Post
by twiceayear » Thu Mar 07, 2019 11:34 am
There is no "sponsorship" visa, but the idea that a strong letter of support doesn't matter is simply not correct.
If the lady's sister is married to an American and he is successful (or she is successful), a letter in support of the visit will matter a lot. The letter should state his company of employment/position/earnings/length of employment. If he's been very successful - something along the lines of "in addition, we own our home and have 1.2 million of investment assets and will support ms. XYZ during her visit". If they have a family that should be mentioned.
Basically, having a financially solid situation on the other end is a big plus. It helps to answer the two main questions - will you leave and can you afford the trip. A successful citizen is not likely to be aiding illegal immigration (and hate to say it but a successful citizen is also more likely to have contacts - that could raise a fuss through their representatives in Congress - and nothing motivates a bureaucrat more than the thought of his/her career being impacted negatively).
Now, if the lady's sister works "off the books" cleaning homes part time, and her husband is on disability, then their letter is not going to open doors. You have to decide where along the spectrum of barely getting by to very successful her sister sits.
As i indicated in a previous post. If the lady worked in Thailand with proper papers that would also matter (in a positive sense). Other international travel helps the cause. She should be prepared to explain why she wants to visit and why she will return. If everyone on all sides of the equation is dirt poor, then you should not expect to get a visa. Only the OP knows the situation in regards to the family in the US and if it would improve her chances.
About 9 million tourist visas are issued by the USA - they all aren't to really rich people. Many people are visiting relatives/friends/etc. Its up to you to paint a clear picture of the trip and the return. Do it honestly, in an positive and encouraging manner and you've got a fighting chance. There is a State department report somewhere that shows the % of visa's approved by country for a particular year - my guess is that Cambodia probably is in a lower tier of approvals but hardly hopeless.