Help, please. B2 tourist visas for 2 relatives in Colombia.

[Boiler 43,689]

Just now, sean126 said:

 

You didn't state the reason why you were refused, but my research I've done there is nothing that is wrong or will cause a B-2 to be denied because a 3rd party helps with the application, or if someone else is paying.   The form even has "address where you will be staying", "Person/Entity pay for your trip", "Person paying for your trip", "Is the address of the party paying for your trip the same as your home or mailing address?", "payer's address".  

 

Maybe I have missed something on Google or on the form but there doesn't seem to be anything that indicates that no one else should or is not allowed to pay the visa fee's or for pay for the applicant's trip.  

 

Are you saying the consulate specifically told you that you are denied because of who paid for your visa fee and who'd be paying for your trip to...wherever, as you seem to be indicating or is that just an assumption on your part?  

I have been a member here for more than 16 years and have seen no end of B applications, must be thousands. When I applied for my my B I was young(er) and naive. Anyway why are they not paying their own way? I have never paid for my relatives to visit nor would it have occurred to any of us that I should do so.

[sean126 2]

Just now, Boiler said:

I have been a member here for more than 16 years and have seen no end of B applications, must be thousands. When I applied for my my B I was young(er) and naive. Anyway why are they not paying their own way? I have never paid for my relatives to visit nor would it have occurred to any of us that I should do so.

 

Have I done something to offend you?  Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your tone here.  

 

"Been here more than 16 years and have seen thousands of B applications" and you either cannot or will not answer my original question, apparently won't clarify how I have ruined my family's chances of getting approved nor answer if the consulate specifically told you if you were denied based on who paid for your visa fees and who'd be paying for your trip to visit.   Why tell me how long you've been here or how many B applications you've seen then?  You're not here to help and pass on the information you've accumulated since being here or how many of the thousands of B applications you've seen?

 

Respectfully....does more than 16 years here mean no one should innocently ask you to clarify anything?   I'm not sure of the protocol or unspoken rules here.  Wasn't I nice enough to fully explain why I got involved with my family's visa when you asked me?   I don't know how else to ask in a respectful way?  Answer them or don't.   I was simply just as curious as you were with me earlier.  

 

I'm not understanding the reasons for any of your responses.  they make absolutely no sense.  I ask a question and you act like I never asked anything.

 

As far as the relationship you have with your family....I have no comment.  it's none of my business. 

 

Not that it's any importance, but I have fully and clearly explained why my family is unable to pay in one of my responses to you, so I truly don't understand why you are asking again and I don't understand why it seems to bother or intrigue you so much that someone has a different relationship with their family that is different from yours.    

 

It looks like with all your time here and the so-called thousands of B visas you've seen that you can't answer my questions or don't want to and since It seems you're looking for some sort of an ego/pissing contest, I will say that I have no desire to indulge you further into the personal relationship i have with my family.

 

Thank you for a very interesting exchange?

[appleblossom 1,435]

2 hours ago, sean126 said:

By your more detailed response here I can see you took the time to read my initial post and my question.  If you felt a certain kinda way by me pointing out before that I didn't think you had, I understand "tone" is hard to interpret on the internet....I wasn't trying to be a smart aleck, but In my defense I never asked how long the wait time was and you really didn't put your answer of "685 days" in context.  You simply stated it, which left me with only one conclusion, considering I never asked about it.  

Just pointing out, it was two separate people that responded to you. @jan22 never mentioned the wait time. 
 

I think you’re reading far too much in to the responses you’ve got. People are just typing a quick response to try and help, not trying to be rude. I think what @Boiler is getting at is that you and your wife living in the US means their chances are slim. I would personally suggest you help them less which sounds odd but you need to not be involved in looking for interview slots etc. It’s their application and if they’re asked about your involvement they want to be able to truthfully say they did their own application (legally they had to submit it anyway). 

Edited April 17 by appleblossom

[Boiler 43,689]

Jus telling you how it is, but do let us know how things go.

[sean126 2]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Jus telling you how it is, but do let us know how things go.

 

 

LMAOOOO. Ok.  Well thanks for letting me know whatever you believe you let me know.  

[carmel34 3,533]

B-2 tourist visa applications and interviews assume immigrant intent, which must be overcome by the applicant.  The stronger their ties to their home country (good long-term stable job/income, property owned, etc.) the more likely that they will be approved.  Each adult applicant will be considered separately and has their own interview.  Having relatives in the US weakens the ties to their home country, and increases the likelihood of overstaying in the US as many have done this before.  Another piece of evidence showing weak ties to Colombia and stronger ties to the US is the fact that you are paying for everything.  No one here can predict with certainty how this will turn out, all they can do is apply, interview, and hope for the best.

