Very disappointing - Trying to get visa for my mother-in-law

[Christopher R. 6]

I tried to be patient.

I tried to work their "system".

Our 1st visit, they took all over 30 seconds. They looked at her bank record and told her that $3,000 was not enough for a visit. DENIED. No chance of appeal.

So we tried to be creative. We put a good sum of money in 2 accounts to show diversity. We put in a total of $30,000. This person interview her immediately now wanted tax records, income statements, things they never asked for before, and never spell this out. She of course said that she did not bring these since it was never shown,asked, or written anywhere what all to bring. DENIED.

As much as I love dropping a cool $160 every couple of months. I have lost faith. From what my mother-in-law said over 30 people were there that morning for visas for all different reasons. A lot of them were quite legitimate. One American was trying to adopt a Georgian baby and had all her paperwork in order. The 2 windows of people calling people and basically shooting them all down. Not a single person was approved. Maybe it's the culture here, but I just could not stand the lack of compassion and humanity these people had.

For us, we will now have to wait until later this year when my wife becomes a citizen. Then we will apply for a green card, which they cannot deny. I would love to be there when she gets approved so I could literally take a on that window and laugh at that person's face.

[SL4ever 3]

Hi

I applied for visiting visa and i got 5 years multiple entry visa. I think the embassy in your country they must be collecting money for their needs.

When i apply for vising visa on last November my the consular officer asked who is going to sponsor me and i said my husband, and after that i show all the banks documents what he send it to me at that time we only showed $20,000. From my end i didn't show any bank statement i only showed the evidence that i got from office at sri lanka that i applied for 1 month leave and the years that i ma working with that company.

Also consular officer asked after that did you applied for green card and i said yes and i said i applied under F2A category and she asked for the confirmation number and i said the confirmation i got from USCIS its in the sponsors letter. (i though the consular office already read my documents b cos she's was keeping my documents with her like 3 minits and she dint asked single question from me b cos of that i started to talk after that only she asked all the question.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

For us, we will now have to wait until later this year when my wife becomes a citizen. Then we will apply for a green card, which they cannot deny. I would love to be there when she gets approved so I could literally take a ###### on that window and laugh at that person's face.

Why can't they deny it? I'm sure you know by now that nothing with US immigration is a guarantee correct?

good luck

[Christopher R. 6]

Well they could only deny it if she had some kind of criminal record, which she doesn't. We only wanted her to come visit her grandson for a few months before being able to have the green card which would be unlimited travel.

I am just shocked at these ridiculous people that are not even American. They are shitty locals that are employed by this local consulate and think they are superior to others. It's a very typical attittude in Georgia as a whole. They think money makes you a better person. At the embassy, they don't even listen or care about your circumstances. They think they are doing someone a favour by being cruel to locals. And we Americans wonder why people hate us. We are not the greatest country in the world. Far from it! Our country was built on the backs of hard working people that came to our country wanting to make a better life for themselves, then understanding that nobody wins unless we all win.

Chris

Why can't they deny it? I'm sure you know by now that nothing with US immigration is a guarantee correct?

good luck

[Christopher R. 6]

Here in Georgia (thankfully I am an American citizen and I live in the US with my wife and child!) I think it is this way. The embassy seems like this overprotected, shiny thing for people to aspire to. I wanted to go inside to do something and I was blocked by some idiot security guard. I flashed my passport and said "Give me the phone and let me talk to a real employee here!" He backed down and I was able to get what I wanted done in just a few minutes.

It's a shame that to apply for the privelege of being treated badly and denied costs so many people so much money. I get the bigger picture regarding keeping people that would just become illegal and never return out of the country, but denying all applicants is not the way to do this.

An analogy I can think of is how you fly out of Tel Aviv airport in Israel. The know by observing you and talking to you if you are a threat. They have had a 100% success rate. America could apply the same principles to our visa application process.

I have a dream, too bad it will never happen!

Chris

Hi

I applied for visiting visa and i got 5 years multiple entry visa. I think the embassy in your country they must be collecting money for their needs.

When i apply for vising visa on last November my the consular officer asked who is going to sponsor me and i said my husband, and after that i show all the banks documents what he send it to me at that time we only showed $20,000. From my end i didn't show any bank statement i only showed the evidence that i got from office at sri lanka that i applied for 1 month leave and the years that i ma working with that company.

Also consular officer asked after that did you applied for green card and i said yes and i said i applied under F2A category and she asked for the confirmation number and i said the confirmation i got from USCIS its in the sponsors letter. (i though the consular office already read my documents b cos she's was keeping my documents with her like 3 minits and she dint asked single question from me b cos of that i started to talk after that only she asked all the question.

[SL4ever 3]

today my father in law got his US visitors visa. I hope you can re apply and good luck.

[Christopher R. 6]

Good for you! I am so glad when people get approved.

