Hey guys need some urgent advice. I'm based in UK and plan to go to USA for summer.

I've read some articles online and I understand the main issue USA consulate have is assurance the visitor will return the the country of departure. I need some advice on documents to proof I will return to UK.

I'm in a full time job and can get - letter from work, payslips, bank statement. I unforunately can't provide a tenancy agreement. What else can I provide ?

I'm thinking of opening one of those fix bond accounts for a year (ISA), and put a fixed deposit - will that help me ? At least that will show I need to come back to retrive the money when it matures or should I just leave it in my bank.

I have about 10 Euro visas over the last 2 years, will this help at all ?

Please advise on the questions above. I'm extremely grateful in advance - VicJustic, OmoTier1, JustWise & Co. . My eyes are on you for help o 

I've been planning this summer holiday for ages !

kadman:

Hey guys need some urgent advice. I'm based in UK and plan to go to USA for summer.

I've read some articles online and I understand the main issue USA consulate have is assurance the visitor will return the the country of departure. I need some advice on documents to proof I will return to UK.

I'm in a full time job and can get - letter from work, payslips, bank statement. I unforunately can't provide a tenancy agreement. What else can I provide ?

I'm thinking of opening one of those fix bond accounts for a year (ISA), and put a fixed deposit - will that help me ? At least that will show I need to come back to retrive the money when it matures or should I just leave it in my bank.

I have about 10 Euro visas over the last 2 years, will this help at all ?

Please advise on the questions above. I'm extremely grateful in advance - VicJustic, OmoTier1, JustWise & Co. . My eyes are on you for help o

I've been planning this summer holiday for ages !

Do you still have more than a year left on your UK visa? Is your employment contract based? If yes. . how long do you have left on the contract.

Since you are not married, own no property yet in the UK, the focus now will be on the nature of your employment, whether that could show stronger tie to the UK than Nigeria.

Having those visas on your passport is a good thing, so its +

Hi Justwise when I will apply I've have just a little less than a year - 11 months.

My job is full time, pay is better than good. But what strong ties can I show is the question ?

Is the fixed deposit a good idea ? It will be with Nationwide. As you're in UK I know you'll know a bit about Nationwide (being a building society). Please advise.

More advise needed Sirs.

kadman:

Hi Justwise when I will apply I've have just a little less than a year - 11 months.

My job is full time, pay is better than good. But what strong ties can I show is the question ?

Is the fixed deposit a good idea ? It will be with Nationwide. As you're in UK I know you'll know a bit about Nationwide (being a building society). Please advise.

More advise needed Sirs.

Nationwide is ok, you stand a good chance since you are in full time employment with a good pay. I'm sure you can sell yourself at the interview, they may not even look at your documents much but base their judgment on your interview responses.

very true like justwise says
fill in your application form providing as much info as possible dress smart and goodluck

Thanks Justwise and Joxiri,

Anymore advice and tips on selling myself. Thanks Sirs

bump

I really think you have nothing to worry about. you have a legal right to be in the UK, have a good employment, with no criminal history (I am assuming this), then you should be fine.

What they also look out for is your travel history, good job ties to which they know you may not abandon. You passed this in flying colours. Next will be a review of what you gonna do in the states. you staying with people that came with into the US on a visiting visa, married a US citizen and stayed back will hurt your application. Most folks don't know this but its true. safe option is to book for a hotel if you do not know the immigration history of your US host. If you say you want to vacation in the US for summer hols and chose to go to places like Maryland, South Carolina etc with a hotel reservation it is a dead give away you have relatives in the US. A new tourist in the US who has no relatives or friends will almost certainly chose NY or CA. So be prepared for a review of your US visit. Do this and I think you got nothing to worry about

Good luck

Dancewith, thank you very much !

I have travel history on check. I think I've been to about 16 countries now, and the job think is fine. Luckily because of sites like LinkedIn e.t.c just a google search with my name would show I'm employed.

And yes I'm doing the hotel visit and as you guess it would be for NY & FL for 2 weeks. I read we aren't suppose to make any sort of bookings unless the visa is issued, is that correct ?

