didi&bebe

15 hours ago, Loren Y said:

I haven't gone thru all the posts yet, but I'm still spinning around in my head how some senator got a mother in law who was denied a tourist visa because she was obviously coming here to provide child care, so come to the US to work on a tourist visa, but he got it approved? I need that guys phone number, I've got a pending AOS I could use a fast track on.

I am glad you find the issue funny! If you were not aware you can contact your local political leaders and ask for help with federal agencies. They have interns in their offices who’s only job is to respond to the people in their region and help them. If you are truly  mistreated they will help you. Huge delay in an AOS case past processing time is a way be to be mistreated. 

10 hours ago, millefleur said:

What @Unlockable said. Exactly.

 

The issue of child care and a B visa in the US boils down to the fact that, if a grandparent is coming over to take care of a grandchild on a part-time or full-time basis, that it is taking away child care work from an American or LPR who is authorized in the US to do said work, and visitor visas are not for any type of work that could instead be done by an American or LPR for money in the market economy...according to the government, child care falls under that category, hence nobody is allowed to do it on a B, not even relatives or grandparents.

 

So, in a sense, it's about trying to protect American workers and also ensure that no "work" is done by those on B visitor visas, not about keeping grandparents away from their grandkids. Unfortunately B visas are regularly abused when it comes to unauthorized work, hence the draconian rules around obtaining one.

You understand that a parent of a US citizen is eligible for a GC and able to move here and do the exact same thing. There is literally $400 difference in the application fee and loger wait but ultimately leads to the same thing. If people plan it early enough they can have grandma here permanently watching the kids. Do all American grandparents get paid for watching their grandkids when parents work or travel? Don’t think so! 

12 minutes ago, Daisy.Chain said:

Childcare is considered work and is not allowed on a tourist visa. If she was coming for this, she was rightfully denied. I'm curious as to what changes were made to the visa application and if there was anything the senator did for the frandma to be approved. If they changed their minds on a denied B2 application, that is highly irregular. I wonder if there is more to the story?

Taking care of a grandchild is not considered work anywhere in the world. That’s what grandparents do...

5 hours ago, Unlockable said:

Can't tell you how many times we have heard this on VJ. This is why the assumption is that the decision is 99% made prior to the interview.

 

Can't help but to be skeptical about this. Not saying it didn't happen, but there has to be more to the story. 

 

One thing I have notice is that the people who get the most upset over visitor visa denials are the ones who have compared visa approvals to others they have heard of or witnessed. They speak about their denials then immediate reference a friend, family member, or someone else that got approved. 

 

There is a lot of talk about how the US government denies visas with no rhyme nor reason. USA issued nearly 6 million new B1/B2 visas last year and is averaging around 6mil per year

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2018AnnualReport/FY18AnnualReport - TableXVIB.pdf

 

Since 2014, the US gave out a total of 32 million new visitor visas. That is almost 10% of our country's population in visas in just 4 years.

 

I akin it to a hot and popular night club in a big city. Everybody wants to get in, but obviously for safety and security reasons the club can't let everyone in all at once. So there will be a few that has to wait outside in line. I see why people get upset at visitor visa denials. They kinda take it personal. But I honestly think that there are just too many people applying and there may be some system or algorithm that keeps the visa issuances at controllable levels. But that is just my theory. (aluminum foil hat off now).

 

@didi&bebe

If you take anything away from this thread the following quote should  give you the most thought...

If you think about it, your family has been successful in getting visas. This is a higher percentage of approvals  for family than most people here on this forum. A person should never expect to get a visa because a visa to the US is a privilege, not a right and it is never guaranteed.

 

Hopefully, he can apply again and be granted a visa. Good luck with your wedding.

Well you might be right but I am not shooting for high approval rate here. I take my family as a whole and one family member missing at my wedding doesn’t seem like a good percentage of attendance in general. Me and my brother are very close and this is one of the most important days of my life! 

And yes, I am referencing all the approvals I know of because it makes zero sense. People in the same situation can be approved or denied for no apparent reason. It should be based on people’s situation and the circumstances they are applying under. 

And “not everyone wants in” for the same reason! People sometimes just want to travel and visit places and family members. Traveling is a right not a privilege! Tourists gain nothing but experience while traveling and the experience traveling through the US is very similar to a lot of other places. Some people break the rules while traveling  internationally and others suffer the consequences. 

23 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

So you have 2 out of 3 in your own family & 2 friends approved but it’s all a scam? Right. 

If not a scam it’s a lottery. How did they make a difference between my brother and my friend who are the same age traveling with family for the same reason?

16 minutes ago, missileman said:

From where did these people with approved visas apply?   Bulgaria or Germany?

