Colombia Club Part II

[Mononoke28 135]

Yep. Given the answer options, 'No' seems like a better choice... but I'd still be prepared to explain/write about that prior aborted process.

Absolutely since they keep track of everything the get.

Diana

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey all! I didn't abandon the thread just took some time away I have been busy and planning the wedding and my daughters were with me for their spring break etc..... for some reason I have had issues to post interview reviews and POE reviews...still not resolved. I took copious voice notes of every step of the way so if anyone needs help I will be happy to answer any questions. It is good to be back to the thread.

Nice to see you again Troy!

Diana

[jpcanon 0]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

[jpcanon 0]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

[CristianAmour 1]

Yep, I was gonna come spend x-mas with my uncle in San Diego, CA (he's a U.S citizen, ex-U.S GOVT employee) and I got my B-1 visa denied. I have an above-average job and a well-established life here but nope, they thought I was gonna quit all that to go mow lawns for 2 bucks an hour. Awesome, aye?

I wish Amour would just move to Colombia for good, but her situation won't allow her to. Things would be so much easier if she could.

On a side note, how does a U.S citizen who is on government benefits (SSI), who files an I-130 on behalf of a relative, do about the Affidavit of Support? I mean, they don't have to pay taxes or anything so how do they go about gathering all the documents needed for it? Don't worry about the joint-sponsors, they're no problem. It's the U.S citizen himself who can't submit any tax returns, etc. (Again, 'cause people on SSI don't pay taxes)

Any ideas?

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

In underline I think is the reason your 'invitation letter' became an issue for the embassy. I find it pretty amazing they'd be so untrustworthy, even though the current system is understandable.

If tourist visas of this type could come along with temporary sponsorship requirements... where instead of an invitation letter you'd have an affidavit of support and guarantee of leaving the US at or before expiry of the tourist visa with consequences on the USC and visitor doing the sponsorship if the visa is violated... then we'd be talking about a lot more honest approvals for tourists that would otherwise be discriminated against in places like Colombia.

That would be a much more fair system and IMO would actually cut down on visa overstays- ironically making it easier for the embassy people to work.

[HAL 9000 96]

Yep, I was gonna come spend x-mas with my uncle in San Diego, CA (he's a U.S citizen, ex-U.S GOVT employee) and I got my B-1 visa denied. I have an above-average job and a well-established life here but nope, they thought I was gonna quit all that to go mow lawns for 2 bucks an hour. Awesome, aye?

I wish Amour would just move to Colombia for good, but her situation won't allow her to. Things would be so much easier if she could.

On a side note, how does a U.S citizen who is on government benefits (SSI), who files an I-130 on behalf of a relative, do about the Affidavit of Support? I mean, they don't have to pay taxes or anything so how do they go about gathering all the documents needed for it? Don't worry about the joint-sponsors, they're no problem. It's the U.S citizen himself who can't submit any tax returns, etc. (Again, 'cause people on SSI don't pay taxes)

Any ideas?

Yeah see my previous post about the visa sh!t. It really upsets me the current system discriminates even against potential visitors that have no real intention of staying illegally in the States.

As for SSI income- you have SSI documentation that states some kind of rate information. That replaces other information that is unavailable.

[Mononoke28 135]

Do you mean Social Security Benefits? If that's the case, I just did the taxes for my mom who started receiving them last year and we had to file a tax return for her. She also had a W2 from her present job but TaxAct asked if she had a SS form, I think it's form 1099, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, it asked me all info regarding that and it's all in her tax return.

Diana

Edited March 20, 2009 by Mononoke28

[jpcanon 0]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

In underline I think is the reason your 'invitation letter' became an issue for the embassy. I find it pretty amazing they'd be so untrustworthy, even though the current system is understandable.

If tourist visas of this type could come along with temporary sponsorship requirements... where instead of an invitation letter you'd have an affidavit of support and guarantee of leaving the US at or before expiry of the tourist visa with consequences on the USC and visitor doing the sponsorship if the visa is violated... then we'd be talking about a lot more honest approvals for tourists that would otherwise be discriminated against in places like Colombia.

That would be a much more fair system and IMO would actually cut down on visa overstays- ironically making it easier for the embassy people to work.