Edited April 17 by carmel34

[sean126 2]

1 hour ago, appleblossom said:

Just pointing out, it was two separate people that responded to you. @jan22 never mentioned the wait time. 
 

I think you’re reading far too much in to the responses you’ve got. People are just typing a quick response to try and help, not trying to be rude. I think what @Boiler is getting at is that you and your wife living in the US means their chances are slim. I would personally suggest you help them less which sounds odd but you need to not be involved in looking for interview slots etc. It’s their application and if they’re asked about your involvement they want to be able to truthfully say they did their own application (legally they had to submit it anyway). 

 

You are absolutely right.  I woke up in the middle of the night here....and Jan22 and jeanneadil have the same golden circle with a "J" in the middle of it as their avatar.  Being 4am and still half asleep it was an honest mistake.

 

I appreciate the time you took to respond to me, I really do.  Perhaps I did read too much into them.  I'm certainly human.  I was also raised that it was respectful to at least read a post before commenting (which if jeanneadil did then her response about the wait times was very strange) and if someone asks you to clarify or elaborate on your answer or random statement then it's just good upbringing and respectful to do so.  It seems my response to their perceived disrespect may have went over their heads.  I used to be a moderator for a few years on an unrelated forum and I have seen and understand that tone and intention are sometimes misinterpreted in forums and it can quickly become a passive aggressive back and forth due to jumping to wrong conclusions.   Yes...I felt some engaged in an unnecessary ego trip instead of actually answering my question and it definitely has rubbed me the wrong way.   I believe its extremely disrespectful to ask someone a question, have someone answer it and then ignore theirs.  It just is.

 

Well, as far as the other person....I very politely ask your buddy why he was denied his B2 and he just kept going on about how different his family values are from mine...which had nothing to do with anything.  I asked him what specifically makes him think I ruined my family's chances at getting approved...and still nothing.  There's only one of two ways to take that, which I won't get into as it solves nothing now.

 

If you have the time....I haven't found anything that indicates that someone cannot help fill out another's B2 application and if I did help that it would hurt or cause their application to be denied.  Everything I've found is the opposite of what you're suggesting.  Believe me when I say that I have search quite a bit over a few days and I ran out of search results.  Even on the US gov website it states...."  

Can a third party complete the form on my behalf? Who is exempt from signing the form?

 

If an applicant is illiterate or unable to complete the application, the applicant must be assisted by a third party. The third party must be identified on the “Sign and Submit” page of the application. While the third party can assist the applicant in completing the application, he or she must instruct the applicant on how to endorse the application on his or her own behalf by clicking the “Sign Application” button.

 

If the applicant is under the age of 16 or physically incapable of completing an application, the applicant’s parents or guardian may complete and click the “Sign Application” button on his or her behalf. If the applicant has no parent or legal guardian, then the application may be completed by any person having legal custody of, or a legitimate interest in, the applicant.

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

My brother in-law and nephew did, in fact, click the "sign application" button themselves in their own country.    I'm curious as to why, specifically, you are saying because we live in the US that their chances are slim at getting a tourist visa.  I'm not understanding the logic on that.   Legally, they did submit their own application....if the consulate checks they will see that the "Sign application" button for their electronic signature was, in fact, done in their home country as evidenced by their IP address, if they care to look.   

 

Even the form as a place that asks if anyone has helped you with the form and what relationship they are to you.  I've done everything legal and according to the instructions and directions.  

 

Please don't read anything negative into my question....but can you point to anything that actually backs up what you have suggested?  I couldn't find anything along those lines myself.   You got me very curious now. 

 

        

[sean126 2]

27 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

B-2 tourist visa applications and interviews assume immigrant intent, which must be overcome by the applicant.  The stronger their ties to their home country (good long-term stable job/income, property owned, etc.) the more likely that they will be approved.  Each adult applicant will be considered separately and has their own interview.  Having relatives in the US weakens the ties to their home country, and increases the likelihood of overstaying in the US as many have done this before.  Another piece of evidence showing weak ties to Colombia and stronger ties to the US is the fact that you are paying for everything.  No one here can predict with certainty how this will turn out, all they can do is apply, interview, and hope for the best.

