B2 Visa (for father) got refused second time (this time without reason)

[Rizwan.Ahmed 0]

Hi Guys,

I'm a US Permanent Resident for about 2 years now and wanted to invite my father to the US to see me and my wife (US Citizen) and to visit different places in US with us.

First time he applied visa in May 2010 and got refused for not having enough social and economical ties in Pakistan.

OK fine, we waited 1 year and applied again this May (he had his interview today at US embassy Islamabad), this time we tried to do it in a right way and prepare all the documents and present them in a nicer way.

His interview went good, VO asked questions about me, my wife, our jobs here in US, his property and income in Pakistan, his family in Pakistan, children and grand daughters, why he wants to visit etc.. My father showed VS the invitation letters and Affidavit of Support to VO and also offered to see any documents she wants to see but she refused to see some of them.

In the end she asked "how long your son is in the US?" My father replied 2 years.

She goes "I would suggest that you wait until he gets permanent in the US and then apply again."

My Father: "He has permanent residence already what do you mean by being permanent".

She: "Let him get the US Passport."

And she returned my father's passport back to him.

My father: "I'm 72 years old and might not live long enough to apply again"

She said: "You look alright!"

Passport returned, no visa given, no reason for refusal in written. Just asked to apply again?

Is it normal? Has this happened to anyone else? What should we do?

Appreciate your input about this.

Thanks a lot.

Rizwan

[Boiler 45,559]

I would say it was usual apart from the bit about him not been given the official reason why.

My guess is the bit about you becoming a citizen first is so that you can sponsor him for Permanent Residency.

Having said that the US is not a good place for someone elderly and not in good health.

[Noah Lot 391]

You did not mention how you got to the US....if you stayed on a B2, for example, the consular officials may well believe that your decision was purposeful, with a long range design of bringing the rest of your family to the US...

[Rizwan.Ahmed 0]

Thanks for the reply guys...

My Green Card is due for renewal later this year (Right now its conditional) might be a reason?

You did not mention how you got to the US....if you stayed on a B2, for example, the consular officials may well believe that your decision was purposeful, with a long range design of bringing the rest of your family to the US...

I came on K1 visa and got US Permanent Resident Card and wanted to invite my father for a visit on B2 visa. Should I apply again after removal of conditions from my Permanent Resident card?

Thanks a lot.

Rizwan

[Boiler 45,559]

My Green Card is due for renewal later this year (Right now its conditional) might be a reason?

Most unlikely

I came on K1 visa and got US Permanent Resident Card and wanted to invite my father for a visit on B2 visa. Should I apply again after removal of conditions from my Permanent Resident card

That could be part of the problem, it is not your application, the only thing you really contribute is the reason to visit.

[Rizwan.Ahmed 0]

Most unlikely

That could be part of the problem, it is not your application, the only thing you really contribute is the reason to visit.

Boiler,

Yes Its not my application and I'm the reason he wants to visit US. But I sent him all the papers of my support like my bank statements, employment proof, letter fro bank, tax return to show that I'll be taking care of his expenses.

By Saying "Should I apply" I mean "should he apply" again after waiting a few months?

What do you suggest?

Thanks for the replies .

Best Regards,

Rizwan

[Boiler 45,559]

Boiler,

Yes Its not my application and I'm the reason he wants to visit US. But I sent him all the papers of my support like my bank statements, employment proof, letter fro bank, tax return to show that I'll be taking care of his expenses.

By Saying "Should I apply" I mean "should he apply" again after waiting a few months?

What do you suggest?

Thanks for the replies .

Best Regards,

Rizwan

Do you appreciate that those are all negatives?

[Harsh_77 718]

I think you missed the point, he has all your documents but your father needs more documentation about his property, his bank account any of his assets etc.

It seems CO is not convinced that your father would return back after the visit.

[Rizwan.Ahmed 0]

Do you appreciate that those are all negatives?