Honestly, I just don't think it's worth the time, the money and the trouble. Now that I have witnessed the process by being there firsthand, we will just wait for the I-130 process where again, she cannot be denied since it's a family visa that will be permanent.

I went throughe enough of a nightmare with the I-130 with my wife 4 years ago. I am here on these forums because I got such wonderful support and information. But in the end, there is nothing you can do to control the whims of a nasty person behind a huge glass window treating people like they are prisoners or worse, livestock.

Chris

today my father in law got his US visitors visa. I hope you can re apply and good luck.

[Soul Mates 44]

You can also thank all the people who AOS from tourist visas for the difficulty getting your MIL one. They aren't just worried about people staying in the US illegally but also people who may change their mind and pursue a legal way to stay once they land. Good luck.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You think the embassy is so stupid to think a womans bank account goes from 3 k to 30 k in a short time without someone dumping money there for her. she is showing obvious attempts to fake income to get to the us a huge red flag for immigration fraud. You have cursed your own attempts. she has to show she must leave not that her US based relatives will throw whatever money reuired at the process to have her with them

[Christopher R. 6]

- Yes, I not only think my American embassy is stupid, but also baselessly cruel to people to don't deserve it. If you read my previous statements, I watched firsthand how this specific person did not approve a single applicant. Some of them student visas, and one in particular was trying to adopt a child.

- One year is not a short period of time. We showed them both bank accounts this time, one for personal use, one for business. This was not a fraudulent attempt on our part, we were told last time to simply show "more money". This time the person without any hesitation immediately assumed that this was not her bank account. She asked my mother-in-law "Who at the bank did this for you?" And other accusatory, hostile, baseless questions.

- I have not cursed my attempts simply because there is are no set rules at all. Every country has different rules, and in the end it doesn't matter since a person who has a specious amount of training and little to no care of people in general, makes this arbitrary decision.

- Watching person after person get denied by the same of a woman taking little to no time to review the applications. As an American, this looked like a purely "for-profit" enterprise. Supply and demand says this embassy has been bought and paid for by their near 100% denial rates. Not what America was founded on! And I will tell you one thing, even if she was go to full illegal alien, those people actually GREATLY benefit the American economy way more than people think. They pay billions in taxes and never take from the system. They spend billions and billions of dollars while living in America. Not saying I support it, but there are hidden positives to it all.

- I have done immense amount of research both here and in many other places, in the end there are NO actual pieces of evidence that show "intent to leave". This is a purely nebulous thing. Intent? Just like a murder trial. How can you show intent of anything without asking someone? I have read stories from people with nothing getting multi-year visas, to people with property, jobs, and lots of income be denied. I sincerely hope you were not trying to stick up for my governments processes and processors. Because that is a losing premise at best. You would be better off arguing religion or politics.

So in conclusion my original post was my lamentation of situation regarding my mother-in-law. In contrast, when my wife went for her approval to that very same office 3 years ago, the person at the window was attracted to her and was enamored with her grasp of the English language, which was damn near perfect. He sat and basically flirted with her asking her almost no real questions about her, me or the situation at hand. So......I stand by my point that the system is screwed up, there is no consistency, and ultimate corrupted by individuals with more power than logic and reason.

My mother in law would not want to live in the US even if she was paid to. The US has become a toilet. Go to Detroit if you don't believe me. Go to some of the "great" new cities in North Dakota that have sprung up overnight to support a destructive and corrupt oil industry.

My post was not to debate the issue, nor seek advice. It was merely conveying my story.

You think the embassy is so stupid to think a womans bank account goes from 3 k to 30 k in a short time without someone dumping money there for her. she is showing obvious attempts to fake income to get to the us a huge red flag for immigration fraud. You have cursed your own attempts. she has to show she must leave not that her US based relatives will throw whatever money reuired at the process to have her with them

[NikLR 13,220]

Well they could only deny it if she had some kind of criminal record, which she doesn't. We only wanted her to come visit her grandson for a few months before being able to have the green card which would be unlimited travel.

I am just shocked at these ridiculous people that are not even American. They are shitty locals that are employed by this local consulate and think they are superior to others. It's a very typical attittude in Georgia as a whole. They think money makes you a better person. At the embassy, they don't even listen or care about your circumstances. They think they are doing someone a favour by being cruel to locals. And we Americans wonder why people hate us. We are not the greatest country in the world. Far from it! Our country was built on the backs of hard working people that came to our country wanting to make a better life for themselves, then understanding that nobody wins unless we all win.

Chris

They can deny it on several reasons not just a criminal record. If they think she'll be a public charge. If she has health problems and doesn't have medical coverage in the USA yet, which is hard to get without someone being here. They can drag it out for years.

And a green card isn't unlimited travel. It's to live in the USA.

