immigration debate - family rejected for tourist visa

[Boiler 46,124]

If the questions are one-size-fits-all then they do not apply and are not relevant to the individual situation.

Interesting, what do you propose?

[Harsh_77 718]

Interesting, what do you propose?

Customize questions for OP's family so they can overcome the intent.

[Boiler 46,124]

How would the Consulate know what questions to ask?

[Harsh_77 718]

How would the Consulate know what questions to ask?

Comon Boiler you been on here long enough, has Consulate ever known what question to ask?

[Boiler 46,124]

I have applied for a B2 and a K1, I was not asked anything by the consulate, just filled the forms in.

[Rwlaird 18]

It is certainly is interesting that the State Department’s own Inspector General in a report to Congress titled “Nonimmigrant Visa Adjudication: Standards for Refusing Applicants” and dated March 2005; Report Number ISP-CA-05-58 called our exact situation absurd! “When local circum­stances and individual factors are not considered, the resulting decisions will necessarily lead to absurd results in some cases, like denying visas to grandparents of limited means who merely wish to see newborn grandchildren.” This is what the embassy in Kiev claimed that they were forced to do because of the language of presumption of immigrant intent. Page 16 - bottom of second paragraph. ABSURD!

http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/126337.pdf

ABSUUURRRDDDDDD!!

[Harsh_77 718]

ABSUUURRRDDDDDD!!

How do you know they are not applying the surrounding data, maybe consulate in Ukraine has some numbers where number of grandparents do not return back to Ukraine after visiting the grandchild in US.

The conclusion and recommendation only mentions additional training is required, which is expected out of any inspection.

[OKflyboy 35]

If all the relevant questions are asked in the application form, why conduct an interview at all? Why not just approve or deny based on the application instead of making people travel (sometimes very far) to the interview? Especially if at the "interview" not only the supporting documents are not reviewed, the applicant is not asked a single question outside of what's already on the application (and that about simple stuff like dates), and the applicant is openly forbidden from saying a word.

Say, you see from the application that the applicant has a relative in the US and no family remaining behind in the country of residence. Why not simply reject such an application based on the relevant info? Such circumstances are impossible to overcome and rarely change. Just make it clear that people with such circumstances should not apply and waste their time, money and energy, let alone go through a lot of frustration.

If the purpose of the interview is to help determine the intention and the application is not enough, the intention should not be determined by barely looking at the applicant (who might not be at their best after a long travel, sleepless night, or plain nervous) and basically telling them to shut up. An interview means talking with an applicant and listening to their answers.

Edited June 27, 2013 by OKflyboy

[Boiler 46,124]

Totally agree, the vast majority of cases can be dealt with this way.

[Harsh_77 718]

If all the relevant questions are asked in the application form, why conduct an interview at all? Why not just approve or deny based on the application instead of making people travel (sometimes very far) to the interview? Especially if at the "interview" not only the supporting documents are not reviewed, the applicant is not asked a single question outside of what's already on the application (and that about simple stuff like dates), and the applicant is openly forbidden from saying a word.

Say, you see from the application that the applicant has a relative in the US and no family remaining behind in the country of residence. Why not simply reject such an application based on the relevant info? Such circumstances are impossible to overcome and rarely change. Just make it clear that people with such circumstances should not apply and waste their time, money and energy, let alone go through a lot of frustration.

If the purpose of the interview is to help determine the intention and the application is not enough, the intention should not be determined by barely looking at the applicant (who might not be at their best after a long travel, sleepless night, or plain nervous) and basically telling them to shut up. An interview means talking with an applicant and listening to their answers.

It used to be that way years back where applicant could mail in the application and passport and consulate would either approve or reject the application.

Unfortunately there were lot of frauds happening with passport tampering and stuff after the visas were received.

So now while they ask everyone to come for interview they photograph the applicant and take finger print of the applicant, again the finger prints are taken when they land at POE.

I am sure somewhere they are compared as well.

personally I dont ever recollect where CO never asked me a single question, there is always a chat.

[Boiler 46,124]

Meaningless chat.

[OKflyboy 35]

It used to be that way years back where applicant could mail in the application and passport and consulate would either approve or reject the application.

Unfortunately there were lot of frauds happening with passport tampering and stuff after the visas were received.

So now while they ask everyone to come for interview they photograph the applicant and take finger print of the applicant, again the finger prints are taken when they land at POE.

I am sure somewhere they are compared as well.

personally I dont ever recollect where CO never asked me a single question, there is always a chat.

Never was this way in Russia. As far as I know, only the renewals are processed this way, and not always.

Fingerprints and photos are pointless, if they' re going to reject based on the apllication anyway.

Maybe my family was there on a bad day. But there was no chat, no questions, just orders to be quiet when my mother opened her mouth to say something. There were other parents there with her, they got pretty much the same treatment.

Edited June 27, 2013 by OKflyboy

[Boiler 46,124]

Seemed the norm in London.

I guess if they just sent a letter saying no people would also complain.

[Noel194 53]

I think one needs to remember that it is Ukraine. For a few dollars I can provide a complete array of forged documents with official governement seals. I am pretty sure I could obtain an official birth certificate, marriage certificate home ownership papers, bank documents etc for a few hundred dollars and Im an American. The Embassy knows this and they do not have the time or resources to verify all documents so they do not put a lot of weight on them. Again if people did not abuse they system everyone would get a visa. Unfortunately in a country of rampid corruption leading to easily obtained forged documents a "gut" feeling by and embassy interviewer is all that the US has.

[Boiler 46,124]

well in this case we have a USC who is prepared to 'vouch' for them.