Restricted tourist visa - ONE entry to ONE state

[tedujam 1]

My Mexican girlfriend applied for a B2 visa in 2024 and finally had her interview last week. She said the CO was extremely hostile and had just denied the person in front of her. At the end of of a long, brutal interview, he told her she was only approved for a 1 year visa.

 

Well she just picked up her visa yesterday and it's restricted to ONE entry to travel to ONE state only. The state is just one she mentioned she'd like to visit, but there were at least 3 other states she listed to the CO.

 

So we are a bit devastated right now, as she had planned to visit me and also travel to a bunch of other US states this summer (Hawaii, California, etc). Is there a procedure for redress? Can she petition for an extension or some kind of early renewal? I think she just had bad luck with an angry CO.

[appleblossom 3,301]

13 minutes ago, tedujam said:

My Mexican girlfriend applied for a B2 visa in 2024 and finally had her interview last week. She said the CO was extremely hostile and had just denied the person in front of her. At the end of of a long, brutal interview, he told her she was only approved for a 1 year visa.

 

Well she just picked up her visa yesterday and it's restricted to ONE entry to travel to ONE state only. The state is just one she mentioned she'd like to visit, but there were at least 3 other states she listed to the CO.

 

So we are a bit devastated right now, as she had planned to visit me and also travel to a bunch of other US states this summer (Hawaii, California, etc). Is there a procedure for redress? Can she petition for an extension or some kind of early renewal? I think she just had bad luck with an angry CO.

 

Are you a US citizen? If so I think she was lucky to be granted a visa at all. She can certainly apply for another (if the wait is long it would be worth applying now to get an interview booked). 

 

Good luck. 

[tedujam 1]

2 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Are you a US citizen? If so I think she was lucky to be granted a visa at all. She can certainly apply for another (if the wait is long it would be worth applying now to get an interview booked). 

 

Good luck. 

Yes, I'm a US citizen. Why "lucky to be granted a visa at all"? Due to being a Mexican? She was given a J1 visa for 2023 with zero issues and had a quick/easy CO interview for it. She's a full time student from a family with plenty of money. She has thousands in her bank account and regularly travels all over the world. She didn't overstay her J1 visa and has never had any legal/criminal issues. 

[EmilyW 1,547]

Due to Mexicans either crossing illegally or overstaying valid visas, it is fortunate that she obtained a visa.  No doubt her family's money, her own good history of travel, and her own demonstrated compliance with visas worked in her favor.  She can thank those countrymen and women, who abuse the immigration system, for the restrictions she now unfortunately has to face.

 

I would take advantage of this one stop / one state visa.  I know it's not what you hoped for but it's still time together.  It's time to show that she can leave and arrive on time.  And, hopefully, next time, her visa will be granted for a longer time and with greater flexibility. I'm a silver lining kinda gal - enjoy your vacay and make the most it!  Alternatively, since she travels all over the world and you are a US citizen, maybe travel to other countries.

Edited February 8 by EmilyW

[tedujam 1]

14 minutes ago, EmilyW said:

Due to Mexicans either crossing illegally or overstaying valid visas, it is fortunate that she obtained a visa.  No doubt her family's money, her own good history of travel, and her own demonstrated compliance with visas worked in her favor.  She can thank those countrymen and women, who abuse the immigration system, for the restrictions she now unfortunately has to face.

 

I would take advantage of this one stop / one state visa.  I know it's not what you hoped for but it's still time together.  It's time to show that she can leave and arrive on time.  And, hopefully, next time, her visa will be granted for a longer time and with greater flexibility. I'm a silver lining kinda gal - enjoy your vacay and make the most it!

Thanks. I think we are going to do the K1 or CR1 process. We have discussed marriage before, but there was no rush, since she still has a year of school left. But since it's a really long process, we want to get the ball rolling. I'm just not sure if we should get married in the US during her visit or sometime in Mexico (or the online Utah marriage). We are not trying to get a quick green card, I just want to be together and not be restricted to limited short vacations visiting her in Mexico.

