Tourist visa for mother in law

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

My wife has been with me in the US for 11 years.  We have talked about her mother visiting us.  So I secretly helped her get a passport and visa appointment, with the help of my sister in law.  I wanted to surprise my wife with her mom visiting us for Thanksgiving.  Today, she had her tourist visa interview.  DENIED!

 

She's 60, not working due to disability, married, owns own home, has 5 adult kids (3 living in her home).  Was coming by herself for a month.  

 

They have her that generic "you didn't show ties" paper.  BS.  But they told her like everybody else that she can re-apply.  In Costa Rica, tourist visa applications is a nice little business.

 

I mean what is she supposed to do?  She's old, and she's leaving her home, husband, kids, and grandkids there to visit us here.  Where's the risk?  What am I missing?

 

And the screwed up thing is that there's nothing she can do to change her situation to re-apply.  They will just deny her again.  Basically, poor blue collared working people have almost no chance to come to the US.  I understand that some people will probably not get a visa because they are high risk.  Like my sister-in-law, single, about 30, some education, no real steady job.  Then again I know 2 woman in Costa Rica who are hookers and they both have tourist visas.  It's very much luck of the draw, but once they deny you, chances of approval get worse, not better, I think.

 

Any advice?

[Boiler 45,658]

Well Costa Rica has a pretty good success rate, however not everybody will qualify for a visitor visa.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Your wife is a US citizen by now? Unfortunately your MIL is probably then suffering from the precedent of all the other parents who came to visit their usc kids and then “suddenly” decided to stay and adjust status. It’s frustrating, but other than trying again not sure what else you can do. 

[Eric-Pris 1,607]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Your wife is a US citizen by now? Unfortunately your MIL is probably then suffering from the precedent of all the other parents who came to visit their usc kids and then “suddenly” decided to stay and adjust status. It’s frustrating, but other than trying again not sure what else you can do. 

Yeah, she's a USC.  I know it sucks.

[aaron2020 11,651]

There isn't much she can do except apply again.  A different officer may have a different view of her ties.  

 

I am not rubbing this in, so don't take it that way.  Immigration means separation.  Sometimes, you may have to file an immigration petition.  Then give up the green card and hope she can get a visitor visa because giving up a green is pretty good evidence that you don't intend to immigrate to the US.  It may take jumping through some ridiculous hoops to be able to visit.  

[Pitaya 2,577]

The sad reality is that there are so many people that try to get a visitor/business visa just to "game" the system, once they are in the country they simply disappear, or adjust status. Barely a week goes by where someone will post here with some grandiose scheme to "game' the system, will try to beat the system. The end result is that we all suffer due to the shenanigans of these grifters.