My mom was gonna attend my wedding but...

[cheerstoamerica 21]

Last Jan 20th, my mom applied for a tourist visa because she wanted to visit me, but more importantly, attend my wedding. I just moved here with a K1 and will be getting married soon.

Her interview with a Korean woman consul officer went something like this...

CO: Why are you going to visit the United States?

Mom: I will attend my daughter's wedding.

CO: When did your daughter arrive in the U.S.?

Mom: December ___, 2011

CO: How many children do you have?

Mom: I have 3 children. My two sons are here in the Philippines. They're still in school.

CO: Have you been to other countries before?

Mom: Yes, I've been to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Indonesia for vacation.

*CO checks passport stamps*

CO: I'm sorry but I can't grant you the visa. You do not have enough ties outside the United States.

WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK!!! Not enough ties, huh?? My mom has 2 minor kids in the Philippines, she's married, working in finance, she has assets in the Philippines. She had all the documents with her but they didn't ask her for it. Consuls should stop being lazy and start asking more questions and checking documents!!! My mom just responded with an "OK, thank you." I told her she should've reasoned out and fought a bit for it. But my mom said there's no use cause she heard stories and she said that nothing really changes a Consul Officer's mind. I would've been ok with it if the consul officer's reason for denying her made sense. But it's just BS. My heart is breaking cause I'll be experiencing one of the most important events in my life without my mom by my side. I hate it when people are unreasonably heartless.

Edited January 22, 2012 by cheerstoamerica

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Don't drop F bomb here.

[villaspurs 65]

OP, I imagine this is quite painful--it would be difficult to not have your mom at your wedding. However, this shouldn't really be a surprise--it takes a lot to get a tourist visa from the Phils, especially if close family are in the U.S. It's not laziness on the part of the consular officer. It's just them looking at past trends (Phils tourists overstaying [sometimes permanently] in the U.S.) that has led to this situation. The good news: in three years you can apply for citizenship, and then you can sponsor your mom to come live here. You also can go back to the Philippines for another wedding once you have AP. If having your mother be at your wedding was the most important thing for you, you would have been better off getting married in your home country.

[raymaga 25]

So sorry to hear about your Mom not being able to attend your wedding. I can understand how heart-broken you must be. Like another poster stated, you can always go back home after you get AP or your GC and have a small wedding with your Mom present.

Make sure you take lots of pictures to send your Mom. I'm sure she will be with you in spirit on your wedding day!!!! Best wishes!!!

[sachinky 465]

If having your mother be at your wedding was the most important thing for you, you would have been better off getting married in your home country.

[cheerstoamerica 21]

Don't drop F bomb here.

I'm sorry. I'm looking for the edit option but can't seem to find it. Wont happen again. Apologies for bad conduct.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

No problem, good luck.

[Harsh_77 718]

Last Jan 20th, my mom applied for a tourist visa because she wanted to visit me, but more importantly, attend my wedding. I just moved here with a K1 and will be getting married soon.

Her interview with a Korean woman consul officer went something like this...

CO: Why are you going to visit the United States?

Mom: I will attend my daughter's wedding.

CO: When did your daughter arrive in the U.S.?

Mom: December ___, 2011

CO: How many children do you have?

Mom: I have 3 children. My two sons are here in the Philippines. They're still in school.

CO: Have you been to other countries before?

Mom: Yes, I've been to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Indonesia for vacation.

*CO checks passport stamps*

CO: I'm sorry but I can't grant you the visa. You do not have enough ties outside the United States.

WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK!!! Not enough ties, huh?? My mom has 2 minor kids in the Philippines, she's married, working in finance, she has assets in the Philippines. She had all the documents with her but they didn't ask her for it. Consuls should stop being lazy and start asking more questions and checking documents!!! My mom just responded with an "OK, thank you." I told her she should've reasoned out and fought a bit for it. But my mom said there's no use cause she heard stories and she said that nothing really changes a Consul Officer's mind. I would've been ok with it if the consul officer's reason for denying her made sense. But it's just BS. My heart is breaking cause I'll be experiencing one of the most important events in my life without my mom by my side. I hate it when people are unreasonably heartless.

Tourist visa is not a right.... you are forgetting that.

[Matt & Rocio 28]

Here's an idea. Family based tourist visas. These types of visas would be eligible to family members (or future family members) of US Citizens who live abroad to enter the USA for 90-days or less. The trick is figuring out a way to make sure the foreign visa holder doesn't overstay the 90-days.

One idea would be to require the USC to officially sponsor the foreign relative signing a document that states that he or she will guarantee that the foreign visa holder that they are sponsoring would leave the country within 90-days of arriving. They could attach penalties if the foreign visa holder does not leave such as permanent ban on petitioning future visas for foreign family members and/or a substantial fine of say $10,000 or more. In the case of the fine they could be required to secure a bond from a company similar to a bail bondsman to guarantee that if the visa is overstayed that the government can collect the fine. This would then give an incentive to the company that issued the bond to track down the foreign visa holder and turn them over to ICE for deportation.

