Welcome, travelers! This post is about my experience traveling to another country to apply for an American tourist visa. I’ll also share some insights into the application process for those considering it.
A summary of application process for American tourist visa
Applying for an American tourist visa is an interesting process. First, you need to find an available appointment. The availability of appointments varies greatly from country to country. In some countries, you may have to wait almost two years, while in others, you can secure an appointment in just a week. If you want to check the availability of appointments in different countries, visit this website: Global Visa Wait Times.
You need to fill a DS-160 form before booking an appointment. This form inquires your personal information and background. Then, you can book your appointment and it’s time to prepare for the interview! The interview takes place at the U.S. embassy in your chosen country. A visa officer will ask you a range of questions to assess your eligibility. It’s a good idea to research common questions and prepare your answers in advance.
Now, let’s dive into my story!
My experience applying for American tourist visa
In my home country, the wait time for an American tourist visa is about 1.5 years. Even if I booked an appointment now, I would have to wait that long. There is a trick, though: you can book an appointment and then keep refreshing the appointment page to find earlier slots. If you see an earlier date, you can reschedule your current appointment. But this requires dedication and constant checking.
Instead of waiting, I decided to pick a country with a shorter waiting time. That’s how I ended up in Warsaw, Poland.
Before I went, I came across many negative opinions online about applying for an American tourist visa in a foreign country. Reddit posts warned that applying abroad increases your chances of rejection. This is primarily because visa officers in a foreign country cannot easily verify the information you provide, such as your savings, residency, or property ownership. They often don’t ask for supporting documents, but it’s always a good idea to bring them just in case.
Despite the slim chances, I decided to give it a try. The good thing about the American tourist visa is that you can apply as many times as you want, regardless of rejections.
The day of the visa appointment!
The day of my appointment arrived. I dressed formally, wearing a blazer, top, pants, and heels to look professional. All my documents were neatly organized in a folder. I had done extensive research beforehand and rehearsed answers to frequently asked questions multiple times.
I arrived at the embassy an hour early, just in case there was a queue. After waiting about 15 minutes, I turned off my phone and went through security.
Inside, I entered a waiting room where many people were seated, waiting for their interviews. There were several booths with visa officers behind glass panels.
Finally, my turn came. I walked up to the booth as my number was called.
“Hi, good day,” I said.
“Good day,” the visa officer replied. “Why are you here today?”
“I’m applying for a U.S. tourist visa,” I answered.
“What do you plan to do in the U.S.?” he asked.
“I plan to travel around California and Sacramento,” I said.
He then asked, “Where are you originally from?”
I stated my home country.
He spent most of the time looking at his computer screen, likely reviewing my application details. Then he asked, “You’re not working right now?”
“Yes,” I replied honestly. “I left my job a month ago, but I had been working there for about two years.”
“How much is in your bank account?” he asked.
Here, I think I could have been clearer. I mentioned both the dollar amount and the amount in my local currency. In hindsight, I should have just stated the dollar amount.
After that, he said, “I’m sorry, I can’t approve your application at this time,” and handed me a paper.
“Thank you,” I said, and left the embassy.
You can apply multiple times
I felt sad, of course, but I reminded myself that rejection is not the end. I can always apply again. Honestly, my circumstances weren’t ideal at the time: I was applying in a foreign country and was unemployed. Despite that, there was still a chance I could have been approved, so I don’t regret trying.
Visa officers are highly trained to assess applicants, but they can also make mistakes. Their main goal is to ensure you don’t intend to use the visa to stay in the U.S. permanently.
Even though I was rejected, I’m content that I gave it a shot. And I have the option to reapply whenever I wish to.
Dear travelers, thank you for reading my post about the American tourist visa process! Please share your experiences and thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
