B-2 Visa Denial - Tbilisi - Russian Citizen

[Celie 793]

2 hours ago, Delta7 said:

In the past 5 to 10 years, they have each traveled to a total of 5 countries in Europe and Africa (Egypt). They didn't overstay a single time. I totally get the fact that it might seem suspicious to bypass their home country's consulate, but it's a move simply because the wait times in Georgia are 10x less. My wife and I talked last night and I think they're going to file in Moscow and just wait it out and pray. 

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia was among the government's latest list of high overstay rates... the one they'd like to hone in on detailed screening for B1/B2 visas to "curve" the overstay trend. Even though no law has been passed yet from what I've seen, I'm sure these embassies are aware their respective country made the list and they have probably started implementing stricter observations when approving visas. So going to Georgia to interview might have actually been the bullet that hit your foot.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Almost as annoying as unhelpful posters are ones who jump in clearly not having read previous posts and just repeating stuff that’s already been said (not in the sense of “agree” but in the sense of “hey here’s a new insight!”) At least 2 in the past page.

 

Btw on who is “qualified” to post: Having personally received 4 B visas, the first two when my ties were pretty dodgy (hence got only one year validity for each of those) as well as doing 2 applications for my husband and another 2 for my kids, I think I may know something about the B visa process.

[Delta7 9]

1 hour ago, celie&joseph said:

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia was among the government's latest list of high overstay rates... the one they'd like to hone in on detailed screening for B1/B2 visas to "curve" the overstay trend. Even though no law has been passed yet from what I've seen, I'm sure these embassies are aware their respective country made the list and they have probably started implementing stricter observations when approving visas. So going to Georgia to interview might have actually been the bullet that hit your foot.

I didn't know that Georgia was among the highest overstay rates. I think I'm going to encourage my in-laws to wait it out via Moscow for their next attempt. Thanks so much!

[apple21 953]

You can also check out my signature link below for my parents' B2 application experience. I posted sample questions there. Might be handy. Best of luck!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

7 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

I didn't know that Georgia was among the highest overstay rates. I think I'm going to encourage my in-laws to wait it out via Moscow for their next attempt. Thanks so much!

 

18 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

The B2 refusal rate for Russian nationals is under 15%. That’s not very high at all compared to many countries. 

But the refusal rate for Georgian nationals is over 62%. Maybe Tbilisi is just more used to denying than Moscow...add in the usual complication of a 3rd county application and possibly that’s why it ended badly for them. I’d suggest they just get on the waitlist for a Moscow appointment in the meantime.

.....

ok, i take it back, apparently it's not only new posters who don't read everything. lol.

Edited June 12, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Delta7 9]

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

.....

ok, i take it back, apparently it's not only new posters who don't read everything. lol.

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

[geowrian 22,337]

13 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

But they are very closely related. High overstay rates lead to increased refusal rates. Low overstay rates lead to low refusal rates (and possible VWP inclusion).

[Celie 793]

31 minutes ago, geowrian said:

But they are very closely related. High overstay rates lead to increased refusal rates. Low overstay rates lead to low refusal rates (and possible VWP inclusion).

 

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

Almost as annoying as unhelpful posters are ones who jump in clearly not having read previous posts and just repeating stuff that’s already been said (not in the sense of “agree” but in the sense of “hey here’s a new insight!”) At least 2 in the past page.

 

Btw on who is “qualified” to post: Having personally received 4 B visas, the first two when my ties were pretty dodgy (hence got only one year validity for each of those) as well as doing 2 applications for my husband and another 2 for my kids, I think I may know something about the B visa process.

 

I'm not sure if all this is stemming from my comment, but I was pointing out the recent "extra" security the administration wants to place on high overstay rated countries (that already face high scrutiny and denial rates as Susie mentioned).

 

Wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, just give new insight on current events that influence what was already said.

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, celie&joseph said:

 

 

I'm not sure if all this is stemming from my comment, but I was pointing out the recent "extra" security the administration wants to place on high overstay rated countries (that already face high scrutiny and denial rates as Susie mentioned).

 

Wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, just give new insight on current events that influence what was already said.

Not disagreeing....I was just pointing out the relationship between overstay rates and refusals.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

59 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

The most common reason for denial is 214b - concern that the applicant will overstay

There are clear trends at embassies as noted already on refusal rates which are linked to how often previous nationals have overstayed (otherwise publication of refusal rates is meaningless... )

Sorry, I guess to regulars here the correlation is obvious, perhaps I should have realized it needed to be more fully explained to a newbie

[millefleur 5,046]

@Delta7 I think the CO might've looked at this as desperation to come to the US because why would they go to Georgia when Yekaterinburg in Russia is currently open for tourist visa interviews and has a wait time of 1-2 months? See for yourself:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

 

So there's no reason to "wait it out" for Moscow. Just have them go to Yekaterinburg. I know someone who recently applied for a B visa there and was approved.

Edited June 15, 2019 by millefleur

[Delta7 9]

40 minutes ago, millefleur said:

@Delta7 I think the CO might've looked at this as desperation to come to the US because why would they go to Georgia when Yekaterinburg in Russia is currently open for tourist visa interviews and has a wait time of 1-2 months? See for yourself:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

 

So there's no reason to "wait it out" Moscow. Just have them go to Yekaterinburg. I know someone who recently applied for a B visa there and was approved.

(Edited) I know this was one of the embassies they closed a few years back. It must have reopened? Thank you so so much! I’ll have them look into it. 

Edited June 15, 2019 by Unlockable
Inappropriate language

[millefleur 5,046]

1 minute ago, Delta7 said:

I know this was one of the embassies they closed a few years back. It must have reopened? Thank you so so much! I’ll have them look into it. 

There are currently 3 consulates in Russia offering visa services:

 

Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok

https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/

 

Depending on where they live in Russia, maybe even Vladivostok makes more sense for them. The reason we talk about Moscow a lot here on VJ is because Moscow is the only place that does immigrant visas (and K-1's). All of them currently do non-immigrant visas such as visitor visas and student visas.

[Unlockable 7,314]

Again, this is a reminder to not use inappropriate language of any kind on the forum.

 

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