Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow...

[Stevo]

Virtually everyone else got rejected, including lots of Babushkas. Last year another of my wife's friends got rejected with a wave of the hand.

Vive the bureaucrats!

[WillMc]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

I just realizred that readers of my comments in reply to your note might have the impression that I was implying that your friend did something unscrupulous or illegal to obtain her visa.

That was definitely not my intention.

I congratulate her and hope that she has a lovely visit.

I was venting my distress towards the arrogant heartless USCIS that is preventing good people from visiting our country.

[WillMc]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

Just read this article in "The Telegraph" a London newspaper:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=YXANKKY51UMQHQFIQMFSM5OAVCBQ0JVC?xml=/news/2005/08/10/wirq10.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/08/10/ixportal.html

Wonder how many of them are getting US Visas?.

How much the "going rate" is for them?

[WillMc]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

I was hoping to read that USCIS was becoming more practical, realistic, humane and flexible about issuing more tourist visas to the USA.

A couple of years ago I accompanied my girl friend to the embassy in the hopes that I gould be some help her get a tourist visa.  Everyone, including, yes, the babushkas, was being turned down.  Worst of all their passports were being stamped that they had been refused.  It was disgusting.

When our turn came I went to the, what appeared to be a bullet proof window, and explained to the young embassy official that I would vouch for, sponsor, and/or post a bond for my friend.  The answer was an emphatic "Nyet." When I asked why I was told that there was not enough evidence that she would return to Russia.  But that if I were to propose marriage and petition for a K1 it might be possible for her to obtain a visa that way.  
As he was poised to stamp her passport I protested and asked him not to stamp it.  I asked if there was anyway  to prevent my friends passport being stamped with the refusal of her visa request.  He thought for a moment and said that he quessed if the application were withdrawn the passport need not be stamped.  To this day I do not know how I got my hand thru the slot in that windom but I managed to pull back her passport.  I then asked him if we could get a refund of the fee.  He just laughed and said "no way."

The USCIS has been getting a lot of bad press because they have been so slow and inflexible and a lot of very qualified foreign students, scientists and other "good" people have been prevented or discouraged from coming here.  I believe that this nonsense is doing more harm than good.  I had hoped that the incompetence and counter productive arrogance of the USCIS had diminished.

Meanwhile I am sure that if enough "strings are pulled" and money exchanged under the appropriate tables a visa is readily available.  Or if anyone can get themselves to Mexico they can always just walk on over.  The Mexican Government will even give them a "How to do it" manual and a map.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Wife's friend got visa today in Mosc..., posted by WillMc on Aug 10, 2005

Just for the record, the USCIS does not issue visas. I think it is the State Department that you want to complain about.

There are certainly some arrogant assholes working for the State Dept at some of the embassies, but ‘most’ of the visitor visa denials are a result of a high incidence of fraud in some countries. As a general rule, when it is extremely difficult to obtain a visitor visa from a particular consular post, it is usually because the good citizens of that country have a history of not returning from their ‘visit’ to the U.S. As far as getting a visitor visa for a “girlfriend” to visit you in the U.S., it is almost impossible because too many U.S. citizens have used that tactic to beat the system by bypassing the normal fiancée visa process and then marrying her in the U.S. and adjusting her status rather than returning home.

Yes, it sucks when someone like you gets denied for a visitor visa for a friend, but it isn’t entirely the fault of the consular officers doing the interviews.

Ray

[WillMc]

... in response to Not the USCIS at fault, posted by Ray on Aug 12, 2005

Thank you for the clarifcation.

It is unfortunate that those who abuse ruin it for everyone but I guess that is just the way of human nature.

I do think that the State Department could do a better job of screening applicants before they have to pay $100 and have the rejection stamped in their passports.  For most Russians $100 is a princely sum and I sure wouldn't like to have such a stamp in my passport no matter what it's true effect.

