Tourist Visa for my step kids

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

My wife and her 2 little daughters came to the US as K1/K2 abut 2 years ago from Costa Rica.

My wife has 2 older children from her first marriage (ages 12,13) that want to come visit us for Christmas. We wanted them to come live with us originally but they didn't want to, and they still don't. They are happy living with their grandparents, but would like to spend Christmas with us. (In Costa Rica, school kids have their "summer" vacation in Dec and Jan).

We have visa interview on August 30th. (It's soon but we'll be there for our annual August trip, and we have to go with them.)

Does anybody have any opinions on what the likelihood is of getting approved/denied? (Generally, it's pretty difficult to get a tourist visa from Costa Rica)

We will bring school records showing that they are enrolled in school. Would a letter from us or from a teacher help? What proof can we show that we aren't trying to move them in with us? (I mean, why would we try to commit visa fraud and risk a lifetime ban when we can file I-130's and get them here legally in a few months instead of trying with a tourist visa?)

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

[Mononoke28 135]

I think you're good on the type of evidence you have to show they need to go back to CR after their vacation. Also, the fact that you're requesting their visas for December will also help. BUT, keep in mind that getting a tourist visa is a ####### shoot, you have a 50/50 chance of getting approved so just go in with your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Diana

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

Any ideas what I can show to impove our chances?

[Mononoke28 135]

Any ideas what I can show to impove our chances?

In all honesty, there is nothing you can take that can guarantee they'll get a visa but you can try. I would take school letters and letters from their grandparents. I can't think of anything else that will prove they have to go back to CR after their trip. Just make sure you explain your situation to the CO during the interview.

Diana

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

He denied them for a tourist visa saying that they had no ties to Costa Rica since their mom and I (and their little sisters) lived in the US.

He couldn't answer when I asked him 2 simple questions:

-what type of ties a kid can have?

-why would we try to bring them over to overstay and be illegals when we can easily file a I-130 and have them there LEGALLY in a few months?

Sometimes these IO's are so robotic that they don't have the ability to use common sense.

I will be contacting my senator. All we want is for her kids to visit us. I don't know why the government makes it so f'n difficult.

[tradewinds 0]

This situation is mine exactly and totally bums me out!

Here is what I've been thinking of:

I read in the Nolo Press book that if an under-18 comes to the U.S. to join his/her parent and step-parent, following filing of the I-130, all legal paperwork and everything, that they don't get a greencard as long as they are under 18 when they arrive...but citizenship. It sounds like the way to go. A greencard will be abandoned if the child doesn't end up living in the U.S., but citizenship will not, and will ensure that the children can come and go as they wish in the future.

Anyway, just a little tidbit, for all you USC legal step-parents: it is apparently easier for our step-children to become US citizens than to get them tourists visas for a short visit.

[Boiler 45,519]

You apply for a Tourist Visa - you are judged by the requirements for a tourist visa.

You apply for an Immigrant Visa - you are judged by the requirements for an immigrant visa.

If you do not like it, by all means complain to your Senators etc. But blame them, they passed the laws.

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

I read in the Nolo Press book that if an under-18 comes to the U.S. to join his/her parent and step-parent, following filing of the I-130, all legal paperwork and everything, that they don't get a greencard as long as they are under 18 when they arrive...but citizenship. It sounds like the way to go. A greencard will be abandoned if the child doesn't end up living in the U.S., but citizenship will not, and will ensure that the children can come and go as they wish in the future.

Anyway, just a little tidbit, for all you USC legal step-parents: it is apparently easier for our step-children to become US citizens than to get them tourists visas for a short visit.

Yep, next year, when my wife gets her citizenship, we will file the paperwork and get them here. Once they enter the US, they will be citizens. Then they will be free to go back and then come and go as they please.