Tourist Visa

[Chris and Debie 0]

Hello,I am trying to get a tourist visa for my mother in law.She was denied in 08 why we don't know.She was here in 01 right before 911.she stayed and went back.Any suggestions.I know the part about money in the bank,how much? She is 73 not to much time for her long past Indonesian usual age.

Thankyou

Chris

[RightClicK 17]

Hello,I am trying to get a tourist visa for my mother in law.She was denied in 08 why we don't know.She was here in 01 right before 911.she stayed and went back.Any suggestions.I know the part about money in the bank,how much? She is 73 not to much time for her long past Indonesian usual age.

Thankyou

Chris

try again and again and tbh the consular whom denied her is an idiot

[Brad and Vika 129]

We have been having this discussion too. MIL has all the required documents, but the proofs of incentive to return seem to be pretty subjective. Some consular officers don't even look at the proof, so it is a ####### shoot. Good Luck!!

[Harsh_77 718]

Well my take would be little different rather then just money in the bank, show she has strong ties to her home country and she will return back to her home country after visiting you.

For example her son or daughter in her home country and their families etc.

I think she got rejected now as consular could be under impression she is old enough no strong times to home country she will end up staying with you guys.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Harsh_77

[Mononoke28 135]

Some consular officers don't even look at the proof, so it is a ####### shoot.

That's pretty much it. I know people who were denied even though they had all kinds of evidence to support their case. And I also know people who didn't have a dime to their name and were approved without any questions at all. You never know with them COs.

Diana

[Dakine10 5,452]

Well my take would be little different rather then just money in the bank, show she has strong ties to her home country and she will return back to her home country after visiting you.

For example her son or daughter in her home country and their families etc.

I think she got rejected now as consular could be under impression she is old enough no strong times to home country she will end up staying with you guys.

I agree with the first part. Money in the bank does not really indicate a strong tie to the home country. Theoretically one could start withdrawing that money at the first ATM they see after arriving in the USA.

Although a retired person may not have employment as a tie, they still have ties such as family, number of friends, property owned, and even small things such as clubs, activities, or volunteer duties that they do. The CO even asked my mother in law if they had any pets.

Age can actually be helpful. My inlaws have lived in Sevastopol for 50 years. Although their daughter and grandkids are here in the USA, everything else for them is there. They still go out to eat or theatre with people they went to school with. I talk to them for 15 minutes and I see they would never be able to leave their home. I'm sure the CO sees that too.

My mother in law just recieved her 3rd B2 this year. She was also denied once. The CO told her it was because we put in the invition letter that she would like to visit and help look after her newborn grand daughter. Of course looking after a child is babysitting, which is employment. The CO basically told her that although the letter wasn't necessary, it cost her the visa. He also said when she reapplied, do everything the same but don't put anything like that in the letter. And the next time everything was fine.

[Harsh_77 718]

Dankie - you are right, but CO also considers from what country the application is orginating. For country like Canada, CO does not care much as they know the quality of life is pretty much same as US. A person living in Canada would be going back to family and friends, but if someone from Indonesia, Philiphines, Vietnam etc apply CO would also consider, hmmm she is widow here no family, no property, qaulity of life is lower.

Why would she want to come back, chances are she would stay with her daughter in US itself.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Dankie - you are right, but CO also considers from what country the application is orginating. For country like Canada, CO does not care much as they know the quality of life is pretty much same as US. A person living in Canada would be going back to family and friends, but if someone from Indonesia, Philiphines, Vietnam etc apply CO would also consider, hmmm she is widow here no family, no property, qaulity of life is lower.

Why would she want to come back, chances are she would stay with her daughter in US itself.

Of course my parents from Canada have no problem coming here. They don't need a visa anyway.

My post was regarding my inlaws from Sevastopol, which is in Ukraine. By no means is it easy to get a tourist visa from the Ukraine.

[Dancob 1]

Hello,I am trying to get a tourist visa for my mother in law.She was denied in 08 why we don't know.She was here in 01 right before 911.she stayed and went back.Any suggestions.I know the part about money in the bank,how much? She is 73 not to much time for her long past Indonesian usual age.

Thankyou

Chris

She as a senior has good chances in getting a Visitor visa. I would suggest in things like Health If she has a good health insurance;...that could help. also if she has a family doctor, then she could ask the doctor to write a note where she is schedule for regular check ups (reason to come back). Finally she could explain in a letter how happy she is living her retired life in her country, how important is her health and the health services that she normally receive, and how hard could be for her to be addapted to a life in the US. All this besides the normal requirements like $ etc.

Im my opinion, she only needs a very well prepared package, and as a senior she could go to the interview with somebody else, who could help her with the answers. "That worked for my father who is 75 YO, and was denied three times before been approved"

[Noel194 53]

I had my US senator write a letter to the embassy. I was told unofficially that if a Senator or US Representative write a request letter the consul will be more inclined to issue the visa because they are covered from sole blame if that person does not return. They can say "The senator or rep requested they are to blame also" I know that my mother in law was denied the first time Ukraine and after he letter she was given a visa.

[Harsh_77 718]

I had my US senator write a letter to the embassy. I was told unofficially that if a Senator or US Representative write a request letter the consul will be more inclined to issue the visa because they are covered from sole blame if that person does not return. They can say "The senator or rep requested they are to blame also" I know that my mother in law was denied the first time Ukraine and after he letter she was given a visa.

Noel – Honestly I don’t think how much a senator can influence CO’s decision in tourist visa. If this was a request for spouse of USC then yes a letter from Senator would definitely make CO move faster as they are answerable to Senators office as why a USC has to wait that long for his or her spouse.

For tourist visa they can use their discretion as the person who has applied is going to overstay their Visa or not.

For senior citizen it goes 2 ways,

1. They get visa extremely easily without any questions for straight 10 yrs.

2. They would be rejected based on they would overstay their visitor visa.

Once the daughter is USC then it’s easy as the consulate know if they rejected the visitor visa, she can apply for PR for her mom and she would be approved for that in 6-8 months.

[Noel194 53]

This was just my experience. It may have had nothing to do with the Senator. I will tell you that my Senator received an email from the Consul General of the Embassy withing 20 minutes of the Visa approval telling him that they had approved the visa. Maybe one had nothing to do with the other.