Visitor's Visa for Wife's Family Member?

[Alabamaboy!]

Has anyone gone through the process of trying for a Visitor/Travel visa for your wife's family member recently? Are there any big changes now that we have signed the TLC agreement with them making it easier or less expensive? I understand that typically it took a long time to process and the odds of getting the visa were not good.

Also, any ideas of what to do regarding health insurance if the wife had her mother come over for an extended stay? She is 60 years old or so and not in such great health.

[Chris F]

What kind of assets does your wife's mother have in Colombia?  Does she have property?  Does she have a business?
 These are going to be a key factors on whether they grant a tourist visa.   She must have a reason to return to Colombia.

[benjio]

What kind of assets does your wife's mother have in Colombia?  Does she have property?  Does she have a business?
 These are going to be a key factors on whether they grant a tourist visa.   She must have a reason to return to Colombia.

Although I don't have personal experience this is exactly what I've heard. I expect this is the reason behind why I've also heard that it's almost impossible for a Colombian Senior Citizen to get a visitor's visa. Think about it...if an elderly person that's obviously sick comes to the U.S. where both the quality of life and health care are exponentially better, what would be their motivation for returning to Colombia if they weren't going back to significant assets.
 
I have a friend in North Carolina that married a girl from Barranquilla and he has completely given up on trying to get her mother here to visit after five years of trying. Best of luck to you all Bama. I hope everything works out.

[utopiacowboy]

My wife's mother, two brothers, sister and her son, sister and whole family (husband and three kids)  all have tourist visas to the US. It's all a question of assets and reason to return to Colombia. And yes, they know if the applicant has a relative already living in the US. The Muslims have Mecca, the Colombians have Orlando - it's their duty to make at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime.

[htown]

if an elderly person that's obviously sick comes to the U.S. where both the quality of life and health care are exponentially better, what would be their motivation for returning to Colombia

Is healthcare in Colombia really that bad?  I thought their healthcare was just as good as our, only alot cheaper.

[Researcher]

    My Mother in Law has a visitors visa and isn't in the best of health. I wondered if that would be an issue when she applied but she got approved.

[benjio]

Is healthcare in Colombia really that bad?  I thought their healthcare was just as good as our, only alot cheaper.

HTown, you live in Houston, home of the best Medical Center on Earth and you're asking this question?! People come from all over the world to get treatment there. Colombian healthcare is great if you want a boob job, lasik or braces. But if you're counting on Colombian Health Care to provide you with a life saving oncologist or a heart transplant you might as well hang yourself. Let's face it, the treatments older people need are complex, expensive and rarely available outside of Europe or the United States. You should meet some of the Colombian Nurses I know. All 3 years of school and they throw them in a clinic somewhere and expect them to save lives.

[Ray]

The Muslims have Mecca, the Colombians have Orlando - it's their duty to make at least one pilgrimage in their lifetime.

 

 
 
Do Colombians also face Orlando when they pray?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Alabamaboy!]

Although I don't have personal experience this is exactly what I've heard. I expect this is the reason behind why I've also heard that it's almost impossible for a Colombian Senior Citizen to get a visitor's visa. Think about it...if an elderly person that's obviously sick comes to the U.S. where both the quality of life and health care are exponentially better, what would be their motivation for returning to Colombia if they weren't going back to significant assets.
 
I have a friend in North Carolina that married a girl from Barranquilla and he has completely given up on trying to get her mother here to visit after five years of trying. Best of luck to you all Bama. I hope everything works out.

I know before it was like hitting the lottery to get the visitors visa if the person is of modest means. But have heard rumors that it is much easier now that there is the signed trade agreement between the two countries.

But even before that, when we were in Bogota at our own Visa interview there was a whole family that were from her barrio who were all coming to the US on a visa. I don't know if it was a visitor's visa or family visa, but 6 out of 7 of them got approved. The only one who did not was a woman in her 30's who was pregnant at the time. And these folks were from Estrato 2 or 3 barrio.

[Alabamaboy!]

Is healthcare in Colombia really that bad?  I thought their healthcare was just as good as our, only alot cheaper.

I would not say she is obviously sick. She is just used to going to the doctor frequently for every little ache and sniffle because it is basically free there. And here would cost about $200 a pop here.

Hell even with our new baby, without maternity coverage, with me making cash payment agreements with the hospital and OB docs as soon as we learned of the pregnancy, we are well over $10,000 paid out already with more bills coming. For a normal pregnancy/birth. It is obscene what the prices for healthcare are for working class folks when the hospital and clinics are jammed full of people without jobs having kid after kid for free. No worries at all. Driving better cars than me, better clothes than us. And after all that, the taxpayers have to support all these kids. It is a truly disgusting system.

[Alabamaboy!]

Is healthcare in Colombia really that bad?  I thought their healthcare was just as good as our, only alot cheaper.

My wife went to a reputable dentist there to have a crown put in. It cost like $300 USD and lasted about a week before it fell out...in the US of course. We went to Mexico to have it fixed and it has been excellent and was minimal cost.

[Alabamaboy!]

What kind of assets does your wife's mother have in Colombia?  Does she have property?  Does she have a business?
 These are going to be a key factors on whether they grant a tourist visa.   She must have a reason to return to Colombia.

Well I don't know if they would look at this as a reason to return to Colombia or a reason to leave there, but she is married and her husband is there in the house. And she has a large family who live with her and whom she loves a lot and would not want to be away from for a very long time.

I try not to ask about any financial things anymore, but they did have a little business making "micro loans". I think it is still rolling. But not a real big money maker where they are banking any cash. Probably just spending it as it comes in. I need to find out if their modest home is paid for or not. It may be enough asset for them to think she would return.

Do you think they would cut her some slack because we have a new baby and we don't have any family living nearby, and she would be helping out my wife for the next 3-6 months or so?

[Chris F]

Well I don't know if they would look at this as a reason to return to Colombia or a reason to leave there, but she is married and her husband is there in the house. And she has a large family who live with her and whom she loves a lot and would not want to be away from for a very long time.

I try not to ask about any financial things anymore, but they did have a little business making "micro loans". I think it is still rolling. But not a real big money maker where they are banking any cash. Probably just spending it as it comes in. I need to find out if their modest home is paid for or not. It may be enough asset for them to think she would return.

Do you think they would cut her some slack because we have a new baby and we don't have any family living nearby, and she would be helping out my wife for the next 3-6 months or so?

If you believe their is a chance AB then proceed with the paperwork on the tourist visa. It's only a few hundred dollars to try so you have very little to lose.
Good Luck and keep us informed!!!

[Alabamaboy!]

Yeah, good point.  I think we will give it a try. Why not? I will report back here with the results.