Somehow it seems bizarre to me that we are so heartlessly diligent keeping a few thousand people from Eastern Europe from visiting our country because they might try to stay  when millions are walking across our borders from Latin America.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Not the USCIS at fault, posted by WillMc on Aug 12, 2005

I don’t know if screening applicants before they pay the visa-filing fee would be practical. I agree that $100 is a little steep for some folks, but it isn’t absurd when you compare it to the total cost of a typical tourist’s vacation in the States. I guess they charge a hundred bucks to help defray the processing costs and probably more so to keep the number of visa applications down to a manageable number. Can you imagine how many applications they would receive if there were no fee payable in advance? Millions?

Why they would insist on stamping a rejection in the applicant’s passport doesn’t make a lot of sense to me unless it’s a tool in the ‘War on Terror’. I’m more familiar with the visa processing policy in the Philippines and I don’t believe they stamp a rejection in the passport, unless it’s something recent.

It is common knowledge in the Philippines that you are likely to be denied a visitor visa unless you have substantial assets and very strong ties at home. A decent bank account, long term employment in a career position, and property ownership are some of the things they are looking for. A poor, unemployed, young, single female has almost a zero chance of getting a visitor visa to the U.S., especially so if she has an American male friend that she will visit. When a Filipino applies for a U.S. visitor visa the first time, he/she understands that it is a gamble and it costs a hundred bucks to put down a bet. But if a young single female has a history of overseas travel and returning promptly, then the chances of getting that U.S. visa are greatly improved.

When that consular officer suggested that you consider a fiancée visa, he probably was being sincere. I believe that it is quite common for American men to petition foreign girlfriends for a K-1 simply to let them come over for a visit. If you meet the application criteria, it’s probably the easiest way to do it. As long as she returns within 90 days, they won’t hold it against you and you can still apply for another fiancée visa for the same or different lady at a later date. Someone else can still petition her also. They do understand that people change their minds about getting married :-)

As far as the “problem” with our Southern border, I agree that it is out of control and something needs to be done now. I have a feeling that this will be a big issue in the next congressional elections. I hope so!

Ray

[LP]

... in response to Not the USCIS at fault, posted by Ray on Aug 12, 2005

"As a general rule, when it is extremely difficult to obtain a visitor visa from a particular consular post, it is usually because the good citizens of that country have a history of not returning from their ‘visit’ to the U.S."

Amen. I don't think people really understand this or how that data is used to determine visa eligibility beyond what the applicant presents at the interview. It's the number one criterion in determining policy and the main reason for frequent denials in those counties.

[Ray]

... in response to Re: Not the USCIS at fault, posted by LP on Aug 12, 2005

Yes, and another thing that most folks don’t understand is that having that visa doesn’t mean you’ll be admitted. The visa is actually more of a pre-screening of prospective travelers and allows you to board the plane. The Homeland Security (formerly INS) officers at the Port-Of-Entry are the ones who actually make the determination if you will be admitted and for how long. The screening upon arrival is normally just a formality in most cases, but quite a few do get denied entry and sent home on the next flight.

I know of one Filipina girl who had a 10-year multiple entry tourist visa and had been in the U.S. several times before. But when they questioned her on arrival on one recent trip, they denied her entry because it came out that she was coming to visit her “fiancé”. I guess they were suspicious of her motives because of the type and quantity of luggage she had with her. They probably figured it wasn’t typical baggage for someone coming for a short visit.

Ray

[Stevo]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

ggg

[Jwood66]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

Is she looking for a mate.....

[Stevo]

... in response to Re: Wife's friend got visa today in Mosc..., posted by Jwood66 on Aug 10, 2005

gg

[Charles]

... in response to She's married...2 kids...1 husband...2 l..., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

ht

[Frank O]

... in response to Wife's friend got visa today in Moscow....., posted by Stevo on Aug 10, 2005

Can you elaborate on WHY they were rejected? Also what KIND of visas were they? Just curious.