Noah Lot

CBP does not deny admission to people 'just for the fun of it'....the arriving alien has to give them a reason (it doesn't take too much of one)..such as ....not telling the truth to the CBP officer, when they asked her.."what is the purpose of your trip?..' or..'who are you planning to visit?'..and the answers given were, ahem, something other than correct...they may have inspected her luggage and found love letters or things that told them her 'friend' was something more than a friend...or other clues that suggested she was not being forthright with them...and such actions usually result in a swift U-turn back to the plane and back home...it's is amazing how anyone retelling the story of a denied admission of their spouse/fiance or 'family friend' (all one and the same!) always cast the CBP folks as the bad guys, whereas the foreign significant other was always innocent of any wrongdoing and only told the complete truth....odd I don't quite buy that as often as this story has been told...when the denied BFs or GFs (or SOs) get back home and on the phone, of course they are going to re-tell the story to make it appear as though CBP plucked them from the line of arrivals, whisked them to a dark room, beat them with sticks, threw water in their faces, made them sign papers they could not understand and whose contents were totally false....yep...happens every day...sure....what has usually taken place is that the arriving GF/BF/SO has given incomplete, innaccurate answers initially, and then, if taken to secondary, there is other evidence in their luggage, purse or other belongings that tell the true tale...the one that the unhappy American BF/GF/ SO never hears...I've worked alongside CBP twice (one day each time) in an earlier career, while they were screening arriving aliens from other countries, and they have highly tuned senses when they are working the line, sniffing out those who have other plans with remarkable accuracy....I applaud them for doing a truly thankless job..but their decisions benefit of all American citizens living in this country, and keep our borders much safer....and not just from terrorists, but from those who are trying to circumvent our laws...

That cousin is dead wrong....anyone admitted to the US with a C1/D visa (crew member) CANNOT ADJUST OR CHANGE STATUS EVER!..Reread this...and explain it carefully to your sister...she cannot do an AOS to any other visa category, even if she finds some dodo in a trailerpark to marry....so if she decides to take the 'sage' advice of her cousin, she will remain out of status forever...

But at least she got the visa...

we understand fraud and deceit only too well....this entire story makes absolutely no sense..this child is not 'yours' ... period. It makes no sense for her supposed well-to-do-parents to hand her over to you for adoption if her biological parents are so successful in Ghana...which suggests they aren't...or there are some other parts of this story that have yet to be revealed....
Now, just to be on the safe side, since I'm 'American'..(making me somehow uninformed as to the way of the African world), I have forwarded this topic in its entirety to our embassy in Accra, so they can prepare themselves for any odd stories at the visa window in the future....just thinking in the American way (where adherence and respect of our laws is paramount)...

Until one is actually admitted to the US, other rules/laws don't apply (generally)...CBP can ask just about any question they wish of an arriving alien, search their luggage, etc....that's what helps keep America secure...instead of worrying about somebody's feelings. The security of this nation and its CITIZENS are a much higher priority than what somebody from another country thinks should be the focus.

You used the pronoun "we" in every sentence....'we just want her to visit', 'we asked for an extension' and no mention whatsoever about this supposed event. The tone and gist of your posting gave no indication of this happening, nor did you refer to it (nor did she apparently) during her latest interview; in fact, the only concern you mentioned was something about 'we didn't mention that she works for the state government;...etc......
so who is 'we?' And why weren't you outraged or concerned that the embassy didn't ask (or was informed) about the passing of your wife as the reason for the extension?
There is something missing from this story.

'Playing god'? How about obeying our laws? that is what they are there to do...do you suppose that no young, single Russian woman has ever overstayed in the US?
The OP has short term employment (less than one year) and thus such employment is relatively easy to walk away from compared to a job in which one might have more equity.
Our laws state that EVERY applicant seeking a tourist visa is presumed to be an intending immigrant until they (and they alone) convince a VO otherwise.
A congressman cannot change the decision nor make any attempt to influence their decision.
And trying to use older parents as an excuse is really not much...why? The OP wants to visit for 2 months....(a) no one in Russia gets 2 months paid vacation after 8 months on the job and (b) who is going to take care of those older parents in her absence? And if there is care for 2 months, why not for more?

