Iraqi living in Egypt - work or tourist visa to USA possible?

Question

Hello. I have been chatting online for some time to a man who was born in Iraq to parents who are Turkish/Iraq citizens. He is currently living in Egypt in exile from Iraq. He wants to visit the USA as a tourist or to possibly work as a tennis instructor or interpreter. How difficult is it for him to do either of these? This is just a friendship - there are no plans to get a visa for him via marriage or engagement. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

He must apply for a visa like everyone else.

First he must download the visa application form from online.
http://evisaforms.state.gov/

Then he needs to take the completed form along with his passport to the US Embassy in Egypt for an interview. That is when they will decide if he can have a visa or not.

For specific visa information, visit these two sites:
http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/obtainingvisa/index.html
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/temp_1305.html

The US Embassy in Egypt is located at:

U.S. Embassy Cairo
8 Kamal El Din Salah St
Garden City, Cairo
Egypt
Tel: [20] [2] 797-3300
Email: [e-mail]
Website: http://cairo.usembassy.gov/

Answer 2

Possible but highly unlikely. Most non-immigrant visas are predicated on the assumption that the foreigner intends to stay permanently in the U.S. (section 214b of the Immigration an Nationality Act), and they must overcome that assumption by showing a very strong, stable situation in their overseas home, to convince a consular officer that he intends to leave the U.S. after a short visit. Being an Iraqi refugee means he has two strikes against him, and it sounds like he doesn't have steady employment, a huge third strike.

As a consular officer, I just honestly don't think this is a realistic hope. Based on experience, may I offer a suggestion? Watch out for the romantic angle -- he will almost certainly go that route in order to get out of his difficult situation. I bet he has tried already.

In the particular Middle Eastern country where I work, I'd say that 95% of the male American citizens here of national origin, that I have met, got their citizenship by marrying some very American girl, and then as soon as the papers came through, divorced poor Susie Johnson, moved back here, and married a local Arab girl.

Answer 3

Yea RIGHT! Oh what tangled webs we weave!!