tourist visa denied (2nd time) wife and son Colombia

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

If the CO doesn't like something in the application then he/she doesn't have a reason or need to look at supporting documentation. I have personally known a few people who were approved and a few who were denied. The CO has a tough job and are normally very good at what they do. What specific reason does the CO give for denial? Have you went with your wife for her visa appointments?

[DaveE 178]

Actually the letter from the Senator has zero impact. They have no influence on the consulates. My Senior Senator sent a letter of recommendation for my step daughter to visit on a tourist visa. He told me he was more than willing ot send it, but it would not affect the visa decision.

The consulate (in Manila), politely answered his letter with boilerplate junk (she will be given every opportunity under the law) etc. At the interview, the CO has never heard of or seen the letter until my step daughter showed him a copy.

The CO actually told her that they get those every day and they are worthless. He then told her to stop wasting her money applying for a tourist visa because she was not going to get one since her mom and sister lived in the states.

[Xanax 349]

Ah, you said son not step son. Now I understand. The facts remain the same for your wife though.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You can try again. One thing that makes me wonder is why you only want to visit the US now, after 5 years. Why wasn't this important before? I wonder if that makes it seem like she wants to use it to immigrate, now.

Another thing you can do is get the Greencard through a spousal visa and then "trade in" the GC for a tourist visa, saying basically "look, I have this GC and I really don't want it." That would be difficult with the need to prove intent to reestablish domicile, though.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Ron4 22]

My son is not a USC. You misread, I (we) own NO property in the U.S., only in Colombia. I know she is not entitled to anything. Yes, my ineffective politicians can help, by sending congressional inquiries to the embassy in Bogota. They are representing me and my needs.

This is not unexpected, as over the years, Bogota has shown to be completely inconsistent. You can take all the documentation in the world, if it is never looked at, it is of no help.

Thank you for your replies.

Actually your Politicians may not be helping as much as hurting.

You say you are a permanent resident of Colombia but you have a US senator write to the embassy, asking for help from a US politician would be seen as a tie to the US.

[Boiler 45,525]

Certainly seem odd.

If I was a CO and received such a request from a Politician I would assume it had been bought and paid for and my suspicion level would be off the chart.

[jan22 3,056]

Certainly seem odd.

If I was a CO and received such a request from a Politician I would assume it had been bought and paid for and my suspicion level would be off the chart.

Odds are, the letter would not have any impact at all -- positive or negative -- because it is unlikely that the person doing the interview had even seen the letter. As it has no bearing on an applicant's reasons for leaving the US (a Senator cannot guarantee a constituent or family member of one, will do anything), I'm sure letters like that are not even passed to the COs. Especially since they don't know when an applicant is coming in and which CO will be doing the interview.

In many countries, looking at documents a visa applicant brings is thought to be a waste of time, since so many of them are fraudulent. And, there is not document (other than a passport and the online visa application) that is required to get a visitor's visa.

While I don't doubt your intent, from a CO's view, you are now in the U.S., and in less than two months, your wife and son have applies twice, when they hadn't applied before you headed back to the U.S.