He should get at least a 10 year ban, either for the overstay or the deportation or both...what prevented his return? And also note that while he can reapply, reapplying is NOT the same as being granted a visa (and certainly a tourist visa is out of the question)...sounds like you'll be required to eventually file an I-601 and an I-212, though how the both of you can make a case for 'extreme hardship' given his home country is Italy should be amusing.
Since he entered on the VWP (note the P stands for 'privilege') he waived his right to see an immigration judge...now before we hear how 'unfair' this is, had he returned to Italy at the end of 90 days, he would not have this issue...and whose fault is it that he did not return? Not CBP's. Not the immigration judge's. Not mine. Nor our 'unfair' laws......nope, the person who has total responsibility for this situation is the one whose face appears in the mirror each time he stands in front of it.

Sorry, but that woman did NOT do anything....YOU did....look at the totally illogical nature of your request...
(a) a bartender does NOT get 6 months paid vacation
(b) there is no realistic possibility that your 'job' will be kept on hold during your 6 month 'vacation.'
© bartending is a very portable job....one that can easily be continued in the US
(d) $7000 would not last 8 weeks while 'vacationing' in the US...and no, no one is going to believe that your friends will foot the bill for your food, housing and entertainment for that entire period....no one has friends like that.
(e) your uncertain, shifting answer as to why you 'must' spend 6 months in the US, backtracking to 90 days or maybe more than 90, etc...did little to establish confidence in the VO.
the denial is NOT the fault of the VO....after all, who was the applicant? You. Who has the responsibility of convincing a VO of your true intentions? You.
Whose 'fault' was this denial? Yours. Period. Trying to blame a nameless, faceless person won't (a) change the decision nor (b) generate any useful sympathy.
Bottom line: a six month 'vacation' for someone of working age makes little sense. And $7000 is a pittance for supporting one's self for six months in the US.

First, why do you even wish to accompany your husband during that late stage of pregancy, unless it was to have US taxpayers foot the bill? Why do you need to remain in the US for 6 months? Who is supposed to pay for daycare for the other child? Did you, eh, forget to mention this little sidetrip to the VOs when applying for the visa? (I am guessing that you did)....this is why the 14th Amendment needs amending...no more anchor babies that cost the taxpayers millions and no more free green cards for the parents.

I happen to know a lot about O-1s, and it sounds like the VO figured out that the OP is not in the top 1-3% of the 'artist's' field in the world..which is the main requirement...recommendations are meaningless...what matters is the accomplishments by said applicant and how they rank IN REAL LIFE in this category, not based on what some $300 an hour immigration attorney believes...combined with the fact that the OP was in F2 status (and thus misled the VO when obtaining his B2 visa), sounds like the VOs have figured out that there are numerous holes in the story...and as for violating some right, that's not possible...and the OP does NOT have any US senator on his side, since the OP, being Russian, cannot (legally) vote in our country...
A person seeking O1 status truly needs to be 'Outstanding' (hence the 'O') in his or her field, based on actual work and actual recognition by recognized peers...what often happens with O1 petitions is that the immigration attorney creates a three inch thick file full of documents that are in no particular order, filled with hints and suggestions, but because all the alleged facts are disconnected, it is more difficult for the USCIS adjudicator (who is often a stay-at-home housewife who has these applications outsourced to her, and is paid three times as much for approving one compared to denying one!) to wade through the baloney...but a detailed oriented VO can sift through the fluff and get a much better idea of what is really going on...I imagine that when the OP applied for his B2 visa, he did not mention he was some world class artist, but rather some sort of 'businessman'...so right away there was a disconnect....followed by a COS to F2 rather than seeking the O1 right away...and after painting three 'paint by numbers' works, some ethically challenged immigration attorney (are there any other kind??) met with him and concocted a plan to try and buffalo the system to get an O1...real O1 applicants don't need much in the way of documention...their own careers in their field speaks for itself...the more some immigration attorney tries to convince, the less convincing the story becomes....