And I will catch up on my review for US. I already know NY a fair bit and will catch up on some reading on Florida.

kadman do not book a hotel
  they advise that you do not book a hotel, just make sure you have enough funds in your account to pay for your hotel and your flight as well obviously
  I repeat do not book a hotel that can actually go against you, you can get the address of the hotel where you intend to stay at and write it in the application as the address where you will be staying at
  get a letter from your employer saying you work there how long u ve been working there u can add how much you earn and make sure that it is written on it that you would be on holiday on the dates you intend to travel that you have written in your application

Just to add to what others have said.

US consulate in London usually require you MUST have spent at least 1year plus of your UK visas stay with not less than 6months to 1years expiration date left and this I think you have ticked! From the information you have given so far, you really need not worry much, unless you have had issues with the US consulate in Nigeria in the past or you have been denied entry into the US on previous attempt, then your interview and Visas issuance will take longer.

As others have already stated, be smart, straight talking, and if you do not know when asked a question, tell them you really do not know but that you can provide any information that may assist them if they want you to.


KEYWORD : Honesty!

Hope your application is successful

Thanks Joxiri and Omo Tier 1 - solid advice all round.

Joxiri good idea on knowing the hotel I'm going to even though I don't reserve it.
Omo Tier 1, no never had any applictions to US consultate before and pray this one is sucssesful.

Last question and the most important. I'm thinking of doing a one year UK fixed deposit account. The advantage is it will show I have more ties here but the downside is that I will remove it from my normal account which would be less bouyant.
Or should I just run my normal account ? Which will have a good balance but I guess not showing enough ties like a fixed deposit account.

I also have Nigerian domicary fixed deposit account, should I take this along or leave it not to complicate matter.

I'm really grateful if you guys give any input. Thanks

Don't complicate things just take your normal account, u can get a us visa with 500 quid in your account self its about the ties u ve to uk and your ability to demonstrate u will return after your trip. And that's where dressing smart and providing responses with confidence and accuracy if you are not sure about something say so
Also if you have a tennancy agreement where you live, it will be a good idea,
I personally think you will be fine considering u ve travelled round europe a lot
Be confident possibly no chalant at the back of your mind be prepared for a refusal

Hey everyone, just to say thank you to Joxiri, Omo_Tier1, Dancewith and Justwise as usual for the advise

I had my US interview last week and my visa was approved.

As Omo_Tier1 said honesty was the best policy and Joxiri's advise to dress smart.

For anyone who might find this information useful, my interview went something like this:

I attended the US consulate in London, there were over 500 people with appiontments. I noticed one consulate officer was attenting to only Nigerians and was steadily refusing them.

When he called my number I went to meet him

Me: Good afternoon (Smiling)
USC: No Reply
USC: I see you came here for your masters degree and stayed behind why ?
Me: I decided to that as I got a good job with a carrer path
USC: I see you work in the Financial Services as an Finance Adjuster
Me: That's not correct I'm a Finance Assesor, I hope to be an Adjuster one day.
USC: Oh sorry, yes that is a good carrer path
Me: Thank you
USC: I see you travel to Paris a lot, why ?
Me: It's a nice escape out of London, it's cheap and I don't have to fly there
USC: Smiles
USC: Your visa has been approved, go and submit your form for DX delivery

He did not ask to see one single document, he only read from my application form and studied me carefully. As Joxiri adviced I filled my application very carefully.

My passport came back yesterday and I was given 5 year muliple entry.


Thanks guys for the help.

very pleased for you kadman
same thing happened to me
enjoy your trip sha friend of mine got interview on wednesday i hope it goes well for him as well

kadman
did you apply for 5 years multiple or u just got 5 years i thought it was 2 years they gave normally
you are lucky oh!!

kadman: Hey everyone, just to say thank you to Joxiri, Omo_Tier1, Dancewith and Justwise as usual for the advise

I had my US interview last week and my visa was approved.

As Omo_Tier1 said honesty was the best policy and Joxiri's advise to dress smart.

For anyone who might find this information useful, my interview went something like this:

I attended the US consulate in London, there were over 500 people with appiontments. I noticed one consulate officer was attenting to only Nigerians and was steadily refusing them.

When he called my number I went to meet him

Me: Good afternoon (Smiling)
USC: No Reply
USC: I see you came here for your masters degree and stayed behind why ?
Me: I decided to that as I got a good job with a carrer path
USC: I see you work in the Financial Services as an Finance Adjuster
Me: That's not correct I'm a Finance Assesor, I hope to be an Adjuster one day.
USC: Oh sorry, yes that is a good carrer path
Me: Thank you
USC: I see you travel to Paris a lot, why ?
Me: It's a nice escape out of London, it's cheap and I don't have to fly there
USC: Smiles
USC: Your visa has been approved, go and submit your form for DX delivery

He did not ask to see one single document, he only read from my application form and studied me carefully. As Joxiri adviced I filled my application very carefully.

