Panamanian exit?

[Hamlet]

I have been told by a Panamanian woman that she cannot get a visa to enter the US due to her age (34).  Her parents have no problem getting visas, apparently because of the assumption that older people are less likely to stay without permission.

Can anyone verify that this is true?

[Pete Eiguren]

... in response to Panamanian exit?, posted by Hamlet on May 11, 2001

I think what you say is generally true,but I believe each application is considered individually.Basically they want to give visa's to people they think will not remain in the US.If you are older and own property you have a better chance than a young person who does not.(which would be about 0 chance)We were told if we gave a letter of invitation to my mother in law for her to visit it would speed up the process and make it more likely she would get the visa.Of course there is alot of abuse of people on tourist visa's who just stay,so the INS or the Embassy's may tighten up some more as new reports come in.I saw some census figures yesterday,470,000 people from Colombia in the US.There were 21,000,000 Mexicans.I think this is legal and illegal,as reported to the census.I'm sure lots of people don't report correctly for fear they will be deported.
Some of my wifes friends moved to Spain but I hear they now require a tourist visa also(recent change).

Pete

[Edge]

... in response to Re: Panamanian exit?, posted by Pete Eiguren on May 11, 2001

of my novia who received a 5 year tourist visa a few months ago.  It is kind of strange becuase she does fit the profile of someone who would receive a tourist visa.  She is about 29, does not own property, her family lives in a remote town and she rents an apartment with another girlfriend in Cali.  About the only reason I can think of is because she has been at her job for something like 8 years.  But she is not a professional woman, she works for a chlothing manufacturer, but I am not sure exactly what she does.  She thinks she was just plain lucky.

My novia has two sisters, one is a software engineer and has a 10 year visa and stayed a month in San Jose last fall (she was not crazy about San Jose, but really liked San Francisco).  She has no property but has a good job and is a "professional woman".  The other sister is a mechanical engineer but is not currently working in her field.  Both her and my novia's mother were turned down for visas a few months ago.  Next appointment date is somewhere in 2003.

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: Re:There is a friend...., posted by Edge on May 11, 2001

Many toursit visas are "bought". That is why they change the consular officials every so often. The longer they stay in one post, the more likely they will become corrupt.

I know a few people that paid $5,000 for a tourist visa. Many times a family will pool resources to buy a visa for one family member.

[Michael B]

... in response to Panamanian exit?, posted by Hamlet on May 11, 2001

You THINK her parents could get a visa with no problem or the GOT a visa with no problem? My 'ex' is from Costa Rica and her father, who is a C.R. citizen but has been a perminate resident of Canada for at least 15 years and is 80 years old was denied a U.S. tourist visa about 6 months ago. Man, looks like they aren't giving tourist visas to anybody except Brits and Germans.