-Grouchy

Hi, this is slightly off-topic but I am unsure whether there is a forum
that deals with this issue.

The old-timers may remember me as I went through the process of getting
my husband a green card--which took 3 years after his arrival on a
fiance visa. He finally got it last spring though.

Last week, my mother and father in law attended an application for an
interview for a visitors visa. They wanted to (genuinely) come here to
see us and our baby. I prepared all of the documents, the I-134, etc
for the interview in Tirana, Albania. Well, after an interview lasting
only a couple of minutes they were refused and told that this was
because they had never been outside Albania (i cannot figure out how
that might be relevant), and because my husband has only been in the US
four years (other people we know got visas for their inlaws when they
had only been here a year, and further, I, the U.S. citizen, was also
sponsoring them). My inlaws have 3 other children and 4 grandchildren
in Albania, and 3 kids in Greece, no others in the U.S. And they have a
house and farm in Albania (deeds were with them). The consular officer
then went on to ask them why their kids in Greece didn't sponsor them to
live there (what?) and told them that they could easily come to the U.S.
through a family visa application. Never mind that as stated, they
don't want to come here to live!

I called the consulate and the guy who answered in the consular section
spoke English very poorly, would not transfer me to someone who spoke
English well, and told me to fax in a claim. So I did (no response
yet). I also contacted our Congresswoman who told me to re-apply and
they would give me a letter in support.

I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has had experience
with this. It seems as if the consulate was just going through the
motions, and didnt really look at their paperwork. I don't want to put
everyone through reapplying if it is all a charade, but as I said in the
letter I sent the consulate, their decision does not seem based on the
facts. 6 children and 5 grandchildren in Europe, a house and farm
there, and that's not enough to constitute 'ties' to the home country?

Anyone who has experience/suggestions would be welcome.

--

Noorah101

Hi Grouchy,

You might try doing an application for only ONE of the parents. I know for Iranians (who also have a difficult time getting tourist visas to the USA), they usually won't let a married couple both come over, but only one at a time. That's about all I can think of...I hope you get something figured out, it would be nice for them to come over.

Best Wishes,
Rene

scrubbedexpat099

They were refused because they did not demonstrate non immigrant intent.

Unlike your spouse, you have no input into someone applying for a Tourist Visa.

Seems odd that they want to come to the USA to visit one child, but have never been to Greece, a bus ride away, to visit the three children there.

I would agree with the idea of visiting one at a time, I have seen that work in comparable cases.

Or you visit them.

-Grouchy

> > Hi Grouchy,
> >
> > You might try doing an application for only ONE of the parents. I
> > know for Iranians (who also have a difficult time getting tourist
> > visas to the USA), they usually won't let a married couple both come
> > over, but only one at a time. That's about all I can think of...I
> > hope you get something figured out, it would be nice for them to
> > come over.
> >
> > Best Wishes,
> > Rene
>
> They were refused because they did not demonstrate non
> immigrant intent.
>
> Unlike your spouse, you have no input into someone applying for a
> Tourist Visa.
>
> Seems odd that they want to come to the USA to visit one child, but
> have never been to Greece, a bus ride away, to visit the three
> children there.
>
> I would agree with the idea of visiting one at a time, I have seen
> that
> work in comparable cases.
>
> Or you visit them.

As everyone at that embassy knows, they would never get a visa to
'visit' Greece. I think we in the U.S. assume other people can move
around with the same ease we can. But it's not true.

As for demonstrating non-immigrant intent, I would imagine that having
an operating farm and house in their home country, as well as family,
should do the trick. As for no input, we did the I-134 and the
sponsorship letters, so I believe it's accurate to say we are involved.

--

scrubbedexpat099

Why would they not get a visa to visit Greece? Presumably the Greeks have similar issues regarding evidencing non immigrant intent, and they have family there as well. And you have to ask yourself if the Greeks will not issue a Visa why would the US?

I-134 is not enforcable, I wonder whether it is counter productive submitting it as it implies that they can not fund the stay themselves, something you would expect usually a Visitor to do.

Sponsorship is an immigration issue, not sure how it would come into play with a B. Did you mean invitation?

I have seen Albania, from both north and south, never visited, my recollection was that it was difficult to get a Visa!

Anyway the best bet as has been said is to see if one of them could visit.

Noorah101

Grouchy, they might also try bringing proof of a round-trip ticket reservation. Not sure if this was part of the original packet, but worth a try. Try just one parent, with all the ties to the home country, enough funds of his/her own to cover his/her stay, and a round-trip reservation showing the exact date of return to Albania. I guess the only thing to lose is another $100 for the visa fee, right?

