Money2g

Hello. My wife is currently asking me to help petition for her sister to come to the US, my wife is a US citizen. Her sister lives in Afghanistan and is married but does not have any kids yet. I tried to research if it was possible to have them come through humanitarian parole but am not sure if it is possible, right now the situation in Afghanistan is such that getting a job to support a family is very difficult because of all that's going on. The father in law of my wife's sister was a police chief in Kabul and retired 3 years ago and the current government doesnt take too kindly to people that were a part of govt before, so they legitimately have a fear for their life. I'm sure most of you know about everything that has happened in Afg this past year. Now I don't know if they would all be able to come here as from what I read, getting humanitarian parole is very difficult now. 

So my wife asked if its possible to at least petition for her sister and her husband to come to the US, and from what I searched on USCIS website, its not exactly clear to me how to get it done, if possible at all? Any information in the right direction is greatly appreciated.

3 minutes ago, Letspaintcookies said:

No way around, they have to send it. Should have applied months ago after they got married when the form wasn't needed.

It's all about the AOS applicant and includes a lot of paperwork. Use the search here on VJ and you'll find many topics about it that will be helpful 

Thanks for the reply. Would there be any reason that they would get denied, and even if they got denied what exactly would that mean since his wife came here lawfully.

Hello, I am currently helping my friend with his paperwork regarding applying for AOS for his wife that came back in Dec 2019 with a K1 visa. He has the paperwork filled out but what he's confused about is the I944 and when he mentioned it to me I had never heard of the form since I brought my wife back in 2010. I read the information regarding the form but I can't really wrap my head around it as the language used is very confusing. I'll explain his situation of how his then fiancee came on a K1 visa and what their current situation is. He is a USC and I helped with his paperwork when he applied to bring her here, once she came they got married and even recently had a child about a month ago. At the time he applied for her he had a joint sponsor which was his brother in law, now given that information, is the I944 something that he has to send with his AOS packet or are they exempt, if not how can they become exempt from it?

I appreciate any help given.

Oh OK, thanks. I was going on information from when I had done it many years ago, this time I was asking for a friend. 

I would also like to know this, as the K1 guide does not make any mention about the G325A even though it is an important document.

13 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

That’s an embassy specific thing you’d need to ask the embassy.

its interesting of itself though as keeping passports usually indicates that they think they are likely to issue once the administrative processing is done, in this case it would seem that something your in laws answered in the follow up questionnaire was actually responsible for the denial. (This is not a fact just an implication following from what usually happens)

Yeah, we sort of got excited to see that they kept the passports thinking that theres a high chance that they will be approved, but what really made absolutely no sense was how they determined the decision within 20 minutes. The questionnaire was answered truthfully and asked about work history and whatnot but apparently it wasn't good enough. 

Yikes, seems like a lot of horror stories about dishonest people. Well its like many things in life, the few people ruin something for everyone. 

I have another question, hopefully someone knows the answer. My in laws passports were kept by CO after the interview, and in the email that they received recently, it said that they can pick up the passports on the 16th, but the issue is that they live about 9 hours away from the embassy. They want to know if its possible to pick up the passports about a month later since the month of Ramadan is beginning in about 3 days, and travel during that month is more harder since people are fasting all day, so would the embassy hold on to the passports for that amount of time, or is it possible to have them ship it to them?

On 5/12/2018 at 6:36 PM, apple21 said:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/669290-parents-applying-for-a-b2tourist-visa-approved/

 

I found that sample questionnaire while going thru 300 pages of posts here on the tourist visa forum. There are different circumstances or factors that affect the chances of approval. So far here are what I’ve read:

 

1.  Having an immigrant visa filed on the applicant’s behalf, usually causes denial. 

2.  Having a USC child or LPR child, usually causes a denial, but in my parents’ case it didn’t (I am qualified to file for Naturalization this year).

3.  Intended travel date. Apply the B2 visa 3 months prior to the intended travel date. If you apply soon, it usually causes denial. 

4.  Length of stay. Long vacations usually trigger denials. Keep the length to 2-3 weeks only. 

5.  Employment position and years of service to the company. Highlight your important roles in the company. Show in writing in detail that you play a crucial role that will make you go back and of course it matches the salary that you’re declaring.  My parents are retired but still the CO asked what their previous jobs were. 

6.  Who will pay for your trip? If someone else is “sponsoring”/paying then write it. In my parents’ case it is my brother who is paying for their trip. He bought the airline tickets and travel insurances so his name is there, not mine.

7.  Don’t bother with other docs like land titles, car titles, bank statements.... those are not required. Even if you bring them, the CO will not look for them. Even if you volunteer to present them, the CO will not care. Why? Because nowadays those docs can easily be “produced” under your name. Whatever you put on the DS160, that’s your only chance of proving your real intentions and of course your answers during the interview. 