My friend applied and was approved in Bulgaria where she lives and works. My other friend lives and works in Austria where she applied and got approved last week. My brother lives and works in Germany. He applied today and got denied. All Bulgarian ln citizens. 

1 minute ago, Chris Duffy said:

Not at all

 

I have seen my wife relatives and friend with strong ties and get denied, and I have seen others with identical ties and get approved.

 

No Rhyme or reason, Had a US Citizen do a letter saying he would take care of all expenses and boom approved for a herd of people from Philippines.  Figure that one out

One of my friends from Bulgaria, the same age as my brother, got a visa last year with no problem. She is not married, no property or kids... her family had one reservation ticket to come visit her brother who is a US citizen. Exactly the same situation.

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

According to some people it’s all a scam to collect visa fees 🙄

I am starting to believe that this is true!

Just now, missileman said:

She completed an application, didn't she?

They all did. But there’s not a lot of information in the DS-160 form. Nothing about kids, work, property and financial situation. In my opinion that’s “strong ties” 

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Don’t expect miracles from the senator. Look up “consular nonreviewability”. 

 

Yes, sorry for your brother but this has happened to many people. Law means presumption of immigrant intent. Weak ties is a problem and a recent move to a new country doesn’t help. 

 

By the way there is no “list of documents “, not sure what that means??

By “list” I mean the ones I have listed with * below. There is not an official list of documents you have to present, I know that. I just wonder what is the source of their information. My mom applied for her visa in Bulgaria and literally had a two question interview followed by immediate approval. My dad applied in Bulgaria after he moved to Germany (he traveled back just for the interview) and was working there for almost a year. They didn’t even talk to him and approved him on the spot... 

Hi everyone,

I just talked to my brother in Germany and his US visitors visa was denied. The reason he applied is to attend my wedding in May (I am a US citizen). He is a citizen of Bulgaria but resides in Germany permanently. He moved there recently for a job and had all the documents listed to present to the officer:

* address registration in Germany

* employment contract with the same company my dad works for

* bank account with enough money to travel

* plane ticket on the same reservation as the rest of my family 

* wedding invitation

THE OFFICER DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT HIS PAPERWORK!!! None of it! Only the passport...

He is not married neither has kids which is not crazy for his late 20s. I am just not sure what does “strong ties to the home country” mean? Being old, married and own property? How do they determine the strength of his ties by looking at his passport only? Are there any steps that I can take further? I have requested an appointment with our senator in the state I live in in hopes that he might be able to help. I have a friend who met with the senator in his state and his mother in law was able to get a visa somehow. She was in her late 50s, married and had another child and grandchildren back in Bulgaria. Owned her apartment with her husband. She was trying to come and help with childcare for her new granddaughter in the US. Visa was initially denied and approved after the senator did what was in his power. I am very confused! 

Hi Everyone,

I don't think I ever posted my N400 process information and timeline here, but I wanted to share.

UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line.|Int ltr.|Intrview|Oath....|Field Office......|NBC/IOE|ECD......|Intr. Result 
........|03/07/13|02/21|02/21|02/24|03/14/18|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--|Montgomery, AL....|.......|.........|

I am not sure about the field office. I live in Birmingham, AL and I had my fingerprints appointment in a local small office in Birmingham.

Just today I received 7 TEXT MESSAGES for a change in my case. The Case Status Online says that interview was schedule and they will mail me a letter with instructions. I filed online and I have an USCIS account where all my other notices are posted but not the last one. I guess it will take a day or two to update. I cannot believe that I see the end of this process coming in the near future. That by far, is the most stressful thing I have dealt with in my life. Will post updates as they come. 

Thank you!

P.S. I have not been on this site for a long time and I think my signature with my other timelines has disappeared. Any help will be appreciated. 

I got my card in the mail yesterday

I am not doing any immigration stuff anymore!!!

Good luck to all

I got my approval this morning at 6:07 am. Someone didn't sleep because of my case.

Happiest girl in the world!

Let's see how long it takes for this card to be produced.

12/17 VSC approvals... I am holding my breath here

Opsss, sorry about that:(, I take a few days off and amateur mistakes happen LOL

Hahaha I wish I was in CSC. It would've been all done by now ...

Hey guys,

Please add me to the VSC timeline:

Filed : December 29

NOA : December 30

Biometrics : March 5

And by the way I had to pay $450 for renewal of a lost/stolen GC. Apparently these cases are not that popular and they send them to the NBC where these guys are backed up with cases from last year and I am probably not gonna get my GC before the time I need to apply for the 10 years one! I called them numerous times and every time the answer is "Sorry! We are currently working on caes filed June 2013 so your case (filed October ) is within the "normal processing time" which can be Eternity if they feel like!

Are they short on staff or something? Even if they were its been forever and whoever is in charge for that had to be a little more proactiv and do something!

