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Posted

Hello everyone,

I'd like to know your opinion about my mom's situation. Last month, she requested her tourist visa in Mexico but it was denied. My mom says that she was asked what was the purpose of the trip and she told she wanted to come to the United States for two weeks to visit me, then she asked my mom if she had an invitation letter. Finally, she told my mom that her visa was denied because I have only been a resident for 3 years; therefore, I am not a "secure" person and the situation would be different if I had been living in the United States for 10 or 15 years. In addition, she said I have been travelling to Mexico quite often (once or twice per year), as a result she doesn't need to visit me. Finally, my mom said that she did not ask her for any document such as bank statement or home title, etc. What do you think? Should she reapply for her tourist visa? Thanks for your comments

Posted

She could re-apply, but I suspect results will be similar.

Maybe someone else can give a more precise opinion based on the consulate where the application was done.

The 'reasons' seem to be silly and arbitrary, even insulting -who is he/she to decide when or how frequent to visit; but the CO has autonomy to decide as he/she sees it.

Perhaps you would think on a GC for your mom?

Filed: Timeline
Posted

sounds like she was interviewed by a fairly brand new CO....your time of residence is really not material...unless.....how did you get to the US? If via a 'normal' route, K1, for example, then you did it 'the right way'...if you went to the US with a tourist visa and had the ever popular 'mind change', that could reflect poorly on your other family members (you being the 'anchor' to which others would attach themselves to become established in the US)..do you have other siblings in Mexico? And finally, as you and your mom discovered, bank accounts and other documents mean little during such an interview, which is why they were not looked at....

Posted (edited)

My Mother-In-Law received a 10 year multi-entry visa in August of 2013, issued by the Mexico City Embassy. In her case they did look at her documents. I helped her prepare multiple summary-type documents. For example, I created a page for her which listed every family member that was staying in Mexico (Grandchildren, children, siblings, husband) and it also listed every family member she had in the USA (just my wife). I also created a summary page at the beginning with four headings: Evidence to show Economic Ties to Mexico, Evidence to Show Family Ties to Mexico, Evidence to Show social Ties to Mexico, and Evidence to show purpose of trip.

In addition to the summary pages we also included longer letters/affidavits/evidence, but we put the summary pages on top so as not to overwhelm the CO. I included an invitation letter, stating that we would pay for her trip, and that she would be staying with us. Some of the evidence I included (listed on summary page and included in packet) were proof of paying rent at the same home for 10 years, proof of responsibilities in local church, proof of prepayment of rent for the time she would be in the United States, letters from her adult children who still live in Mexico, proof of my ability to pay for her trip, proof of my employment, proof of my wife's Permanent Residence Status, to name a few.

The CO was nice, and he asked her questions about me and my job (part-time in a legal department while finishing law school) and he looked at my bank statements, which I sent. He asked about her husband who was staying, and why. He works on the oil platforms out of state, but didn't have very much documentation of that, but the CO didn't seem to mind.

Most of his questions were about me, and how she knew me (through my marriage to her daughter). So while it is true that it ultimately comes down to her and her ties, you can definitely help prepare her and if you are sending documents, make some summary pages - the CO actually told my MIL that he really appreciated the condensed format.

Anyway, she came in August and left in December 2 months earlier than she was required and hopefully will want to return sometime in the future. Good luck, and it won't hurt to try again.

PS: My MIL does not have a steady job, or much money in the bank, so those are not the only factors that a CO will look at to determine ties.

Edited by dbarker2
Filed: Timeline
Posted

Sometimes there are questions that seem strange that actually tell the visa officer something. For example, the one re your number of years of residence -- if you are able to naturalize, which then allows you the ability to petition for permanent residency for your mother, it sometimes makes a tourist visa more likely. I know that sounds backwards, but what was explained to me was that if there was a way to get someone to the US to live legally, it is less likely that they will do it the illegal way. In high fraud countries (especially where the fraud frequently involves documents), officers are far less likely to spend time reviewing documents, since there are so many fraudulent documents presented. (And I am in no way saying that I though your mother presented fake papers, BTW).

 
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