Mother In Law Visa refused third time

[poojaasthaana]

Dear All,

I read through the immihelp.com thouroughly before applying again for my Mother in Law's Visa for the third time. everytime she is given a 214 (b). this time even i applied with her as we wanted to make a family vaccation to my Sister in Law's place as she is graduating in december and wanted us specially her mother to be there. My Mother in Law is a widow.

We were interviewed together by the visa officer and i found his decision completely irrational as he didnt care to listen to my reasons he didn't see our documents which i already know is done in many cases but then how can i prove mine and my Mother in law's ties to India by merely talking i gave satisfactory answers to all his questions.
in the first go he asked whther i am here to get her the visa as she has been refused twice before, which was not the case. she could not understand a mother in law applying with her daughter in law
its unfortunate that such responsible people act with such mind-blindness that results in sheer harrasment of people. we are utterly disappointed as we would miss the graduation ceremony which means a lot.
please suggest what should we do and how do we handle such a case.

we had all possible documents that would prove her ties to india my husbands job proof, bank statement and property papers, family picture she is completely dependent on him financially.

[txh1b]

she is completely dependent on him financially.

This makes the ties weak and having both the son and daughter in US does it too.

[C4us]

Being critical of the VO who was only doing their job will do nothing to help your case when you reapply. Too many people from you home country have not abided by the terms of their visas in the past so that the presumption of the VO is that no one will and let you disprove that assumption. You are not entitled to a visa; you must convince the VO that you should be granted one. I suspect the attitude you displayed here contributed to the denial.

You are overestimating the importance of a graduation in US culture. Many students do not attend due to other obligations and that they just don't want to. This especially the case if it is from a large university and an MS degree. None of my children who received MSs attended - one did not want to, the others already work or military obligations far from the universities locations. A PhD, JD or MD ceremony is more important and students do attend.

[txh1b]

You are overestimating the importance of a graduation in US culture. Many students do not attend due to other obligations and that they just don't want to. This especially the case if it is from a large university and an MS degree. None of my children who received MSs attended - one did not want to, the others already work or military obligations far from the universities locations. A PhD, JD or MD ceremony is more important and students do attend.

I don't think so. US Citizens are the ones that give too much importance to graduation than the immigrants if you were to ask my opinion. I have attend so many graduations that it makes me wonder what the big deal is about getting an undergraduate degree. If you look at the family and people that attend the ceremonies, you would definitely say that they are far more excited about their loved ones walking for the degree than anyone else.

Most of the immigrant parents are proud of their children and their hard earned achievements. They go through lot of hardship to make that happen and it would make them proud to attend the ceremony and enjoy the trip to US. My parents were excited about my graduation the ME!!!

Though, I do not support the OPs attitude and blaming a VO who is merely doing their job, I choose to disagree that graduation should not be considered important. Personally speaking, I do think the hype around graduation in the US is too much and I don't care much about it unless it is a PhD.

But with the country gaining the "Dropout Nation" title, I can see why it is so important for the few that tend to make it through college.

[ramabalaji]

In case of C4US, it may be true that none of his children who received MSs attended graduation but I have seen many family members attend a graduation of a US citizen. The way they celebrate garduation before and after is beyond immagination. When I attended my son's graduation in May 2005, I felt on top of Himalayas.
I feel that US citizen family members attend graduation in a big way for the simple reason that most of the younger generations drop out after the schooling: so they consider graduation a big event in their family.
Also the statement of C4US on too many people from your home country do not abide the terms of visas is not correct. There may be few who take advantages of the usage of visitor visas by applying extension, searching for a job on B2 visa, getting married to an US citizen etc but it can not be generalised and stated "TOO MANY"
This is my feeling and I vented it here.

[C4us]

At some schools in my part of the country, undergraduate graduation is a big event for the student. After all, these people have lived together for 4 years.

We have bigger celebrations for milestone events - 10th/25th/50th wedding anniversary, 15th/16th birthday especially for girls, 30th/40th/50th birthday. Obviously weddings and the associated parties are major events. Even baby showers outrank MS graduations as a reason to party. To me a better reason to visit is to see the new home and community rather than to attend a 1-2 hour ceremony. If you can do both at the same time, that is great.

If there is a particularly significant event in the visitors own culture, it is a better reason to visit - for example a Bar/Bat Mitzvah for someone who is Jewish. My advice to OP is not to fixate on a particular event but to emphasize maintaining their connection across the miles.

[poojaasthaana]

what should we do now?

Dear All,

Thank you so much for insights. But the question still remains what should we do to assure her that she gets the Visa next time she applies. obviously the graduation would get over and it wont be the reason anymore to visit. But she would still like to visit her daughter and grand daughter in USA. In her case the unfortunate thing is that she is a widow. She is completely dependent on her son who is well settled in India. Her younger daughter is also well settled in India.
How should we prepare her so that she can convince the Visa officer that her intention is just to visit for a few weeks and come back.

Will this three times rejection would make her case further difficult?

Please we need help!

thanks again

regards
Pooja

[ramabalaji]

It is unfortunate that your mother in law is a widow and her earlier visa attempts were rejected. If you go through this forum, there were lot of success stories posted after 3 rejections for a widow. Please search the postings and sum up. You may appeal to VO through a letter and express that your mother in law will come back after seeing her son, you and her grand daughter. This time your mother in law needs a better coaching from you. Let her not be nervous in facing the VO and get an appointment in her regional language. Conduct mock interviews and pray for the good result.

[poojaasthaana]

thank you Mr. Ramabalaji for your guidance..My mother in law is going to visit her daughter and son-in-law and not son and daughter in law.

Can you please detail on the appeal letter that you mentioned and how should she produce it to the VO.

Thanks

regards
Pooja

[ramabalaji]

A simple letter addressed to the VO of the respective consulate stating about her ties in home country and her reason as to why she wants to visit USA and an assurance about her return to home country after her visit. This letter will be put on the top of the Ds 156 form at the time of handing the documents to VO at the time of interview.
Have you searched the success stories posted in this forum?
I wish her all the best.
PS: I am sorry that I mentioned son and daughter-in-law instead of daughter and son-in-law. My appoligies.