How hard is it for someone to visit the US from Egypt?
January 27th, 2012 | 
Author: Question by ms.rika_0118: How hard is it for someone to visit the US from Egypt?
I have a friend that would like to visit the US from Egypt. He as filed papers for permanent citizenship and has been waiting since 1998 (is this normal?). Would it be possible for him to visit while he is waiting for this paperwork to go through? if so How? His parents and one brother already live in the US. He says it is very difficult for him to visit, why is this so? Is it possible for him to get the visitors visa and how long would that take?
I am very dumb in this subject and process so please explain fully! Thanks in advance for your answers!
Best answer:
Answer by chemicalxme
you would need to file for a tourist visa … takes 6-8 weeks normally… it will give him 6 months time for visiting… also needs to call about his visa to see if they are missing information or need more information.. or what he can do to speed up the process of his visa.. i would visit their office or call … but the quickest way for him to come to the u.s.a. is to apply for a tourist visa… and wait for it in the mail…
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i am going to assume that your friend is over age 21 or was over age 21 when his parents filed a petition for his immigrant visa, if so then and his parents are green card holders then he is under the 2B preference category and there are currently visa available for petitions filed before April 1, 1997 so he still has some waiting. usually if he was to apply for a tourist visa it would be denied to to the fact that he would be considered an intending immigrant and therefore would not qualify for a tourist visa, if his brother is a u.s. citizen that filed for him then he would be 4th preference which has visas available for petitions filed before may 1, 1996. find out what his priority date is and preference category is, once you have this info you can go to http://www.travel.state.gov and search for the visa bulletin and you can monitor the processing dates.
Many more want to come than we have quotas to allow. Those quotas are to protect our schools and services. So sometimes it does take a long time.
With family there, sometimes it can actually be harder to visit if you are applying for permanent residence because so many ‘overstay’ their visas. By estimates we have 12 million (Pew Hispanic Center) to 20 million (Bear Stearns) people illegally in this country and 40% of those overstayed their visas. This has really hit our schools and other services hard, and people are angry about it.
However, he MIGHT get a student or visitor visa. He will have to convince the consular office that he will not overstay. Unfortunately for your friend, too many people have decided ‘it’s just a matter of timing’ and just stay on a temporary visa. That is why we have such a problem here, and that is why legal visitors and immigrants have such a problem getting here.
Sorry!