Hal,

Good points! In my case, I didn't send any kind of an invitation letter or have any contact with the Bogota embassy at all. I just suggested to her to go and apply for a tourist visa for her son, since she already had one. So, the embassy knew nothing about me....the son got shut down, (which we kinda figured may happen) and they decided to revoke her visa on the spot (which we had no idea would happen). In hind sight, I guess they figured she was gonna head to the U.S. with her son and never return- even though she had been to the U.S. several times and never over-stayed a visit or anything......

Joe

[CristianAmour 1]

Do you mean Social Security Benefits? If that's the case, I just did the taxes for my mom who started receiving them last year and we had to file a tax return for her. She also had a W2 from her present job but TaxAct asked if she had a SS form, I think it's form 1099, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, it asked me all info regarding that and it's all in her tax return.

Diana

Nope, I mean SSI (Supplemental Security Income). It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income. Basically, it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

I guess what HAL says makes sense; the Social Security can issue a letter in which they state how much that person is receiving from them...

[HAL 9000 96]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

In underline I think is the reason your 'invitation letter' became an issue for the embassy. I find it pretty amazing they'd be so untrustworthy, even though the current system is understandable.

If tourist visas of this type could come along with temporary sponsorship requirements... where instead of an invitation letter you'd have an affidavit of support and guarantee of leaving the US at or before expiry of the tourist visa with consequences on the USC and visitor doing the sponsorship if the visa is violated... then we'd be talking about a lot more honest approvals for tourists that would otherwise be discriminated against in places like Colombia.

That would be a much more fair system and IMO would actually cut down on visa overstays- ironically making it easier for the embassy people to work.

Hal,

Good points! In my case, I didn't send any kind of an invitation letter or have any contact with the Bogota embassy at all. I just suggested to her to go and apply for a tourist visa for her son, since she already had one. So, the embassy knew nothing about me....the son got shut down, (which we kinda figured may happen) and they decided to revoke her visa on the spot (which we had no idea would happen). In hind sight, I guess they figured she was gonna head to the U.S. with her son and never return- even though she had been to the U.S. several times and never over-stayed a visit or anything......

Joe

Oh I thought there was some kind of letter involved... which in the case of a single male 'inviting' a female with her son as tourists does have a slight connotation of something more than tourism... but still... there is a line the CO shouldn't cross in assuming unless they are telepathic... and trust me they're not!

It does seem really fishy they'd revoke her tourist visa too. How unfortunate she couldn't fight that at the time as it does seem a bit odd.

[jpcanon 0]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

In underline I think is the reason your 'invitation letter' became an issue for the embassy. I find it pretty amazing they'd be so untrustworthy, even though the current system is understandable.

If tourist visas of this type could come along with temporary sponsorship requirements... where instead of an invitation letter you'd have an affidavit of support and guarantee of leaving the US at or before expiry of the tourist visa with consequences on the USC and visitor doing the sponsorship if the visa is violated... then we'd be talking about a lot more honest approvals for tourists that would otherwise be discriminated against in places like Colombia.

That would be a much more fair system and IMO would actually cut down on visa overstays- ironically making it easier for the embassy people to work.

Hal,

Good points! In my case, I didn't send any kind of an invitation letter or have any contact with the Bogota embassy at all. I just suggested to her to go and apply for a tourist visa for her son, since she already had one. So, the embassy knew nothing about me....the son got shut down, (which we kinda figured may happen) and they decided to revoke her visa on the spot (which we had no idea would happen). In hind sight, I guess they figured she was gonna head to the U.S. with her son and never return- even though she had been to the U.S. several times and never over-stayed a visit or anything......

Joe

Oh I thought there was some kind of letter involved... which in the case of a single male 'inviting' a female with her son as tourists does have a slight connotation of something more than tourism... but still... there is a line the CO shouldn't cross in assuming unless they are telepathic... and trust me they're not!

It does seem really fishy they'd revoke her tourist visa too. How unfortunate she couldn't fight that at the time as it does seem a bit odd.

Yes, it was quite a shock. I will say that she told me the CO said something to her about me sending money thru Western Union- they knew about that, so then they asked her about me at that point- I'm guessing that sealed it... Is it a pretty extensive background check on a person that is performed before the tourist visa interview? Similar to what they do before a K1 or K3 interview as well?

Is it pretty much up to the individual CO that is standing there dealing with you, as to which (yay or nay) "rubber" stamp gets slammed down?

Joe

[gigisan 0]

Lets keep in mind that the COs at Bogotá aren't exactly the most trusting of folks. Ask around how they do B visas there.

