America the Unwelcoming

[Caladan 19]

It's only an issue to tell people to 'suck it up' if you don't mind the tourism dollars going elsewhere. I don't know if it's just the security hassles or visa hassles, or anger over the U.S.'s belligerence lately, but it's not good for business.

[Caladan 19]

Her 72 year old mother got a 30 day tourist visa, but the 41 year old daughter was refused because the US embassy determined that she "did not have sufficient ties to Belarus to preclude intent to illegally immigrate." The old lady wouldn't and couldn't travel alone, so our family reunion in the USA was ruined.

Makes sense, actually. 41-year-old Belarussian women are in great demand.

They probably weren't thinking 'sex worker' as 'few ties, cousin in the U.S., of age to work illegally.' A 72-year-old woman isn't the same kind of economic risk.

[isleta521 5]

Has anyone ever tried to get a tourist visa for someone from a non-VWP country? Especially a cousin or a friend? My relatives have not been allowed to visit us here in the USA to reciprocate the hospitality they have shown us in our visits to Belarus.

My cousin was refused a visitor visa (I supplied the I-134) but my in-laws were approved without a problem.

Of course, my cousin didn't have the "on the ground assets" my in-laws do. That makes a difference.

Not always.

In fact...there is no consistency in approvals or denials. My 41 year old female cousin is a medical doctor. Her husband is also a doctor. They own cars, own their flat, have bank accounts, etc., etc. She was to accompany her 72 year old mother to come visit us here in the USA for less than a month. Her husband and son were remaining in Belarus while she was to accompany her 72 year old mother to come visit us here in the USA. I also sent the I-134 and letter of invitation promising to cover all expenses during their visit.

Her 72 year old mother got a 30 day tourist visa, but the 41 year old daughter was refused because the US embassy determined that she "did not have sufficient ties to Belarus to preclude intent to illegally immigrate." The old lady wouldn't and couldn't travel alone, so our family reunion in the USA was ruined.

I had several other relatives and friends turned down to visit us here and the non-refundable $100 visa application fee confiscated.

Yet...an illiterate illegal alien floats an innertube across the Rio Grande and uses stolen, counterfeit, or fraudulent documents to work illegally in the USA or works for cash without paying any taxes and our politicians ####### all over themselves to give them driver's licenses, access to social services in their own language, an LPR amnesty reward with with a future option for citizenship, etc., etc. Not to mention promises that they can bring their families into the USA after the amnesty legislation passes. All as a reward for breaking our laws.

And while all this stupidness goes on...people get turned down for "doing it the legal way." Is our government full of sh*t and idiots...or what? This does not compute! This is so wrong on too many levels.

Good post!! My thoughts exactly. We have family that we would love to have visit us from abroad. They have roots where they live and have no intention of staying here illegaly. They would rather live in their home country (including my wife) than be here. I understand the need for security and diligence but rejecting busloads (only one place in Brasil to interview for tourist visa) of people applying for a visitors visa that have clear ties to their country seems pretty absurd while at the same time snuggling up to the illegals here doesn't seem right.

[mawilson 2,133]

Her 72 year old mother got a 30 day tourist visa, but the 41 year old daughter was refused because the US embassy determined that she "did not have sufficient ties to Belarus to preclude intent to illegally immigrate." The old lady wouldn't and couldn't travel alone, so our family reunion in the USA was ruined.

Makes sense, actually. 41-year-old Belarussian women are in great demand.

They probably weren't thinking 'sex worker' as 'few ties, cousin in the U.S., of age to work illegally.' A 72-year-old woman isn't the same kind of economic risk.

Indeed - that's what I meant.

Also, she wouldn't have to stay illegal for long -- lots of eligible middle-aged bachelors willing to marry an Eastern European woman.

Edited November 30, 2007 by mawilson

[peejay 327]

Has anyone ever tried to get a tourist visa for someone from a non-VWP country? Especially a cousin or a friend? My relatives have not been allowed to visit us here in the USA to reciprocate the hospitality they have shown us in our visits to Belarus.

My cousin was refused a visitor visa (I supplied the I-134) but my in-laws were approved without a problem.

Of course, my cousin didn't have the "on the ground assets" my in-laws do. That makes a difference.

Not always.

In fact...there is no consistency in approvals or denials. My 41 year old female cousin is a medical doctor. Her husband is also a doctor. They own cars, own their flat, have bank accounts, etc., etc. She was to accompany her 72 year old mother to come visit us here in the USA for less than a month. Her husband and son were remaining in Belarus while she was to accompany her 72 year old mother to come visit us here in the USA. I also sent the I-134 and letter of invitation promising to cover all expenses during their visit.

Her 72 year old mother got a 30 day tourist visa, but the 41 year old daughter was refused because the US embassy determined that she "did not have sufficient ties to Belarus to preclude intent to illegally immigrate." The old lady wouldn't and couldn't travel alone, so our family reunion in the USA was ruined.

I had several other relatives and friends turned down to visit us here and the non-refundable $100 visa application fee confiscated.

Yet...an illiterate illegal alien floats an innertube across the Rio Grande and uses stolen, counterfeit, or fraudulent documents to work illegally in the USA or works for cash without paying any taxes and our politicians ####### all over themselves to give them driver's licenses, access to social services in their own language, an LPR amnesty reward with with a future option for citizenship, etc., etc. Not to mention promises that they can bring their families into the USA after the amnesty legislation passes. All as a reward for breaking our laws.

And while all this stupidness goes on...people get turned down for "doing it the legal way." Is our government full of sh*t and idiots...or what? This does not compute! This is so wrong on too many levels.

