Wifes mom denied from Poland

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Well I guess she won't be coming, it is very sad for my wife. The crazy this is many of the other countries in the European Union are in the visa waiver program and don't even need to go through this

For what is worth, there has been some talking/discussion about Poland entering the VWP a couple of months back. I have also read that the method to calculate rejections and overstays (which is how a country qualifies) has changed and was favorable towards Poland inclusion. The articles I read almost made it look like it was just a matter of formalizing it; but I know well that is never that easy or simple, especially in our less than stellar Congress.

Of course, this could just be political promises in an election year.

As you can see from the country of origin of my wife, we are interested in this as her mother is also retired and eventually we would invite her for a visit.

Other than giving it another try, afraid nothing much can be done and she would need to convince the VO herself about her coming back to Poland. I'd also advise against Congressmen letters; it doesn't help a bit.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

sorry if i misread this but this is the way i understand that statement... the person who only wanted to visit the US is forced in to immigrating at a later date because a tourist visa wasnt granted due to immigrant intent which means that the US ends up with an immigrant that never wanted to be an immigrant???

We do things this way in this country. Any questions?

[tehans 52]

I appreciate all the advice and we will try again, but the primary thing was that my wife's mom could be here at birth time and help out for the difficult time immediately after for like 1 month after the baby comes. I realize an immigrant visa would be a possibility but it would be after this time so it doesn't help us. Really she doesn't want to stay here and they are honest people and don't want to cheat the system. We may end up going to Poland to have the baby. My wife doesn't work and I cannot stop working to take care of her and the baby. It is so sad we had everything prepared for her mom to come. It seems like the people that cheat always get away with it and the people who follow the rules get f..ed

[Noah Lot 391]

The main requirement to be in the visa waiver program is to have less than 3% of non immigrant visa applications denied.

So I would say it is the US that decides who is in, rather than those countries meeting the criteria

there is also the overstay/abuse rate of a particular country that is considered, along with the relative financial stability of that same country...it is not as simple as a 3% denial rate.

[tehans 52]

For what is worth, there has been some talking/discussion about Poland entering the VWP a couple of months back. I have also read that the method to calculate rejections and overstays (which is how a country qualifies) has changed and was favorable towards Poland inclusion. The articles I read almost made it look like it was just a matter of formalizing it; but I know well that is never that easy or simple, especially in our less than stellar Congress.

Of course, this could just be political promises in an election year.

As you can see from the country of origin of my wife, we are interested in this as her mother is also retired and eventually we would invite her for a visit.

Other than giving it another try, afraid nothing much can be done and she would need to convince the VO herself about her coming back to Poland. I'd also advise against Congressmen letters; it doesn't help a bit.

Even if they agree to let Poland in the VWP it will not happen in our time frame.

[MaggieT 4]

I'm Polish - I understand your pain.

How old is your mother in law? Some mother-in-laws are 50 and they really seam as potential immigrants.

You know what sometimes helps: if you are planning a Christening, it helps when she brings not an invitation to a party (everybody can get that) but a letter from the priest on the official church letterhead. I know that you want her there sooner, but hey - nobody forbids you from having a ceremony a month after the baby is born, and obviouly she needs to arive sooner etc.

Alo you can contact your congressman, sometimes letters from him help - they really do - especially in cases like further family, not your significant other.

I hope you can get her here.

Where did she apply at? Krakow or Warszawa?

[StarGirl 13]

My best friend was in similar position. She was pregnant and wanted her mom to come over to US and help out when baby is born. Mom was living in Azerbaijan, retired, widowed, with no significant bank savings, no property owned besides of apartment. The only difference from OP's situation - her mom got approved for her tourist visa. So, go figure on what grounds officer's decisions rest .  

[tehans 52]

It is crazy, but yes. Some people from high-fraud countries will never be able to get a tourist visa, due to not having enough evidence to convince the IO that they don't have immigrant intent.

This happened with my co-worker. She is originally from China. Her parents wanted to come and visit her and their grandson in the US and see how they live over here. They were very happy and content with their lives in China and have 2 other adult children and other grandchildren there. They applied many times for tourist visas, but were denied every time.

Eventually my co-worker was able to convince them to try coming over to the US to live and applied for visas for them. They are now greencard holders. Her father is very easy going and doesn't mind living in the US very much, but her mother (much like my co-worker), is more of a social bee and loved being able to walk or get the bus wherever she wanted to go. In California, she can't do that and neither of them feel up to the challenge of driving on US roads since they never even drove much in China and they are older so it would take them a long time to learn the skills and information they would need to pass a driving test. So she is not as happy here and was much more reluctant to come. But they are giving it a shot and know that they can at least go back and visit China once or twice a year, so long as it is not for too long.

OP: I wouldn't give up too easily. Like others have said, at least give it a second shot.