Last week President Obama made some improvements to the tourist visa program:

http://travel.usatoday.com/news/story/2012-01-18/Obama-expected-to-shorten-tourist-visa-process/52652668/1

This latest move benefits Taiwan (added to VWP), China and Brazil (shorter waiting periods). The President was already met with opposition from anti-immigration interests who claim that this will only make it easier for more illegal immigration to the USA. Just check out the comments thread from the article and it is clear to see how some Americans just don't understand how hard it really is to get a visa to come to the United States.

[Harsh_77 718]

Here's an idea. Family based tourist visas. These types of visas would be eligible to family members (or future family members) of US Citizens who live abroad to enter the USA for 90-days or less. The trick is figuring out a way to make sure the foreign visa holder doesn't overstay the 90-days.

One idea would be to require the USC to officially sponsor the foreign relative signing a document that states that he or she will guarantee that the foreign visa holder that they are sponsoring would leave the country within 90-days of arriving. They could attach penalties if the foreign visa holder does not leave such as permanent ban on petitioning future visas for foreign family members and/or a substantial fine of say $10,000 or more. In the case of the fine they could be required to secure a bond from a company similar to a bail bondsman to guarantee that if the visa is overstayed that the government can collect the fine. This would then give an incentive to the company that issued the bond to track down the foreign visa holder and turn them over to ICE for deportation.

Last week President Obama made some improvements to the tourist visa program:

http://travel.usatoday.com/news/story/2012-01-18/Obama-expected-to-shorten-tourist-visa-process/52652668/1

This latest move benefits Taiwan (added to VWP), China and Brazil (shorter waiting periods). The President was already met with opposition from anti-immigration interests

Yes the president announced that it should be made easier, but he is forgetting most ppl who continue to stay illegally in the country enter on tourist visa.

He never talked about anything on how his administration would enforce there would be no misuse of the tourist visa.

He mentioned about global entry program and stuff, global entry program is only valid for PRM or USC currently other ppl cannot enroll into it.

His administration does not have a good solution for ppl living in US and traveling locally and he is talking about extending the Global Entry program to rest of the world, does not make any sense to me.

ho claim that this will only make it easier for more illegal immigration to the USA. Just check out the comments thread from the article and it is clear to see how some Americans just don't understand how hard it really is to get a visa to come to the United States.

Edited January 23, 2012 by Harsh_77

[Robert&Karen 264]

You are probably 100% legit, Mom will go back home after the wedding. Unfortunately it appears that others with a similar background as your mother have committed fraud. Yup, a few people ruin it for everyone. Sorry to hear.

[Boiler 45,519]

None of that is the issue, she had the interview, it was the result she did not like.

[Joandjo 20]

Last Jan 20th, my mom applied for a tourist visa because she wanted to visit me, but more importantly, attend my wedding. I just moved here with a K1 and will be getting married soon.

Her interview with a Korean woman consul officer went something like this...

CO: Why are you going to visit the United States?

Mom: I will attend my daughter's wedding.

CO: When did your daughter arrive in the U.S.?

Mom: December ___, 2011

CO: How many children do you have?

Mom: I have 3 children. My two sons are here in the Philippines. They're still in school.

CO: Have you been to other countries before?

Mom: Yes, I've been to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Indonesia for vacation.

*CO checks passport stamps*

CO: I'm sorry but I can't grant you the visa. You do not have enough ties outside the United States.

WHAT THE FUUUUUUCK!!! Not enough ties, huh?? My mom has 2 minor kids in the Philippines, she's married, working in finance, she has assets in the Philippines. She had all the documents with her but they didn't ask her for it. Consuls should stop being lazy and start asking more questions and checking documents!!! My mom just responded with an "OK, thank you." I told her she should've reasoned out and fought a bit for it. But my mom said there's no use cause she heard stories and she said that nothing really changes a Consul Officer's mind. I would've been ok with it if the consul officer's reason for denying her made sense. But it's just BS. My heart is breaking cause I'll be experiencing one of the most important events in my life without my mom by my side. I hate it when people are unreasonably heartless.

We've been exploring my Mother -in-law coming prior to Jho being able to go back to the Philippines (other than the furlow) especially when we have the first baby. It looks as if the most difficult part is proving that her mother has enough steady income that originates in the Philippines (not from us). I haven't seen a set amount but it appears that it needs to be substantial. Without prying I'd be interested in how much income you showed that originated there? Just a ball park figure would be nice if you could send that to my inbox I'd appreciate it.

[Harsh_77 718]

We've been exploring my Mother -in-law coming prior to Jho being able to go back to the Philippines (other than the furlow) especially when we have the first baby. It looks as if the most difficult part is proving that her mother has enough steady income that originates in the Philippines (not from us). I haven't seen a set amount but it appears that it needs to be substantial. Without prying I'd be interested in how much income you showed that originated there? Just a ball park figure would be nice if you could send that to my inbox I'd appreciate it.

Just income is not the correct answer, you will be disappointed again if you just go with one criteria.

Each CO puts it togeather, like Incomce, property, relatives other investment, business or job or school etc. before coming to conclusion.

Most ppl on here say CO did not go thru the documents, which is not true either before they come to window for the interview, they have gone thru the file and they ask specific questions and are looking for the answers to that.

Arguing with CO would never result in anything but he simply walking away or calling security to escort you out. Most CO have made up 80% of the decision before they come to window and rest is done during the interview.

[Joandjo 20]

Once again harsh you chime in when you don't have any idea what you're talking about.