Denied in Indonesia

[Darrinos 6]

Hey all,

I am a US citizen, but my girl friend lives in Indonesia. She has been to the embassy 2 times now, and was denied both times. The first time she was unable to prove that she would return to Indonesia. It was understandable because of her answers. But the second time, she had documentation proving ties to Indonesia (family, bank records, ownership of a home, employment verification, etc.) and they wouldn't even look at these documents. They looked at the notes from her previous appointment and said that they felt she was still going to visit me. When did that become the issue? I thought the issue was "would she return?" She absolutely will! We want to apply for a K-1 later, but not yet, and she is not ready to move here. She still has property to sell and business to settle.

So my question is this: First, what if anything, can she do on her THIRD attempt? (I work with a guy who had to try 7 times and was successful, so please don't say it won't happen after 2 times.) My next question is how long should she wait until she tries again? Lastly, has anyone else had trouble at the Jakarta Embassy. It seems that they aren't very cooperative, friendly or easy to work with. It's almost as if they've just decided to not approve any visa of any kind there.

My girlfriend is now very pessimistic about the entire process, and has me wondering about the probability of making this work. Please someone, throw me some hope!

Thanks!

[Caryh 5,206]

If she's applying for a visitors visa, she'll likely be denied yet again. She has a BF in the USA and they doubt her intentions to return home, but instead marry your and stay in the USA.

[Darrinos 6]

Well, the thing is.... she is still married. Been separated for 5 years. She can prove that part. Even if she wanted to immigrate, being married, she cannot until the divorce is finalized. Will this prevent her from being a tourist to the US?

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

No, it will not prevent her from being a tourist at all. The thing is though is that the embassy already looks at people wanting a B1 visa as wanting to immigrate to the USA until proven otherwise by that person. So she has not proven to the embassy that she will return back to Indonesia, which like most of SE Asia is really hard to get a tourist visa to the USA.

[marianath 27]

They will still deny her visit to the USA, they do not see her returning at all. Sorry but it is what it is.

Rather than her coming, why not visit her ?

If your final intent is marrying her, then start by processing her Divorce then apply for a K-1 Fiance Visa.

Edited February 24, 2016 by marianath

[Darrinos 6]

I did visit her in December. I went to Jakarta. We are in the process of getting the divorce done. Her big concern now is not being able to get the K-1. Does this happen often? I told her if it becomes a problem, then I would go there to marry her and start the process from here. I'm so new to all of this... I naively thought this would be easy but it's way more complicated than I'd thought! Nevertheless, I'm in it for the long haul... we just wish there was a "guarantee" of success.

By the way.... I have also contacted my congressman who is going to investigate the reasons for denial and has promised to send a "letter of support" of sorts when she re-applies. Has anyone had any success going at it from this direction?

D

[marianath 27]

I did visit her in December. I went to Jakarta. We are in the process of getting the divorce done. Her big concern now is not being able to get the K-1. Does this happen often? I told her if it becomes a problem, then I would go there to marry her and start the process from here. I'm so new to all of this... I naively thought this would be easy but it's way more complicated than I'd thought! Nevertheless, I'm in it for the long haul... we just wish there was a "guarantee" of success.

By the way.... I have also contacted my congressman who is going to investigate the reasons for denial and has promised to send a "letter of support" of sorts when she re-applies. Has anyone had any success going at it from this direction?

D

First of all congratulations on the path that both of you chose....

I am guessing that you already know the K1 process so good luck on that.

As for the "Letter of Support" it is totally useless.....

Edited February 24, 2016 by marianath

[Girl from Celebes 588]

I did visit her in December. I went to Jakarta. We are in the process of getting the divorce done. Her big concern now is not being able to get the K-1. Does this happen often? I told her if it becomes a problem, then I would go there to marry her and start the process from here. I'm so new to all of this... I naively thought this would be easy but it's way more complicated than I'd thought! Nevertheless, I'm in it for the long haul... we just wish there was a "guarantee" of success.

By the way.... I have also contacted my congressman who is going to investigate the reasons for denial and has promised to send a "letter of support" of sorts when she re-applies. Has anyone had any success going at it from this direction?

