Was Your Tourist (B1/B2) Visa Approved?

[mike101 8]

It's not about any red flags. It's about immigrant intent. I do agree that it is arbitrary most of the time, however they still have to take into account the ties that you have outside of the US. My aunt could have easily been denied because she has a son and a brother in the US, but she wasn't because the CO felt that her ties outside of the US were stronger.

Like I said in my post, financial ties are only one part of the equation. Anyone can have property or money in the bank, that doesn't mean squat. Property can be sold and money in the bank can be transferred or withdrawn. A job can be abandoned just the same.

In my aunt's case her job was taken into account because she is a few years away from retirement, 60 years old, and she is unlikely to put that at risk to stay here illegally in the eyes of the CO. Again, if the CO would have felt that the ties were insufficient or that the ties in the US were stronger, then she would have been denied.

If he were in a bad mood, he could have denied everyone that day as well and no one would bat an eye. She was denied twice already, she is divorced, those are also negative factors and she could have been denied based on that as well.

Although the process is arbitrary and unfair, there are certain situations that make you look more unfavorable, plain and simple. As for your friend, are you 100% certain of what she put on her application? I doubt that she put that she had a sister who is here illegally on the DS160. And in the unlikely event that she did, she probably has other ties that were more favorable. Again, financial ties aren't the big picture. And who was talking about grandma having another child???

Again you also have to take into account the statistics. Ian H. In 2013 over 41% of B visas from the Dominican Republic were denied. That also must play some role in your grandmother being denied. These embassies must be getting direction on how many visas are Available each day or have some type of quota..

There are some situations that are less favorable but it seems like the political situation with the USA of a country is a heavier weight than socioeconomically situation of the individual in some countries.

[Torete 121]

How far apart are her denials? Have her circumstances changed from the last time she applied? They look at all aspects of your life, not only the financial ones.

If her only daughter is in the US with her only grandchildren, that would be the biggest negative factor. Does she have other children and grandchildren outside the US? A spouse?

My aunt was approved after 2 denials in the DR, although she was denied about 40 years ago. She has a child here in the US and a brother, but she has another daughter in Italy and grandchildren outside the US as well, plus all of her other brothers and sisters.

They take into account all of these things in order to determine the likelihood of immigrant intent. Another important thing is that the DS160 is filled out properly. They often times deny people for making mistakes on the form or for not filling out certain parts properly.

My MIL's denials were approximately 1 year apart. No, her circumstances haven't significantly changed from the last time she applied...other than having more money in her account(s) due to a retirement pension. My MIL is a 70 year old, retired government school teacher of 20 years drawing a government pension. She owns her home and two additional properties.

She has three daughters, one of which is in the US...my wife. My wife and I have three children, hence she has three grand-children in the US. My MIL has two other daughters still in the Philippines, one married with one grandchild, the other married with two grandchildren.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not above being humble and admitting so. Where on the DS-160 may one list those family members OUTSIDE the US (familial ties) that support ties to her country? i.e. the Philippines. Where on the DS-160 does one indicate financial ties? Where does one list extended family members (ties), financial ties, community ties etc.?

Documents brought, documents never asked for or reviewed. Summarily dismissed after four questions...less than one minute.

It is what it is in the end. Merry Christmas Lula!

It's too bad that each application can't be reviewed by another C.O. to either confirm or deny the application after two sets of eyes have had a chance to review the application...first go around, then a second set of eyes to review any documents brought...second go around, then make a decision.

[Teddy B 17,251]

My MIL's denials were approximately 1 year apart. No, her circumstances haven't significantly changed from the last time she applied...other than having more money in her account(s) due to a retirement pension. My MIL is a 70 year old, retired government school teacher of 20 years drawing a government pension. She owns her home and two additional properties.

She has three daughters, one of which is in the US...my wife. My wife and I have three children, hence she has three grand-children in the US. My MIL has two other daughters still in the Philippines, one married with one grandchild, the other married with two grandchildren.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not above being humble and admitting so. Where on the DS-160 may one list those family members OUTSIDE the US (familial ties) that support ties to her country? i.e. the Philippines. Where on the DS-160 does one indicate financial ties? Where does one list extended family members (ties), financial ties, community ties etc.?

Documents brought, documents never asked for or reviewed. Summarily dismissed after four questions...less than one minute.

It is what it is in the end. Merry Christmas Lula!

It's too bad that each application can't be reviewed by another C.O. to either confirm or deny the application after two sets of eyes have had a chance to review the application...first go around, then a second set of eyes to review any documents brought...second go around, then make a decision.

These are the types of denials that defy logic and common sense. It's a shame your MIL can't get her tourist visa to come visit you and your wife. Your last paragraph that I hi-lited in red is a very good idea, unfortunately i think it would be too costly to implement.

Edited December 19, 2014 by Teddy B

[Torete 121]

These are the types of denials that defy logic and common sense. It's a shame your MIL can't get her tourist visa to come visit you and your wife. Your last paragraph that I hi-lited in red is a very good idea, unfortunately i think it would be too costly to implement.

I agree with your assessment Teddy B, (no back patting here) and I think my suggestion is reasonable...but it will remain unheeded.

Honestly, I don't think it would add any monetary cost to the process. Perhaps a few less applications would be reviewed on any given day, but that could be massaged into the process when securing an interview date...less dates/times available. I wonder how many would complain about that?

Without any factual basis on my part, if each application took 1-5 minutes for the initial CO to review the application, adding a second sets of eyes to review not only the application, but the documents brought could potentially add an additional 1-5 minutes. That doesn't sound unreasonable to me. Worst case scenario would be that half as many applications would be reviewed/scheduled.

In my mind, that would at least give the appearance and semblance of impartiality and an honest consideration of everyone's application.

Respectfully,

T

[mike101 8]

Sad to report my sister-in-law had her visa denied today in Colombia. The CO said she didnt have enough ties to her home country and denied the visas for her and her daughter.

We are all disappointed about the whole situation.

[msbau764 245]

Sad to report my sister-in-law had her visa denied today in Colombia. The CO said she didnt have enough ties to her home country and denied the visas for her and her daughter.

We are all disappointed about the whole situation.

I am so sorry to hear that. I really am. One of these days my future sister-in-law will have to apply for a tourist visa and I pray she is not denied. The only hope I could give to you is have your SIL travel to Western Europe for a short trip and a year later apply for a tourist visa to the US.

[mike101 8]

It was a surreal experience waiting for my SIL to finish her interview. You could tell if people were approved or denied based on facial expressions and body language.

I was happy for people comming out with smiling faces and could feel the pain of those comming out with tears in their eyes.

[Nakai & Vic 15]

_{The U.S. State department clearly states "after relevant information is reviewed the application is either approved or denied." So if a CO denies an application with out reviewing your paperwork they are clearly breaking the rules right there. There should be something a person can do when this happens.}

[MacUK 983]

_{The U.S. State department clearly states "after relevant information is reviewed the application is either approved or denied." So if a CO denies an application with out reviewing your paperwork they are clearly breaking the rules right there. There should be something a person can do when this happens.}

The 'relevant information' is contained in the DS160 so what rules are broken?

[USandMalaysia 6]

Applied for B2 last year Feb and got denied with reason i am married to a us citizen hence I'm potential immigrant without even looking at any of my documents. This year Feb I try again and it is approved.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

An unrelated post has been split from this thread and given the topic title "Might My Mother Get a Visa? [split topic]."