This is the fourth time that my parents were refused a Nonimmigrant Visa from the US Embassy, Islamabad and again they were given the same pre-printed excuse letter clause 214b section 101a:15. However, the visa officer told my parents that she could not issue the visa because they have never been to any western country. First of all, my parents have never needed to go to any other country. I am their only relative either in the USA or in any other western country. They just wanted to visit me and my wife, to witness their grandson’s arrival, and to see some parts of this country. There should not be any relation between a US Visa and a visit to any other western/European countries. This is a very ridiculous excuse for refusal.
After this fourth poor experience with the US Embassy, I am convinced that the US Embassy is nothing more than a business franchise that is taking advantage of people over there. They charge a non-refundable $100 fee per person for each application, and then there is a fee for visa processing that you must pay to American Express, not to mention the charges for transportation from the embassy to the US Embassy bus station (you cannot use your own transportation to get to the US Embassy). And that’s not all! Once you apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa there is about a 3 month wait for an interview, during which about 95% of those who apply will be refused. There is only one US Embassy in Pakistan – in Islamabad - and people travel from all over the country to get there. They spend a large amount of money on hotel, food, travel and transportation, just for an interview, which doesn’t seem to matter at all to the US Embassy. And on top of that, you cannot appeal a refusal; you must re-apply if you want to appeal and have to again pay all those expenses. It’s ridiculous!
I am very upset and frustrated, and helpless that I cannot do any thing, there is no one that I can complain or ask for explanations. My parent were refused twice in 1998 and thirdly in April 2004 and this is the fourth time. And every time they were given same lam excuse clause 214b, I do not know how can they figured it out without looking at the documents, that an individual does not have strong ties with the country of residence. I even wrote a letter to the senator and ask for his help but it did not work.
After this fourth poor experience with the US Embassy, I am convinced that the US Embassy is nothing more than a business franchise that is taking advantage of people over there. They charge a non-refundable $100 fee per person for each application, and then there is a fee for visa processing that you must pay to American Express, not to mention the charges for transportation from the embassy to the US Embassy bus station (you cannot use your own transportation to get to the US Embassy). And that’s not all! Once you apply for a Nonimmigrant Visa there is about a 3 month wait for an interview, during which about 95% of those who apply will be refused. There is only one US Embassy in Pakistan – in Islamabad - and people travel from all over the country to get there. They spend a large amount of money on hotel, food, travel and transportation, just for an interview, which doesn’t seem to matter at all to the US Embassy. And on top of that, you cannot appeal a refusal; you must re-apply if you want to appeal and have to again pay all those expenses. It’s ridiculous!
I am very upset and frustrated, and helpless that I cannot do any thing, there is no one that I can complain or ask for explanations. My parent were refused twice in 1998 and thirdly in April 2004 and this is the fourth time. And every time they were given same lam excuse clause 214b, I do not know how can they figured it out without looking at the documents, that an individual does not have strong ties with the country of residence. I even wrote a letter to the senator and ask for his help but it did not work.
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