Dear Editor,
The US Embassy in Guyana should stop accepting applications for Business and Tourist Non-Immigrant Visas if the current processing system is maintained.
In the past, an applicant for the above-mentioned visas would have had to satisfy Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of the United States and show that he or she has a permanent residence abroad (meaning in your home country) which he/she has no intention of abandoning. The “Ties” to your country were determined by documentation that was submitted and which showed family, social, employment, economic or other ties.
At present, the system has undergone a dramatic change and the local embassy now has a group of highly trained visa scrutinizers whose skill set can rival any of the best psychics and clairvoyants the world over.
These scrutinizers, without any form of documented evidence, can reliably identify and accurately tell just by looking at an applicant and asking as many as two questions whether an applicant has ‘strong ties.’ When I first heard of this I thought it was a big joke. I subsequently confirmed, to my surprise and consternation, it was wholly accurate. Is this the best the US government can do for folks who have to fork over US$131?
At the highest level, this is a discriminatory practice and is based on the assumption that all supporting documents are fraudulent and the embassy has no way of verifying the authenticity (this is the US government we are talking about!) of these documents.
What a slap in the face for our commercial banks and government agencies which are responsible for issuing the documentation.
Even though the embassy’s speculation might be true in some cases, document fraud occurs in every part of the world (the US included) and is not unique to Guyana, so to abandon the system on the pretext of the impossibility of authenticating supporting documents is artificial.
There are better methods of verifying these sorts of documents.
Maybe they might want to consider using one of those US security experts who always come here to lecture us on proper security methods.
When I was issued my Business Visa in 2004 to travel to the US, I felt fairly treated and was given the opportunity to present supporting documents to show that I have every intention of returning to Guyana. I can only speculate on what the outcome would be if I (or my other business colleagues) were to apply for my visa today or what the outcome would be when I have to renew my current one. I have to do my best physical performance (or you might call it acting) to convince the Visa Officer that I’m telling the truth.
Otherwise, If I don’t look ‘believable’ or if I become nervous during the interview, the Visa Officer might interpret that to mean that I’m dishonest and don’t really have the ties I say I have.
This is a most ludicrous and outdated system being employed in this 21st century to conduct serious business. I would expect this sort of stuff from my sons’ kindergarten school, not the US government.
This is an example of the kind of nonsensical action(s) and policy that is being employed by US government agencies and has caused people of the world to question and discount the US’s leadership and moral authority.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Urling
I can understand the cost for a visa is so high because of the technology required (biometrics etc). However, if one is unsuccessful there costs are no longer required so why are we not being refunded a major part of the visa application fee?
Can our Guyanese brothers and sisters in the US (who are there legally) picket and petition the relevant offices there in NY? That is if you really think about us here in Guyana>>>>
Most visa fees are paid before the application is presented or on presentation of the application. The fine print is there that indicates these fees are non-refundable. The UK visa system is no different (albeit perhaps less subjective – but who knows, especially now that the application procedure has been outsourced) – fees are non-refundable.
U hit it right on,when I heard of this I was really dumfounded,This is crazy.God help all the people in Guyana who has a legit reason & purpose to travel to the US.My sister-in-law & her kid recently got 10 years multiple without a cent in her name.I most likely think she will overstay ,I think a lot of acting was involved but she was lucky,it should not have been this way,Buisness will suffer,The Gov needs to bring this up asap but is Guyana we talking about
Well some you win some you loose.
On the other hand, just like your sister-in-law there are some who do not have much but will be afforded the opportunity to travel and not necessarily over sta their time.
Having said that I still believe this process is less than smart. However that just a sample of what america sometimes offer.
Quote ” This is an example of the kind of nonsensical action(s) and policy
that is being employed by US government agencies and has caused people
of the world to question and discount the US’s leadership and moral authority”
Clinton… you are ever so right !
Power means power.
I do wonder how people do EVER succeed to get a visa and i have drawn only
one conclusion, …you have to be near the seat of that power.
What does the Government of Guyana do?
NOTHING
Why?…..we do not have to guess why…a matter of credibility.
The US visa system in Guyana is perhaps an isolated one but other
contributors might elucidate on this. The problem arose on the frequency
of false documents the Guyanese people produce, so the peremptory
imposition of the visual determination.
