Revocation of Tourist Visa - Informed by Airline at Airport

[observatorka 197]

The answer might be easier than you think. Maybe they didn't want the whole family to travel together. One family member stays home, more likely rest of them will come back.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Update: I wrote a letter to my congresswoman (DC) asking for help with a federal agency. I explained the situation of what happened to my mother-in-law and asked for help in petitioning the State Department to release the records of why her tourist visa was revoked. I also included a release from my mother in law saying that they could release her records to me and a copy of her passport and VISA. I cc-ed the Fraud Prevention Unit at the Bogota Embassy that had responded to my mother in law's inquiry about her tourist Visa in the email as well.

Yesterday, about two weeks later, I received a response from the Non Immigrant Visa Unit at the Bogota Embassy saying that my mother in law's visa had been revoked in April after they tried to contact her to come in for a follow-up interview. They also said she should bring in any documents related to criminal or arrest history if she wants to reapply.

We are very happy with this response because 1. I didn't really expect them to respond and 2. This signifies that it is probably someone with the same name that had something happen.

Meanwhile, my inlaws had also met with a lawyer that said Visa Revocation usually is one of three things;

1. Mistaken Identity/Name

2. Someone sent in an anonymous tip about you

3. A lie on the application

THey also recommended she go to the embassy and ask the security guard to be let in without an appointment to try to figure out what happened.

With this new information, not sure if she will just go to the embassy like this or apply for a new visa.

Anyway, I am actually really happy with the Bogota embassy for responding to me. I feel like they actually care about me as a US citizen. I also had a good experience applying for the spousal visa with them as well.

Basing this purely on the fact that they want her to re-interview and bring criminal history documentation, I highly suspect this is a case of Mistaken Identity. ie.. a person with the same name was placed on the do not allow into the US list, and as a result her Visa was revoked.

[TBoneTX 43,081]

This sounds promising. Thanks for the detailed update.

[ManCharsey 254]

Hopefully everything works out well for your Mother in law. Keep us updated on what happens.

[gamm3 13]

Final Update: (I Hope).

My mother in law and father in law reapplied/renewed the tourist visa. My SIL renewed on her own and was approved easily. In Bogota this is now not at the actual embassy, but at another processing center (for those that have already had a tourist visa). At the processing center, my mother in law was told that she had to come to the embassy for an interview a few weeks later. They took her fingerprints and also kept my fil's passport at the same time. A few days before my mil interview I emailed my representative again and they sent me a letter for her to take to the interview. It basically just said this is the mil of one of my constituents - please afford her all time and consideration in the interview and update us on the results. My MIL went to the interview and gave the letter to the woman. She said the woman was gone a while with the letter and seemed nicer when she came back. She asked her a few questions like if she had been in trouble etc. She also asked her why she wanted to go to the US. She answered to visit her son and grandchild that was going to be born. The woman asked her if she was going to be traveling any time soon and that she was going to keep the passports. The interviewer said that she should wait for notification from the embassy. The embassy responded to my representative saying that they had interviewed my MIL and were unable to come to a decision yet and would notify them when they did.

We have been checking the status of both my MIL and FIL's visa applications online and last week we noticed that my FIL's said denied, while my MIL still said Administrative Processing. Of course we freaked out and sent an email to the embassy since he never had an interview or anything. They never responded, but it was changed to Administrative Processing. Then today they received a notification from DHL and we check their VISA status and it says ISSUED. Which (I think) is good news!!

All 4 days before my due date. My husband and I are so relieved knowing that his parents will be able to travel to meet their grandchild. Even though we went through the spousal visa process; since I was living in Colombia at the time, this is the first time I have really felt the pain of your freedom being limited because of VISA issues. Very happy it has been resolved!

[txl344655 7]

Congratulations! Thanks for the update.

Final Update: (I Hope).

My mother in law and father in law reapplied/renewed the tourist visa. My SIL renewed on her own and was approved easily. In Bogota this is now not at the actual embassy, but at another processing center (for those that have already had a tourist visa). At the processing center, my mother in law was told that she had to come to the embassy for an interview a few weeks later. They took her fingerprints and also kept my fil's passport at the same time. A few days before my mil interview I emailed my representative again and they sent me a letter for her to take to the interview. It basically just said this is the mil of one of my constituents - please afford her all time and consideration in the interview and update us on the results. My MIL went to the interview and gave the letter to the woman. She said the woman was gone a while with the letter and seemed nicer when she came back. She asked her a few questions like if she had been in trouble etc. She also asked her why she wanted to go to the US. She answered to visit her son and grandchild that was going to be born. The woman asked her if she was going to be traveling any time soon and that she was going to keep the passports. The interviewer said that she should wait for notification from the embassy. The embassy responded to my representative saying that they had interviewed my MIL and were unable to come to a decision yet and would notify them when they did.

We have been checking the status of both my MIL and FIL's visa applications online and last week we noticed that my FIL's said denied, while my MIL still said Administrative Processing. Of course we freaked out and sent an email to the embassy since he never had an interview or anything. They never responded, but it was changed to Administrative Processing. Then today they received a notification from DHL and we check their VISA status and it says ISSUED. Which (I think) is good news!!

All 4 days before my due date. My husband and I are so relieved knowing that his parents will be able to travel to meet their grandchild. Even though we went through the spousal visa process; since I was living in Colombia at the time, this is the first time I have really felt the pain of your freedom being limited because of VISA issues. Very happy it has been resolved!

[TBoneTX 43,081]

What a relief for you. Thanks for returning with the positive update.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

Good for you!

[EmilyW 1,225]

I've been reading this thread for a while. This is brilliant news, OP!

[KierenHby 897]

Agree with the others. Great news!