Tourist Visa Story

[Pete E]

Beatriz called me this morning from Bogota.She was very upset.
No she did not get turned down on the tourist visa,there was some problem with the paper for the cita.She called Teo Blas,who helps us with lots of things then I got the whole story through him.
She had to first go to a bank,pay a 36,000 peso fee,then call the Embassy for an appointment.They gave her an appointment for today,
March 3.Then she had to go to the bank,pay a $100 fee and get a reciept for it.That paper had written on it March 2.Yesterday.
So when she gets to the Embassy its your appointment was yesterday.No amount of explanation would change that,you need this paper with a bar code on it and what it says is your appontment date.
I called her back.She was crying her eyes out,probably blaming herself for the mistake.I told her don't worry,its not that big a problem,we will just have to do the process again.I had Teo call her and reasure her.I called her three times trying to reasure her its OK,don't be sad,no big deal.I even tried to explain the [snip] happens attitude when you can't do anything about something.She finally sounded a little better.I think she blames herself for the money the screw up cost,to her its  alot but not to me.Mostly air fare and hotel,only 420,000 pesos.I think we may not have to pay the $100 again.I even told her the rent from a guy who just decided to stay longer will pretty much make up for it.Things work out.
She is catching an early flight back,will be here in about an hour,maybe there is some more to the story.
One other thing.When we were putting the papers together yesterday I find out her savings account at work is really a manditory retirement account.Its not liquid.So I think I did the right thing writting a letter of explanation including that I will pay all expenses.But we will not know on that untill after she actually gets in for an appointment,probably 2 or 3 more weeks from now.

Pete

[Ray]

Damn Pete, that really sucks!

Tell her to hang in there and keep trying. If they disapprove her, she can always reapply again.

Ray

[Georgina]

Oh your post brought up so many memories.

It's pretty frustrating. I completely understand her. And there is not way she will make them understand that it was their mistake.

I applied for a touris visa 3 times while I was living in Peru before we did the Fiancee visa and all that. Here are my experience to see if they can help you in any way.

The First time I went (8 years ago) with a simple letter of invitation from my now husband and letters of my employer, house bills, etc. The interview lasted about 4 minutes (for the record). It was denied, of course, for not showing sufficient evidence of ties to my home country. He was nice, I think he would have given me the visa if I wouldn't have told him that my parents were separated, my mom was a homemaker and my father was retired. I should have made something up like that my parents both work and they were happily married and all my little siblings that I woudn't thik of leaving them.


Second time (two years later) I went again then with an Affidavit of Support from my now husband, letters from my employer, house bills that are under my parents name. Not much really. The only thing I had my confidence on was the Affidavit of Support. I was happy to know that a man was going to interview me. Women are know for being mean. Some of the female consules there have a bad reputation. Anyway, I think I cot him when he was in a good mood. I knew since the first second I talked to him he was going to give me a visa. Anyway, he says good morning and I say good afternoon and he says oh is already afternoon. Smiles. Good sign, because most of them are very serious and rude. So I show him my documentation and he sees the affidavit of support. He did look at the Affidavit. He then asks me why this person (male) wants to invite me. I say because we are friends (Yes, I lied) and he wants to show me his country. He then asks me with certain attitude I don't believe he is just your friend. He is your boyfriend. I knew that if I didn't give him an actitude right there I would have lost my opportunity. so I get kind of mad and told him So, are you saying I can't have male friends? He is just my friend for God's sake. He hesitates for a second, takes my passport and give me a blue ticket saying come tomorrow with this ticket to pick up your visa. I think I was the happiest person on the face of the planet.

With this I am not saying Beatriz should show them some actitud. I am just saying that she shoud see how the land lies and respond accordingly. She just will have a few second to study her interviewer and know how she can respond. It's very important not to hesitate when answering.

3rd time I applied just two weeks later after coming back from the State so that influenced a lot on the negative outcome of this interview. Interviewer was an old caucasian woman. She was rude and prepotent. She practically yelled at me.

After this one we applied for the fiancee visa. And now I have my citizenship, so I can't tell you how happy I am of not having to go through that crap anymore.

The whole process is frustrating, tiring, mind draining. I remember the times I went to the embassy. All these people, 200 hundred probably outside waiting. Good thing at least in Lima they have covered benches and water available for applicants, because I heard it's not the same in other countries. The whole place is fill with people on the verge of a nerve attack. You certainly know who gets the visa and who doesn't.

I think you are doing the correct thing by having her take your supporting documentation. But I think it really depends on luck a lot. I know young woman who didn't have anything to show up for them and got visas for 10 years. One of my ex-bosses friend who has lots of money and properties didn't get it. He also made a scene afterwards telling them they can stick their visa...