I sent those papers just to prove that I'll pay for his trip. Besides these documents, he had tons of his own documents e.g Property, Pension Book, Rent Agreements for the shops he owns etc to show that he has a lot of things in Pakistan which he can't give up by not returning back. He was even asked about property and financials during the interview and my father offered the visa officer to see the original property papers etc but she refused to have a look.

Do you suggest that he should apply visa at his own (without my financial support)? What if he does not have enough cash but just invested money in property and stuff?

Thanks a lot for your reply again.

Best Regards,

Rizwan

[Rizwan.Ahmed 0]

I think you missed the point, he has all your documents but your father needs more documentation about his property, his bank account any of his assets etc.

It seems CO is not convinced that your father would return back after the visit.

Thanks for the reply.

He took all that with him and verbally told visa officer that he owns property of XXX in Pakistan, he has rented some property. He also offered visa officer to have a look at the property papers but she refused. Told VO about the income, bank statement etc.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Rizwan

[katiemanny 64]

Thanks for the reply.

He took all that with him and verbally told visa officer that he owns property of XXX in Pakistan, he has rented some property. He also offered visa officer to have a look at the property papers but she refused. Told VO about the income, bank statement etc.

What do you think?

Thanks,

Rizwan

There's absolutely nothing you can do to help your father get a visa, the only choice is apply again and hope for the best. Tourist visa can be denied even if Applicant has proof of strong ties to her home country.

The CO isn't convince that your father will return to Pakistan after his visit, so a visa is unable to be granted at the moment. That's reason enough.

Edited May 25, 2011 by katiemanny

[worth_the_wait 12]

It sounds like you have two choices here:

#1 Wait until you get your status updated and the conditions removed and reapply.

#2 Your father needs more proof that he doesn't intend to STAY in the US permanently. Provide more proof of that if you can....maybe even down to detailed messages that you have exchanged via e-mail or in letter form.

However, I wonder what would happen if he did try to apply for the Visa himself instead of you doing it for him. If he doesn't have enough cash, send him some to show it in his bank account, even if he gives it back to you once you get the statement from the bank.

Just some thoughts. I am sad to hear about your frustrations and disappointment.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Ahmed,

you have not grasped what this is all about.

Applying for a tourist visa has two components:

1) Major ties to the country of residence, in this case Pakistan

2) No ties to the USA.

In English: the C.O. wants to make sure your father will return to Pakistan after the vacation is over. He should have no reason to remain in the US. The fact that you live in the USA thus causes a major problem for your father's visa petition. Now you made this worse by providing documentation in the form of financial support. All of this, my friend, can be seen as a good reason for your father to remain in the Land of the Brave and Free and not return to Pakistan.

So now that you really have a dramatic part 2, the C.O. also has a problem with your father's ties to Pakistan, meaning part 1. Since all of this is in his consular file now, I am not very confident that he will receive a B2 at all. The only thing you could do is petition your father for an immigrant visa, the IR-5, once you have become a US citizen. That said, I don't think you want to do that, and also I don't think you can do that as his age and health would require you to spend an outrageous amount on for-profit health insurance, which most likely will be made a requirement on top of the Affidavit of Support.

There's really nothing you can do. All he can do is try again next year. Sucks.

[Boiler 45,559]

1 Is irrelevant to this situation.

2. Absolutely, however it is very unusual to be able to present such documentation. It has to be front loaded.

[Harsh_77 718]

It sounds like you have two choices here:

#1 Wait until you get your status updated and the conditions removed and reapply.

#2 Your father needs more proof that he doesn't intend to STAY in the US permanently. Provide more proof of that if you can....maybe even down to detailed messages that you have exchanged via e-mail or in letter form.

However, I wonder what would happen if he did try to apply for the Visa himself instead of you doing it for him. If he doesn't have enough cash, send him some to show it in his bank account, even if he gives it back to you once you get the statement from the bank.

Just some thoughts. I am sad to hear about your frustrations and disappointment.

point #1 is totally irrelavant, there is nothing that would change with change in OPS status.

You could be USC and your parents visa could be rejected, there is no hardcore requirement that they have to issue visa for USCs parents.