I'm a permanent resident of the USA and my husband is a US citizen. I know I can't file 1-130 to bring my mom to the USA before I become a US citizen. So we tried to bring her here as a visitor just for couple of months but when she applied for a visa she didn't get it (as they explained she didn't demonstrate tight connection with Russia). Unless she has some additional documents to show they they advised her not to try again. Any ideas on that? Or maybe somebody had been in such situation? Any help would be appreciated !!!

Annabelle, that is such a sad situation and I truly sympathise. I can't imagine what it must be like to be unable to get your mother here for a visit, prior to you being able to file an I-130 for her. I am thankful that I come from a country that has the Visa Waiver Program - not that my parents have used it more than once.

I don't know what documents were submitted with your mother's tourist visa application, so I am answering this "blind" really, but things like rental/home ownership documents, a letter from her employer (if she has one), etc, are the kind of documents I would provide. You could always make a call to the consulate and ask, specifically, what documents they are looking for.

Good Luck!
G.

Girona40,

Thank you for your attention! That's the problem we have - when she applied she provided a lot of documents you've mentioned - proof of ownership and letter from her employer. My mom is a widower and I'm the only child so I think this is what got them scared that she doesn't have any interest to stay in russia and she will stay in YSA when she comes. But that is not true. She has a job and we don't have any intentions to leave her here unless now and then when I can file I-130 we will do that/ We just don't know what else to do to proov she is not going to stay illigaly here. So SAD!!!!

I know that sometimes the Immigration regulations seem so hard on people - and much of the time they are. I guess they have had so many people in the past that come to visit and just stay that they are now very cautious when people who have family that immigrated not so long ago, then want to come and visit. I know that this is not what your mother is doing, but you just have to convince them of that. Like I said, ask them directly what documents they are looking for, what documents can your mother provide in order that she can come and visit you in the US.

Good Luck - I know how sad it is when you don't get to see your mother much. I miss mine terribly too.

Hugs
G.

Annabelle,

I am sorry to read about your experience. I also would like to invite my mom here for a visit, and I am afraid they will not issue her a visa.

After all, our moms have no reasons to overstay and be in US illegally! In two-three years we (their daughters) will become US citizens and can bring our parents here as PR. If my mom likes it here, she will not overstay, she will go back to Russia, enroll into English classes, and come to live here legally in several years. If she does not like it here, she will leave.
What other evidences do they need???

Annabelle,
As I said before, with Russia it is very tricky to get tourist visas for average income earning citizens outside of Moscow. The embassy requires the usual proof of family in Russia, job, house, etc. But when you look at the overall picture, who wants to go back to a job where you work 12 hours a day for $150 a month? Who wants to return to an small flat located in the middle of Siberia? Who wants to return to their 75.5 horse power Russian car? So having all the usual documents that show ties can in my opinion paint the exact opposite picture which is that based on your current situation America sure sounds better.

timelena,
Our moms have every reason to overstay. Do you have any idea how many Russians overstay their visas and never go back? Especially in major cities like Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Chicago. The Russian community is large and supportive. They can earn a quick buck working for cash as baby sitters, maids, mechanics, or just construction hands. Plus because our mothers are immediate relatives their overstay will be forgotten when the kids are eligible to file I-130's on their behalf? What is there to return to Russia for, if your only daughter and and say grandson is in America living a life they never had in Russia?

WOWWW!!!
Sounds like there is no way my mom can get her visa and come and visit me!!?? I still hope there are some clues to help our situation!! I hope there will be somebody who got rejected once, too and who got there visa the second time.
My mom is an ownwe of two quite big apartments and she has a store and a car so I don't think economical tie is so bad!!

If she owns two big apartments, a business and a car she should be able to demonstrate enough ties to get the visa. Did she take evidence of that with her? You might try contacting your congressman.

Maybe she can find a nice American gentleman to make a K-1 visa for her.

(Only joking!)

I'm wondering how this is going to work, because in a year or two, I'd like to bring my MIL over for a visit. She has no "strong ties" to Russia, but I know she has NO desire at all to stay here in the U.S.

There was someone on here a few months ago that had their mother come visit. (Texas, maybe?) I know AKDiver's parent's-in-law recently visited in Alaska. (Maybe the embassy thought "who'd wanna stay in Alaska? We can't even get our own people to stay in Alaska." (Not a shot at Alaska, AKDiver. I know you love it!))