Good post!! My thoughts exactly. We have family that we would love to have visit us from abroad. They have roots where they live and have no intention of staying here illegaly. They would rather live in their home country (including my wife) than be here. I understand the need for security and diligence but rejecting busloads (only one place in Brasil to interview for tourist visa) of people applying for a visitors visa that have clear ties to their country seems pretty absurd while at the same time snuggling up to the illegals here doesn't seem right.

To be honest...the US embassies are held to a higher standard than our politicians. The State Department does enforce the laws as they are supposed to, unlike the politicians that make the laws and then ignore them. And presidents that refuse to enforce laws they have sworn to uphold.

Minsk is the also only US embassy in the whole country where tourist visas can be applied for. I formally requested an inquiry from my US Senator Phil Gramm (TX-R now retired) from the US embassy in Minsk. They personally sent me a letter claiming that over 90% of Belarusians that get tourist visas have illegally immigrated. They further stated that even though my cousin is a medical doctor in Belarus they felt she would illegally immigrate to send money back home to Belarus to her family. They refused to reconsider, but told us she could reapply whenever she could prove sufficient ties to Belarus to preclude illegal immigration.

The truth is that our government does not enforce laws they have already passed and large numbers of foreigners illegally immigrate when given temporary visas. It is a national disgrace. As I said...if they actually enforced the laws they already passed, the US embassies could allow easier and wider access to foreigners for temporary visits to the USA. In the absence of this, the embassies restrict access to foreigners by arbitrarily denying visas. Why people on a legal family based immigration forum are so supportive of illegal immigration is beyond my comprehension. It hurts us...period!

I won't even go into the hoops the Russian relatives of my Russian wife (now a Belarusian citizen) must go through to even apply for a tourist visa. They must travel over 2000 miles from Siberia to be personally interviewed and fingerprinted in Moscow for a visa they may not get. That is absurd!

Yet illegal aliens are welcomed with open arms by our self serving politicians...and we let them! That is totally absurd! I do a slow burn every time I think of this lunacy.

[Fandango 1,439]

It's only an issue to tell people to 'suck it up' if you don't mind the tourism dollars going elsewhere. I don't know if it's just the security hassles or visa hassles, or anger over the U.S.'s belligerence lately, but it's not good for business.

To whine that we have security measures? Or that tourist visas are taking 40-60 days? Yes, suck.it.up. That's not unwelcoming, humiliating, causing indignity, etc. I don't want to live in a country which panders to tourists, yet puts the security of its people at risk as to avoid 'foreigners being mad at us'

What in God's name is so 'humiliating' about waiting for a tourist visa? Nothing. Just like this article.

[Caladan 19]

It's only an issue to tell people to 'suck it up' if you don't mind the tourism dollars going elsewhere. I don't know if it's just the security hassles or visa hassles, or anger over the U.S.'s belligerence lately, but it's not good for business.

To whine that we have security measures? Or that tourist visas are taking 40-60 days? Yes, suck.it.up. That's not unwelcoming, humiliating, causing indignity, etc. I don't want to live in a country which panders to tourists, yet puts the security of its people at risk as to avoid 'foreigners being mad at us'

What in God's name is so 'humiliating' about waiting for a tourist visa? Nothing. Just like this article.

Nothing about waiting, no. But the wait isn't immaterial, and accidents/mistaken identities where people are held and searched don't make people want to spend money here. Surely there's a middle ground between holding innocent people (which doesn't actually improve security) and letting in a free-for-all... is Canada unsafe because they welcome tourism and tourism's dollars?

[Fandango 1,439]

It's only an issue to tell people to 'suck it up' if you don't mind the tourism dollars going elsewhere. I don't know if it's just the security hassles or visa hassles, or anger over the U.S.'s belligerence lately, but it's not good for business.

To whine that we have security measures? Or that tourist visas are taking 40-60 days? Yes, suck.it.up. That's not unwelcoming, humiliating, causing indignity, etc. I don't want to live in a country which panders to tourists, yet puts the security of its people at risk as to avoid 'foreigners being mad at us'

What in God's name is so 'humiliating' about waiting for a tourist visa? Nothing. Just like this article.

Nothing about waiting, no. But the wait isn't immaterial, and accidents/mistaken identities where people are held and searched don't make people want to spend money here. Surely there's a middle ground between holding innocent people (which doesn't actually improve security) and letting in a free-for-all... is Canada unsafe because they welcome tourism and tourism's dollars?

When ppl realize that no one has an automatic right to enter another country, the world will be a better place!

The wait IS immaterial imo....45-70 days for non VWP countries is hardly 'laborious'.

I was held, searched, and rigorously questioned. It was UK's duty to vet me, if they felt the need. I didn't find it degrading, humiliating, etc. I wasn't happy about it...but I didn't get into a huff and get all 'omG I'm NVR going back there again!'

And unless I missed something, the article highlights that we're losing tourism from the UK (if you go by my friends, that's wrong, but whatev)... that instead of US travel, they are going to India, New Zealand, Turkey, and the Caribbean. No mention of Canada whatsoever by the author. Now if you want to explore that avenue with facts and stats, please feel free to do so. But my comments remain steadfast concerning this article.

[pedroh 21]

although sometimes their criteria is all effed up... i know these lady, who's last name is the same as a famous druglord in Mexico.. Palma, the thing is... there are thousands of people with that same last name, and they're not related at all to that druglord (not even the lady, she doesn't even know who he was).. and they deny her a visa everytime she tries to apply, for that stupid reason.. I don't think it's degrading though, but it's stupid..