Sorry, but that woman did NOT do anything....YOU did....look at the totally illogical nature of your request...
(a) a bartender does NOT get 6 months paid vacation
(b) there is no realistic possibility that your 'job' will be kept on hold during your 6 month 'vacation.'
© bartending is a very portable job....one that can easily be continued in the US
(d) $7000 would not last 8 weeks while 'vacationing' in the US...and no, no one is going to believe that your friends will foot the bill for your food, housing and entertainment for that entire period....no one has friends like that.
(e) your uncertain, shifting answer as to why you 'must' spend 6 months in the US, backtracking to 90 days or maybe more than 90, etc...did little to establish confidence in the VO.
the denial is NOT the fault of the VO....after all, who was the applicant? You. Who has the responsibility of convincing a VO of your true intentions? You.
Whose 'fault' was this denial? Yours. Period. Trying to blame a nameless, faceless person won't (a) change the decision nor (b) generate any useful sympathy.
Bottom line: a six month 'vacation' for someone of working age makes little sense. And $7000 is a pittance for supporting one's self for six months in the US.

Sorry, but that woman did NOT do anything....YOU did....look at the totally illogical nature of your request...
(a) a bartender does NOT get 6 months paid vacation
(b) there is no realistic possibility that your 'job' will be kept on hold during your 6 month 'vacation.'
© bartending is a very portable job....one that can easily be continued in the US
(d) $7000 would not last 8 weeks while 'vacationing' in the US...and no, no one is going to believe that your friends will foot the bill for your food, housing and entertainment for that entire period....no one has friends like that.
(e) your uncertain, shifting answer as to why you 'must' spend 6 months in the US, backtracking to 90 days or maybe more than 90, etc...did little to establish confidence in the VO.
the denial is NOT the fault of the VO....after all, who was the applicant? You. Who has the responsibility of convincing a VO of your true intentions? You.
Whose 'fault' was this denial? Yours. Period. Trying to blame a nameless, faceless person won't (a) change the decision nor (b) generate any useful sympathy.
Bottom line: a six month 'vacation' for someone of working age makes little sense. And $7000 is a pittance for supporting one's self for six months in the US.

'obsurd?'...who got caught with drugs and drug paraphenalia? USCIS? No. You. Our laws (those pesky things that folks from other countries seem to think don't apply to them) have a prescribed penalty for your behavior...case closed, end of story. Our legislators crafted those laws, then passed them. You violated our laws....now, it's time to pay the price. 'Unknowingly'...is a pathetically innaccurate term for someone trying to fob off their own irresponsibility upon some other person or entity or law. Enjoy yourself....outside the United States of America.

'obsurd?'...who got caught with drugs and drug paraphenalia? USCIS? No. You. Our laws (those pesky things that folks from other countries seem to think don't apply to them) have a prescribed penalty for your behavior...case closed, end of story. Our legislators crafted those laws, then passed them. You violated our laws....now, it's time to pay the price. 'Unknowingly'...is a pathetically innaccurate term for someone trying to fob off their own irresponsibility upon some other person or entity or law. Enjoy yourself....outside the United States of America.

'obsurd?'...who got caught with drugs and drug paraphenalia? USCIS? No. You. Our laws (those pesky things that folks from other countries seem to think don't apply to them) have a prescribed penalty for your behavior...case closed, end of story. Our legislators crafted those laws, then passed them. You violated our laws....now, it's time to pay the price. 'Unknowingly'...is a pathetically innaccurate term for someone trying to fob off their own irresponsibility upon some other person or entity or law. Enjoy yourself....outside the United States of America.

Your actual transgression, from what you posted, was relatively mild (NOT a crime involving moral turpitude by any means)...but...when challenged to tell the truth, you decided to be clever and try to outwit the CO...bad choice...apparently you did this more than once, an even worse decision. More than likely your electronic file has markers in it that show you refused to tell the truth, and remained evasive throughout....which means your chances of successfully obtaining another visa within the next few years is remote at best...credibility is the most valuable asset an applicant can possess...once damaged, it is nearly impossible to get it back soon...apologies, letters from friends, or a school, etc, cannot overcome the simple fact that you chose to lie on more than one occasion...no matter what some other third party writes about you, your own actions have done you in...the COs will no longer care why you want to go to the US, or why you may want to complete your education there....they only see somebody who has been less than forthright with them, and they don't like that one bit....they hear 150 stories everyday..and have to try to sort out who is telling the truth and who isn't..you made it easy for them...and right now, they have no reason to believe a single word you may tell them in the future.

Now you see what happens when you lie to a CO....your credibility is damaged....beyond repair....because now, the CO has NO reason to believe anything you say...he or she gave you 2 or 3 chances to tell the truth, but you chose to lie instead....and now...no more visas for you.