I don't know. It's like all the other visas from Russia; they're possible, but hit-or-miss when it comes to actually getting one issued. Like Satellite illustrated, a "good life" in Russia is very easily viewed by the C/O at the embassy as something that someone would leave in a heartbeat for the "American dream." But we know our (especially older) Russian relatives have no desire to immigrate. I guess we'll be going there for a while...



Another possible route, (and I don't condone this) is for your mother to "pay the fine" for getting her paperwork done properly by her local "agents" that handle that sort of thing, i.e., she now owns 20 apartments and makes approximately $2,000/month profit from them, her shop does big business to the tune of $2,000/month, and she has 4 grandchildren that she cares for. Things like that are possible in Russia. (Once again I don't condone this.... just saying it's possible.)

And at the US Consulate?

Wow, well said! I couldn't agree more. I especially like the 75.5 horse power car part Man, do these cars suck!!!

Annabelle, I am SO SORRY it happened to your mom It's unfair. I don't know what advice to give you - I don't personally know anyone whose tourist visa was denied, but I still remember my interview for a student visa a few years ago at the American Embassy in Moscow. There were at least 3 denials there while I was waiting for my turn, and all of them were ladies who wanted to visit their sons/daughters in the U.S.

My parents visited me here once, but I was still on a visa (non-immigrant), and they are very well off by all standards. And I still worried a lot that they would get a denial!

Unfortunately, lots of Russian citizens overstay their visas and break the law here. Lots. I go to Russian immigration forums sometimes, and people there openly discuss how to cheat the system and stay in the U.S. It makes me sad, but it's true

Then again - nothing stops your mom from trying to get a visa. She may get a wonderful consular officer who will grant a visa without a second thought! It happens too.

Russians are very good at lying, cheating, and stealing. You can see it today from the top of the government and oligarchs all the way down to the common folk. So to present false documents with a straight face is no problem for most Russians. And how will the CO prove that the documents are false? They have all the proper seals and stamps. I am sure it is done with success more times than we want to imagine.
Oleg Gazmanov - Novoya zarya gives a comical insight into Russian bribery and stealing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfyYZ9Q2vHI

They do not have to prove they are false.

I took the initial comment as refering to bribing the Consulate.

From the outside perspective, there does not seem much to complain about.

Sorry to hear about your issue. But I am not sure if your mom metioned that you are pregnant to the interviewer and you want her to be their for the birth or care for you while pregnant? Also have you thought about, and anyone please help me with this that knows more about it, but file for her to immigrate to US as an IR-5? She is an immediate relative to a permanent resident, so she qualifies. Also I think she is eligible for you to file DCF so you are working with the US Embassy in Russia which maybe more understanding as well as quicker? And my understanding, just because she immigrated to US, she can hold dual status and still live in Russia, as long as she visits US so many times? Anyone who knows more about this please help. Also I think she is also eligible for a 7 year visitor VISA?

I am going to do some reading, but if anyone has more info on this, please write. I am just learning of this myself. Good luck you!!

You have to be a Citizen to sponsor a Parent.

You need a Work Visa to undertake child care.

7 year Visa? - Is this a Visa for visiting Russia? Why would a Russian Citizen need one.

DCF does not apply.

A Legal Permanent Resident has to maintain the US as their Primary Residence, an odd visit will not do that.

More learning to do.

Almost every US Consulate or Embassy website provides information on tourist visa denials. For example:

Visa Denial
Under Section 214b) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, consular officers must presume that every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa is an intending immigrant until the applicant shows otherwise. The vast majority of refused visa applicants were unable to overcome this presumption. Everyone may re-apply according to the procedure described above. However we recommend that applicants wait one year before reapplying after a visa denial, unless there is a significant change in an applicant's circumstances or other compelling reason for an earlier reapplication.

Applicants for non-immigrant visas must generally prove eligibility by establishing ties to their home country and that they have a legitimate reason for traveling to the U.S. Documents alone never will establish these facts. Invitation letters from the United States are not required.

Denials are due to not being able to prove intent to return.

Having your mother tell the interviewer (assuming she is going to try again) that you are pregnant could ultimately backfire - the interviewer would have more reason to believe that your mother would NOT return home with a new grandchild in the US. And if she wants to care for the child, she needs a work visa.

There's no DCF for tourist visas and no sponsoring a mother if you are not a USC.

John, maybe now you have a teeny tiny bit of sympathy for people who are unable to get tourist visas and then find another way to enter the country . . .

and this comment:



2 sides to every story.