Yes… you have to be a VERY VERY GOOD ACTOR/ ACTRESS
The people over at the US State Department don’t think that Guyana has anything positive to offer to the American people, it’s that simple. Immigration and the granting of Visas are priviliges not rights.
The moderator may junk this statement and I do understand SN position here….The US embassy in Guyana is for keeping an eye of Hugo Chavez, the Visa granting process is incidental to that.
It’s a shame the US Embassy give applicants such hard time to obtain visas…however for “now” the power is in their hand. Let’s wait and see for how much longer American will be the place people will want to run to.
Years ago I came to the conclusion that US non-immigrant visa application process was and still is a money making business. The additional hurdle of authenticating documents to ensure return to Guyana just makes the system even more lucrative.
I firmly believe that the current system in place at Young Street facilitates, the backtrack trade, significantly.
I just cannot understand the logic of a US Consular Officer denying a father/mother/grandmother a US visa to attend a wedding, a graduation or some other meaningful social milestone.
Now these are folks who have their own homes, a very active social life and perfect warm weather year around.
So tell me, who in their wildest dreams at their age (for the most part 55 – 75yrs) would want to come live in the US where for 6months out of the year the temps are below 50 degrees?;
When they do arrive, their children never have any much quality time to be with them because they are doing two and three jobs to pay the bills; consequently they are locked in for the most part and end up becoming bored?, Please, just gimme a break on that score.
On the other hand, the current Administration is mostly responsible for this maddening state of affairs that now passes itself off as visa processing at the US Embassy. So the younger, more able folks will continue to leave by any means necessary and not retuurn
Once this government continues to intentionally, by its rank discrimination and marginalisation of its people, among other things or unintentionally, by their own ineptitude and incompetence to manage the State’s affairs fairly and justly, create conditions to force its citizens to flee.
The Americans will continue to PLAY God, splitting families and causing unnecessary grief for sincere persons who just want to come for a HOLIDAY and or legitimate business.
Good post malaika06, and dead right.
Quoting you “The Americans will continue to PLAY God, splitting families and
causing unnecessary grief for sincere persons who just want to come for a
HOLIDAY and or legitimate business”
Legitimate business stikes me as in the recent situation of friend whose
husband was in an american hospital and appeared to be on his last.
Indeed he was on his last and despite authenticated hospital letters to
allow the spouse to come and be at the bedside, heartless refusal of a visa
was promptly ruled.
I tell you that one really hurt me for being an established citizen with job
and property, I could not see that spouse wanting to “escape” Guyana,
the moreso not being a young person. I guess the grief and disquiet at
having a spouse in a hospital struggling for life could not sharpen the
acting skills needed to impress those heartless, power filled visa officers.
In a previous post I had mentioned that their performance appraisals
give them a better ranking on the number of denials they decree.
THAT I TELL YOU IS A FACT !
Been there…Done that !!
The American Immigration will be naive if they haven’t long recognize the tremendous opportunity to cash in on applicants fees worldwide. This is moreso in vastly populated countries, some whereas the population can exceed hundreds of millions . We take their applications fees, let a few in then hunt them down and deport them, wait for them to save some more money on second tries, repeat the process and life goes on. The transfer of wealth need not be, anymore like the old days , the procurement of lands or the minerals contained on them by eager superpowers. But it is still the equivalent of almost taking one country at a time with the amount of wealth that is pulled in from all of them simultaneously .In the high tech world where money is converted into even more liquid form by electronic means, the potential is stupendous. Can anyone do the maths if from throughout the world the application fees received is a minimum of 1 million? Per day? It’s a beautiful money-making system like this that leaves anyone …in shock and awe….LoL.
Steel, I could not agreed with you more, what an easy way to make money from poor people. Shouldn’t the Govt look into this racket.
my house my rules.
i was landed in canada in 2003. my wife wanted to visit her sister in the US. before we started to work and have no time.
they took my $200 US. and refused the visa on the grounds that we had just arrive in canada and we wanted to stay in the US.
we are now canadian citizens my wife is in the US. right now visiting her sister,
and me well i don’t want to go to the US.