I am a permanent resident, married to an US Citizen and my mom just had her visa denied.

[ggodoi 9]

I am a single child like many have said, my mom has visited me 4 times in the last 2 years under a tourist visa, my dad came for the first time with her on their last visit in December 2014, always without problems. Ties to Brazil are very important but MOST important thing is the financial situation of applicant. They wana see that applicant has enough money to spend in the US. Brazilian currency is R$3 = $1 so it's very expensive to visit here right now. My mom had the round trip ticket in hands when going to the interview and my dad did the same.

Good luck

[VOL 425]

Too bad the USCIS does not allow Tourist VIsa to put a large bond of money in order to secure they will return.

It seems if your are from Mexico or other country south of Mexici, then you are welcomed opened arm into the USA as long as you come in illegally..........

[Teddy B 17,251]

Too bad the USCIS does not allow Tourist VIsa to put a large bond of money in order to secure they will return.

It seems if your are from Mexico or other country south of Mexici, then you are welcomed opened arm into the USA as long as you come in illegally..........

The problem with that is where do you set the number and who pays it? That would also exclude a lot of people who couldn't afford the bond and cater to people with money, not really a fair way to go imo. I also would imagine that for some any bond would be worth it to get into the US.

[ggodoi 9]

Too bad the USCIS does not allow Tourist VIsa to put a large bond of money in order to secure they will return.

It seems if your are from Mexico or other country south of Mexici, then you are welcomed opened arm into the USA as long as you come in illegally..........

I have heard of many ways ppl get in the US illegally and some cost 20k + they would have to set the bond really high making it unpracticable

[jens_prodigy 13]

Hello all,

I'm very disappointed with US Consulate in Brazil. I've been living in the US for three and half years with my american husband. My mother has always been scared to fly and I was the one always going to visit her. Last month, she decided she wants to come and applied for her tourist visa which was DENIED today!

I think it is so disrespectful that they would deny her visa since I live here. So it means my family is not allowed to visit me?

She took proof of her job and the she told the consul she has family there and that she just wanted to come for a visit. I sent a letter to the consul explaining that she was coming for a short visit but she still got denied.

I know since it's a tourist visa there is nothing I can do. I applied for Citizenship and I am in the process right now.

Do you think once I become a citizen her chances of getting a visa would be higher? She doesn't want to live here, just visit.

I am so frustrated right now! Sorry for venting. Just want to know my options of bringing my loved mom to visit me.

Thanks!

Yep, I completely understand your frustrations. My sister tried to come visit me last year and was denied a visitor's visa because she didn't have enough ties to the Bahamas. She's 22 , works two part time jobs, has three siblings, a mother and a boyfriend of 5 years there but they didn't think that was enough. She was heartbroken. Now, almost a year later she is planning to try to come to the US again, not to visit me but to see our brother, her TWIN, graduate college. This is an emotional time for our family since he is the only boy and we lost my dad a few years back, it's a very big day and we want everyone to be there, especially his twin sister.

Instead of applying for another tourist visa like last time, she's considering just trying her luck at the border and hoping for the best (Bahamians are allowed to travel without any type of visa, just a valid passport and clean police record). I am so nervous because the ticket is not cheap and I fear it will be wasted if she is not allowed to travel, not to mention of course her missing out on this special day. But, like everyone says, it all depends on the CBP officer and if they feel like being nice that day or not and it's been my experience that they are rarely nice. Good luck to your mom, have her try again with more proof of ties.

[Sunnyland 639]

I'm gonna give my opinion of my experience. I have been here in the states for almost 3 years similar like you (at the moment in the middle of ROC, I'm married to an USC). I'm only child and my mom stills lives in Argentina. She is retired and over 70. Last year we did the process for a tourist visa in Argentina and I even went there to give her support with the papers, etc.

Let me tell you I was 98% sure that she would be denied for many reasons. She did not have great finances ties or other children there (she does have other relatives there though). She got approved after 30 minutes waiting inside the embassy. I was surprised as I really thought we did not stand any chance and that me being her only child would play against her. My mom said the interviewer lady was very polite and made her feel comfortable.

I believe that my mom's age played an important factor here. But also that they checked she has lived in the same place for the last 14 years and that she (and we) never tried for her to get a visa since I moved to the US. She was asked many questions about her background and why she would like to go to US. She said to visit her daughter that lives there (me) and would like to visit for the holidays or for when we can not go to Argentina.They gave her the visa for 10 years.

They never requested to see any of the documents my mom brought, which leads me to the suspicion that they do make the decision prior the interview actually. They only request to see evidence when they have doubt. They know when you lie or not. They even asked my mom if she had airline ticket already, my mom said NO because she did not know if she would be approved. The interviewer responded "Very good".