Well that was exactly my point to John. It's pretty hard to pass judgement on someone who came into the country illegally without knowing the story behind it. . . I thought maybe seeing this example would give John a bit of insight or perhaps compassion in the case of a now 20-something year old beneficiary of an I-129F application who has to file a waiver because his parents brought him into the country illegally at age 7 . . . but didn't mean to hijack the thread so that's enough of that!

Well I been educated Yes I just read that Legal Permanent Resident cannot apply for immigrant VISA until they become US residents. Once she does get her first tourist VISA and returns in a timely manner, followup VISA's will come easier. But the above comments are correct, she has to prove strong ties to Russia, and her having property and money in an account are big part of strong ties. It is suggested in the reading for her to keep applying, I would not lie, especially since she has already applied with other information on file. Also your husband could provide proof of support while she is in the US as a sponsor. But the child comment I made, was that I would stress to the interviewer that she is going to be a grandma and want to see her grandchild birth and assist her daughter during the first couple months that the child is born?

I am glad I came across this discussion, I think it applies to alot of us. My wife wants her parents to come and visit, but they do have a home and a business and funds, so I hope that helps our case. Again I wish the best, terrible situation, but unfortunately, many visitors do not return after they visit and ruins it for the people afterwards.

There seems to be another conversation going on.

Now I have no first hand knowledge and I sort of butted in on this thread, only because I am down with the flu, but from what those that seem to be in the know seem to be saying is that there is significant visa fraud in Russia which inevitably has consequences for those with genuine applications.

Trying to spot the genuine applications for the others sounds a thankless task.

Roxy, do you ever get a clue. I do sympathize, this is someone who does not blame the system nor the president and is not doing anything illegally or telling her daughter that the president is to blame? I may have issues with getting my in-laws here as well, but I am sure its not because they smoked dope or lived here illegally and broke numerous laws. You really need to read her profile and get the big picture! Annebelle is a total different situation!

It all comes down to strong economic ties and intent to return.

It would pretty much be a waste of time to reapply without new, stronger proof.

Telling the interviewer that she is going to be a grandma, wants to see her birth and to assist her daughter just gives more reason to believe that she will NOT return to Russia . . . and may bring up the issue of needing a work visa to care for the child.

Nothing wrong with wanting to visit your grandchild, caring for them is another matter.

I have, probably needed to have my EAD to do so.

There is obviously a fine line between visiting and providing child care.

Needing to be there so the mother can go back to work is an obvious no no.

I am not Roxy. And my point was simply that you cannot just pass judgement without knowing the story - which is that Roxy's husband lived in the US illegally because his parents brought him at the age of 7 - it's impossible for me to understand how you can hold that against him. The drug use, yes, I agree. Other than that, he did not break numerous laws, he was not deported, and I couldn't care less what Roxy decides to tell her child.

Sorry for hijacking!

Who is Roxy?

Anyway a 7 year old does not accumulate illegal presence. Obviously deportable.

Would need to be 18 1/2, big boy, before that became an issue.

He is 22 now!!! He still does not realize he is a illegal immigrant????????????????????? Sory about the Roxy, I am use to her nasty e-mails. True he was not deported, he left before USCIS had a chance. And I dont have to pass judgment, it was done by immigration. Sorry about this, its suppose to be about Annabelle, I found this message preparing to go through same scenerio. KitKat, I am done about the drug smoking, rough on the wife, President fault, worthless system, illegal alien thread, I am moving on, lets agree to disagree PLEASE!!!!

I am also confused about who is Roxy.

Satellite. I understand your point, but I have to say it's sounds kind of harsh and even hateful. You could have said "A lot of Russians are good at lying...", yet you just said "Russians", which encompasses us all. And I feel offended by it, because this is a generalization, and there's lots of Russians who are not good at demonstrating the above mentioned types of immoral behavior.

I know there's lots of scammers, but there's also a lot of normal honest people.

I forgot to say, did look at the you tube link, now I had tto guess the lyrics but I got the gist. Very good.

You shouldn't be offended. I was born in the same USSR as you. It's embedded in the culture, it's a survival mechanism in an a bigger social structure that no one person can really change. I don't hate it, in a way I am quite proud of the Russian people for their ingenuity and ability to fool others outside of Russia. You should see the stuff "some" of them pull here in the US. But at the same time it sadness me.
I'll try to be more careful with using "some" or "most" instead of "all." But as you and I know, there is no all inclusive rule for social generalizations such as the one I made in this thread. In the end its just an opinion, take it with a grain of salt.

