Help With Tourist Visa Denial Costa Rica US Embassy

[pepper297 63]

My sister in law was denied for a tourist visa today.

I have read on the US Embassy website for Costa Rica that there is no way to appeal the decision.

I understand that the applicant must prove strong binding ties to his/her country. What pisses me off is that the officer that interviewed her did not even give her an opportunity to do so. He asked her for a certain insurance paper which she didn't bring although she had something similar. At that point he ended the interview and wouldn't let her speak another word. Now, as you know there is not a list of things to bring to prove that you have ties to your country so she guessed at what to bring and brought a ton of supporting evidence. She owns her own property and house. She has been at the same company with a good job for over six years. She has a young son. She has continual Costa Rica insurance. All of her family with the exception of me and her brother are in Costa Rica. She only wanted to visit for a few weeks next Spring. He wouldn't even look at any of the evidence proving her ties to the country. The "interview" was less than 30 seconds long.

I know that a letter from us will not help because the burden of proof lies on her but I am one pissed off US citizen and I want to know if there is a place or person that I can write or call for how my family member was treated. I understand that she isn't a citizen.... and maybe some officers think it is ok that they can treat people like that but IT IS NOT.

What is the chain of command. Do they even care? I know at the airport customs they have all these signs up at POE about how those workers are the face and first impression of america. Does this not carry over to the embassy?

Please help. I would understand if she had no evidence and she was just rolling the dice but that is not the case.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

I guess I'm not sure about the 'treatment' of the applicant. Your sister is not entitled to a visa, nor should she expect to be treated with roses and bells. All she can do is submit what she has and attend the interview.

You don't really give a description of bad conduct on the part of the consular officer aside from denying the visa.

Most interview outcomes are pre-decided. There is something in your sister's application that raised a flag, and that could be as simple as having a USC sibling because that is considered a tie to the US - when she needs to show ties to Costa Rica.

I'm sorry your sister was not issued a visa. Could you give us more details of the bad treatment she received? Was she berated in public? Did someone try to defraud her or trick her in some way?

good luck

[pepper297 63]

I guess I'm not sure about the 'treatment' of the applicant. Your sister is not entitled to a visa, nor should she expect to be treated with roses and bells. All she can do is submit what she has and attend the interview.

You don't really give a description of bad conduct on the part of the consular officer aside from denying the visa.

Most interview outcomes are pre-decided. There is something in your sister's application that raised a flag, and that could be as simple as having a USC sibling because that is considered a tie to the US - when she needs to show ties to Costa Rica.

I'm sorry your sister was not issued a visa. Could you give us more details of the bad treatment she received? Was she berated in public? Did someone try to defraud her or trick her in some way?

good luck

I have read that having a family member in the US can be a negative mark against a tourist visa applicant. I am the USC. My husband is her brother. However, lots of people that have tourist visas have a family member in the US.

I don't have more information other than what I have written. The interviewing officer didn't even look at her ties to Costa Rica. He didn't look at any of the documents she brought. Not the long term job, not the house ownership, not anything. She is very tied to Costa Rica. The only tie to the US is me and her husband.

I guess the way that I am feeling right now is that the process seems to be a racket that just steals people's money. He never even looked at her papers she brought. No wonder some people think of the US government with such negativity. I honestly cannot think of anything that would be a possible red flag other than the fact that she has one family member here. But seriously..... once he is a citizen we could always petition for family.... why would a person even bother to be deceitful with a tourist visa? Either way, she has no plans or desire to be here on anything but a vacation visit.

A life where my husband's family doesn't have the ability to EVER travel to see us, whether for just a visit or the birth of our children, death of one of my family members here, or anything, terrifies me.

Whenever I used to hear the term "immigration" or "immigration overhaul", I had a waaaaaaay different picture that would pop into my head... something that only applied to illegal immigrants. The more experience I get with the US immigration system, the more I see a dire need for overhaul.

Obviously she will try again. Part of what made things easier for my husband to move away from all of his family and his home country was the idea that they may be able to visit. I can't imagine us moving to Costa Rica and my parents or sister not being able to come visit.

Have you had this experience or are you commenting based off of things you have read?

Thank you!

[canadian_wife 1,791]

why would a person even bother to be deceitful with a tourist visa?

It happens every day in America, the consular officers assume everyone is going to be deceitful with a tourist visa. That is their job.

Have you had this experience or are you commenting based off of things you have read?

I was denied entry at a US port of entry. It is dreadful and scary - but looking back, they should have denied me entry.

