US Embassy asking for $5000?

[helplizzie 0]

Hello everyone,

I badly need help. I am a permanent resident of the US and would like my mom to visit me next year. She already had her interview last October, but she was asked to come back and submit her divorce papers from her second husband. She doesn't have a copy but the papers will be delivered to our place in the Philippines in two weeks time. Anyway, this morning she received a call from the US Embassy asking her to come back before November 21 and bring the divorce papers with her PLUS $5000 for bond - an assurance that she will come back to the Philippines after visiting me. Will the US Embassy really ask for this huge amount of money to grant her a tourist visa?

Please note however that she had problems with her visa before because while being petitioned in the US, she crossed the border to Canada and was sent back to the Philippines from Canada. This story I wasn't so clear about since this was back then when I was still young. But ever since that time, she hasn't returned to the United States nor have applied for a visa except this year in my request for her to visit me.

I'm just concerned about the huge amount of money that the Embassy is asking from us. We're not sure if this is actually true or not. So please enlighten me on whether or not they usually ask for this just to make sure that she would go back to the Philippines.

Thank you so much!

[Boiler 46,128]

I have never heard of the Consulate asking for a bond, but it makes sense. Not if one for such a small amount would deter most people from abusing their status.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

I haven't heard of this either. Is she sure the embassy called? Who is she supposed to give the money to?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Maybe it was Bond, James Bond, and the moment mom walks to the appointment she'll look into a gun barrel?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I actually HAVE heard of this.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

I have never heard of this. The closest thing to financial proof that the CO asked of me, when I was applying for my B2 visa, was my bank account statement. None other.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Here: http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwhnv03.html (scroll to the bottom) it appears it's old information. I'm a bit wary now based on that... I would print this page and show them that bonds aren't relevant any more.

Discusses it here: http://migration.ucdavis.edu/mn/more.php?id=1794_0_2_0 you can also google to find some other links

Edited November 15, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[belinda63 3,047]

Not the US embassy, but the Swedish embassy did this to my hubby's mother before they would grant her a visitor's visa to Sweden.

[rodceasar 34]

I have heard of this happenning at US Embassy's in developing countries. Prior to my filing for my wife, I visited the chief consular while working at the embassy. One of the questions, I was asked was about her job but also, if she had money in the bank or her family had money/property. It was implied that some sort of bond would be required for he stated it was unlikely that anyone given the chance is going to return there. I found the conversation insulting, however emlightened me to the things people do to enter the US permanently and how the embassy perceives all visa applications...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I know it has happened in Nigeria before. It happened with my brother in law.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

INA section 213 allows DHS or Department of State to accept a bond for an alien who would otherwise be considered inadmissible under section 212(a)(4) - the "public charge" determination. The bond will be returned after the alien leaves the United States. If the alien collects any means-tested public benefits in the US then the value of those benefits will be deducted from the bond.

Consulates don't use the bond provision very often. If they determine that someone is inadmissible because of the public charge requirement then they'll usually just deny the visa. They're more likely to allow a bond if the public charge requirement is the only inadmissibility, and they perceive the likelihood of the alien attempting to adjust status or intentionally overstaying their visa is relatively low. The bond also acts as a sort of insurance, not just against the alien collecting means-tested public benefits, but also against the alien intentionally overstaying. $5000 is a good chunk of cash to give up in return for a life as an illegal immigrant. Most "coyotes" don't charge that much.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Wow,

I wish that would be a generally available option!

If somebody is unable to get a visitor's visa, i.e., the parents of an immigrant daughter who would like to visit their grandchild for the first time, that would allow them to do that. Once they return from the U.S., they'll get their money back. That's something immigration reform should cover.

[Theresa0828 65]

Please see this link: http://www.***removed***....as/refusal.html

Looks like consulates do that but very rarely...

Edited December 7, 2011 by Kathryn41

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Wow,

I wish that would be a generally available option!

If somebody is unable to get a visitor's visa, i.e., the parents of an immigrant daughter who would like to visit their grandchild for the first time, that would allow them to do that. Once they return from the U.S., they'll get their money back. That's something immigration reform should cover.

Agreed, but most people aren't denied for the public charge requirement. Most are denied because they can't overcome the presumption of immigrant intent. The law currently only allows a bond for someone who is inadmissible because of the public charge requirement.

I think they could work out a bond system for immigrant intent, as well. They could give the consular officer the discretion to determine the bond amount. They could select an amount that would be financially painful for the alien, or the US citizens or LPR's who will be hosting them, if the money had to be forfeited, and they'd lose the bond if they overstayed their I-94. Heck, they'll let felons out of jail while they wait for their trial by posting a bond. How much more risk is somebody's grandmother?