Was Your Tourist (B1/B2) Visa Approved?

[Pennycat 880]

Drop these folks a line, they'd love to hear from you.

http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/contact-us

How so?

It's not them who makes the B2 visa call, it's State and how they train COs. And they certainly see the problem with this loophole. Which is why they deny B2s for people in romantic relationships/marriages with USCs. But it's not about THEM using their imaginations follow the conversation....you're the one who can't see the problem.

I get that you feel defensive about how you and your spouse went about this, I would be too. If you truly, legitimately just happened to change your mind while your spouse intended to stay here temporarily, then you did do things correctly. But you are also rare. And the convenience provided by this loophole for a rare scenario does two things: leaves it wide open for fraudsters and makes life more difficult for pretty much everyone else in this process. Closing the loophole would inconvenience a few (and sorry that you would have have been among them), but still give them opportunities to visit during the process and would curtail fraud and provide an opportunity for families to be together.

[MacUK 983]

I agree that illegals should be deported, but these aren't the people who apply for B2 visas in the first place. As for overstays, I think it depends on the situation. But I understand where you are coming from Mac. I know your story and it certainly is a sad one.

Tgank you but my story was my own stupid fault. I had no idea of the consequences of overstaying but I was aware that I shouldn't have done it.

I accepted my 10 year ban and now it's over I understand why my most recent B2 was denied, even if I didn't agree with it as I have no wish to live in the US at all, only visit.

I only feel sorry for the people I read on here who are denied for no wrong doing of their own other than the crime of having loved ones in the US.

The parents who can't visit their children, boyfriends and girlfriends who have no wish to marry yet but are forced to as it's the only way for one of them to be able to set foot in the States, people who are refused simply because they come from a country that the US considers to be a worse standard of living not taking into account that they might truly love their own country and never want to leave no matter how tough life is there.

One of the times I was at the London embassy there was a Gurkha there applying for a B2 to go on vacation before his regiment deployed to Afghanistan. He had his signed leave pass and a letter from his CO giving the dates of his leave.

He was denied because, as a Nepali citizen, the CO thought he was an immigration risk.

I don't know how much you know about Gurkhas but they are some of the most honourable people in the British Armed Forces. I don't think any Gurkha would EVER dessert his comrades and would NEVER go against their Oath of Allegiance to HM Queen.

But that wasn't taken into account as it's personal and can't be proven. The CO just saw him as someone from a poor country who would leap at the chance to live the American Dream.

[Teddy B 17,252]

It's not them who makes the B2 visa call, it's State and how they train COs. And they certainly see the problem with this loophole. Which is why they deny B2s for people in romantic relationships/marriages with USCs. But it's not about THEM using their imaginations follow the conversation....you're the one who can't see the problem.

I get that you feel defensive about how you and your spouse went about this, I would be too. If you truly, legitimately just happened to change your mind while your spouse intended to stay here temporarily, then you did do things correctly. But you are also rare. And the convenience provided by this loophole for a rare scenario does two things: leaves it wide open for fraudsters and makes life more difficult for pretty much everyone else in this process. Closing the loophole would inconvenience a few (and sorry that you would have have been among them), but still give them opportunities to visit during the process and would curtail fraud and provide an opportunity for families to be together.

It is USCIS that makes it possible to adjust from a B2. They are the folks you should talk to. CO's simply follow protocol (sometimes).

I'm not the least bit defensive, I'm simply stating my story and the law as it is written. It's the folks who have their undies in a bunch because they feel slighted that get all worked up about this. Like the person who just accused me of committing fraud. We have a discussion like this about every 6 months or so here. All that changes are the faces on the side of the "right way".

Edited December 17, 2014 by Teddy B

[Ian H. 207]

I would like to remind you that it was legal to own slaves and beat them, did that make it right? No it didn't. There are many flaws in the immigration system, so I will reiterate that just because it's legal doesn't make it right or at least fair to everyone else.

I perfectly understand when people use the legal avenues available to them and understand why people may come here illegally or enter legally and stay, I really do. However, that doesn't mean that it should be that way in the first place. Everyone should be given a fair chance in the system.

I'm a USC like any other and my spouse shouldn't have had to wait longer than anyone else just because she wasn't lucky enough to get a tourist visa, stay and adjust status. If you get married on a visa fine, but they need to go back home and apply like everyone else. I'm only for cases of exceptional hardship such as medical, or people who are adjusting from family based visas such as the K visa.

By the way I googled the ankle bracelet thing and here I thought I was just being creative. Apparently it has been implemented already in some occasions for illegal immigrants though not overstayers. I think it would be an effective tool if used properly to curve the overstaying of visas.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/384352/can-ankle-bracelets-help-solve-immigration-crisis-christine-sisto

[Teddy B 17,252]

I would like to remind you that it was legal to own slaves and beat them, did that make it right? No it didn't. There are many flaws in the immigration system, so I will reiterate that just because it's legal doesn't make it right or at least fair to everyone else.

I perfectly understand when people use the legal avenues available to them and understand why people may come here illegally or enter legally and stay, I really do. However, that doesn't mean that it should be that way in the first place. Everyone should be given a fair chance in the system.

I'm a USC like any other and my spouse shouldn't have had to wait longer than anyone else just because she wasn't lucky enough to get a tourist visa, stay and adjust status. If you get married on a visa fine, but they need to go back home and apply like everyone else. I'm only for cases of exceptional hardship such as medical, or people who are adjusting from family based visas such as the K visa.