8.  Grandchildren/pregnant child/taking care or helping out with kids — usually causes denials too. As much as possible steer away from mentioning pregnancies, babies and grandkids. 😂

9.  Age factor. Suspicion of immigrant intent if parents are still in the working age bracket.

10.  Dress to impress. You will spend $$$ for vacation so look the part.

11.  Be relaxed, courteous, look the CO in the eye during the interview. 

12.  Memorize all the details of the DS160 and the other questions on the list I showed. Be specific with the answers. 

 

Good luck!👍🏼 

 

Thanks for the post, its very informative, I'll make sure to follow this if they decide to reapply in the future. 

46 minutes ago, Neonred said:

Want to share the experience of a close friend of mine.  He and his family are Uzbek.  They have lived here in the US for more than 10 years.  For many years they tried to get his mother a tourist visa for her to come and visit.  She was denied, but they didn't give up.  They had her reapply probably every 3 or 4 months.  About two years ago she was successful (got the right CO?) and came to visit the family.

 

She never went back!    And that is why it is so difficult to get the visa.

 

 

You see thats dumb, in the beginning of your story I thought to myself about all the free money the government got from them constantly applying and being denied when those people could have just tried to apply for an immigrant visa for her instead. But I guess those people had scummy intentions from the beginning or maybe they did the scummy act of making her stay just to "get back" at them for wasting all their time and money when they were applying for the visitor visa...I dont know 

34 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I can show bank statements and property deeds, I live in the US, Has not been a problem for me why would it be for them?

I'm not sure what you're asking? They had those documents with them, but the CO did not bother to ask for them nor would they have apparently looked at them. 

13 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You said they had documents that more than proved they need to return home, just wondered what they were. Business could mean anything but what does bank statements or property deeds have to do with this.

Well bank statements would show that they have money that they would need to come back for, and to also show that they can fund the trip for themselves, the same goes for property deeds. But I honestly dont know what else they can show besides that to prove that they are going back, I mean what other strong ties to the country can there be? They don't believe having underage children, family members, homes and a business are enough evidence to prove that they would go back, so what exactly qualifies???

11 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

I know it is hard to grasp your head around it but just because everything looks good on paper isn’t a guarantee for them to get a visa. Remember, there is no law or policy stating they have to be issued a visa if they qualify. It is not a right but a privilege.

 

Think about it the same way of applying for a job. You may have all the requirements; education, experience, trainings, etc, but you may still not get hired.

 

The officer simply made the decision that they were a risk of overstay. Maybe next time they will be able to obtain one.

 

You are going to stress yourself trying to figure this out. Best to not let it get to you too much and know that your in-laws can still apply for a visa in the future.

Yeah I'm done trying to figure it out, I already know its not going to make a difference because at the end of the day it is what it is. I'm just ranting about the injustice.

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

What documents did they have the proved there return?

 

How do you work out the 70% figure?

 

They applied to visit and were judged on that.

They had deeds to homes they owned, the business that they have, and also were going to show bank statements, besides that I dont know what else they could provide? The 70% figure is just an estimate, but I doubt I'm too far off with the estimate. 

30 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Objectively, it’s obvious why they don’t give specifics on that. The last thing they want is people specifically tailoring stories and rehearsing stuff that they think the consulate wants to hear.

 

the bottom line is that their current circumstances are not enough to dissuade the consulate of the immigrant intent that by law it must presume. This might seem unfair in the case of a genuine application, but it is what it is, and unless your parents-in-law can show a material change in their circumstances it’s unlikely that they would be successful on a second attempt.

What exactly would they need to change in their circumstances, thats what I would like to know, because whatever supporting documents they had more than proved that they have no intention of being intending immigrants. They were more qualified to get the visa than 70% of people who got the visas. Also if they wanted to move to the US, their daughters would be able to bring them easily, how could they not have realized that.

44 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Yes. The information on the form is the most critical, as has been noted a number of times already. 

 

i’m curious about the questions being asked about children’s dates of birth, I don’t think that’s usual and may indicate the application was already flagged in some way.

Yeah, I believe my father in law said that they asked for DOB for them but then again he doesnt speak english well so he had a translator. I just wish they would tell people about what they found that caused them to get denied so perhaps people can get a chance to explain if anything or make sure they get it right if they chose to apply another time. 

40 minutes ago, Boiler said:

5 minutes is longer than most so there must have been more.

Lol So you're saying the interview usually lasts like 2 mins?

15 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Ask them what questions they were asked.

From what my father in law told, he said that they asked their name, dob, about his daughters names and their dob, and I'm not sure what else, but he said the interview only lasted about 5 minutes

18 hours ago, apple21 said:

Well our country is considered high fraud when it comes to B2 applications for the fact that a lot of Filipinos didn’t come home and ovestayed in the US that’s why I did my research for possible questions for the interview. Just trying to help out. ✌🏼

 

Better luck next time. 

How did you research questions, so I may know what to research if they decide to reapply

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Google Sanctuary Cities.

Seems like a problem that should be solved by not allowing the municipalities to do such things, but only for people that stay on visitor visa's who definitely had the intention of staying.

22 hours ago, apple21 said:

What were the questions asked by the CO and what were their answers? Compare those to what you wrote on the DS160. 