A few years ago a friend of mine planned a trip to Disney with her 7 years old daughter (her husband would not travel with them) she brought to the interview tickets reservation, hotels, papers of their properties, car etc. The interviewer requested to see all this papers. And for some reason she was given a visa ONLY for 1 year. And this girl (married to a guy that has a very high paid job) has MORE finances ties than my mom, and has no family in US. To me, what played against her was that she DID buy airline tickets BEFORE knowing if her visa would be approved. The embassy clearly states that people should not make travel arrangements until visa is in hand.

This 2 stories show that sometimes its not about how much money or properties you have. They are looking for some sort of stability or that the applicant does not show too much interest in visiting that place. My mom is not rich or anything but she has her life already set up in Argentina. In my opinion they saw that my mom, a retired person in her 70s with one daughter LPR in the United States who is a potential citizenship's applicant in the future, is not gonna be jumping illegally anywhere... When her migration could be done easily when I become citizen and petition her (in the case my mom wanted to come to live here in the future).

You mentioned your mom has a job in Brazil, so that means your mom is still in a working age. An ex acquaintance of mine, wanted her mom to visit her in Boston and her mom's visa got denied the first time. She had to use a congressman of her district. Her mom got approved in the second try after a couple months. Her mom was still very "young" (in her early 50's) so probably that was used against her in this case and the fact that her mom emigrated from Paraguay to Argentina decades ago and now had a daughter in US (naturalized citizen), they probably thought she would be emigrate to US and work there illegally.

I guess each embassy is different and each case is seen under different lights. Give it a try in couple of months. Maybe you can use a congressman and explain that embassy that your mom has no intentions of staying in US illegally. That you are gonna be USC soon and you would not risk your mom safety to make her stay illegally when you can totally petition her in the future (if your mom wanted to move here of course.

I wish you good luck for the next time.

[love&cinta 8]

I'm the only one child and my mom's visa got rejected 3 times, I really miss my mom and dad.. We were being honest but I guess that doesn't really matter

[Carol & Tim 4]

I'm the only one child and my mom's visa got rejected 3 times, I really miss my mom and dad.. We were being honest but I guess that doesn't really matter

I am so sorry about that It is very unfair

[VOL 425]

I have heard of many ways ppl get in the US illegally and some cost 20k + they would have to set the bond really high making it unpracticable

To make it to Dallas Texas it costing $3K. 2K for the coyote and then zeta puts another 1K on top of that.

[ggodoi 9]

To make it to Dallas Texas it costing $3K. 2K for the coyote and then zeta puts another 1K on top of that.

From what country? México right? I wasnt talking about crossing the border through the desert tho

[lmatos1978 14]

How long should I wait till I try again? I was thinking about waiting till I become a citizen. Thanks everyone for your help. It sure does make me feel a little better having all this support from you all.

Oi Carol, my brother was denied a tourist visa couple of years ago, he wanted to come visit and see where I live, he said his interview was not even a minute long, the officer just told him no you can't go, of course my brother was pissed, he has no desire to live here, has a good job and just wanted to see me, I told him to not stress about it and to try again later, he waited about 6 months and tried again and on the 2nd time they granted him a visa! It is a broken system and makes you wonder what guidelines they are following. So have your mom try again in about 6 months.

I'm close to become a citizen and was wondering if you would be easier for my parents to get a visa (they have no desire to live here), my brother and I are trying to convince them to come visit since they have never been outside of Brasil.

Well hope your mom can get a visa next time she applies for one! Um abraco!

[Boiler 43,386]

To make it to Dallas Texas it costing $3K. 2K for the coyote and then zeta puts another 1K on top of that.

That is about how much the Libyans charge for a trip to Italy. Seemingly the more you pay the higher up the boat you get.

[MacUK 983]

I'm close to become a citizen and was wondering if you would be easier for my parents to get a visa (they have no desire to live here), my brother and I are trying to convince them to come visit since they have never been outside of Brasil.

If anything, your citizenship may only make it a bit more difficult for them to get a tourist visa.

The tourist visa decision is based on if the interviewing officer believes the applicant will return home. Having a US citizen child (and therefore a pathway yo a greencard) can be seen as a tie to the US rather than a tie to their home country.

That is about how much the Libyans charge for a trip to Italy. Seemingly the more you pay the higher up the boat you get.

Ouch! Too soon?...

[lmatos1978 14]

If anything, your citizenship may only make it a bit more difficult for them to get a tourist visa.

The tourist visa decision is based on if the interviewing officer believes the applicant will return home. Having a US citizen child (and therefore a pathway yo a greencard) can be seen as a tie to the US rather than a tie to their home country.

Ouch! Too soon?...

I hear ya and I thought about that too, but that also would be a little silly as I could just petition for them to live here, and they have no desire to live here, my mom is 71 and my dad 67, they live by the beach (I live in KCMO) and all our family are there. Them getting denied visa would just be stupid.

[Boiler 43,386]

They are asking to be adjudicated as tourists, so any potential immigrant option is irrelevant. Well maybe the ability to adjust could be a negative.