[pepper297 63]

why would a person even bother to be deceitful with a tourist visa?

It happens every day in America, the consular officers assume everyone is going to be deceitful with a tourist visa. That is their job.

Have you had this experience or are you commenting based off of things you have read?

I was denied entry at a US port of entry. It is dreadful and scary - but looking back, they should have denied me entry.

Yes, I know that happens. Unfortunately because of that people are punished for others actions.

Why do you say looking back? What I am looking for here is a solution and direction. What can she do differently? I'm having trouble thinking of anything because I am not objective in the situation and I know her actual intentions are to just visit. Even when I try to look objectively, and I think of what she brought to the interview, her long term job, consistent insurance, house ownership, a small son, and all of her family except one person there.... I can't think of what else she could do or provide. This isn't just a trip she can't take and just say "oh I'll just go here instead"... it cuts out any visiting from his side of our family at all. It's a big deal. Please tell me you have a direction to take on this.

Of course they don't give you real reasons at the embassy, only generic. I thought about emailing the CR Embassy to get clarification (which probably wouldn't be productive) but I actually think there's a chance it could do more harm in the future since the interviews seem to almost be lottery-like at times there. I know people that have US Visas there that own no property and never have a steady job. It's crazy!

Thank you again.

[UnaMexicana 153]

I am sorry that your sister in law was denied. It is a very disappointing experience.

I was 22 years old... almost done with college and I had zero money. No other ties to my country that my college studies in a public school. My interview lasted 30 secs, officer did not look at antthig else but my school transcript full of A's. I was approved with no questions.

My sister tried a couple years later. She used to work at a bank and was pretty darn well of. Great job and great pay. Her interview took just about the same time and got denied.

The CO words were "this is not about your financials... we just can't give you a visa at this time".

As frustrating as it is, some people get lucky and some don't.

[pepper297 63]

I am sorry that your sister in law was denied. It is a very disappointing experience.

I was 22 years old... almost done with college and I had zero money. No other ties to my country that my college studies in a public school. My interview lasted 30 secs, officer did not look at antthig else but my school transcript full of A's. I was approved with no questions.

My sister tried a couple years later. She used to work at a bank and was pretty darn well of. Great job and great pay. Her interview took just about the same time and got denied.

The CO words were "this is not about your financials... we just can't give you a visa at this time".

As frustrating as it is, some people get lucky and some don't.

That is interesting! We see the same thing in CR sometimes. I wonder how the timing works. Thank you for your experience. She is going to try again.

[Boiler 43,588]

A B visa interview is usually decided on the application, the interview itself is just a few minutes.

She can apply as often as she likes.

[Pennycat 880]

That is terrible to hear, I can't believe that they didn't even look at the rest of her evdience and it sounds like she's got a really strong case for "close ties". What was the insurance paperwork that they required and did they tell her that beforehand?

[pepper297 63]

That is terrible to hear, I can't believe that they didn't even look at the rest of her evdience and it sounds like she's got a really strong case for "close ties". What was the insurance paperwork that they required and did they tell her that beforehand?

It is pretty unfortunate, especially since there is no recourse. They don't tell you anything to bring. You just know that it is automatically on you (the applicant) to prove strong, binding ties to your country. You have to prove that you don't want to immigrate to the US. I don't remember what my husband said the specific type of paper the officer asked for was. It was a spanish word that I wasn't familiar with.

[mike101 8]

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I am now nervous as I am sponsoring my Sister-in-inlaw and her daughter for a B2 visa to visit my family in the USA. As the sponsor I am paying for the visa application fee ($160 * 2 = $320) and their travel to Bogota ($415). I've got $735 invested in this and we will all be truely disappointed if they get denied. It will especially be hurtful if they get denied in the first 30 seconds without taking a look at the documents.

If these applications are decided based on the application then I feel there should be an addition step to reject applications before an interview is scheduled. The interview should truely be an interview where one has the opportunity to prove their case and not just a formality.

Im of the opinion that it should not be a negative mark if the applicant has a family member who is a citizen. If anything that should be a positive mark to help the USC be with their family members.

The system does need to be changed and either way I plan to write my representatives in congress.

[Boiler 43,588]

What documents do they have?

[pepper297 63]

Sorry to hear about your experience.

I am now nervous as I am sponsoring my Sister-in-inlaw and her daughter for a B2 visa to visit my family in the USA. As the sponsor I am paying for the visa application fee ($160 * 2 = $320) and their travel to Bogota ($415). I've got $735 invested in this and we will all be truely disappointed if they get denied. It will especially be hurtful if they get denied in the first 30 seconds without taking a look at the documents.

