Sisterly Visit

[GoodOlBoy]

Not trying to cast any "aspersions" on anyones character here, BUT is it possible Vaughn that there is something in your SIL past that is causing her all of this trouble at the interview?  :noidea:

Maybe even something that your wife doesn't know about?

GOB

[Faux Pas]

Lets not forget that the Department of State is part of the Executive Branch of Government.

That's why the Legislative and Judicial branches can't touch DOS and can only politely ask or enquire.  That's how they keep folks in Guantanamo Bay and can have immigration policies without providing an appeal process.  Even the Supreme Court would not do anything.

Considering the branches are not getting along at all lately, probably better off writing the President instead.

Not hardly. If his Senator is at all responsive to constituents they will have such a person on staff to look into these matters. Ambassadors and Consulates are political appointees and government employees who find it beneficial to be helpful to the Legislative branches where possible.

That said, it doesn't mean an approved application but they will likely review it and provide an explanation rather than the rubber stamp denial.

[BC]

Faux Pas,

Of course many roads lead to Rome, but thinking about similar cases seen over the years, when it comes to tourist visa denial you're basically screwed both coming and going.

The first Senator or Congressman that is able to set a track record of success would immediately be flooded and do nothing but...  in-boxes are already full, so much so that many congres(wo)men and senators have info on their websites that directly address these issues.

http://www.immihelp.com/visitor-visa/senator-congressman-help-visitors-visa-refusal-usa.html

http://wolf.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=251

http://johnlewis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152

Google is full of it.. LOL

No magic bullets that I can find.

IMHO it's not that they don't care, but that there ain't a darned thing they can do to assure any result at all, or even a response.

Privilege vs entitlement.

[SMS60]

Not trying to cast any "aspersions" on anyones character here, BUT is it possible Vaughn that there is something in your SIL past that is causing her all of this trouble at the interview?  :noidea:

Maybe even something that your wife doesn't know about?

GOB

I agree with this....... I too, not casting stones at ones character. When you cant understand why something is happening or it just does not make sense it is usually because you don't know all the facts. With all the facts..... unexplained situations become more clear.

I would tread lightly on sticking your neck out too far.....you could be decapitated.

But I agree this sucks. It does seem as if anyone who applies is granted a tourist visa.

[Faux Pas]

I agree with this....... I too, not casting stones at ones character. When you cant understand why something is happening or it just does not make sense it is usually because you don't know all the facts. With all the facts..... unexplained situations become more clear.

I would tread lightly on sticking your neck out too far.....you could be decapitated.

But I agree this sucks. It does seem as if anyone who applies is granted a tourist visa.

I agree with you here and that may very well be the case but, there is an inordinate amount of rubber stamping denials as well. Just a few years ago these visas were almost unheard of for approvals but not so much the case now. I can understand it when they do not meet the criteria but when they do meet it and denied (which is often) there is just too much subjectivity given the "officers". B!tching about it won't change nothing but, they should provide a reason

[Vaughn]

Did you sent an email to the consul "smoothing" the way?

No, we did not - and I'm beginning to think that should we cast a third hook that might be a worthy ploy.

Not trying to cast any "aspersions" on anyones character here, BUT is it possible Vaughn that there is something in your SIL past that is causing her all of this trouble at the interview?  :noidea:

Maybe even something that your wife doesn't know about?

No offense taken, GOB - I sat down yesterday with Elvira, gave her the wide eyed look and asked, "Is there
anything about Venera that I should know that may have caused this refusal?" Elvira responded very candidly,
no. She's known her sister since Day One on this Earth and is completely knowledgeable about Venera's life and
lifestyle from then until now. Never been in trouble, never been associated with anything below board. Finished
grade school at 12 and was gifted enough to enter the Bazovyj Medical College, finishing 4 years later with what
sounds like the equivalent of a LPN or LVN license. At 17 was hired by a large manufacturing firm as a company nurse.
Eventually found her niche in skin care and found employment in that field. Then met her husband and married. Together
they began importing fabrics and clothing from Turkey, distributing them to retailers. I saw this new found knowledge
as a red flag and asked, "During that time (approx 1990) were there ANY troubles with militsia or mafia?" None. Then
operating costs became too difficult to leverage, so the husband became a used car dealer while Venera got back into
skin care (esthetics). Two years ago that business folded, so she took her savings and opened up her own business.
Married 21 years to my brother-in-law, one child in college on scholarship. That's pretty much the whole history.

My gut says if there's a skeleton hiding, my wife would know about it. 

[Vaughn]

By any chance, do you have the name of the person who did this " non-interview" ?

No. The interviewer was an American (we think) female of Asian or Hispanic descent, and like
three years ago, made virtually no eye contact. Let me correct myself - there was an interview, albeit a brief
one. Three questions: What is your name? Who do you intend to visit? What kind of business are you operating?
As the answers spilled forth, the woman was busy banging on a keyboard, never looking up. Upon the third answer,
a sheet of paper came off the printer like a fax....  denied. Sorry Charlie.