[Edward and Jaycel 755]

1 hour ago, tedujam said:

Thanks. I think we are going to do the K1 or CR1 process. We have discussed marriage before, but there was no rush, since she still has a year of school left. But since it's a really long process, we want to get the ball rolling. I'm just not sure if we should get married in the US during her visit or sometime in Mexico (or the online Utah marriage). We are not trying to get a quick green card, I just want to be together and not be restricted to limited short vacations visiting her in Mexico.

 

The I-130 approval timeline is currently taking 15 or so months now plus whatever time it takes for the NVC/Consular process after the approval so if she only has a year left of school and you guys are sure that you want to be married. I would do it sooner rather than later aND GET THE PROCESS GOING.

[Edward and Jaycel 755]

Sorry about the caps.... Didn't notice until it was too late to edit. Typing is not my forte. LOL

 

[tedujam 1]

3 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

Sorry about the caps.... Didn't notice until it was too late to edit. Typing is not my forte. LOL

 

lol, no problem. So what do you think the fastest option is? Having her fly here on her one visit ASAP and get married? We talked about that, but it would mean she couldn't spend the summer here.

[Boiler 46,246]

Get married in Mexico?

 

Visiting the other half can cause issues when applying for a visa, hopefully she did disclose you.

 

She can always apply for a new visa.

Edited February 8 by Boiler

[Edward and Jaycel 755]

33 minutes ago, tedujam said:

lol, no problem. So what do you think the fastest option is? Having her fly here on her one visit ASAP and get married? We talked about that, but it would mean she couldn't spend the summer here.

It all depends on your priorities... do you want the fastest path to being together permanently or do you want her to spend the summer there? If the former, have her come now, get married and start the process for the I-130 as soon as you get married. If the latter, wait until summer, get married as soon as she gets to the US, file right away and then enjoy the summer. I was thinking maybe you go down there and get married and start the process as soon as you get back and maybe still get the summer trip, but CBP may give her trouble coming into the US with an I-130 pending. It's a tough thing to try to decide....

[Neonred 3,664]

Just wondering how can a B-2 visa be restricted to one state?

 

Once you enter the country who or what is going to keep you from traveling to another state?

 

 

 

 

Edited February 8 by Neonred

[Crazy Cat 42,547]

It is allowed to annotate B2 visas.  I don't think it is a restriction...It is just an annotation specifying exactly what the applicant stated intent is.

 

9 FAM 402.2-6(B)  (U) Annotations on Nonimmigrant Visas

(CT:VISA-1826;   09-06-2023)

(U) Annotations on NIVs regarding the purpose and duration of stay are encouraged when the visas are limited and when the use of such notations would be helpful to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspectors or other consular officers when processing future visa applications.  Positive notations such as "VISIT UNCLE SAN FRANCISCO, THREE WEEKS" are helpful and are authorized.  However, endorsements of a negative type such as "NO ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OR EXTENSION OF STAY RECOMMENDED" or any other notation which tends to tell DHS what to do or which questions the applicant's veracity are not allowed.

Edited February 8 by Crazy Cat

[tedujam 1]

27 minutes ago, Neonred said:

Just wondering how can a B-2 visa be restricted to one state?

 

Once you enter the country who or what is going to keep you from traveling to another state?

 

 

 

 

Nothing is stopping her from going to another state once she arrives, but now she is basically forced to use her one entry to fly into a specific state.

[Crazy Cat 42,547]

32 minutes ago, tedujam said:

Nothing is stopping her from going to another state once she arrives, but now she is basically forced to use her one entry to fly into a specific state.

I don't think so.  The CO cannot restrict you to a POE or a specific state.  Did you see the actual DOS guidance above?

Edited February 8 by Crazy Cat

[Boiler 46,246]

The issue arises if you apply for another visa