Are there any exemptions for an interview

[calberry 18]

I'm hoping my mom's sister can come with my mom to visit me (I'm a USC) in the US at some point. My parents have been coming to the US for many years on a B2 visa and have 5 more years left on it so they're fine. Here's the situation:

 

1. My mom's sister has a lot of anxiety about standing in line and doing an interview for a visa and doesn't think she can do it

2. She's been taking medication for anxiety for many years

3. In addition to anxiety she's also on a wheelchair

4. The last time she visited the US was 25 years ago

5. Her family is very wealthy, well known, and showing ties to her home country is easy

 

Is it possible at all to get a B2 visa (or even a EB-5 visa) without an interview or should we give up on the idea of her ever coming to the US? Does anyone have any creative ideas?  

[Roel 7,191]

1. Wealthy family is not a tie.

2. I'm sure Embassy can accommodate someone on the wheelchair.

3. Your mom's sister needs to suck it up and go to the embassy for her interview. No exemptions.

[calberry 18]

10 minutes ago, Roel said:

1. Wealthy family is not a tie.

Yes, that makes sense -- someone could be wealthy and not have ties. However, in her case she's the owner of multiple businesses and employs many hundreds of people. Whatever the bar is for ties, be it for family, work, real estate, community etc she should pass

 

 

10 minutes ago, Roel said:

2. I'm sure Embassy can accommodate someone on the wheelchair.

Yes, that's probably true

 

10 minutes ago, Roel said:

3. Your mom's sister needs to suck it up and go to the embassy for her interview. No exemptions.

Makes sense. Oh well. She's probably not going to come then. My parents were able to renew their B2 visas without an interview and I was hoping there was some way to get an exemption for her too 

[Roel 7,191]

Unfortunately probably everyone gets stressed by going to the Embassy, so yeah, no exemptions there.

Applying for new B2 visa and renewing old existing visa are two different things.

[Unlockable 7,306]

42 minutes ago, calberry said:

I'm hoping my mom's sister can come with my mom to visit me (I'm a USC) in the US at some point. My parents have been coming to the US for many years on a B2 visa and have 5 more years left on it so they're fine. Here's the situation:

 

1. My mom's sister has a lot of anxiety about standing in line and doing an interview for a visa and doesn't think she can do it

2. She's been taking medication for anxiety for many years

3. In addition to anxiety she's also on a wheelchair

4. The last time she visited the US was 25 years ago

5. Her family is very wealthy, well known, and showing ties to her home country is easy

 

Is it possible at all to get a B2 visa (or even a EB-5 visa) without an interview or should we give up on the idea of her ever coming to the US? Does anyone have any creative ideas?  

Unfortunately, no. Everybody needs to be interviewed.

 

Also, I see no issues with your sister's condition. In fact, she may have easier access to the entrance of the building and may be seen earlier than the other applicants since she has these conditions.

[Unidentified 2,930]

4 hours ago, calberry said:

I'm hoping my mom's sister can come with my mom to visit me (I'm a USC) in the US at some point. My parents have been coming to the US for many years on a B2 visa and have 5 more years left on it so they're fine. Here's the situation:

 

1. My mom's sister has a lot of anxiety about standing in line and doing an interview for a visa and doesn't think she can do it

2. She's been taking medication for anxiety for many years

3. In addition to anxiety she's also on a wheelchair

4. The last time she visited the US was 25 years ago

5. Her family is very wealthy, well known, and showing ties to her home country is easy

 

Is it possible at all to get a B2 visa (or even a EB-5 visa) without an interview or should we give up on the idea of her ever coming to the US? Does anyone have any creative ideas?  

Anxiety is why my mother has never visited me. So either she needs to just try to manage her anxiety or just give up on visiting the US. 

[apple21 953]

You can email the embassy and explain the situation. No harm asking. 

Edited June 26, 2019 by apple21
Edit

[Unidentified 2,930]

5 minutes ago, apple21 said:

If her anxiety is that bad, is she not taking any medication to keep it at bay?

Meds are not a miracle cure for anxiety. OP mentioned her aunt is taking meds.

[apple21 953]

Just now, Unidentified said:

Meds are not a miracle cure for anxiety. OP mentioned her aunt is taking meds.

Yeah. My mistake. I already edited my comment. 

[MacUK 983]

7 hours ago, calberry said:

Yes, that makes sense -- someone could be wealthy and not have ties. However, in her case she's the owner of multiple businesses and employs many hundreds of people. Whatever the bar is for ties, be it for family, work, real estate, community etc she should pass

 

Then presumably she's wealthy enough to be able to hire someone else to do the day to day running of her businesses and doesn't need to be there?

 

It's a silly thing I know, but when it comes to ties to home countries and tourist visas you have to do some real mental gymnastics.

Every thing you think of as a concrete tie you have to then think of how it could possibly be turned around and used against them, see it from the COs perspective as someone who by law has to think that everyone coming up to their window is lying.

Documents mean nothing thanks to the ease of forgery. 

It's all down to a gut instinct decision based on a single questionnaire and a conversation that can be anything from 2 minutes to 10 minutes long and whether or not the CO thinks the person in front of them is trustworthy.

[ineedadisplayname 443]

18 hours ago, calberry said:

I'm hoping my mom's sister can come with my mom to visit me (I'm a USC) in the US at some point. My parents have been coming to the US for many years on a B2 visa and have 5 more years left on it so they're fine. Here's the situation:

 

1. My mom's sister has a lot of anxiety about standing in line and doing an interview for a visa and doesn't think she can do it

2. She's been taking medication for anxiety for many years

3. In addition to anxiety she's also on a wheelchair

4. The last time she visited the US was 25 years ago

5. Her family is very wealthy, well known, and showing ties to her home country is easy

 

Is it possible at all to get a B2 visa (or even a EB-5 visa) without an interview or should we give up on the idea of her ever coming to the US? Does anyone have any creative ideas?  

Since you didn't list your country of origin, I am guessing that the country does not qualify for ESTA? It is kind of easy to fill it out and you don't need to show up for an interview.

[Pinkrlion 2,611]

You can be exempt for a visitors visa interview if you are in your 80's.