To preface things, the following is non-classified material. This was their response to my e-mail, and as Faux Pas
correctly noted, they're not going to enter into a debate with me. I am most familiar with the "Need to Know" aspect
of government having held security clearances in the past. That won't change.

Thank you for your inquiry.   Unfortunately, documentary evidence is only one part of the decision making process.  A consular officer's determination of whether an applicant qualifies for a nonimmigrant visa must be made on the basis of the objective circumstances presented by the applicant, as well as what these circumstances indicate about the applicant's intentions, as expressed during the interview.  The decision cannot be based on the assurances of friends, relatives, or other associates of the applicant.
 
A refusal under Section 214(b) is not permanent.  Ms.  V------- is welcome to reapply and would be interviewed by a new officer.  However, we do not encourage applicants to reapply unless they are prepared to submit evidence to overcome the prior grounds for refusal.  It is important to keep in mind that the burden of demonstrating visa eligibility under our law rests on the applicant.

The prior grounds - how do we hope to overcome that - about which we are clueless ?
 

[Vaughn]

FWIW, when I first invited my wife's entire family.....
Everyone, including her small nephew were apporved without a hitch.

Incredibly positive result, GQ - happy for you, I really am !!

Someone mentioned the Yoshkar Ola stigma - I cannot lend it any weight. We've been familiar with many
dozens of tourist visas issued to single and married women from that city - sometimes in groups. A few
years ago, a K-1 wife in Georgia had her THREE single sisters visit TOGETHER. Now - how did they pull
that off? We've asked the questions - and we seem to be doing things by the book.

The scuttlebutt we DO hear, though, is that if one applies often enough - and truly has no real disqualifiers,
one will eventually be approved. Persistence pays ? I don't know - but I wonder how many times Venera will
be willing to close shop and hop the train (15 hours) to Moscow ??

[GoodOlBoy]

Vaughn, you are retired military (like myself) and also a Federal Employee?? Correct?
If I were you, I would march my #ss down to the local congressman/senators office with all documents and ask for an "official inquiry".

My wife has 2 of her best friends from Omsk coming this month April 23rd and they had absolutely no troubles securing a 2 year Tourist Visa to the GoodOl' USA.

Both women are divorced, BUT...Have their own businesses in Omsk.

I really wish you the best of luck, you and your family deserve better.

GOB

[Vaughn]

Yep. GOB, I was Air Force Security Service, Voice Intel, Russian language. That aside, I did visit
Sue Myrick's (R-NC) office the last time. Clearly, the Embassy letter read this decision cannot be
appealed. So, the visa specialist there sat me down and went over a comprehensive list of docs
to have ready for a second bid.

Venera was armed to the teeth with proof of financial, cultural and familial ties as recommended. Dressed
smartly like a businesswoman. Meanwhile, the interviewer, 25-ish, appeared disheveled ("like a sloppy
teenager") as Venera put it.

My past military service will have no bearing on her approval. Now my old high school chum, Gen Richie Mills,
who leads the USMC ground forces right now in Afghanistan - well, HE might get their attention, but only on
his own behalf, not mine.

[BC]

Three questions: What is your name? Who do you intend to visit? What kind of business are you operating?
As the answers spilled forth, the woman was busy banging on a keyboard, never looking up. Upon the third answer,
a sheet of paper came off the printer like a fax....  denied. Sorry Charlie.

Vaughn,

The fact that an interview took place rules out some gross error.

Three questions.. seems that is pretty much the standard.

Ours - Your son is a USC?  What's the purpose of your visit? You have a business with your husband - what do you do?

Yes, they do look at that screen a lot, but I must say the male CO we dealt with did seem friendlier, wasn't a sourpuss and did make eye contact.

Did you review a copy of the application she filled out online?  I tend to think that they know 95% who they will approve/disapprove prior to the interview, leaving the last 5% hanging on what happens at the interview.

With the online application process, there's a lot of info they can acquire.. like IP address which alone allows them to see if this IP address was used for many other applications - as in someone helping.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but they do ask on the form if anyone helped or assisted with the application and that should be answered honestly.. Or was the application submitted from an IP address outside the country or in another city etc etc. I'm sure over time and thousands of applications they have a good bit of intel available aside from the questions themselves which are construed to weed out anyway.

Although most of the questions are pretty standard, the process is done in steps, so the following step could propose different questions based on the answers provided in the previous steps.  I'm pretty sure the application is 'graded' the moment that final submit button is pushed.

Best is for your SIL not to take any of this personally and understand that it's the CO's job to err on the side of caution.

[Gator]

Vaughn,

My sympathy.  Makes no sense compared to my limited experience for a tourist visa. 

I admire your devotion and perseverance.  Does Visa Journey have threads for tourist visas?

[JR]

K was turned down in Spb. She went to see two "experts" in the field, both told her the same thing. "Wait a month, sign up with a legitimate tour group and try again." They also told her that chances are 70% plus from here on out for continued refusals.

Good luck to you, hope it works out.