I want to visit a friend in NY for seven days but in order to get a tourist visa I have to go through paying 160 dollars (no refund if rejected) for the application and an interview at the US embassy in my country (EU) in order to maybe being rejected at the airport in the US and sent back home. It would be preferable if my friend would write me a letter of recommendation. First time I heard that from a friend I thought this was some kind of joke but after reading the faq on my countries US embassy website it apparently isnt!

I know its off topic but maybe someone who has travelled to the US has some advice on that matter?