I cant believe how they play with people's lives!

Hi guys,

I cant believe there is still someone waiting on a green card!!! Its been 1 year since I got mine!

I had a dufferent bad experience with USCIS tho! My purce was stolen and all my paperwork including my green card, SS card and everything! It was crazy! I became some kind of illigal! I was lucky my employer had a copy of my green crd on file otherwise I would have lost my job when my EAD expired! Make sure guys you only carry copies and when you get your green cards go and make copies everywhere you can (Social Security Office, DMV... Everywhere!) once they make copies in their office an put it on file you are good! I feel like all of you now without a green card! Cant leave the country and change my job!!! Just ridiculous!

Good luck to you!

Hi everyone,

Here is the short story even shorter... My purse was stolen a week ago and guess what - my Conditional Green Card, my SS card and my drivers license in there as well! So I was kinda lost for couple of days and didn't know what to do but finally sat down and figure it out! I filed a police report immediately tho!

I need to apply for Replacement of my stolen Green Card which doesn't expire untill March 2015 (Good! Have some time for waiting filing i-90 form and pay the ridiculous amount of $450!!! The problem is that my passport expired few months ago and due to financial reasons I couldn't make the trip to DC to renew it! So now I got duplicate of my drivers license and will be filing the i-90 next week! I asked a lawyer and even called the USCIS to ask if I can go for my biometrics appointment with my US drivers license as ID and nobody knows! Renewing my passort will cost my ticket to DC and the fee for my embassy and will take 60 days!

I just don't know which one to do first! If I was sure that I can show up with a DL for the Bio App in Metairie, LA I would do the Green Card first coz I cant have a SS card till then, both of which I need more than a passport since I am not planning to travel out of US right now! But if I just go there for the appointment an they say "Ahh... No Ma'am! I need to see your passport!!!" and then I have to reschedule and wait for another maybe 2 months (the government problems and ... you know USCIS)!

If anyone has similar exerience I would love to hear about it!

Thanks a lot!

P.S. If you ever think of lawyer consultation ( I mean a $200 conversation with someone who understands you) ... Save your money! Google it and post a topic here!!! Much more info and real experience

Hey guys,

I've been out for a while and just today opened the forum to check how is it going with your process... I just can't believe that there are still people waiting for interview! I must have been absolutely lucky then!!! And its not only that this process is ridiculous but without this Green card we are still nobody here! I couldn't even update my bank account before I got mine!

I was just wondering is there any of you trying to go through this process without attorney or some strange circumstances about your cases! It just seems to me crazy how some people have finished 3 months ago and you are still waiting! I know they had some changes in the immigration law and got a lot of cases at the same time after that but it still sounds crazy! And I can't believe that there is no way to keep them responsible for all that waiting!

Woah.. really? You live in Louisiana and you had to go to Georgia for the interview? I had no idea. There are reviews for AOS interviews at the NOLA office but not since 2012. Hmmm. Well now I really hope I DON'T get an interview anytime soon, since my husband is in his 4th year of Medical School, working 100 hours a week on-call, and a few days in Atlanta is just not an option! In fact it's impossible. Now I just hope that the theory UK AOS peeps wait longer but dont get an interview proves to be true!

I can't believe that you still don't have an interview date! We filed our papers Nov 19 and I thought it was too long! Did you call them? Is it any special thing with your case?

We actually live in Mobile, AL and the regional office for us Metairie and Atlanta for the interview.

CONGRATS! This was in Metairie, right? That's where I'll be going if I ever get an interview.

Thanks everyone!

We went in Atlanta for the interview! The Biometrics appointment was in Metairie, LA but I don't think they do interviews there or at least everyone I know from my area had their interview in Atlanta! It's all done for now and we are so happy and relaxed!

Wish you all good luck!

APPROVED!!!

I can't believe it went so easy! The officer didn't even ask a single question different than the application questions! He asked my husband about his date of birth and address and me the same questions and the date and place of our marriage! Then he asked if we have any papers to submit to our file and I gave him our tax returns for 2012 and my husbands health insurance with my name on it and that was it! We had like 15 random pictures with friends from summer parties and Christmas and he just took a look at some of them! At one of the pictures I am holding my husbands baby-niece and he asked who is the baby. My husband said its his niece and that was the whole thing! The officer turned around and printed some stuff, took my I-94 and asked if we have any questions about the conditional green card. We said no and he put the stamp on the aplication "Approved"!!! Gave me the letter and wished us nice day!

Our interview is in 2,5 hours! I couldn't sleep the whole night! My husband looks super calm and takes this trip to Atlanta as having fun with some old friends!!! I wish I was like him

Keep you fingers crossed for us!

Updates later!