Contacting cogressman for help

[Ol D 0]

My mother was denied in getting her tourist visa in Russia. (I am a permanent resident applying for my citizenship.)

When she had her interview a c/o asked if she has more children in Russia (she doesn't); if she is divorced (my mother is divorced for 33 years and my father died a couple years ago). But my mother has her job in Russia and owns a small apartment. Anyways c/o said that he doesn't see strong ties in Russia and denied her in tourist visa.

Unfortunately, we can't visit my mother now and have to wait for at least 8 months. Our son was born two months ago, and it would be a very hard trip for him.

I wanted my mother to come for a visit so she could see her first grandson. Is it worth to apply again?

Can congressman help in this situation?

Thanks a lot.

[Donna A 4]

sorry but no congressman can help in ur situation.

[simple_male 1]

My mother was denied in getting her tourist visa in Russia. (I am a permanent resident applying for my citizenship.)

When she had her interview a c/o asked if she has more children in Russia (she doesn't); if she is divorced (my mother is divorced for 33 years and my father died a couple years ago). But my mother has her job in Russia and owns a small apartment. Anyways c/o said that he doesn't see strong ties in Russia and denied her in tourist visa.

Unfortunately, we can't visit my mother now and have to wait for at least 8 months. Our son was born two months ago, and it would be a very hard trip for him.

I wanted my mother to come for a visit so she could see her first grandson. Is it worth to apply again?

Can congressman help in this situation?

Thanks a lot.

It is a very common reason to deny tourist visa. She can try again. Your mom can take her apartment ownership paper, job paper, etc. You can write a letter (explain that you want your mom to see your new born child, your mom will go back to Russia after spending sometime with you, and it is not possible for you to visit your mom at this time) to Embassy which your mom can take with her for the interview, if she tries again. Your Congressman can write the Embassy, but it is upto the Embassy whether to issue tourist visa or not. Good luck.

[Spiderette 0]

Ol D

Sorry to hear this.

In my case a Senator helped. My dad was denied his tourist visa in June 2007. I live in Illinois and called Senator Barack Obama's offices (all 6 of them).

Someone from 2 of his offices in the Immigration department returned my call. (I believe they were both summer interns)

They wrote a letter to the Embassy in Cape Town and when my dad returned a few days later a tourist visa was issued for 4 weeks.

(My situation was that my mom was already here on vacation- she has a 10 year tourist visa and they first said because she was here, my dad would have to come when she was at home - my parents wanted to vacation together !!! anyhow, My son was 1 last year - also my parents first grandson, and it would be my dad's first time seeing him.

My dad however has 2 other children in SA (my sister and brother), my sister was still in school, he also owns a house and his own business that he has had for 28 years... so he has a lot of ties to SA)

Anyhow, the bottom line is that in my case a letter from the Senator did help my dad's case and Senator Obama's office was extremely helpful! Although they did tell me that their involvement would not guarantee an approval.

I can't tell you whether she should apply again or not (it's expensive!) but it did help me.

good luck to you - I know the sad feeling I had when my dad called me and told him he was denied

[athena_ny 1]

Ol D

Sorry to hear this.

In my case a Senator helped. My dad was denied his tourist visa in June 2007. I live in Illinois and called Senator Barack Obama's offices (all 6 of them).

Someone from 2 of his offices in the Immigration department returned my call. (I believe they were both summer interns)

They wrote a letter to the Embassy in Cape Town and when my dad returned a few days later a tourist visa was issued for 4 weeks.

(My situation was that my mom was already here on vacation- she has a 10 year tourist visa and they first said because she was here, my dad would have to come when she was at home - my parents wanted to vacation together !!! anyhow, My son was 1 last year - also my parents first grandson, and it would be my dad's first time seeing him.

My dad however has 2 other children in SA (my sister and brother), my sister was still in school, he also owns a house and his own business that he has had for 28 years... so he has a lot of ties to SA)

Anyhow, the bottom line is that in my case a letter from the Senator did help my dad's case and Senator Obama's office was extremely helpful! Although they did tell me that their involvement would not guarantee an approval.

I can't tell you whether she should apply again or not (it's expensive!) but it did help me.

good luck to you - I know the sad feeling I had when my dad called me and told him he was denied

Lucky for you, Barack Obama is a lot more useful than most senators.

Your dad looks like he has a lot more ties than this person's mother does... I mean, to the OP ... you can try to get a congressman involved but with tourist visas, the onus is on you to prove you do not intend to immigrate and all interviews take place with the assumption that IS your intent. If they don't feel your evidence is strong enough, they won't approve it. My sister in law owns a business and has an apartment in Peru, and they'll never approve her. My other sister in law leaves at least one of her kids there, and her husband, (also has a house, but no job) and has never had any issue at the POE or getting approved for a tourist visa.

It's all dependent on the situation.

[Mononoke28 134]

A CO can approve or deny a visa any time he/she wants or for whatever reasons, if any. Visas are denied daily all over the world and it will be a very good struck of luck to have a senator's office help you get a loved one here. I also know of people who have absolutely nothing tying them to their home country with intentions to stay in the States for good and get a visa approved right away. And I also know people who have no desire to stay in the States, who own property, have good jobs, good money in their bank accounts and have been denied time and time again.

It's a gamble.

Diana

[dougyceci 0]

Isn't it strange the way the embassy has unfettered decision making power. My in-laws were denied their tourist visas in Bogota this week. They are in their 60's, own a farm, and have strong ties to home. Their, or his problem was he has a brother who is a political refugee and a sister who is married in the US, as well as my wife. The CO denied the visa based on the fact he could not find any of the above in the computer system. He went as far as saying all were here illegally, including my wife who has her green card. I am writing my senators even though I know there is not much they can. I don't mind being turned down if the reason is legit, but to arbitrarily deny based on false information just doesn't sit well. Wish there was more we could do.

Doug