Mother-in-law denied US tourist visa-help!

[eruben 0]

How about live video?

Obviously we will try to get pictures/video from the ceremony to anyone not attending. But for all the parties, speeches, hugs, dances...skype just isn't going to do for us. We have the time, the money, the effort...why can't her mother be part of the ceremony?

[aaydrian 479]

We have the time, the money, the effort...why can't her mother be part of the ceremony?

Then have an intimate ceremony for your wife's side of the family in Brazil and have the more glamorous ceremony in the US. Those are your only options (unless you MIL wants to be cargo on a US bound boat) because your mother won't be in the US in June.

[Boiler 46,004]

I spoke to someone who does this professionally a couple of years ago, they have a web site etc and you send out invitations and they log on to participate, Not skype much higher standard.

It seems whatever you choose to do there will be many people not able to attend so it sounds an ideal solution.

[eruben 0]

I spoke to someone who does this professionally a couple of years ago, they have a web site etc and you send out invitations and they log on to participate, Not skype much higher standard.

It seems whatever you choose to do there will be many people not able to attend so it sounds an ideal solution.

Boiler - can you sent me the info of this service? Thanks

[Boiler 46,004]

I can not remember the name, he probably gave me a card but I have cleared it out by now.

I would google for a service in your area.

[cerebus407 16]

This situation is the reason that the U.S. needs to rethink its immigration, identification, and visitor system. How many times does the U.S. get a black eye by denying visits for deaths, weddings, conferences, etc. Its not the CO's fault, they are following the laws and instructions given to them by Congress.

Here is what the US should do (I promise both immigration and anti-immigration activists will hate some parts of it strongly):

1) Institute a national ID system which is required in order to work. No more "sanctuary cities", no more cheap produce gotten off the backs of underpaid illegal immigrants. If the U.S. does not get a handle on the black and grey markets for jobs, then nothing any thing I suggest below will be meaningless. This step is crucial.

2) Create a true tourist visa based on similar principles as the Visa Waiver Program but stricter. A person can visit the U.S. without a visa for a maximum of 90 days (I can't think of a single reason a tourist or short-term business person needs to stay longer. If they do, they can apply for a rejiggered B1B2). If you enter on this status, you cannot adjust status. PERIOD. NO Exceptions.

3) Extend this new status worldwide or to every country whose population does not present significant political or security risk. Reciprocity would also play a part in this but overall I'd like to see this new program cover a dramatically larger area.

Positives: This plan facilitates travel for legitimate business people and tourists and increases U.S. soft power because we don't look like jerks for refusing grandma anymore. It should increase tourist travel to the U.S. significantly and the financial contribution of those extra visitors could be tremendous. If point #1 is implemented correct and point #2 is not watered down, then there should be little concern about overstay as there would be no magnet anymore (no jobs, no money=fewer overstays).

Negatives: Conservatives and christians will rail about the ID requirement. To be honest, I don't love the idea but its the only way to solve the problem that I can think of and don't we already live in a society with cameras everywhere? Liberals will rail about how horrible it is that someone who falls in love on the 90 day program has to go home even though they married an amcit, or there will be some tragic medical situation, etc. Basically, this is politically unfeasible.

RANT OVER

[mishab 1]

"One very useful piece of info for applicants is never be pushy. It only makes matters worse by resulting in the COs thinking 'Why sooo desperate for a B2?' (you may even be flagged in their system). If you'd like a question answered, be as pleasant as you can and if they refuse just walk away."

Why so desperate for a B2? Because I want to see my daughter and be at her wedding. Without a doubt, my mother would feel desperate as well if her first visa application would be denied. Such "stupid" advise to just walk away.

[Miss_Monkey 0]

Same thing is happening to me, my mom was denied the visa twice. My husband gave her all the necessary papers but they don't even want to see them.. first time she request it was just for visit me, but the second she ask the visa so she could travel with me (I am pregnant, and was having some difficulties) they say if your daughter is having a bad moment how is she going to travel anyway and say no!

Now we wonder if we ask again when i deliver the baby if they will keep saying no... this is freaking ridiculous, my mom like your mil have zero intentions to stay in USA... this is so frustrating...

[tehans 52]

Same thing is happening to me, my mom was denied the visa twice. My husband gave her all the necessary papers but they don't even want to see them.. first time she request it was just for visit me, but the second she ask the visa so she could travel with me (I am pregnant, and was having some difficulties) they say if your daughter is having a bad moment how is she going to travel anyway and say no!

Now we wonder if we ask again when i deliver the baby if they will keep saying no... this is freaking ridiculous, my mom like your mil have zero intentions to stay in USA... this is so frustrating...

Same thing happened to US, my wife is going to have a baby in July and they won't let her mom come, and there is no way I would let her stay past her visa

[Boiler 46,004]

and there is no way I would let her stay past her visa

What would you do?