By the way I googled the ankle bracelet thing and here I thought I was just being creative. Apparently it has been implemented already in some occasions for illegal immigrants though not overstayers. I think it would be an effective tool if used properly to curve the overstaying of visas.

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/384352/can-ankle-bracelets-help-solve-immigration-crisis-christine-sisto

Slaves?? Really??

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Really? Comparing immigration woes to slavery?

[mike101 8]

Hi All,

I'd like to share some stats from the US State department. the document has links to B visa refusal rates based on countries.

It appears they most definitely place countries in categories that are used to decide visa approvals. It appears that African and Arab countries have the highest rates of denial with most having 50%+ denial rates.

One thing I noticed that my wife's native country Colombia went from having denial rates of about 30% from 2006-2010, to around 10 - 15% from 2011 - present. The drop came right around the time when tourist visas were extended to 10 years for those who were approved.. You cant tell me that between 2010 and 2011 double the rate of Colombians can now prove strong ties for a B category visa...

Looking at these stats its like they have very clear categories of denial rates and this explains why they approve and deny people in seconds without looking at their documentation. They mention one thing regarding "proving ties to your home country" but these statistics tell a different story.

Here is a link to the reports. They are on the last page of the PDF document.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/refusalratelanguage.pdf

Edited December 17, 2014 by mike101

[Ian H. 207]

I'm not comparing immigration woes to slavery. I'm comparing the law with the law. He stated that the law is part of the system and people who follow it aren't bad people. So my point was just because something is a law, doesn't make it right.

Really? Comparing immigration woes to slavery?

[Teddy B 17,252]

Hi All,

I'd like to share some stats from the US State department. the document has links to B visa refusal rates based on countries.

It appears they most definitely place countries in categories that are used to decide visa approvals. It appears that African and Arab countries have the highest rates of denial with most having 50%+ denial rates.

One thing I noticed that my wife's native country Colombia went from having denial rates of about 30% from 2006-2010, to around 10 - 15% from 2011 - present. The drop came right around the time when tourist visas were extended to 10 years for those who were approved.. You cant tell me that between 2010 and 2011 double the rate of Colombians can now prove strong ties for a B category visa...

Looking at these stats its like they have very clear categories of denial rates and this explains why they approve and deny people in seconds without looking at their documentation. They mention one thing regarding "proving ties to your home country" but these statistics tell a different story.

Here is a link to the reports. They are on the last page of the PDF document.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/refusalratelanguage.pdf

There's a list that gives the exact denial percentages by country as well.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

[msbau764 245]

There's a list that gives the exact denial percentages by country as well.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

That list is BS, just a marketing tool to get more people to apply and includes renewals, which are almost always approved. If it were true, are you basically trying to say those that don't get it are losers and somehow not worthy of a visa and shouldn't be complaining? Is that your point? only the most degenerates are rejected so no time should be wasted on them? Like I said, I don't belive those numbers one bit and quit insulting people with that list.

Edited December 17, 2014 by msbau764

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Surprised that canada has a 43.1% rate. Is this for tourist visas applied for at consulate or at POE I wonder.

[Pennycat 880]

It is USCIS that makes it possible to adjust from a B2. They are the folks you should talk to. CO's simply follow protocol (sometimes).

I'm not the least bit defensive, I'm simply stating my story and the law as it is written. It's the folks who have their undies in a bunch because they feel slighted that get all worked up about this. Like the person who just accused me of committing fraud. We have a discussion like this about every 6 months or so here. All that changes are the faces on the side of the "right way".

Oh, no you don't sound defensive at all. Especially when you minimize the struggles of thousands of people who don't have the privilege of coming from a very easy, trusted, proximate country with a porous border by claiming that their "undies are in a bunch". Really? Most people can't even get a legal way to visit their spouses for a year and a half and "oh, poo poo, stop overreacting, the system worked for me and that's all that matters here".

And so then to the point: you believe the law as written is working? That more people just happen to change their mind and get married on a whim while "touristing" in a foreign country than who purposefully game the system? And that not providing a legal way for spouses to visit each other in the US during the 18-month long CR1 process is a fair tradeoff for keeping this loophole open?

[mike101 8]

There's a list that gives the exact denial percentages by country as well.

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY13.pdf

Those links are on the last page in the document I posted.. It appears these decisions are mainly political which is why these COs make an approval or denial decision in less than 30 seconds in some situations. The outcome appears to be already determined before the interview....

They have people thinking its their work and family situation when it likely plays a small role in the overall decision.

Surprised that canada has a 43.1% rate. Is this for tourist visas applied for at consulate or at POE I wonder.

Im not sure where that number comes from as Canadian citizens dont need a visa to come to the USA.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Those links are on the last page in the document I posted.. It appears these decisions are mainly political which is why these COs make an approval or denial decision in less than 30 seconds in some situations. The outcome appears to be already determined before the interview....

They have people thinking its their work and family situation when it likely plays a small role in the overall decision.

Im not sure where that number comes from as Canadian citizens dont need a visa to come to the USA.

Right, we automatically apply at POE. I still had to pick b1/b2 on the console when they scanned my passport. However I know that some with waivers for Inadmissability apply for visitors visas at the consular level.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Surprised that canada has a 43.1% rate. Is this for tourist visas applied for at consulate or at POE I wonder.

I think the rate is so high for Canadians because the only Canadian citizens who have to apply for B2 visas are the ones with problems gaining entry to the states in the first place. Usually Canadians just drive or fly to the border and go through with no paperwork other than their passport. The same goes for folks from VWP countries, if they are not using the VWP, it's usually because they do not qualify and have to file for a B2 and they have higher refusal rates as well.