You really have to think a good answer in case they ask her why are you not getting married instead and applying for a spouse visa. You don't mention her father. They may ask her for him.  Or they may not ask any of these. You never know.

I am thinking about her. Good luck to you both.

Georgina

[Pete E]

Georgina,
Thanks for your support.You have been throught it you know how she feels.
She is back now,she was still crying.I think she just got emotional when they wouldn't let her in.She said it was horible.Probably a feeling or powerlessness,then guilt for not having noticed the wrong date.It is in real small print on her reciept.I always hate situations like that,it makes you feel insignificant,like you do not matter,just the opposite of the response I want out of life.
Lots of hugs and kisses later she is fine.It made me feel closer to her.She stayed at a little hotel right across from the embassy.A woman who worked there consoled her and made her breakfast.A taxi driver told her it was gods will,there was something wrong with today,she will have better luck later.Maybe.If she gets the visa next time,which is kind of against the odds we will think she probably would not have got it today so this was for the better.
She is back to normal,talking away on the phone right now.If it rings I let her answer.95% it is for her.

Pete

[Georgina]

That's the word I was trying to think about: powerlessness.

That's exactly what I felt. I also felt afterwards like I have been told all my life you are this free human being you can go whereever you want to and suddenly somebody was not letting me go where I wanted to go.

Anyway, you know I was just thinking the same as the taxi driver.

After she hofefully gets her visa all this will be just an anecdote.

[conocerme]

My inlaws also came away from the tourist visa interview feeling discouraged and basically never wanting to go through the experience again.

From time to time I think about having them try it again.  My suegro is getting on in age and I am not sure if he could really even travel well now.  But I just don't think their circumstances have changed enough that they would even be granted visas.  I know my family would really enjoy meeting them.  It can be one of the downsides to the International Marriage if they cannot get the visa.

I get a little jealous when I hear of inlaws and family members from other countries like Russia being able to obtain tourist visas.

Good luck to Beatriz on the next try.

[RonnieReagan]

My media naranja told me a colombiana needs to show an income of three million a month and/or real estate property in order to be granted a tourist visa but that's based on rumors she's heard. So does anyone know what the real honest-to-god requirements are according to the US Embassy?

[SocialDreg]

The US State department site has some info on tourist visas.

[Rebel]

If all else fails you should easily be able to find an attractive Colombiana who already has a visa to accompany you. If you really want a travel companion you can find one. Bogota is full of women with visas. Run an ad in the paper. No strings attached just somebody to keep you company with a chance for a paid trip.

Rebel

[soltero]

If all else fails you should easily be able to find an attractive Colombiana who already has a visa to accompany you. If you really want a travel companion you can find one. Bogota is full of women with visas. Run an ad in the paper. No strings attached just somebody to keep you company with a chance for a paid trip.

Rebel

What sense does that make? Who wants to take a trip with just anybody?
It should be obvious that he wants to take her.

[Rebel]

Of course he wants to take her but apparently you failed to comprehend my comment. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with. Is that simple enough? Pete shouldn't have to travel alone and someone else would get a chance to see the USA. People do similar things all the time.

Rebel

[Maestoso]

My media naranja told me a colombiana needs to show an income of three million a month and/or real estate property in order to be granted a tourist visa but that's based on rumors she's heard. So does anyone know what the real honest-to-god requirements are according to the US Embassy?

the goal is to show ties to the country that would be hard for you to give up.

Such things that would representative of such ties are major assets, real estate and a hefty bank account being amongst the lot.

[soltero]

Of course he wants to take her but apparently you failed to comprehend my comment. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with. Is that simple enough? Pete shouldn't have to travel alone and someone else would get a chance to see the USA. People do similar things all the time.

Rebel

I understood your meaning perfectly. What I don't think you are getting is they already live together, and knowing Pete, I don't think he would want to take some random woman he doesn't know back to the states to visit at this point.

I am not trying to be facetious here. I don't understand the point of bringing somebody I don't even know to the states with me. What's the point of that? Especially if you are paying. I would have to at least know the woman to even want her around. Please explain the benefit of bringing some random woman to the states with you. I truly want to know why you think that is a good idea.

[Pete E]

Rebels comment is something that crossed my mind before as a general solution,but not this time.A ggod idea for trhe guy does not want the4 weeks without he is most surely facing in the US.
First there is the novia who would be sitting home if she does not get her visa.Going with someone else would be much worse than last year when I went alone.
Second its see the family time,maybe a family reunion in the making.I am not going to take just anyone to that.
If Beatriz dies not get her visa I may cut it to 2 weeks instead of the usual 4.

Pete