Western Union and Visas.

[Zink]

I was reading the posts about sending money and got thinking about something my old girlfriend told me. I wanted to see if anyone else had ever heard of this.

She claimed that if a lady was sent money via Western Union it was almost impossible for them to obtain a tourist or exit visa. She would not let me give her money through Western Union even when she was complaining about needing money badly. She kept saying, "I want to travel. I don't want to lose that chance."

Her story was that her aunt had been sent money this way and then was unable to leave the country for two years because of it. This aunt has a daughter who is married and living in the US. The aunt was well off and had travelled to the US several times and to some other countries. But then she had a little trouble and her son-in-law sent her money. After this she was denied her visa.

[RW]

... in response to Western Union and Visas., posted by Zink on Jan 17, 2002

I think the biggest problem is that you can NEVER figure out why visa was granted in one case and denied in the other. Therefore people start to speculate.

Speculation get even worse amongst older generations as they still remember times when you would be "punished" in one way or another if you have any relatives or friends abroad (that actually happened, but loooong time ago).

Russian Wife

[John K]

... in response to Western Union and Visas., posted by Zink on Jan 17, 2002

Western Union is a private company and does not interact with any goverment in this way.  More likely what happened is that the aunt didn't have enough money in her savings to justify getting a visa.  Western Union is likely nothing more than a symptom of the actual problem...

[tim360z]

... in response to No connection, posted by John K on Jan 18, 2002

of many.  I agree there is no connection---but if this is what she beleives you will probably not be able to dissuade her.

[Zink]

... in response to A Superstition and probably just one, posted by tim360z on Jan 18, 2002

I couldn't dissuade her. It was for the best anyhow. Saved me some money on a failed relationship. I think it was the fact that people had to show their passports(picture ID). And all the passport info is marked down if you exchange money or take money at a bank.  

The way I saw it was that this incident happened a few years ago at approximately the same time that Canada and the US were stiffening the visa reqs. But you never know. That's why I was curious if anyone else had heard of this.

[Mike]

... in response to Western Union and Visas., posted by Zink on Jan 17, 2002

n/t

[Mike]

... in response to Re: Western Union and Visas., posted by Mike on Jan 17, 2002

Tere is no connection between visas and Western Union!!!

[Zink]

... in response to Re: Re: Western Union and Visas., posted by Mike on Jan 17, 2002

That's what I thought. But this is what she believed quite strongly. I was just curious if anybody could confirm or deny it. Thanks.