If she is not successful, know that it is not always too bad on a long flight with a young baby. We took our son over to see my family when he was 6 months old, he slept most of the journey to the UK, he was up a fair bit on the return leg, but did well. We went over again when he was 10 months old and that was more of a challenge since he didn't sleep as much then as when he was younger and needed to be entertained more. Also, try and get a bulkhead seat as they usually can attach a travel cot for the baby to be strapped into when sleeping.

Good luck!

Yes I know, but the idea was she could be here to help during that difficult period immediately after the child is born

there is also the overstay/abuse rate of a particular country that is considered, along with the relative financial stability of that same country...it is not as simple as a 3% denial rate.

Greece is in the visa waiver program so financial stability is a joke.

[tehans 52]

I'm Polish - I understand your pain.

How old is your mother in law? Some mother-in-laws are 50 and they really seam as potential immigrants.

You know what sometimes helps: if you are planning a Christening, it helps when she brings not an invitation to a party (everybody can get that) but a letter from the priest on the official church letterhead. I know that you want her there sooner, but hey - nobody forbids you from having a ceremony a month after the baby is born, and obviouly she needs to arive sooner etc.

Alo you can contact your congressman, sometimes letters from him help - they really do - especially in cases like further family, not your significant other.

I hope you can get her here.

Where did she apply at? Krakow or Warszawa?

Her mom is 60, retired and not married. She applied in Warsaw. I think you must apply at that consulate based on where you live, She lives in Aleksandrow near Lodz. We are actually thinking of my wife going to Poland to have the baby if the second application doesn't work.

So would I contact my congressman or Senator and by mail or phone? They didn't ask her for any evidence of ties or even why she wanted to come.

[kzielu 1,149]

Her mom is 60, retired and not married. She applied in Warsaw. I think you must apply at that consulate based on where you live, She lives in Aleksandrow near Lodz. We are actually thinking of my wife going to Poland to have the baby if the second application doesn't work.

So would I contact my congressman or Senator and by mail or phone? They didn't ask her for any evidence of ties or even why she wanted to come.

I highly doubt congressman will be a help here - she need to show ties to her country, US congresman help shows quite the opposite.

Going to have a baby in Poland - interesting idea, may be cheaper (does your wife still has NFZ insurance though ? flight are not free either) but think about how you're going to get baby back to US - CRBA and things of this sort.

[tehans 52]

I highly doubt congressman will be a help here - she need to show ties to her country, US congresman help shows quite the opposite.

Going to have a baby in Poland - interesting idea, may be cheaper (does your wife still has NFZ insurance though ? flight are not free either) but think about how you're going to get baby back to US - CRBA and things of this sort.

For getting the baby back, I understand you must just take the birth document to the embassy to get the baby's citizenship document.

Oh and our wonderful health care system here, well this year our insurance company introduced a $3950 deductible this year I must pay.

We would have been buying a plane ticket anyway for her mom. Plus she could be with the rest of her family there. Who knows what we will do

[HuffyTheSlayer 22]

Yes I know, but the idea was she could be here to help during that difficult period immediately after the child is born

I understand that, I'm just saying if you decide to have the baby in the US going on a plane with a baby isn't as stressful as it might seem. I hope your MIL gets approved with a second try, though.

For getting the baby back, I understand you must just take the birth document to the embassy to get the baby's citizenship document.

Oh and our wonderful health care system here, well this year our insurance company introduced a $3950 deductible this year I must pay.

We would have been buying a plane ticket anyway for her mom. Plus she could be with the rest of her family there. Who knows what we will do

The only thing I would ask about this plan is, are you sure you both want to risk you not being present for the birth of your child? Will you be able to be on the birth certificate if you are not there when the baby is born? Because you need to have your name on the birth certificate to get a CBRA. Just remember that unless your wife is scheduled for a c-section, a baby can be born anywhere from 37 weeks (and sometimes if there are complications, quite a bit before that) through to 42 weeks. That's a pretty big window of time to take off work if you intend to be there for the birth.

Just a few things to consider if you hadn't already. But hopefully these will just be back up plans and your MIL will be able to get a tourist visa to visit.

[tehans 52]

Yea I hadn't though about that. I don't know how the whole birth certificate thing works, guess I better research that.

I understand that, I'm just saying if you decide to have the baby in the US going on a plane with a baby isn't as stressful as it might seem. I hope your MIL gets approved with a second try, though.

The only thing I would ask about this plan is, are you sure you both want to risk you not being present for the birth of your child? Will you be able to be on the birth certificate if you are not there when the baby is born? Because you need to have your name on the birth certificate to get a CBRA. Just remember that unless your wife is scheduled for a c-section, a baby can be born anywhere from 37 weeks (and sometimes if there are complications, quite a bit before that) through to 42 weeks. That's a pretty big window of time to take off work if you intend to be there for the birth.

Just a few things to consider if you hadn't already. But hopefully these will just be back up plans and your MIL will be able to get a tourist visa to visit.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Think about when you would have to leave for Poland. Many airlines restrict a woman's ability to fly in her last trimester.