To clarify my previous post for those who just happened to once again "stumble" into the Russia Forum to "help" us, I did not mean the OP's mother should bribe the U.S. consulate. Nowhere did I type that.

I did, however, say that it was possible for the mother to "pay a fine" to someone in Russia to make documents for her that would artificially inflate her salary, thus making it appear to the U.S. authorities that she had stronger ties to Russia than what she really had.

For those not familiar with the way documents and government interactions work in Russia, please google the words "Russia" and "fake documents" before returning to blast this post.

Thanks again for the "help!"

Satellite,
I agree that many Russians overstay. But do our parents have every reason to do that? I would think that most of our parents are Russian middle class - they have SOME property and a job.
Why would my mother leave my father and my grandmother? Why would she quit her not-so-good paying but quite respected job? Is it for the privilege to work as an illigal baby-sitter in New York? (I do not live in one of the large cities with abundant jobs for illegals, by the way.) Is it to save 400 USD per month? I can send her such amount if she wants.
One more issue - health care. Is my mom supposed to see a doctor once in a while? She is not 20 now. Can illegals have health insurance in US?
What is the point of staying illegal when you have an opportunity to come legally? 2-3 years is not long, if mom decides she likes it here, she may use this time to prepare herself: learn English, learn to drive.

I don't see any logical reason to deny visas to our moms... You have a baby and your mom cannot come to visit simply because the Consulate considers that she does not have enough at her bank account???

You guys are not looking at it from USCIS's point of view.

Their job is to screen people who could possibly stay in the U.S. illegally. Most Russians, even moms and grandmothers, fit the description of people who would stay here. Whether they would or wouldn't is a matter of personal choice. If the govt. has a fixed criteria that folks must meet (like we do with the 120% above the poverty line) then it must be met.

That's why I posted earlier about having the OPs mom "fix" her papers on the Russian side. The U.S. govt. doesn't know her salary, only she does. If there's a set standard that she must be inside of, then to reasonably expect to get a visa, she must get inside of that standard. If she's not inside, she won't get the visa.

Oppinions and immigration issues don't mix. There's a law, and that's it.

Thank you, everybody, for being so involved in this discussion though it might go to a little bit different direction - talking about russians, how bad they are and what cheaters and liers they are! I would like to agree with some of you that not all of russians are how they are being discribed here! And there are also people in America or other countries who live below poverty level! America is not such a piece of pie to leave everything in your place for coming here to leave illigally or even ligally. If you don't work here or if you have some kind of cashier job it's hard to live here, too! Especially for old people like our moms it's hard to begin everything from the very beginning in another country at their age! My mom doesn't really want to live here or at least she doesn't see her doing such a big change being almost 60! It scares her! I wish amer govt would look at them from this point of view, too! But I really didn't start this topic to discuss russians or any other cultures, just wanted some thoughts or help or advise from somebody's experience maybe how to solve my problem.
Thank you, everybody once again! And I would love to get some thoughts On topic!

Seemed an interesting converstaion as to the reasons why.

I would add that just because somebody may be eligible in the future for an Immigration Petition, does not assist their application. It can be detremental.

1. She apples again with a stronger/luckier case.

2. You visit her.

Or both.

You know - you could always just go visit HER and avoid the U.S. visa process entirely.

Cheers!
AKDiver

I just called my Mom and we discussed her future application for a guest visa in July of this year. I have read a lot of info on a lot of sites today and mostly all of them say when you apply for the second time you need to provide additional documents which you didnn't show last time and they have to be good!! I am so don't know what to do because I don't think my mom can provide any change in personal ties (she is a widower and I am the only child in the family; she can't come up with the second child or have her husband alive). Her parents died so according to "american embassy understanding" she doesn't have any ties with Russia here/ But she can't change these facts not today not tomorrow! I hate to think she will never get her visa! She can show some financial changes (she bought another appartment and is renting it) but I am not sure this is what they are looking for and this is what will change their mind. How else can she prove that even not being able to demonstrate personal ties with Russia she doesn't have intentions to stay in America!!!!

I visited her in September of last year and I'm going to have a baby so I need her here with me for the first months now!!

