Was Your Tourist (B1/B2) Visa Approved?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

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.

That's what I pretty much assumed a couple of posts later. I just wonder if it's just that data or everything.

[mike101 8]

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.

I posted this list for information purposes and was not trying to disrespect anyone. I was simply pointing out that not everyone gets a fair chance at getting a tourist visa based on your "ties to your home country."

The example I used was in 2010 the denial rate in Colombia was over 30% and in 2012 it dropped to 11.2%.. Just simply stating that there was a change in the political relationship between the US and Colombia and it correlates to a drop in the denials.

I never said that anyone was a "looser" or not worthy. Just stating that COs don't just take the persons ties to their home country into consideration when making their decisions. Politics also play a role in this decision which explains why COs don't bother to look at documentation in some interviews.

[Pennycat 880]

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.

I'm thinking that this is based on the location of the Consulates, not the nationalities of the applicants. So, if you're a Chinese citizen living in Canada (LPR, or whatever their equivalent is) and you want to take a vacation to the US, you need to apply for a B2 at a US Consulate located in Canada. Or if you're an Indian citizen on a work visa in Canada.. etc etc etc. Which is actually why the refusal rate would be so high. Because close to 0 Canadian citizens would be applying (well not actually 0 because some people are ineligible to cross based on criminal history etc), it would all be third country nationals.

Edited December 17, 2014 by CatherineA

[msbau764 245]

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.

that list is not accurate by any means. 2.6% of South Africans are denied, really? Does anyone with a brain think that is true? 97% of South Africans are not granted tourist visas. 9 out of 10 Mexicans get tourist visas whereas slightly more than half of Canadians are granted them? the numbers are skewed and presented in a way to encourage people to apply in order to fund the scam.

[mike101 8]

that list is not accurate by any means. 2.6% of South Africans are denied, really? Does anyone with a brain think that is true? 97% of South Africans are not granted tourist visas. 9 out of 10 Mexicans get tourist visas whereas slightly more than half of Canadians are granted them? the numbers are skewed and presented in a way to encourage people to apply in order to fund the scam.

I agree... The numbers do seem to be skewed for some countries..

[az2014 381]

Here in the UK if you come on a visitor(tourist) visa you cannot adjust to any other visa.

I agree it should be like that in the USA too.

I got my B1/2 visa a couple of months ago and am due to make my first trip next week, for 3 weeks. I have some documents if needed but I hope not to have any problems at the POE as I will be staying with my USC girlfriend.

I am planning another 3 week trip 8 weeks after coming back, then another 3 week trip 7 weeks after coming back. I can foresee problems if they think this is too often...

In one of these trips we may decide to get married, but only so she can come and live with me here.

[Ian H. 207]

Considering that they let you stay for 6 months with a visa on a single trip, I don't think 3 short trips of 3 weeks each will cause an issue. It all depends on the CBPO that you get if they want to bother you about it, but if you do that for the whole year though that's another story. And yes since you are coming to visit a USC gf you want to be prepared with documentation that shows you have to return home, otherwise they will think that you have immigrant intent and deny you entry.

[az2014 381]

Considering that they let you stay for 6 months with a visa on a single trip, I don't think 3 short trips of 3 weeks each will cause an issue. It all depends on the CBPO that you get if they want to bother you about it, but if you do that for the whole year though that's another story. And yes since you are coming to visit a USC gf you want to be prepared with documentation that shows you have to return home, otherwise they will think that you have immigrant intent and deny you entry.

After those 3 x 3 week trips over ~6 months I will not be visiting again for at least 4/5 months.

Yes I have my return ticket printed, letter from employer stating my details and date I am due back from work, employment contract, last 3 payslips, as well as previous passports showing travel to over 25 different countries, including Australia where getting a visa is not a simple process either, had to provide documents etc as well. I hope this will all be enough!

[Torete 121]

Great thread. Great posts all around. Enjoyed all the comments.

Confirms much of what I've always suspected.

My 70yo, retired, multiple property owning, sufficiently funded, MIL will most likely never have the opportunity to visit her daughter and three grandchildren in the US. Two denials already, a third and final attempt early 2015.

Wish she were from a VWP country...or lived in Canada.

Edited December 18, 2014 by Torete

[msbau764 245]

Great thread. Great posts all around. Enjoyed all the comments.

Confirms much of what I've always suspected.

My 70yo, retired, multiple property owning, sufficiently funded, MIL will most likely never have the opportunity to visit her daughter and three grandchildren in the US. Two denials already, a third and final attempt early 2015.

Wish she were from a VWP country...or lived in Canada.

that is such a disgrace. I feel for you and understand that pain.

[Torete 121]

that is such a disgrace. I feel for you and understand that pain.

Backatcha friend.

[Ian H. 207]

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.

Great thread. Great posts all around. Enjoyed all the comments.

Confirms much of what I've always suspected.

My 70yo, retired, multiple property owning, sufficiently funded, MIL will most likely never have the opportunity to visit her daughter and three grandchildren in the US. Two denials already, a third and final attempt early 2015.

Wish she were from a VWP country...or lived in Canada.

[msbau764 245]

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.

With all due respect, that is rubbish. What is the OP's grandmother supposed to do about having an additional child at her stage of life let alone a child that will live in another industrialised country? Many times they take into account nothing at all. The fact that the OP's grandmom has a daughter in the US means....wait....wait....here comes the kicker she has a good reason to visit don't you think!? Or maybe the tourist visa is just for shopping only because one can make up all sorts of reasons why someone will overstay or not. You have a friend, likely overstay, a son, potential overstay, a job, likely overstay because they can pay more in the US. I'm telling you it is arbitrary. If it isn't your day there is nothing you can do about a denial. As I mentioned previously I know someone that got a visa to the US with no job and no money in the bank. She has an illegal sister in the US and is single (in the eyes of the consulate because she ommited she has a USC boyfriend). Is that not a red flag? Edited December 19, 2014 by msbau764

[Ian H. 207]

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???

[msbau764 245]

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???

You can make up all sorts of reasons why someone would or would not have immigrant intent. I know people that have government jobs and own real estate that can't get a tourist visas. It is ridiculous. What is worse, if you are denied, it is even harder to get a visa, as if you are somehow unworthy and infected with some sort of disease. I'm sorry but the whole idea of having "ties" is BS. The CO make snap, judgement decisions and even have to meet quotas on denials. They have zero respect from me. I find them quite scummy to say the least.