Rene

Rete

Grouchy, get sometime off from work, pack up the Mrs. and the infant and head off for Albania to visit the in-laws. You can come back in a week and the Mrs. and the infant can stay longer. This way everyone in Albania gets to see the little one and no has to worry about visas.

meauxna

More to the piont, why would the US CO suggest the Greek visa and that whole situation?

Why can't they get a visa to Greece? Well, the Greeks and Albanians don't have the best relationship. For starters.

I wouldn't try to make any connection between the Greek visa situation and the US one, but grouchy knows that.

But grouchy, the reason the other travel question was raised is because successful "other" foreign travel can be useful evidence of past behavior (as a predictor of future behavior). Shows a positive track record etc.

MMA2002

WOW! It's like you're describing my in-laws experience word for word. In May of 2004 about a month after my husband got his fiance visa his parents and 24 year old brother went to get visitors visas so they could be here for our wedding and were all rejected because they didn't "have strong ties to Turkey" - even though they own a barber shop, their own property, and the entire rest of the family live in Turkey, not to mention that all of them don't even speak a word of English! I believe that the consular officer didn't really want to give visas out that day because according to Mahir's family everyone in front of them was rejected. I went through the whole process of trying to get the congressmen/senators involved but noone could help. Then I started going to school with the husband of a consular officer and how they explained it was that there needs to be some evidence that the people leave the country and come back so that they know that they won't try to stay in the U.S. permanently (not sure how that shows it but anyway) and I was also told that because there was a 24 year old involved that he was so young and may try to do the same thing that his brother did (find a U.S. citizen to marry). We were told that the best thing to do was to either have one parent apply without the other so that can be a strong tie (your spouse staying in Turkey while the other visits) OR having them go somewhere (Germany to visit the relatives) to show they'll return to Turkey. We haven't tried either of these yet, however the plan is that when we're there visiting in September we're going to bring Mom to the embassy and try to get her a visa since we're planning on starting our family after our trip to Turkey in September and we'd love to have her here when our first baby is born. I know it'll be late at that point but I will post and let everyone know how it went getting just one of the in-laws a visa. Good luck getting your in-laws here to visit.

Allison

scrubbedexpat099

meauxna, I know the history of the area. and could think of a few worse in the area.

But they have 3 children who did emmigrate to Greece.

And if it is all down to historical emnity, there would not be much cross European movement.

-Grouchy

> > More to the piont, why would the US CO suggest the Greek visa and
> > that
> > whole situation?
> >
> > Why can't they get a visa to Greece? Well, the Greeks and Albanians
> > don't have the best relationship. For starters.
> >
> > I wouldn't try to make any connection between the Greek visa
> > situation
> > and the US one, but grouchy knows that.
> >
> > But grouchy, the reason the other travel question was raised is
> > because successful "other" foreign travel can be useful evidence of
> > past behavior (as a predictor of future behavior). Shows a positive
> > track record etc.
>
> meauxna, I know the history of the area. and could think of a few
> worse
> in the area.
>
> But they have 3 children who did emmigrate to Greece.
>
> And if it is all down to historical emnity, there would not be much
> cross European movement.

The relationship between Albania and Greece is tense, since 20% of the
population of Greece is now Albanian. The collapse of communism, etc.
left the country in such a mess that a huge percentage of the population
emigrated to Greece and Italy.

My in-laws never tried to go to Greece to visit, a) because it is
impossible to get visa, and also those kids can come back to visit alot
easier than we can.

We did go there for a visit this summer. Our 8 month old baby got
violently ill during the visit. I don't know when our next visit will
be, since both I and my husband have busy professional careers and it is
hard to take time off.

We know of other Albanians who did get visas for their parents, even
though their circumstances were equivalent to my in-laws. That's what
burns me up about it---complete lack of logic/consistency. Yes, Rete, I
know what you are going to say abou that one--I should be used to it.

--

Rete

You never get use to it. Our neighborhood is divided primarily into three nationalities: Irish, Albanian and Arab. The Irish own the bars and coffee shops; the Albanians own the three pizza shops and the Arabs own the service stations. And you are very right ... I see many of the Albanians who have parents visit them soon after they give birth to a child, i.e. my superintendent's son's Albanian in-laws, the pizza palor's wife's mother. So it is not impossible.

Rete