If these applications are decided based on the application then I feel there should be an addition step to reject applications before an interview is scheduled. The interview should truely be an interview where one has the opportunity to prove their case and not just a formality.

Im of the opinion that it should not be a negative mark if the applicant has a family member who is a citizen. If anything that should be a positive mark to help the USC be with their family members.

The system does need to be changed and either way I plan to write my representatives in congress.

Good luck to you guys! That is a lot to invest... especially since you really can't tell what the decision will be. I thought for sure my sister in law met all the marks they could possibly look at. I totally agree. There needs to be a change. Why make somebody go all the way to a certain part of their country, spending even more money in travel and other expenses, when you know they are already declined? I just can't see it ever changing.

What documents do they have?

Who, Boiler?

[JohnR! 5,495]

There is no recourse, so the officer's decision is final, for the moment. She can and should schedule another interview and bring along the insurance proof she didn't have on her for this interview. It does seem the officer's decision was somewhat harsh and hasty and given all the ties she has she might fare better in a second interview. There is no set time limit that she has to wait, so tell her to do it sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

My sister in law was denied for a tourist visa today.

I have read on the US Embassy website for Costa Rica that there is no way to appeal the decision.

I understand that the applicant must prove strong binding ties to his/her country. What pisses me off is that the officer that interviewed her did not even give her an opportunity to do so. He asked her for a certain insurance paper which she didn't bring although she had something similar. At that point he ended the interview and wouldn't let her speak another word. Now, as you know there is not a list of things to bring to prove that you have ties to your country so she guessed at what to bring and brought a ton of supporting evidence. She owns her own property and house. She has been at the same company with a good job for over six years. She has a young son. She has continual Costa Rica insurance. All of her family with the exception of me and her brother are in Costa Rica. She only wanted to visit for a few weeks next Spring. He wouldn't even look at any of the evidence proving her ties to the country. The "interview" was less than 30 seconds long.

I know that a letter from us will not help because the burden of proof lies on her but I am one pissed off US citizen and I want to know if there is a place or person that I can write or call for how my family member was treated. I understand that she isn't a citizen.... and maybe some officers think it is ok that they can treat people like that but IT IS NOT.

What is the chain of command. Do they even care? I know at the airport customs they have all these signs up at POE about how those workers are the face and first impression of america. Does this not carry over to the embassy?

Please help. I would understand if she had no evidence and she was just rolling the dice but that is not the case.

[LoveMyTico 999]

I have read that having a family member in the US can be a negative mark against a tourist visa applicant. I am the USC. My husband is her brother. However, lots of people that have tourist visas have a family member in the US.

I don't have more information other than what I have written. The interviewing officer didn't even look at her ties to Costa Rica. He didn't look at any of the documents she brought. Not the long term job, not the house ownership, not anything. She is very tied to Costa Rica. The only tie to the US is me and her husband.

I guess the way that I am feeling right now is that the process seems to be a racket that just steals people's money. He never even looked at her papers she brought. No wonder some people think of the US government with such negativity. I honestly cannot think of anything that would be a possible red flag other than the fact that she has one family member here. But seriously..... once he is a citizen we could always petition for family.... why would a person even bother to be deceitful with a tourist visa? Either way, she has no plans or desire to be here on anything but a vacation visit.

A life where my husband's family doesn't have the ability to EVER travel to see us, whether for just a visit or the birth of our children, death of one of my family members here, or anything, terrifies me.

Whenever I used to hear the term "immigration" or "immigration overhaul", I had a waaaaaaay different picture that would pop into my head... something that only applied to illegal immigrants. The more experience I get with the US immigration system, the more I see a dire need for overhaul.

Obviously she will try again. Part of what made things easier for my husband to move away from all of his family and his home country was the idea that they may be able to visit. I can't imagine us moving to Costa Rica and my parents or sister not being able to come visit.

Have you had this experience or are you commenting based off of things you have read?

Thank you!

They must have found a red flag because I have dealt with the embassy in Costa Rica many times and I never came across one nasty person , I actually find them nicer than dealing with the USCIS. If your husband has a green card, he is able to travel back and forth whenever he wants and if you ever moved to CR, your parents are free to visit anytime without a visa for 90 days at a time. It s very easy for Americans to travel to CR.

My husband is about to travel to the US ( finally) He is excited to be able to fly back and forth and visit his family whenever he wants. We are not relying on his family members getting visas because they are very hard to get.