[Noah Lot 391]

Rather than make almost every country a VWP beneficiary, we should still continue issuing tourist/student/work visas,etc, but....some modifications should be legislated....most notably, END ALL ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FROM ANY VISA EXCEPT THE K-1. No more 'falling in love' at baggage claim, no more mind changing. Arrive as a tourist, leave as one. Admit most for 90 days tops, (as tourists) unless the arriving visitor can make his/her case for more....end 99% of all tourist visa extension....no one needs to be a legitimate tourist for a year or more.

Overstays start accruing penalties one day after their authorized admission time, awarded at the rate of one year for every one day one overstays (unless the alien can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that either (a) they were in a coma or (b) airline service ceased the day they were supposed to depart).

End all waivers for overstaying, working illegally, fraud....we don't need fraudsters in our country (we have enough politicians!)...and overstayers should no longer have the option of marrying some oblivious Amcit just to avoid a bar to readmission....what we should have is 'enforced responsibility.'

Using this model, more visas might well be issued ( for the OP's MIL, for ex) since the lifelines are no longer available for violating the trust of a US visa.

None of these changes would cost you and I (the taxpayers) a penny! No more forms to fill out for extensions or COS...fewer silly waste of time hearings for immigration judges...

Students MUST return to their country of residence after OPT for two years, in order to give their own countrymen the benefits of their US education....no exceptions unless the newly graduated student invents (a) a 100% cure for cancer or (b) perpetual motion.

No more anchor babies....tourists who give birth should not see their child be given US citizenship.

Instant penalties for Entering Without Inspection (EWI)....5 year bar for the first offense, with NO exceptions, no matter who they marry.

Second offense...permanent life time bar to legal readmission....period.

Work illegally? Enjoy a ten year vacation outside of the US...without exception nor waiver.

All of these changes, again, would not cost additional money...most are practically free.

Since so many visa violators (and border jumpers) have taken full advantage of the lack of strong enforcement, let us turn the tables back on them...and allow more honest folks to visit and study in the US of A.

As to the 'I'll make sure she returns..'...well, that statement is just plain silly ...no one, save USCIS/ICE, has the authority to force somebody to depart the US....the OP has no legal authority over his MIL...nor anyone else, for that matter....and I doubt the OP would pick up the phone and drop a dime on his MIL to ICE to have her picked up and shipped home....that would bring about some real interesting domestic tranquility!

[eruben 0]

Noah Lot, I agree with most of your proposed policies. I'd gladly trade harsher penalties for a more fair and expanded system. To answer your doubt about me caring about my MIL violating the terms of her visa, I would respond by saying I'd happily post a bail, or pay a penalty, or whatever other means would be necessary to ensure she sticks to her visa. Keep the money or throw me in jail if she doesn't, that will make sure she leaves . But citizens can't sponsor a visitor, unfortunately. Under the present circumstances, it looks like I would be more likely to be successful in bringing my MIL here by sponsoring her for immigration, versus having her simply apply to visit. Pretty silly situation, if you ask me.

[Noah Lot 391]

Noah Lot, I agree with most of your proposed policies. I'd gladly trade harsher penalties for a more fair and expanded system. To answer your doubt about me caring about my MIL violating the terms of her visa, I would respond by saying I'd happily post a bail, or pay a penalty, or whatever other means would be necessary to ensure she sticks to her visa. Keep the money or throw me in jail if she doesn't, that will make sure she leaves . But citizens can't sponsor a visitor, unfortunately. Under the present circumstances, it looks like I would be more likely to be successful in bringing my MIL here by sponsoring her for immigration, versus having her simply apply to visit. Pretty silly situation, if you ask me.

Well, there are no mechanisms in place that would allow you to post a bond, etc. Imagine how many relatives would challenge the loss of their money and/or jail time by then claiming that they had no legal responsibility nor authority over their overstaying relative/friend, so why should they be punished for those transgressions? Lawyers would salivate over the prospects of beating this down in court (at $400 an hour!!)

silly situation? Perhaps....but think about who you should really blame for this....yep....all those who 'forgot' to return to their country, who 'forgot' the part about not working on a tourist visa, etc....those people are the ones who caused this more so than our laws (which admittedly are to blame to some extent since there are few enforceable penalties for people failing to live up to the terms of their visa....)

[eruben 0]

Of course there are mechanisms in place....if you get arrested and post bail, there's clear systems of when you do or don't get your money back. Don't follow the rules, and the government keeps your money. Quite a good way to enforce, if you ask me. So someone sponsors their mother, mother overstays, and the government keeps their posted money and sponsor complains and wants to challenge their loss of money? Good luck with a case, when you as an informed party signed a contract stating you are sponsoring a relative to visit the US, and if they overstay you're financially responsible. By the way, for my wife's green card application, I signed a document stating I'm financially responsible. So that process to make sure immigrants dont come to America and then claim welfare is in place and apparently working well enough.

I'm all for enforcable penalties for people who knowingly violate contracts.

[Noah Lot 391]

the rules are completely different for immigrant visas....there is NO legal mechanism currently in place for someone to bost a bond or some other form of 'guarantee' that flows through said individual and somebody showing up with a tourist visa...just ask ICE and see what they say.