lied in interview (is it permanent refusal?)

[Devilamba]

I have been in the USA on H1 B visa since September 2008.
My parents wanted to visit me in 2009 and they applied for a non immigrant visa as tourists. They were misguided by an agent who asked them to apply as tourists and not disclose that I live in the USA. They lied on their form and in the interview that I do not live in the USA.
They realised their mistake when they were not granted the visa.
They applied this year (03/28/2011) again and this time I sponsored the application by furnishing I134 forms and all supporting documents. They were denied in the interview saying that they lied in the previous interview.

What does that mean? Are they barred to enter the USA for life? They made a mistake as someone misguided them and they want to come and visit me the right way. How can this be done. The visa officer did not tell them that they are barred but the whole thing sounds like they will always be denied as they lied in their first interview.

How can one solve this problem? They are old parents who simply would like to visit their son living abroad.

[US_Aid]

Since your parents have not disclosed information during the first interview about your whereabouts, it amounts to willful misrepresentation.
It does look like future applications and interviews might not result in a visa issuance. They should have been wiser and stood by the truth.

Visiting children in the united states is a very valid reason to visit the US for parents and I do not see why they would have been told otherwise.