US Visa

[werfie]

I have a question and where better to get an answer than on the only place with more information than the entire internet, MyBB.

So we are planning to take my Gran on her first overseas trip to visit family in the US. She is 87.

My question relates to her Visa. It's impossible to speak to a real person at the consulate. Has anyone else applied for a Visa for a person this age to visit in the US. I am not sure if she will have to go for an interview in person. I found this on one of their 6000 websites, but I wanted to know if someone in real life has any experience with this.

Note: Applicants of a certain age group or those who are renewing a previous U.S. visa may be eligible to apply for a visa without attending a Consular interview. Eligibility for the “Interview Waived” program will be determined as the applicant goes through the process of scheduling an appointment through this site. The determination will be made based on the answers provided to the qualifying criteria.

She also can't speak English, so will I be able to go with? I already have my US Visa.

 

[LazyLion]

I was stuck behind an old lady of this age in the queue at the US Consulate in Joburg... She got to the counter and the official looked through her application.
He got halfway down the page and then looked up at her and asked her "Maam, I see you have ticked this box that says you have been a terrorist, is that correct?"
She says, "oh yes, many times!"
He asks again "a terror...ist?"
She listens to him, and then replies "Oh, terrorist? NO! Tourist, YES!"
I kid you not.

 

[werfie]

I was stuck behind an old lady of this age in the queue at the US Consulate in Joburg... She got to the counter and the official looked through her application.
He got halfway down the page and then looked up at her and asked her "Maam, I see you have ticked this box that says you have been a terrorist, is that correct?"
She says, "oh yes, many times!"
He asks again "a terror...ist?"
She listens to him, and then replies "Oh, terrorist? NO! Tourist, YES!"
I kid you not.

Bwhahahahahaha. Shame. Old folk.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Terrorist / Tourist

My question relates to her Visa. It's impossible to speak to a real person at the consulate.

When you apply for your visa online, you will be given an appointment with a REAL person at the consulate.

 

[werfie]

When you apply for your visa online, you will be given an appointment with a REAL person at the consulate.

Sorry, I meant to say to ask some questions before hand.

 

[Azbubu]

I was stuck behind an old lady of this age in the queue at the US Consulate in Joburg... She got to the counter and the official looked through her application.
He got halfway down the page and then looked up at her and asked her "Maam, I see you have ticked this box that says you have been a terrorist, is that correct?"
She says, "oh yes, many times!"
He asks again "a terror...ist?"
She listens to him, and then replies "Oh, terrorist? NO! Tourist, YES!"
I kid you not.

They actually have that question? That's one sure way of keeping them out.

 

[KingRat1]

You will only find out when you apply for the interview. My neighbors, same age group, had to go for interviews.

It was to see their grandchildren and they got tourist visas valid for 10 but had to prove that they were coming back to SA.

 

[LazyLion]

They actually have that question? That's one sure way of keeping them out.

Yes, they have that question. And right below it in small print it says "answering yes to this question may not preclude you from getting a visa".

 

[werfie]

You will only find out when you apply for the interview. My neighbors, same age group, had to go for interviews.

It was to see their grandchildren and they got tourist visas valid for 10 but had to prove that they were coming back to SA.

Great Stuff, thanks, yeah sounds like pretty much the same stuff I had to go through to get mine.

 

[bontebok]

They actually have that question? That's one sure way of keeping them out.

They also ask if you were a Nazi. I hear the reasoning is that if a Nazi ran off to the US and got citizenship, and then it was revealed they were a Nazi, they can't be stripped of US citizenship for their political beliefs. But they can be stripped of citizenship for lying on their immigration application.

 

[Swa]

They actually have that question? That's one sure way of keeping them out.

Like the question on the gun application asking if you're mentally ill. Plenty of unstable people ticking that one.

 

[LazyLion]

They also ask if you were a Nazi. I hear the reasoning is that if a Nazi ran off to the US and got citizenship, and then it was revealed they were a Nazi, they can't be stripped of US citizenship for their political beliefs. But they can be stripped of citizenship for lying on their immigration application.

I don't recall seeing the NAZI question, they just ask "Have you ever ordered, incited, committed, assisted, or otherwise participated in genocide?"