 

 

Just spit balling here....but aren't there hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of tourist visas that get approved to come to the US?  It makes sense on the surface of what you're saying, but having a lot of friends and family from Colombia that don't have a lot of money that have gotten tourist visas that seems to fly in the face of that.   Not disagreeing with your logic, just stating my experience.   My brother in-law has a house as well as a decent job (for Colombia) that he's had for many years and his son, my nephew, is going to a university and would actually be working by the time his interview rolls around.  I appreciate the stuff to think about.  When it gets closer they will be brushing up on the available resources that are out to help their chances at the interview.  

 

My mother in-law was able to obtain one, a few cousins that are in their 30's, 2 very good friends of mine in their 30's with mediocre jobs...among others I know...were able to successfully get their visas the traditional way and not through a lottery, so....fingers crossed.  

 

I thank you very much for the info.   Greatly appreciate it!     

[JeanneAdil 6,239]

10 hours ago, sean126 said:

 

 

While I appreciate the reply,  I dont think you read my post.  

I read the post  and by answered by telling u the wait time should give u an idea of how long u will wait to see schedule for interview which would be in 2026

I doubt tourist visa schedule is even out for the entire year of 2024

 

aome embassies only show the next 2 months to schedule B1/B2

 

but checking the Bogata webpage gives u the instructions

 

https://co.usembassy.gov/visas/important-visa-information/

 

 

1. Once you make a cash payment, it can take up to 3 business days for it to register in this system, at which time you can schedule a Consular Section appointment.
2. You may use the cash payment slip for only one transaction.

[appleblossom 1,435]

9 minutes ago, sean126 said:

 

You are absolutely right.  I woke up in the middle of the night here....and Jan22 and jeanneadil have the same golden circle with a "J" in the middle of it as their avatar.  Being 4am and still half asleep it was an honest mistake.

 

I appreciate the time you took to respond to me, I really do.  Perhaps I did read too much into them.  I'm certainly human.  I was also raised that it was respectful to at least read a post before commenting (which if jeanneadil did then her response about the wait times was very strange) and if someone asks you to clarify or elaborate on your answer or random statement then it's just good upbringing and respectful to do so.  It seems my response to their perceived disrespect may have went over their heads.  I used to be a moderator for a few years on an unrelated forum and I have seen and understand that tone and intention are sometimes misinterpreted in forums and it can quickly become a passive aggressive back and forth due to jumping to wrong conclusions.   Yes...I felt some engaged in an unnecessary ego trip instead of actually answering my question and it definitely has rubbed me the wrong way.   I believe its extremely disrespectful to ask someone a question, have someone answer it and then ignore theirs.  It just is.

 

Well, as far as the other person....I very politely ask your buddy why he was denied his B2 and he just kept going on about how different his family values are from mine...which had nothing to do with anything.  I asked him what specifically makes him think I ruined my family's chances at getting approved...and still nothing.  There's only one of two ways to take that, which I won't get into as it solves nothing now.

 

If you have the time....I haven't found anything that indicates that someone cannot help fill out another's B2 application and if I did help that it would hurt or cause their application to be denied.  Everything I've found is the opposite of what you're suggesting.  Believe me when I say that I have search quite a bit over a few days and I ran out of search results.  Even on the US gov website it states...."  

Can a third party complete the form on my behalf? Who is exempt from signing the form?

 

If an applicant is illiterate or unable to complete the application, the applicant must be assisted by a third party. The third party must be identified on the “Sign and Submit” page of the application. While the third party can assist the applicant in completing the application, he or she must instruct the applicant on how to endorse the application on his or her own behalf by clicking the “Sign Application” button.

 

If the applicant is under the age of 16 or physically incapable of completing an application, the applicant’s parents or guardian may complete and click the “Sign Application” button on his or her behalf. If the applicant has no parent or legal guardian, then the application may be completed by any person having legal custody of, or a legitimate interest in, the applicant.

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

My brother in-law and nephew did, in fact, click the "sign application" button themselves in their own country.    I'm curious as to why, specifically, you are saying because we live in the US that their chances are slim at getting a tourist visa.  I'm not understanding the logic on that.   Legally, they did submit their own application....if the consulate checks they will see that the "Sign application" button for their electronic signature was, in fact, done in their home country as evidenced by their IP address, if they care to look.   

 

Even the form as a place that asks if anyone has helped you with the form and what relationship they are to you.  I've done everything legal and according to the instructions and directions.  

 

Please don't read anything negative into my question....but can you point to anything that actually backs up what you have suggested?  I couldn't find anything along those lines myself.   You got me very curious now. 

