Will a letter from my senator help with a tourist visa? (Dominican Republic)

[Daisy.Chain 317]

Hurray! Our K-1 visa was approved this week!

Now into the throes of wedding planning.. we’re planning to invite his mom and sister from the DR to the wedding, using tourist visas. His mom is married with 3 adult children and cares for them as well as her 2 grandchildren. She also teaches private school and is active in the church. His sister is divorced with a son and works in the family business.

I think the chances of being granted are slim…the thought crossed my mind to ask my senator to write a letter asking that they approve a short visit for both to see us married.

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice or experience with asking a senator for a letter to help with a tourist visa?

[Pitaya 2,576]

They (your in-laws) will have to prove to the satisfaction of the US consular official at the interviewing US embassy/consulate, that they have significant ties to the DR such that they would return to the DR after their US visit is completed. Such ties could include, property, house ownership, current stable employment, etc. Each visitor visa applicant is presumed to have immigration intent, and must prove that they are not trying to immigrate to the US. A letter from a doctor, any documents from you, or any other invitation-type letter would likely have no positive effect on the visitor visa approval.

Good luck.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Reasons to visit the US are irrelevant to a CO at a consulate. Letters indicating reasons for visiting or asking permission to visit won't help. What you should focus on is ties to DR.

Good luck

[VOL 425]

I think the chances of being granted are slim…the thought crossed my mind to ask my senator to write a letter asking that they approve a short visit for both to see us married.

Does anyone have any thoughts, advice or experience with asking a senator for a letter to help with a tourist visa?

Getting a senator asking CO to approve a tourist Visa would almost assure one not being issued

[Boggy1974 124]

OP, you never know what will happen until they take the chance and apply.

Your in-laws' applications would be approved or denied based on their own merit.

They also have to show strong binding ties to their home country (DR).

Do not involve the senator or any such official, but they must submit good supporting documentation.

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

[Boggy1974 124]

Please can you provide the source of this information? - any 8 CFR chapter or immigration manual?

Each visitor visa applicant is presumed to have immigration intent, and must prove that they are not trying to immigrate to the US.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Please can you provide the source of this information? - any 8 CFR chapter or immigration manual?

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/general/denials.html

INA Section 214(b) - Visa Qualifications and Immigrant Intent

What does a visa denial under INA section 214(b) mean?

This law applies only to nonimmigrant visa categories. If you are refused a visa under section 214(b), it means that you:

Did not sufficiently demonstrate to the consular officer that you qualify for the nonimmigrant visa category you applied for; and/or

Did not overcome the presumption of immigrant intent, required by law, by sufficiently demonstrating that you have strong ties to your home country that will compel you to leave the United States at the end of your temporary stay. (H-1B and L visa applicants, along with their spouse and any minor children, are excluded from this requirement.)

[Pitaya 2,576]

Thanks aaron2020.

Some light reading material:

http://www.uscis.gov/iframe/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/act.html

Edited February 22, 2015 by A&B

[DarkKiss 45]

OP, Congratulations on the K-1 approval and the upcoming marriage.

[Daisy.Chain 317]

Getting a senator asking CO to approve a tourist Visa would almost assure one not being issued

That is interesting - what is the reasoning behind it?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That is interesting - what is the reasoning behind it?

Bureaucrats resent being intimidated by elected officials. Human nature.

[Boiler 43,426]

Unless I misunderstood the OP we are talking about a standard letter produced by an intern. Not worth the paper it is written on.

[jan22 2,898]

It is highly likely that the interviewing officer will never have seen the letter. At many Embassies, they have no time/method to match up a random letter with an electronic visa application, so the visa officer will not even know about the letter. Doesn't matter, since it is not relevant to the decision.

[aaron2020 11,651]

The letter would be useless.

No one can provide assurance to over the presumption of immigration. US law does not allow for assurance from any US citizen, and the US Embassy has to follow the law.

What could a stranger who happens to be a Senator say about another stranger that would show the stranger will not illegally immigrate?

In the US, politicians can not compel a consular officer to ignore the law.

Edited February 24, 2015 by aaron2020

[Jawaree 717]

Getting a senator asking CO to approve a tourist Visa would almost assure one not being issued

Agree....If there was a medical emergency it would probably fly