 

My parents recently applied too and were approved. 

They answered with the answers that were on the DS160, what else could they have said. You and your parents are lucky that you're not from a country that is considered like ours, so you wouldn't really have anything to worry about to begin with. 

21 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

Understand your frustration.

Many times the decision is made pre face2face. The documents were necessary in case they were asked for. It goes to the whole “better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it” line.

 

The US doesn’t deny everybody. If you look at the stats, the US issues millions of visitor visas a year.

 

I do agree with @Going through that 2 daughters in the US MAY have had an impact. May have.

 

As you can see, every case is different. 

Yes the US gives out millions of visas a year to many countries, but not our country, its not enough that our country gets crapped on from every way possible but they have to add the cherry on top by denying visas to people that just want to visit, thus making them feel even crappier because they are seen as "that" country. 

22 hours ago, Boiler said:

This site is full of stories about people who visited and forgot to go home. Half or so of the people here illegally entered on a visa.

That to me seems like a problem that they don't deal with on purpose, I mean how hard is it to round up the people that overstay their visitor visa and force them back home? The problem with the situation is good honest people are being denied because of the fact that the government doesn't want to take responsibility for people overstaying their visitor visas.

22 hours ago, Going through said:

With two daughters in the US living as LPRs (plus any USC grandchildren?), CO might have thought parents had stronger ties to the US and less inclination to return home?

They only have 2 daughters here, as opposed to 5 children back home, so I dont think anyone wants to abandon 5 kids(4 of which are under 18) for 2 married daughters, not to mention that all the in laws' siblings live back home, so still I dont know of anyone abandoning all family members for 2 daughters. 

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

The information required is listed on the application.

 

To put it another way  how do those documents prove they are not intending immigrants?

Well they provided the best supporting documents according to the application, what else could they have given? They were providing documents to show that they have multiple houses throughout the country, that they have a running business, the were providing bank statements to show that they have nearly 100k that they would come back to. I mean this whole situation is ridiculous in that it assumes everyone applying is guilty until proven innocent. What exactly is the point of having people apply for visitor visas when they are flat out going to deny everyone without even giving them a chance, why not just stop allowing visas from said country, at least that way it will prevent all the people from going through the stress and heartache just to be denied even though they have no intention of leaving their country and family, especially when they are people in their 50s. 

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

A quick perusal of this forum would have told you that it is very rare for documents to be asked for.

 

Also you may see posts offering all sorts of forged documents pop up on this site, if only for a short time before our wonderful Mods delete them.

 

As an aside many of us have those documents and live in the US.

 

The additional biographic data seems to be normal from high risk Consulates but seems somebody screwed up asking for it when it was not needed.

 

 

So then how exactly can applicant prove they are not intending immigrants if they do not take any proof, that makes no sense. I understand forge documents might be an issue in this type of situation but my in laws had legitimate documents. Also why do they ask for applicants to show that they have strong ties to their country when they dont even look at the supporting documents they present? This boggles my mind to think that they can do stuff like this. 

Hey, thanks for all the replies everyone. So I'm back with an update on the whole situation and didnt want to make another thread for it. I'm really ticked off because this whole scenario seems like a scam perpetuated by the embassy to get money from individuals with nothing in return. Here's why I'm ticked off and think that way, I'll try to be as brief as possible since this situation made no sense. So my in laws went ahead and changed their son's passport to the correct spelling, and had gone to the interview a few days ago. They made sure to bring all the correct documents with them including proof of country ties to show that they are not intending immigrants since that is the biggest reason they hand out denials. The documents they had as proof were bank statements, home deeds, and business deeds etc. While at the interview the consular officer asked them a few questions such as their names, where they are going, and who they are visiting plus DOB's for their family that they are visiting.

The whole interview only lasted about 5 minutes, but throughout this time the consular officer never asked them to provide any documents to prove ties to the country and that they are not intending immigrants, and my father in law was confused as he was ready to hand the documents to the officer. The officer then handed them a yellow slip saying that the case has gone into administrative processing and that they need to submit a document which I can assume from the handwriting says "ns-5535" which yielded no results when I googled it, so we dont even know what it had asked for. Later on in the day after the interview they had received an email from the embassy that said that in order for the case to continue they would need to fill out the document attached which was named NIV biodata questionnaire. The questionnaire had about 10 questions which asked about their family and living history for the past 25 years, so I helped them fill it out. Now this is the second part where it gets really frustrating, after the document was filled out, they emailed the document to the embassy as it had said so in the email. Then exactly 20 minutes later they get an email back from embassy saying that the case was denied because they had not proven that they would not be intending immigrants. I have no idea how they were able to review that document and issue an answer within 20 minutes, it makes no sense. 

I've attached a picture of the yellow slip they had gotten to see if perhaps one of you can tell what document it was requesting from them, because as I said their situation made no sense since they were treated really unfairly. Has anyone been through this situation, if so, do you know how this can be reversed without having to redo the whole application all over. Thanks in advance.