'obsurd?'...who got caught with drugs and drug paraphenalia? USCIS? No. You. Our laws (those pesky things that folks from other countries seem to think don't apply to them) have a prescribed penalty for your behavior...case closed, end of story. Our legislators crafted those laws, then passed them. You violated our laws....now, it's time to pay the price. 'Unknowingly'...is a pathetically innaccurate term for someone trying to fob off their own irresponsibility upon some other person or entity or law. Enjoy yourself....outside the United States of America.

'obsurd?'...who got caught with drugs and drug paraphenalia? USCIS? No. You. Our laws (those pesky things that folks from other countries seem to think don't apply to them) have a prescribed penalty for your behavior...case closed, end of story. Our legislators crafted those laws, then passed them. You violated our laws....now, it's time to pay the price. 'Unknowingly'...is a pathetically innaccurate term for someone trying to fob off their own irresponsibility upon some other person or entity or law. Enjoy yourself....outside the United States of America.

the COs will be wondering what is really going on with somebody who dropped out of school, and thus has no reasons to return home....(it suggests you were not a bona fide, serious student. and the idea of just 'hanging out' won't resonate well...$2000 in a bank account is (a) peanuts for surviving any length of time in the US and (b) can be easily withdrawn...) $6000 in a US account suggests ties to the US, and airline tickets have no magical mystical power over a person to force that individual to go to the airport.....

If you really believe in God, then why did you lie? Is that something that this particular deity prefers his or her minions to do? You cannot have it both ways; you want to call upon some deity for your visa salvation, as if by saying that, everyone, including some CO, will fall for this transparent faith and reward your fibs with a visa, or, you prefer to do whatever you want, violate our laws any way you choose, lie to our consular officers, and then try to elicit support from others, while summoning up some deity in a bottle to rescue you...? really? Either said deity bestows a visa upon you in a puff of smoke, or ... said deity is tuned out....I suspect the latter.
And if all you want is for someone to tell you how 'unfair' the refusals were...well, I doubt you'll find too many sympathetic types responding to your self created tale of woe.

Your actual transgression, from what you posted, was relatively mild (NOT a crime involving moral turpitude by any means)...but...when challenged to tell the truth, you decided to be clever and try to outwit the CO...bad choice...apparently you did this more than once, an even worse decision. More than likely your electronic file has markers in it that show you refused to tell the truth, and remained evasive throughout....which means your chances of successfully obtaining another visa within the next few years is remote at best...credibility is the most valuable asset an applicant can possess...once damaged, it is nearly impossible to get it back soon...apologies, letters from friends, or a school, etc, cannot overcome the simple fact that you chose to lie on more than one occasion...no matter what some other third party writes about you, your own actions have done you in...the COs will no longer care why you want to go to the US, or why you may want to complete your education there....they only see somebody who has been less than forthright with them, and they don't like that one bit....they hear 150 stories everyday..and have to try to sort out who is telling the truth and who isn't..you made it easy for them...and right now, they have no reason to believe a single word you may tell them in the future.

Your actual transgression, from what you posted, was relatively mild (NOT a crime involving moral turpitude by any means)...but...when challenged to tell the truth, you decided to be clever and try to outwit the CO...bad choice...apparently you did this more than once, an even worse decision. More than likely your electronic file has markers in it that show you refused to tell the truth, and remained evasive throughout....which means your chances of successfully obtaining another visa within the next few years is remote at best...credibility is the most valuable asset an applicant can possess...once damaged, it is nearly impossible to get it back soon...apologies, letters from friends, or a school, etc, cannot overcome the simple fact that you chose to lie on more than one occasion...no matter what some other third party writes about you, your own actions have done you in...the COs will no longer care why you want to go to the US, or why you may want to complete your education there....they only see somebody who has been less than forthright with them, and they don't like that one bit....they hear 150 stories everyday..and have to try to sort out who is telling the truth and who isn't..you made it easy for them...and right now, they have no reason to believe a single word you may tell them in the future.

Now you see what happens when you lie to a CO....your credibility is damaged....beyond repair....because now, the CO has NO reason to believe anything you say...he or she gave you 2 or 3 chances to tell the truth, but you chose to lie instead....and now...no more visas for you.