My passport came back yesterday and I was given 5 year muliple entry.


Thanks guys for the help.

Congrat man!!

Hi Joxiri.. just give your friend all the exact advise you gave me. Because if not for your advise I would have just written the bare minimum in my application and not elaborated on it very in depth. That was what me and the Officer had to talked about, and I think that's what impressed him.

There is no place on the application to specify the length of the visa you want. I was also expecting 2 years. It's only in Nigeria I see people getting 5 years, 10 years e.t.c

Justwise, thanks so much boss

I am a student in the UK and will like to visit the US in june after my exams, How much do i need to have in my account ?
someone told me t try Ireland and not London, should I? What documents do I need to apply? Thanks

@ Dustydee

Are you doing a one year postgraduate or undergraduate degree ? And how long is left on your visa ?

I have about 8 months left. I am a postgrad student.

dustydee: I have about 8 months left. I am a postgrad student.

Well 8 months left on your visa is enough time.

I would advise you book your appiontment and make travel plans before your dissertation as that would be your ties to UK.

As you have seen from previous posts here, the amount in your account does not matter.

And I heard about Belfast being easier than London. I'm not sure what that means but I couldn't be bothered to make the effort. You can apply in Belfast just so you get to see Ireland, but I would not advisely travelling there solely for a visa appiontment.

Congrats Kadman!

Does it matter if you've never travelled to any nearby countries for instance Paris? I'm looking to spend my next 2 weeks holiday in FL, have heard so much about that State.

Would you advise to have another visa on my passport to stand a better chance or go ahead with my application?

Are you able to list the documents submitted?

Thanks for your help with this.

Hi Bwoodlt,

First question - I'm not sure it matters if you have travelled to other EU countries or not, people say it doesn't matter. But I believe it improves your chances. The consular asked what countries have I been to and after I rattled so many he was already tired. If you can get an EU visa before then it might help.

Second question - the usual documents; letter from work or school, school hostel or rental tencancy agreement, bank statement, certificate from school or recipt of school fees paid, passport and any other thing you can think of that will help you - for example I added my NHS card as a tie to UK as I'm not going to leave the UK's free healthcare for the overpriced one of the USA.

As I said in my post the consular did not ask to see one single document. Pay attention to the application you make online as that's what he looks at and dress smart. All the Naija boys in T-shirt and skinny jeans were rejected that day.

Cheers

kadman: Hi Bwoodlt,

First question - I'm not sure it matters if you have travelled to other EU countries or not, people say it doesn't matter. But I believe it improves your chances. The consular asked what countries have I been to and after I rattled so many he was already tired. If you can get an EU visa before then it might help.

Second question - the usual documents; letter from work or school, school hostel or rental tencancy agreement, bank statement, certificate from school or recipt of school fees paid, passport and any other thing you can think of that will help you - for example I added my NHS card as a tie to UK as I'm not going to leave the UK's free healthcare for the overpriced one of the USA.

As I said in my post the consular did not ask to see one single document. Pay attention to the application you make online as that's what he looks at and dress smart. All the Naija boys in T-shirt and skinny jeans were rejected that day.

Cheers

Many thanks for the detailed explaination. Will keep you updated.

@kadman: i thought they only give Nigerians 2 years visa.

Hi all, need help and advise on usa tourist visa application. I have bee 2d usa before in 2010 on a b1 visa for conference. I was then a student in the uk..in 2011 I went home on holidays and then applied for a usa tourist visa from home I was rfused and the visa officer said I should go back 2d uk 2apply as it was my current country of residence. I want 2apply a tourist visa soon for a 9days visit, I have a job, I'm on a post study visa, what strongties can I show.

hello

I have got a US visiting visa for 2 yrs but never travvelled with the before expiration date Can I apply for an extension without attending an interview at the US embassy

Babasege2:
I have got a US visiting visa for 2 yrs but never travvelled with the before expiration date Can I apply for an extension without attending an interview at the US embassy

You can do drop box.