Unmarried Adult Daughter Tourist Visa

[True Blue]

My 26 year old Chinese stepdaughter just got her Masters degree. She wants to take a semester off. She's been in school in the UK for the past 7 years. She has never been to USA. She wants to go for her doctorate in UK or USA.

 

My wife and I have invited her to visit us (Florida)to see the sights. and visit some universities to see if she likes a grad school here.

 

Q. I hear unmarried Chinese women have a low chance of getting tourist visas to USA. What is her chance as a 26 year old unmarried young woman? Would approval be easier if she joins a tour group?

 

Q. We were been advised if she notes that she is a "prospective student" on the B2 then if she finds a grad school she likes, the B2 tourist visa can be converted to a student visa with no problems. Does this sound reasonable? or should we omit any mention of "prospective student"?

 

 

Q. Where should she apply? Does she have a better chance to get a USA tourist VISA from UK or should she return to China (higher travel costs) to apply? She is in the UK on a student visa through the end of this year. She has applied for a UK work visa, so she can pay her way if she continues in school there for her doctorate.

 

Thanks

Edited October 17, 2010 by True Blue (see edit history)

[Ryan H]

First of all, congratulations to her!

 

If she were to apply in the UK, the biggest challenge she may have showing ties to the UK is she has completed her Master's degree studies and her student visa expires at the end of the year and currently does not have a UK employment visa. If she were to return to China and apply, she would have trouble showing ties there owing to having been out of the country for the previous 7 years.

 

The possible problem with her applying with a tour group is she may not be able to leave the group. I've heard group leaders hold passports after the individual clears the POE and returns them when it's time to return home. I don't have anything concrete on that, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

It may be worthwhile looking into seeing if multiple universities can give her invitation to visit letter. Still, the ties to country is still in play and an invitation letter is no guarantee a visa will be issued. I have no information with regard to if it is possible to convert a B2 visa into a F1 visa.

[warpedbored]

I think her 7 years in the UK would help show that she has conformed with the conditions of her visa.