Tourist Visa To US Question

[Mary1964 0]

My friend who lives and works in the Philippines specifically Manila applied for a tourist visa today so she could come and visit me. My friend is 35, owns a condo, has all her family living in the Philippines, has a bachelor's degree, has a decent job as an industrial engineer at a major hospital, has money in the bank, and has traveled many times outside the Philippines on trips in the past to Hong Kong, Japan etc... She also has no family living here in the US.

Yet, with all this as very strong proof that she has strong ties to the Philippines, she was denied within 1 minute. The counselor didn't even look at one supporting document and didn't even let her speak. He only asked her salary. He then said you are denied because you do not have strong ties here in the Philippines!

Is this for real? She paid $165 USD for the application fee and didn't even get to say anything or have her documents even looked at. Do you call this fair? It was obvious she was not going to leave the Philippines and stay here in the US. What more could she show? All the embassy says is:

"However, consular officers are at the same time obligated to adjudicate visa applications according to United States law and visa regulations. Every applicant must qualify on his/her own merits."

This is not true. They did not even look at anything related to her background and ties at all. Sounds more like a great way to take money from people.

Should she try again? Is it possible to get approved just by getting a different counselor?

[Harsh_77 718]

Single young female from philippinies itself is a flag.

Not sure how it is in Philippines, in India they ask for all the documents couple days before the interview and CO has gone thru the case even before they come to the window.

85% of the decision is always done before they come to window.

[Mary1964 0]

Thank you for your input. She has traveled to other parts of Asia with no issue.

They did not even look at her paper work. They do not ask for it in advance either. Just made the decision without all the facts. If the burden of proof is on the visa applicant, why don't they allow them to present their case?

[Harsh_77 718]

Traveling to other countries is cool, neither consulate looks at that as a decision factor as every country is free to decide whom to let in the country or not.

Ppl from Philippines have abuse B1/2 in past hence they are more strict specially for somone single and of marriageable age.

[Boiler 45,519]

They have the paperwork they need before the interview, she would have submitted it or she would never have had the interview.

[Mary1964 0]

She did fill out an application of course. The application however does not ask for the documentation which is why they ask for you to bring it with you. They tell you to bring all of your supporting documents. Why would they say this if they already had it?

Edited August 16, 2012 by Mary1964

[Boiler 45,519]

It is very very unusual for any other documents to be looked at, usually the application is sufficient.

Maybe in marginal cases which it appears this one was not.

[Mary1964 0]

Traveling to other countries is cool, neither consulate looks at that as a decision factor as every country is free to decide whom to let in the country or not.

Ppl from Philippines have abuse B1/2 in past hence they are more strict specially for somone single and of marriageable age.

One of the things we saw on the embassy website was that it would help if you had traveled to other countries and could prove that. She has and always came back to the Philippines.

Is it possible another counselor might approve this? I read that most of the decision is based on the counselor and their mood, attitude etc..

[Harsh_77 718]

One of the things we saw on the embassy website was that it would help if you had traveled to other countries and could prove that. She has and always came back to the Philippines.

Is it possible another counselor might approve this? I read that most of the decision is based on the counselor and their mood, attitude etc..

Each CO has their own digression, next time even the same CO can approve the case that they had refused in past.

The many many times I have been to the interview I never felt the CO had any personal grudge, they have certain things based on which they evaluate each case mainly what are the chances the applicant would not over stay their visa.

Having foreign trips is not a guaranteed that one will get US visa, it can be one factor on which CO can determine if this person would violate the visa terms or not.

Most CO evaluate various factors, age, country, martial status, othter ties to home country, financial situation, other family members in US etc.

[Boiler 45,519]

PS

They are Consular Officers

[Noel194 53]

The sad fact is that your friend is paying the price for many OTHER people who abuse the B2 visa. If everyone who was issued a B2 visa traveled to the USA and returned when they were suppose to don't you think everyone would be approved? The sad fact is that many young single women in the past have abused the B2 visa and the CO must assume by law that she will do the same.