U.S. Visa Interview process question-investigation by U.S. Embassy

lpdiver says on May 5, 2005, 10:42:

Is she Your girlfriend or your fiancee? I would not waste time returning until some significant change happens. No means no.

t

"cook some rice!"

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emiami says on May 5, 2005, 10:54:

she is my girlfriend
She is my girlfriend
Thanks
emiami

emiami

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william_andrew_channell says on May 5, 2005, 14:18:

Sorry to keep beating a dead horse, but it's COLOMBIA, not COLUMBIA.

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gstern says on May 5, 2005, 16:23:

my guess Imagine you are a consular officer charged with making critical decisions on who gets visas from a country notoroius for trafficking narcotics to the US. You are charged with two things primarily: do not grant visas to drug traffickers and do not grant visas to anyone you suspect will not return home to Colombia.

Someone comes to your window to renew their visa, that person is recently unemployed, has lots of money in the bank, more than makes sense to you and also has a US bank account. Hmmmmm, sounds like some drug trafficking is going on there. Best to investigate before granting a visa.

Then her boyfriend starts calling and emailing the consulate or shows up wanting to vouch for her. OK, he is an American, but what do we know about him? He could be a trafficker too. And anyway, now that she has admitted to having a love interest in the US, you no longer have confidence that even if her funds are legit that she will return to Colombia. You think she wants to go to the US to circumvent the K1 or K3 visa.

Bottom-line: I think you should let their investigation run its course. Even if it turns up clean, they may still not grant a visa given her employment status. And telling them you are her boyfriend/fiancee is doubly certain to get any visa rejected.

That is my opinion anyway.

At least Colombia is a short plane ride from Miami and reasonably priced. You can visit her.

Best-

Greg

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emiami says on May 6, 2005, 04:34:

thanks Thanks for the perspective, I would note that to break the stigma that COLOMBIANS are not all in the drug trade, its needs to start on this board

Thanks again!
emiami

emiami

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Crazy4Cali says on May 6, 2005, 05:42:

Don't shoot the messenger ...shoot the message.

Because gstern proposes a scenario doesn't mean they, themselves, believe it to be true, just that it's possible the counsulor officer might. Given the situation described, if I were the CO, I'd probably defer to an investigation as well. Your girlfriend's situation doesn't fall into the "slam dunk" category (e.g. she doesn't currently have a job) so it's being investigated further. My understanding is that many, if not most, tourist visas are summarily refused. No explanation, no investigation. Nuthin'. So it could be worse.

But, if it were me, I'd advise against a fiancé visa unless you really wanted to get married, since it's a one-visit visa. Further, that would pretty much guarantee denial of a tourist visa.

Without a doubt, it sucks to be treated as "guilty until proven innocent," but that seems to be the situation when it comes to visa applications, especially after 9/11. The last thing the Visa service wants to do is grant another visa to a terrorist AFTER they've already blowed something up. I imagine the pressure is on to err on the side of (perhaps extreme) caution then generousity.

Like gstern said, it's a short and relatively cheap flight from Miami so go visit her while all this is being sorted out. If everything is OK with her case, then maybe it'll get approved.

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lpdiver says on May 6, 2005, 05:45:

There is no... "Girlfriend" visa.

Tony

"cook some rice!"

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gstern says on May 6, 2005, 07:25:

there is a difference Don't you think there is a difference between saying that Colombia is a major narcotics trafficking country and all Colombians are narcotics traffickers? Dude, I am just trying to help you out by explaining how I think that the COs think. And as sure as the sun rises in the morning, they are thinking about this.

Go to the consulate yourself. Look at all the posters about not being a "mula." See similar posters at the airports and on billboards. Three of the times that I have traveled back from Bogota I was detained by the Colombian police at the airport so my stomach could be x-rayed (and I am an executive in the high-tech industry). Drug trafficking is a fact of life.

I never said all Colombians are traffickers. I have been to Colombia 9 times in the last 2 years, never saw any drugs anywhere and met what I consider to be the most wonderful race of people in all my travels around the world.

But denying that narcotics trafficking would be high on the list in the mind of the CO is just plain silly. Of course that is just my opinion.

I do wish you the best of luck though!

Greg

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emiami says on May 6, 2005, 07:57:

thank you for your comments! emiami

emiami

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802MARK says on May 19, 2005, 23:54:

EMBASSY GOING TO THE EMBASSY OR CALLING OR HIRING A LAWYER IS A WASTE OF TIME, THEY DON'T CARE ONE BIT ABOUT YOU OR HER. IF YOU DO GO TO ALL THE TROUBLE TO FILE A K-1 VISA, OURS TOOK 8 MONTHS AND WE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. BUT THE TROUBLE YOU WILL HAVE WITH THAT IS, SHE IS TAGGED ALREADY, MEANING THEY KNOW HER AND SHE IS IN THE SYSTEM, AND THEN SHE SHOWS UP WITH YOU FOR A K-1 VISA WHICH THE BUTT HOLES WILL KNOW ABOUT HER AND THATS ALL THEY NEED TO LOOK YOU GUYS IN THE EYES AND SAY NOPE NO VISA BYE.

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emiami says on May 24, 2005, 11:19:

tourist visa granted! The Embassy contacted here within 4 weeks, set up a time for the follow-up interview, she was in and out in one hour, reviewed all her paperwork and you will be happy to note she got her tourist VISA!

I want thank everyone for the comments recieved, some of which are very positive and helpful and some of which were very negative, especially to those who above indicated she is "screwed" in getting a VISA

Best of luck
emiami

emiami

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lpdiver says on Jun 2, 2005, 08:38:

Congratulations Fof how long is the visa valid?

T

"cook some rice!"

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emiami says on Jun 6, 2005, 09:36:

Thanks New VISA was for 5 more years. She was extremely happy.

emiami

emiami

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lpdiver says on Jun 6, 2005, 15:19:

Good for you And her. Immigrations aren't ALL bad guys.

t

"cook some rice!"

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emiami says on Jun 8, 2005, 10:07:

thanks-I agree immigration is not bad I appreciate your comments!
emiami

emiami

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ltnadonis says on Jul 13, 2005, 10:14:

I'm in a similar situation, help I Would like to know what exactly your girlfrind did/say at her interview that might improve my cousin's chances in renewing her Visa to the U.S. She will get an appointment but is afraid she will be denied a tourist visa since she had one before that expired, (she plans on getting a tourist and/or maybe a student visa - see my original post on the home page under "Need help assuring cousin gets a Visa to the U.S")

could you give any insight into what your girlfriend said through her interview process that might help me in any way? Thanks so much for any help

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emiami says on Jul 15, 2005, 08:53:

similiar situation She basically spoke the truth, had all her papers in order-neat presentation. Her papers included all bank accounts, proof of ownership of condo, copies of her past 3 years Colombian taxes, forms filled out correctly in her own handwriting, previous employment records/pay stubs (she presently is not working-was laid off)

She had difficulty because she had money in the US and the embassy was concerned about this account. However, after checking with bank in US, was not a problem and she was issued a VISA for 5 additional years.

Be truthful, have papers in order (read other posts of other itmes folks have taken) and do not be nervous in presentation

Best of luck!

emiami

emiami

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rjstuff says on Jul 15, 2005, 09:54:

good work and good advice I think that's the way to do it for any visa. Meet the requirements, have the tests and the documents, answer them the best you can and don't panic. Congrats emiami

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