not expect to deliver a long treatise on History of Time or anything of that nature. Truthfulness is the policy that works, as is my experience. If you get it, they will tell you there. They are not in the habit of wasting your time (or their’s).
All in all, I must say US visa system is quite faire and its simple. Try not to deceive them, and they in turn will be honest with you.
Good luck