D

First of all, most of applicants who have romantic relationship with USC got denied for B-2 visa. I got denied once in 2011. My then-boyfriend ( my now husband) could not visit me to Indonesia due he was an active duty and Indonesia was on the list for travel warning for military members. We finally met in Singapore after I got denied for B-2 visa.

There's no guarantee they would approved it after another attempt. The CO wrote on the paper that my husband should apply for K-1 visa.

If you are really wanted she comes to visit you and she's not ready yet move to the US then she should finished the divorce, apply for K-1 ( most of times easy approval for beneficiaries in the US embassy in Jakarta), she comes to the US, meet your family and she can comes back to Indonesian before her I-94 expired and for K-1 visa holders usually up to 90 days.

There is nothing congressmen influence can overturned decision from Secretary of Department regarding this.

[KierenHby 899]

By the way.... I have also contacted my congressman who is going to investigate the reasons for denial and has promised to send a "letter of support" of sorts when she re-applies. Has anyone had any success going at it from this direction?

The congressman will delegate his immigration liaison staffer to check with the embassy, which will then report the basis for the denial back to you.

And according to a former CO, those letters of support can not override a potential denial if such denial is based on merit.

Don't get your hopes up.

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

I don't know that congress persons have free time to help foreigners to find out denial reasons smh

[Darrinos 6]

_{Sure, but it's not because they are helping potential immigrants, it's because they are helping their votes.}

_{Actually, I got the idea from a co-worker who came here from Nigeria. This is what his spouse did, and he said it helped. But most of the people in here seem to recommend against doing so.}

[usmsbow 801]

I did visit her in December. I went to Jakarta. We are in the process of getting the divorce done. Her big concern now is not being able to get the K-1. Does this happen often? I told her if it becomes a problem, then I would go there to marry her and start the process from here. I'm so new to all of this... I naively thought this would be easy but it's way more complicated than I'd thought! Nevertheless, I'm in it for the long haul... we just wish there was a "guarantee" of success.

By the way.... I have also contacted my congressman who is going to investigate the reasons for denial and has promised to send a "letter of support" of sorts when she re-applies. Has anyone had any success going at it from this direction?

D

It's very easy to get a K-1 visa, much easier than a tourist visa for Indonesians.

And I'd recommend that over getting married in indonesia, then applying for a marriage visa. If you think dealing with US bureaucracy sucks, just wait until you have to deal with indonesian bureaucracy (which you'd have to do if you got legally married in Indonesia). It also takes longer to get a marriage visa than a K-1.

[Anh map 2,098]

The "best way" for you two to be together as a married couple in the US would be:

1 - she gets divorced

2 - you two get married in Indonesia

3 - you file a spouse visa petition

K1 works well too. Having done a K1 once, I'd never choose that path again over the CR1/IR1 spouse petition.

B1 for her is going to be tough for all the reasons that you know. Congressperson/Senator isn't going to change the B1 decision.

[Darrinos 6]

Anh,

See? USMSBOW says just the opposite... to NOT get married there, and get the K1 instead. That's something that I'm noticing a lot... a lot of contradiction from story to story, but I suppose this is due to different countries. Am I right?

And I wonder if I made a mistake and didn't know it when this process first started? When she was first denied, I contacted the embassy in Jakarta via email to ask why she was denied. They told me because she was not able to prove that she did not intend to immigrate. I asked how to do that and they referred me to the website. So I wrote back and told them that she'd had all of that information to prove ties to Indonesia, but they never looked at it. They said the weren't required to look at it. So I wrote back once more and asked another question. Now, I fear I've made them angry with me because I questioned them. When my love went in the second time, they remembered my name! It makes me wonder if they are just being vindictive now? And it's so unfortunate, because I wasn't being rude at all, and she is such a wonderful woman.... wouldn't harm a fly. I was only trying to find answers and help resolve the matter, but I fear that I may have caused a problem and I'm not sure how to smooth things over. Not like I can call and talk to an officer.... can I? Should I?

Darrin

[KierenHby 899]

I don't know that congress persons have free time to help foreigners to find out denial reasons smh

Congressional offices have staffers to deal with constituent immigration matters, including liaising with Embassies. In short, to deal with US citizen requests.