My mother in law would not want to live in the US even if she was paid to. The US has become a toilet. Go to Detroit if you don't believe me. Go to some of the "great" new cities in North Dakota that have sprung up overnight to support a destructive and corrupt oil industry.

My post was not to debate the issue, nor seek advice. It was merely conveying my story.

[pauli 49]

As NLR said, if your mother-in-law does eventually get a green card, then she will likely lose it if she does not live in the United States. I know it is frustrating, but her problems with getting a tourist visa have more to do with foreigners abusing their visas than with "stupid" consular officers.

What evidence of ties to Georgia did she provide besides bank statements?

[NBF 1]

Christopher R. is correct. Embassy officials can use the "no significant ties" statement however they wish. It's ludicrous, especially when a MIL has several children, numerous relatives, is married, owns property and her home, but is still denied based upon the "no significant ties" decision which appears to be very difficult, if not impossible to overcome. Since your MIL has already made two or three attempts she's probably doomed at this point trying to get a B2 visa. However, like you pointed out, when your wife becomes a USCIT and files the I130 for her mother, the USCIS conducts their investigation and if no problems are encountered sends it to the NVC. From the research I've conducted it appears as though the State Department's hands are practically tied and they are not to conduct any further investigation into the case other than to issue the immigrant visa, unless significant information arises during the interview which it appears is perfunctory in nature. However, after more research is appears as though one's income could surely doom the situation if the petitioner lives at the poverty level. Medical problems could also doom the petition to include any negative judicial information. Seems like USCIS should gather the financial, judicial, and medical information up front prior to sending the case to the State Department, but that's just my opinion. I wish someone could tell us how many of the adjudicated USCIS cases (I5) for parents of USCITS are tripped up at the EMBASSY level. Does anyone know? Good luck Christopher Robbins. I'm sure your MIL will do just fine. It's just unfortunate (or fortunate depending on how it's looked at) that you have to jump through all of these hoops when you and your wife only wanted her to visit and to return to her country. I would love to hear from you guys on the process and how things are going. Keep us updated. I'm sure it'll be a great day for your MIL when she gets that interview.

[NBF 1]

When Christopher R.'s wife becomes a USCIT it will be her right to petition for her mother. We all know that counselors are human beings and I'm sure there are some fine ones that follow due diligence. However, we also know humans are prejudicial and often become infused with power once in positions of authority. Its hard for those loved ones who truly want their relatives to visit them in the US to see newborn children or to celebrate their lives with them, only to be turned down because of "no significant ties" to their country. I guess it's also true that there are easier going embassies and consulates that are not so strict in visa issuances. We all know the counselor has great authority in deciding who gets a visa and who doesn't. Some counselors are even swayed by sex, drugs, and money, in issuing visas. I know someone mentioned that foreigners AOSing on tourist visas also affect other visa seekers, but how can this be when it is allowed in certain cases for the foreigner to AOS? It is perfectly legal for a USCIT to petition for a visitor on a tourist visa to AOS if the USCIT falls in love with the tourist and asks them to marry them. If the immigration law allows it how can it be wrong? I think we should be more upset with those illegally crossing over into our borders without a visa and then seeking benefits, committing crimes, etc., then with those instances of going through the process of obtaining a tourist visa.

As NLR said, if your mother-in-law does eventually get a green card, then she will likely lose it if she does not live in the United States. I know it is frustrating, but her problems with getting a tourist visa have more to do with foreigners abusing their visas than with "stupid" consular officers.

What evidence of ties to Georgia did she provide besides bank statements?

[RhettVoe 281]

Amazing..some people should consider leaving the US permanently...sorry to the OP, but you know nothing about our visa process...and your transparent attempt ('creative' was the word you used) to dump $$ into her account trying to fool the CO backfired...as it should...the next CO, seeing this sudden arrival of largesse, asked to see evidence that she earned it or inherited legitimately...and of course, there was no proof of this because the whole thing was a charade.

You also found out that trying to fluff your feathers did not work either.

Our laws are written in a very specific way regarding the issuance of tourist and other types of visas...in that every applicant is presumed to be going to the US to stay until they (and they alone, not some chest-thumping Amcit relative) convinces a CO otherwise. Documents do not and cannot prove intent. funneling money into a bank account to create the illusion of wealth has been tried so many times that the COs probably have a hard time keeping a straight face when they see this feeble attempt at misdirection.

Even the newest CO knows an infinite amount more about our laws and interviewing than you ever will.

The people to blame are those who 'forgot' to return or who decided to use a tourist visa to work in the US...period.

I doubt that the State Dept will be beating your door down anytime begging you to take over our embassies in the visa department.

BTW, just how did you determine the bona fides of all those waiting in line to be interviewed? Did you check their documents? Did you interview them? No on both questions. So, who knows more...a CO ... or you? answer: a CO. End of story.

Edited April 23, 2014 by RhettVoe