www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Well fellow mongers, I have a big question and this about a Novia/Tica who is due to visit the US embassy to gain a USA visa. Is it true that they must have a minimum bank balance in order to get a visa stamp. This gal has a permanent job, K*ds at school etc but .... is this a real requirement ?

Any other info appreciated.

Thanks CR team

There appears to be no hard and fast rule on what the minimum requirements are. It can change depending on the person doing the interview, their mood, and other equally as nebulous factors.

According to one of the Vice Counsels at the SJO consulate they process, on average, 350 visa requests a day. The time allotted for each the interview is very short and mostly the decision is made on the submitted paperwork rather then the answer to any questions. It is important to note that under their SOP the applicant is assumed to be planning to migrate to the U.S. and the applicant must prove, to the satisfaction of the interviewer, otherwise.

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If you dig a little deeper you are sure to find this topic covered here and elsewhere. The simple answer is that she has little to no chance getting a visa seeing as virtually all are turned down as the applicant has more reason to stay in the US than leave.

I have heard about the bank balance before. It's not a requirement but in some cases it can help. They have to show strong ties to their home country as well as being financially able to support her trip. Having a gringo novio does not count as being financially fit...it will actually hurt her argument if she mentions it.

Also, concerning the bank balance, it can't have been deposited recently.

As others have said...she doesn't have a very good chance. It really does come down to the person giving the interview. I have had friends tell me that some interviewers give almost everyone a visa while others deny everyone.

Another thing...

I know a few people who have made fake letters from International companies saying that they are new hires and are required to travel to the US office for training and were given business visas.

This is taking a pretty big chance because if you are caught lying, you are banned from the US for life.

The process is first she must obtain a passport which costs about 25,000-30,000 colones which takes about 2 weeks. Then she needs to fill out the application on line (which can be done through a travel agency whose hope is she or you buy the plane ticket once approved) which runs about 7,000 colones, however this just gets her a "visa interview" which will take about a month from the time the on-line application is filled out. By the way the on-line application is very long with many questions, and as stated above the main thing that is being scrutinized is she tied to CR in someway that semi guarentees her return. However, again as stated that may not be enough since it depends on who does the interviewing, their mood, etc. I would not recommend do something illegal because as again stated earlier this could make it impossible to obtain a visa someday down the road. If she does get approved for whatever reason, then the visa costs about 80,000 colones. Basically there are three ways that a tica can get here. Firstly, marry an American. However this process takes a year. First you have to marry her, return here to the US complete the paperwork (advisable to use an attorney that specializes in this - in LA we have tico lawyers familiar with the process), and then it will take about 1 year for her to come here legally. I know many ticos, or non-ticos that have married someone from CR and this was the process explained to me. Secondly, have some jobs skills that are needed in the states. So, if she was a stripper etc, I doubt she has skills needed so this would be a dead-end. Thirdly, she needs to be rich or well off, then she can get her visa because she is financially tied to CR, but again why would she choose to come here permanently when her colones go much further and she will have a much better lifestyle in CR. Basically the only sure fire way to get her here is marriage. Personally for me, I prefer the difficulty of bringing a chica here since it gives one time to know the young lady. Lastly, unless she gives up her job of stripping or whatever to pursue a serious relationship and put her neck in the guillotine, I wouldn't waste my time, money, or effort pursuing one of these chicas. My novia gave up her "night club" job before I would consider anything serious, but it still takes time to know someone before one makes such a serious move. If one moves to fast, one gets burned. If one waits, and does things with patience, then it will be obvious if the chica is worth the effort or not. In closing, my personal opinion is that most chicas (about 99%) that are working girls will not be worth the aggravation. But again nothing but death is 100%, so if you are honest with yourself the answers will be obvious. Good luck with whatever you do........

Request for money:

I know I'm just a skeptical old man. Does sound like an innovative request for money. " My love if only I had $2000 in my bank account I could get a visa to come see you." Not only would you not ever see the girl deftly would never see the money again. I know call me all the names you like. Just my opinion.

Lee

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Lee,

It may be a RFM in the making and the suggestion that $3000 needs to be in the account has kinda surfaced...and I am not buying it. But in defense of the Novia, she has a permanent job and three K*ds with every intention of returning. That should be more compelling in any USA visitor visa interview. My contribution, if any , will be a plane ticket with a Spirit airlines deal of some sort.

This chick is very cute, has her act together but having made arrangements for 4 great days over at Manuel Antonio on the last visit , at hte last minute she hit me up for an extra $300 for a babysitter and /with no subsititute Novia in apprenticeship or in the making I succumbed. Fabulous time of course but left a bit of a nasty taste. As did her wish to go shopping...thank goodness I used the assertive NO technique !

Lets see what happens and I will alert if I hear the RFM 'help call' as the interview date nears.

Cheers

That is one very over paid babysitter.

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The money in the bank is worthless if it was recently deposited. And again...that's if they even take that into consideration.

Also, having K*ds is actually a negative it it's a single mom as they'll assume that she intends to work illegally and send money back to her family.

How long has she had her current job? Does it pay enough to support her trip to the US?

I reeckon she has four years in her job, and it pays just over a grand per month, which in Tica land is abpove average I guess.

She is married but going through a divorce. This is a classy well dressed Tica that has a lot of style. The last minute demand for extra money for a baby sitter was bad form...particularly as I had prepaid hotels for the Pac Coast.

She may have several guys who are suckers in the waiting, but giving her the benefit of the doubt , I am sitting back and waiting to see if she pulls it off. If she does get the visa then there is no telling how many guys she will have lined up. I may be jus one or the special one...but my guard is up.

Spur.... you are being played. When you mix a Tica living in CR and a gringo living in the states... shake it all together... nothing, 99 times out of a 100, is what it actually seems.

These kind of situations have been tossed around again and again on this board more times than anyone can count. 300 bucks for a babysitter? Time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Berk....

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Money by itelf means nothing. She needs as many of these as possible: good job, property/real estate, car.

She has to prove sufficient ties to Costa Rica. K*ds mean nothing, family means nothing, money deposited a month or two before the interview means nothing.

The costs are: $14 to get a PIN and $131 for visa. If you get denied, you don't get a refund.

IMO, you are being played. The money will disappear as fast as she does.

IMHO

1: A women making over $1000 per month in CR She must be a Doctor or a lawyer, or own a very profitable business here, OR she is making it scaming gringos.

2: There are 1000s of very capabile babysetters here that will gladly keep 3 K*ds for c5000 to c10000 per day. Normal would be c25000 for 3 days and 24 hrs per day. THAT IS $50

3: Do not know where you met her, but there are hundreds of Ticas who make a living off of unsuppecting gringos who they meet on the many dating web sites.

4: You are being scammed: again IMHO

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I'm sorry man but this wreaks of a scam to get you to deposit money in her account. She "says" she has a full-time job, but where did you meet her? Was it in a P4P bar or over the internet?

The last minute "hit" for $300 babysitter is what clued me in. This was her way of having you indirectly pay for her time. In Costa Rica, a fulltime, live-in nanny/maid costs about $250 per month. There is NO WAY a babysitter costs $300 for 4 days.

Also... have you asked her why she wants to go the US?

I have gone through the visa process down here and failed. It is likely she will fail too and then the money will be "conveniently" in her account. Sorry man... you are new and this one sounds like a seasoned pro.

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