Fact is, some people will NEVER demonstrate to the satisfaction of embassy officials that they do not intend to immigrate to the U.S. the second they get a non-immigrant visa. Sad, unfortunate, or otherwise, this is often the case. The embassy website even says something to the effect of, "you can try to get a visa as many times as you want, but there is really no sense in doing so unless you have something significantly new to show us".

Why? MANY people have babies without having their mother come stay with them for several months. Besides, couldn't you just go stay there for several months instead? Seems like it might be easier.

Good luck!
AKDiver

Why?

I am sure she would like to see her Grandchild, but this does not seem to be the issue, I ask this as a Grandparent who has been there, admittedly not at the messy end.

Ah, but once again, this can be achieved by visiting the grandparent, rather than having the grandparent visit you.

Cheers!
AKDiver

That's why I have suggested what I have suggested before. ON TOPIC!

I'm not implying that Russians are cheaters, liers, etc.; and I'm not even implying that you should attempt to "fraudulently" apply for a visa.

All I'm saying is USCIS has a standard for determining who is a "threat" for overstay, and who is not. Your mother only needs to prove that she's in the category that will not overstay. If she can't do that, she may never be issued a visa. If she can, chances are increased significantly that she may indeed get a visa.

Did she buy 1 new apartment.... or did she buy 10 new apartments?

To paraphrase from a great movie: "She bought as many apartments as we say she did."

But not if you wanted a bit of domestic help. Which requires a work visa, not a visitors visa.

As far as any property investment is concerned, you do not need to be in country to do that. Phone/Fax/E Mail, do not need to be there.

Money can be transferred over as and when, no problem.

Unless your mother has something new to provide, it could just be a waste of time and money.

You'll find more information here:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/denials/denials_1361.html

The consular officer will reconsider a case if an applicant can show further convincing evidence of ties outside the United States. Your friend, relative or student should contact the embassy or consulate to find out about reapplication procedures. Unfortunately, some applicants will not qualify for a nonimmigrant visa, regardless of how many times they reapply, until their personal, professional, and financial circumstances change considerably

Hi Annabelle- I really sympathize with you in your situation! I have Russian female friends who have been successful in inviting their mothers (but now that I think about it, my friends already have PR or citizenship- but the mothers are NOT in USA permenently!), and it seems so unfair that it hasn't worked for you.
We are going to invite my husband's daughter as a tourist, but I have to say my hopes aren't too high. Best of luck to you and your family.

No it isn't. It is atonishingly easy. You come in illegally, without any regard for our laws, and you want sympathy for whatever situation you may have? Give me a break - and get the ###### out of my country. I don't care WHAT your story is.

Cheers!
AKDiver

Hi Annabelle and CONGRATULATIONS on you having a new baby. I understand your thoughts on wanting your mom here for the birth of her new grand baby and her being with you for a few weeks aftwards.
You're many miles from your home and mother. I heard recently from a Russian wife friend of mine, that just had a new little girl, make the comment that if only my mum could have been here when my baby was born and to help me for a few weeks because she could understand some feelings I have that my hubby, inlaws and friends here don't understand.
Good Luck on getting a visa for your mom...I'm sure she's very excited for you...everyone on this forum should be excited for you !

Bruc

I have been thinking about this also. I think our approach (Mine and Anna) will be to purchase a summer home near where her parents have one. Maybe if they see we (Anna) own property near where her parents spend the summer they will be more likely to see we have no intention of bringing her parents to the USA.

I dont know the answer to these situations since I have not gotten that far yet but I have thought about them quite a bit since Anna is as close to her family as I am to mine. I hope once I can speak the language a bit better I can become a bit closer to her parents.

Of course this does not help your immediate situation but thought I would offer a bit of advice for others interested in this. I dont know if it is a good idea or not but it is what we are going to try.

Paul

Your assets and title to property is completely irrevelant to the foreignor trying to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent. Instead you should change the focus to the alien applying for the visa. They have to show that they have something to return to. It's your home not theirs. If you bought them a lot of property and found them high paying jobs then it will be a stronger case of them having something to return to.
Your assets can only help show that your inlaws will not become public charges while in the US, but this is double edged sword, because if your inlaws can become public charges without your assistance then they probably have nothing worth returhing to Russia for.

Just ditto that, by all means buy the property if you want to/think it is a good investment. I know from UK TV programmes a lot of people are looking further afield for holiday homes, including Eastern Europe.

But doing it because you think it would help them obtain visitors visa's makes no sense to me, would actually make me suspicious of their true motives.