Visa denied...

[kittyo9]

I haven't had this happen, but my S.O. has a visa interview on the 29th, so *crosses fingers* I hope he gets it.

Good luck to you guys! Fingers crossed!

[mllebamako]

I'm really not trying to be snarky or derail the thread, but, according to who? This is my problem with the label of "third world country": how do we define a country as such? Yes, the gap between the rich and the poor is vast in Peru, but that's also true in India, which I don't think anyone would call "third world."

The widespread opinion that countries outside of the US, Europe, and China are all populated with poor, huddled masses of people who walk 5 miles a day for water and live on a dollar a day bothers me, but I'm sure it bothers you too, as someone currently living in Costa Rica. That was more of what I was responding to. Although, I dated a guy for a short time who comes from Peru and is very involved in Peruvian politics, and I trust his opinion that Peru is a developing nation, so I can admit my bias in that regard.

Just as a quick note: The term "third world" actually comes from the Cold War and means that the country was neutral during the war. Most of those countries were poor and developing which is how that kind of evolved in our language to mean a developing country.

Nobody has had this happen to them (visa denied)? =(

Like I said, we didn't even try. I think there is definitely a better chance for you guys if he has as many documents as possible showing that he'll go back to Peru. But I think it's good that you have a plan B to visit him just in case this doesn't go through. Are there any friends/family that want to travel with you to Peru for the first week or so (to make your mom more comfortable)?
Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Zephii]

On the off-topic side of this thread - I'm going to put my hand up and say I would consider India a third-world country/developing country. I've never been there, but when I was working in Canada all my team mates were Indian. From their photos and shared experiences (nevermind the fact people are immigrating out of there like water from a siv,) I think it's safe to say they are still developing. I don't get why that's so offensive.

No, they are not all walking 5 miles a day for water and living on a dollar, and yes some people are vastly uneducated in the developed countries looking at these undeveloped countries, but those things don't make developing countries something they are not. And it doesn't stop a huge number of people from those countries trying to land in a first world country and never leave - which is the relivant part to this thread.

To the OP: No, I've never had a visa rejected yet, and I hope we never do! I have had many friends rejected for theirs on the first try though. I know it's a scary process, but he does need to be more forward in his interview to make sure they know he's not doing anything shady. He needs to sell it to them!
I personally would just go see him. Tell your mum she is welcome to come for the first week for her own piece of mind if she feels she needs to - but this is something you are going to do. Then, be responsible and show her you are by compiling a list of emergency contacts - find out where your embassy is in Peru, get health cover, have enough spare money that if you need to move your flight and get the hell out of there fast. Prepare for the worst, show her that while you don't share her concerns you have valued her advice... then just go and do it. When you come home safe in one piece she will eventually get past her fear.

Good luck on your second attempt.

[Riyko]

First thing first, you should check the US's requirements on him reapplying for a visa, i know some country you have to wait a certain amount of time between the first visa appointment and the second before you can apply for the visa again (example: my friend from Ecuador applied for a US visa, he was denied the visa the first time and had to wait a month after the first appointment before he could apply again).

Secondly, if he really wants to get a visa he needs to give the interviewer all of the documents at the start of the interview so the interviewer can look over them. Also him having a return plane ticket helps a lot.

Third and final thing, if he gets approved for the visa, he'll need to have the money to pay the visa fee right then and there (it's $140 USD i believe)

[CynicalQuixotic]

On the off-topic side of this thread - I'm going to put my hand up and say I would consider India a third-world country/developing country. I've never been there, but when I was working in Canada all my team mates were Indian. From their photos and shared experiences (nevermind the fact people are immigrating out of there like water from a siv,) I think it's safe to say they are still developing. I don't get why that's so offensive.

You're right, India really isn't the best example. Honestly, I think I mentioned this because I know too many very rich Indians who like to rail about the misconceptions about their country. I actually was unaware of the origin of the phrase "third world," so, thank you for telling me, mllebamako, it's really interesting. I had no idea that it was actually tied to a historical event.

This will be my last pedantic rambling on this subject, but, I found this world map of GDP per capita very interesting, as it turned a lot of my assumptions about certain countries on their head. Peru (and Costa Rica, for that matter) are in the same bracket as China.

[kittyo9]

First thing first, you should check the US's requirements on him reapplying for a visa, i know some country you have to wait a certain amount of time between the first visa appointment and the second before you can apply for the visa again (example: my friend from Ecuador applied for a US visa, he was denied the visa the first time and had to wait a month after the first appointment before he could apply again).

Secondly, if he really wants to get a visa he needs to give the interviewer all of the documents at the start of the interview so the interviewer can look over them. Also him having a return plane ticket helps a lot.

Third and final thing, if he gets approved for the visa, he'll need to have the money to pay the visa fee right then and there (it's $140 USD i believe)

We've been trying to figure out whether he needs to wait or not but so far we have not found any official indication that he needs to wait a particular time frame. We've heard just by word of mouth that it's anywhere between no time and 6 months.

My roommate is an international student, and I've talked to her about the process. She also mentioned giving them the papers beforehand, but when I asked my boyfriend about it, he said they would not accept any papers beforehand and he had to show them all during the interview. She also talked about being more forward during her interview(s), which is something my boyfriend did not do, but we have discussed it thoroughly now.