 

        

 

Boiler isn't my 'buddy', I don't know him, he's a random stranger on the internet. But personally I think your posts to him have been ruder than vice versa. I suspect the link about the wait times was simply a 'just in case you're not aware, this is how long the wait times are' - you'd be amazed how many people wouldn't know that there is a potential 2 year wait for an appointment and would think their relative would be over for a visit next month. 

 

As for you being in the US meaning that your relatives visas are less likely to be approved, just have a hunt around the forum and see how many people have been refused B visas for suspected immigrant intent, or lack of ties to their home countries. Having you in the US makes that much more likely. 

 

And yes, I agree that somebody not submitting their own application is fine but as you say that's for those who are illiterate or unable to complete their own applications - if that's the case then fair enough, but you haven't mentioned that being so. You completing the application for them if they were able to do so themselves just emphasises their tie to you which may not work in their favour. But this is all a guessing game, nobody knows for sure what will happen. My guess is that they will be refused a visa, as they have pretty much everything against them - US family, no money/resources, being from a high refusal country anyway, etc. But until they actually go for that interview, there's no way of knowing and sometimes there have been cases where people have surprised us and been given visas despite their circumstances.  I wish them the best of luck. 

[sean126 2]

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

I read the post  and by answered by telling u the wait time should give u an idea of how long u will wait to see schedule for interview which would be in 2026

I doubt tourist visa schedule is even out for the entire year of 2024

 

aome embassies only show the next 2 months to schedule B1/B2

 

but checking the Bogata webpage gives u the instructions

 

https://co.usembassy.gov/visas/important-visa-information/

 

 

1. Once you make a cash payment, it can take up to 3 business days for it to register in this system, at which time you can schedule a Consular Section appointment.
2. You may use the cash payment slip for only one transaction.

 

 

Again....your response is much appreciated, but it doesn't answer my question I asked.  I never asked how long the waiting is or how to pay.  I'm unsure of why you are telling me this...that is why I am perplexed. 

[JeanneAdil 6,239]

Just now, sean126 said:

 

 

Again....your response is much appreciated, but it doesn't answer my question I asked.  I never asked how long the waiting is or how to pay.  I'm unsure of why you are telling me this...that is why I am perplexed. 

expand out the reply 

it tells u exactly how to schedule the interview from instructions on the bogata webpage

 

[sean126 2]

3 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Boiler isn't my 'buddy', I don't know him, he's a random stranger on the internet. But personally I think your posts to him have been ruder than vice versa. I suspect the link about the wait times was simply a 'just in case you're not aware, this is how long the wait times are' - you'd be amazed how many people wouldn't know that there is a potential 2 year wait for an appointment and would think their relative would be over for a visit next month. 

 

As for you being in the US meaning that your relatives visas are less likely to be approved, just have a hunt around the forum and see how many people have been refused B visas for suspected immigrant intent, or lack of ties to their home countries. Having you in the US makes that much more likely. 

 

And yes, I agree that somebody not submitting their own application is fine but as you say that's for those who are illiterate or unable to complete their own applications - if that's the case then fair enough, but you haven't mentioned that being so. You completing the application for them if they were able to do so themselves just emphasises their tie to you which may not work in their favour. But this is all a guessing game, nobody knows for sure what will happen. My guess is that they will be refused a visa, as they have pretty much everything against them - US family, no money/resources, being from a high refusal country anyway, etc. But until they actually go for that interview, there's no way of knowing and sometimes there have been cases where people have surprised us and been given visas despite their circumstances.  I wish them the best of luck. 

 

 

Thank you.

[Timona 3,969]

What @Boiler is saying is that there's no chance of them getting B-2. This is what I also wanted to say when I  asked you if you're familiar with "Bogota and B-2s"

 

Colombians are notorious for overstaying in US. As of today, Mexico has put a strict measure on them because they're now using Mexico as a catapult to get into US via border and claim frivolous asylum. A lot of them are being denied/ being deported as soon as they land in Mexico. There was such a post here a month ago. 

 

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

You seemed to have ticked many of the boxes to ensure they do not obtain Tourist Visas.

 

[sean126 2]

Just now, JeanneAdil said:

expand out the reply 

it tells u exactly how to schedule the interview from instructions on the bogata webpage

 

 

I don't know how else to put this....Please quote me on what you think I'm asking.  Maybe someone has hijacked my account and asking different questions than I'm asking. LOLOL.  I'm good on everything I'm not asking.