Wife's cousin has a very good government job. She spent a summer in the US at a kids' camp as a counselor. Went back home. Applied now for a tourist visa and got rejected because the CO said she's young (25) and pretty and would likely make a gringo marry her. She will be appealing this decision.

Hal,

I've heard that it can be very tough to get that precious tourist (B?) visa. My fiance had one for 5 years, then got it renewed a second time for another 5 years. About 6 months after that second renewal, she applied for a tourist visa for her son- at my request- just so he could come to the U.S. for a visit. Well, not only did they deny his, which we figured they may anyway- but we thought "no harm, no foul" However, they also decided to revoke her visa on the spot. I guess asking for the son was a huge red flag- hence me here for the K1 process....

I didn't realize that you could "appeal" those tourist visa decisions, just thought you had to re-apply?

Yeah that was just silly. To be honest... it was your request that likely set off the dumba$ at the embassy to do so. Did you have your USCIS paperwork in process?

Yes... there is an appellation process... the CO was pretty rude apparently... told her to not even think about appealing. Kind of weird.

At the time she got her visa pulled, I had not started the K1 process at all. She had come to the U.S. to visit several times over the years she had the tourist visa. After I met her (online) she came twice to see me in the U.S. I am thankful she at least had a chance to see where I live and meet my family, on the tourist visa. I'm guessing for many people on VJ, coming for the first time to U.S. is only after a K1 or K3 is issued, not being able to ever get a tourist visa....

In underline I think is the reason your 'invitation letter' became an issue for the embassy. I find it pretty amazing they'd be so untrustworthy, even though the current system is understandable.

If tourist visas of this type could come along with temporary sponsorship requirements... where instead of an invitation letter you'd have an affidavit of support and guarantee of leaving the US at or before expiry of the tourist visa with consequences on the USC and visitor doing the sponsorship if the visa is violated... then we'd be talking about a lot more honest approvals for tourists that would otherwise be discriminated against in places like Colombia.

That would be a much more fair system and IMO would actually cut down on visa overstays- ironically making it easier for the embassy people to work.

Hal,

Good points! In my case, I didn't send any kind of an invitation letter or have any contact with the Bogota embassy at all. I just suggested to her to go and apply for a tourist visa for her son, since she already had one. So, the embassy knew nothing about me....the son got shut down, (which we kinda figured may happen) and they decided to revoke her visa on the spot (which we had no idea would happen). In hind sight, I guess they figured she was gonna head to the U.S. with her son and never return- even though she had been to the U.S. several times and never over-stayed a visit or anything......

Joe

Oh I thought there was some kind of letter involved... which in the case of a single male 'inviting' a female with her son as tourists does have a slight connotation of something more than tourism... but still... there is a line the CO shouldn't cross in assuming unless they are telepathic... and trust me they're not!

It does seem really fishy they'd revoke her tourist visa too. How unfortunate she couldn't fight that at the time as it does seem a bit odd.

Yes, it was quite a shock. I will say that she told me the CO said something to her about me sending money thru Western Union- they knew about that, so then they asked her about me at that point- I'm guessing that sealed it... Is it a pretty extensive background check on a person that is performed before the tourist visa interview? Similar to what they do before a K1 or K3 interview as well?

Is it pretty much up to the individual CO that is standing there dealing with you, as to which (yay or nay) "rubber" stamp gets slammed down?

Joe

Well the rubber stamp is handle by someone who is human, and follows some loose rules that essentially tell him not to give visas, because the burden of proof is on the applicant. He has to assume that the applicant is a potential immigrant, therefore it is totally up to him (her). On the contrary when the law requieres them to justify, it is a different thing, especially if there is a citizen involved, Visitors visas are vulnerable, but if you are denied, and appeal, maybe someone will take a second look, and, the denying CO might get a tick mark in his folder, (an oh ######! erases 1000 ataboys!). So if you think this was arbitrary, appeal. You do not have to be right. Let me tell you a little story, I went to get my learners permit in Kingston NY, the lady decided that my passport was not valid, and the visa was not valid, and since my alien card did not have my mothers name, it was not valid either, I told her to show me the rule, she went to her boss who also sided with her, I show them the rule in the pamphlet, they call the supervisor, she called immigration and Albany and they had to accept it. They were just stupid, they did not know the rules, If I had accepted they word, I would have to wait a year to change my Alien card name(if ever). Appeal.