As for money... the way the visa application process works (at least for us) is you fill out your application online, go to a particular bank and pay the $140 fee, get a confirmation number, then make an appointment using that confirmation number online. So he's already paid for the appointment by the time he's gone, since it's actually a prerequisite.

All this visa stuff is exhausting. ):

[Zephii]

All this visa stuff is exhausting. ):

*Hugs* unfortunalty it only gets worse from here on in, imagine what moving perminantly is going to be like. *lopsided smile* You can do it though! I find it helpful to remember that billions of other people all over the world have done this before us, and successfully. It is possible, we can do it too!

[lucybelle]

You're right, India really isn't the best example. Honestly, I think I mentioned this because I know too many very rich Indians who like to rail about the misconceptions about their country. I actually was unaware of the origin of the phrase "third world," so, thank you for telling me, mllebamako, it's really interesting. I had no idea that it was actually tied to a historical event.

This will be my last pedantic rambling on this subject, but, I found this world map of GDP per capita very interesting, as it turned a lot of my assumptions about certain countries on their head. Peru (and Costa Rica, for that matter) are in the same bracket as China.

My last bit on the off-topic side as well, interesting map, but FYI everyone here in CR considers Costa Rica a third world country. People always say "it's expensive for a third world country". Which it is. But anyways.

I think if your SO is denied the visa (knock on wood), then you should look at going down to Peru. Take your mom just for a week, then you hang out for the rest of the month or whatever. It's such a great country, she'll at least enjoy the food!

[Engel]

Did you have skype meetings with your so? saw him on the webcam? i totally understand your moms view.
when i first met my so, i was in switzerland for vacations with my aunt and uncle, they kind of interviewd my so, asking for his adress, work adress, his mothers hone number in germany and i dont know what else, so they would feel it was safe to let me alone with him, and they were still there, half an hour away from where we went to the movies alone on the first day we saw in person, so i can understand she being worried about you going to his country without him going to you first.


i would try and re-apply for the visa as you said, because, even though most of us are pretty lucky in our relationships with our so, there are maniacs out there that want to lure a girl into falling for them and can be phycos.

not saying your SO is, but I dont think your mom is being over protective.

how long is that you two talk online? and how long do you consider yourselves in a relationship?

[Engel]

I'm really not trying to be snarky or derail the thread, but, according to who? This is my problem with the label of "third world country": how do we define a country as such? Yes, the gap between the rich and the poor is vast in Peru, but that's also true in India, which I don't think anyone would call "third world."

The widespread opinion that countries outside of the US, Europe, and China are all populated with poor, huddled masses of people who walk 5 miles a day for water and live on a dollar a day bothers me, but I'm sure it bothers you too, as someone currently living in Costa Rica. That was more of what I was responding to. Although, I dated a guy for a short time who comes from Peru and is very involved in Peruvian politics, and I trust his opinion that Peru is a developing nation, so I can admit my bias in that regard.

im brazilian and brazil is considered a thir world country, and i see no offense in that. and we have everything the US has for example.


i dont know why YOU got so offended with that?

[Ms.Justine]

I'm sorry to hear this. An enrollment in University should do the trick though. Hope all goes well! Best of luck!

[kittyo9]

I'm sorry to hear this. An enrollment in University should do the trick though. Hope all goes well! Best of luck!

Thanks! He is in university. I takes with one if my foreign professors yesterday and he basically said we still had no chance because my boyfriend is poor. Set my day in a downward trend.

[CynicalQuixotic]

im brazilian and brazil is considered a thir world country, and i see no offense in that. and we have everything the US has for example.


i dont know why YOU got so offended with that?

Wait...in what sense? Brazil is one of the richest countries in South America.

[books]

I'm really sorry you're having to deal with this. My SO is from Nicaragua and I pretty much know that marriage is the only way he would ever be able to visit me in the US. It is true that certain countries do have significantly higher refusal rates for tourist visas so I guess the best thing you can do is research and come as prepared as you possibly can. While living in Nicaragua, I met three locals who applied for the tourist visa and only one was granted it (3 months). The two who were denied had good supporting evidence (owned vehicles, bank account, sponsorship letter from US Citizen) but it just wasn't enough. Here is a chart I recently found while researching visas:

https://immigrationroad.com/visa/b1-...by-country.php

And just to touch on the "third world country" matter, there is also a movement in the international development circles to move away from that term as it implies a lesser status. I always make a point to use under-developed/developing/developed when describing countries. From what I know of Costa Rica, I would be hard-pressed to say it falls in the developing country bracket. While certainly, it has some characteristics typically found in developing countries, Costa Rica is often hailed with Chile as a model Latin American country and is distinctly different from other, much poorer, Central American countries in that it has a stable democratic government and has never experienced civil war. I mean...it is referred to as the Switzerland of Latin America and is a destination for many poor Central Americans in search of jobs. So, I do believe developing vs. non-developing can be very subjective.

[Engel]

Wait...in what sense? Brazil is one of the richest countries in South America.

it is a country where a few have a lot and a lot have a few. there are many poor people in here, and it is a third world country, and i never took offense on that.