Prayers for you from here in the BVI, too!
I don't know your details, but have been exposed to plenty of visa issues. If a visa was expired, that is officially considered an "overstay", which aren't resolved at a border crossing. Even if the guy wanted to let you in, he can't. He certainly didn't have to be mean about it!
This happens frequently to people who enter for a visit. The border people stamp the passport with the returning flight date, then the airline has a delay or cancellation and the traveler leaves a day later. After the day they were supposed to leave, a flag goes into the system as an "overstay". The person then has to present compelling evidence to a U.S. Consular official at an Embassy to get the overstay flag removed before another visa can be issued.
They take this very seriously, I'm afraid. Visas are issued with specific terms, and when those terms are violated, they want a good explaination.
I'm not sure, but it seems that a couple of the 9/11 terrorists were overstays, maybe students who'd quit school and stayed. They've cracked down so hard on the people who make entry or visa decisions. It goes on their record if they allow in someone who later breaks a rule.
Hopefully once you make the case to consular or immigration official, they will remove the flag and reissue your visa!
This happens elsewhere, too, so be sure when you are traveling and enter another country, that you ask nicely for some "wiggle room" on the date of exit.
Home at Last - was the Prayers Please, I'm Back thread
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wxmann_91
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Lots of bad luck Steve, it's a long story that I'm not even sure about but I'm pretty sure we are the only people who would not have a greencard after living in the US for 13 years.
That's one of the reasons why probably they were suspicious.
One final prayer request: we are going to interview for an urgent visa (don't know what its called), which will allow us to leave in 1-3 days hopefully, if the border patrol doesn't nitpick at something else. Please pray that we will get the visa and return home. This is our last chance. If this fails we are doomed. I like Canada, but I don't want to leave everything at home and all of a sudden start over from scratch.
Thank you all and God Bless.
Jim
That's one of the reasons why probably they were suspicious.
One final prayer request: we are going to interview for an urgent visa (don't know what its called), which will allow us to leave in 1-3 days hopefully, if the border patrol doesn't nitpick at something else. Please pray that we will get the visa and return home. This is our last chance. If this fails we are doomed. I like Canada, but I don't want to leave everything at home and all of a sudden start over from scratch.
Thank you all and God Bless.
Jim
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WindRunner
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tropicana
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wxmann_91 wrote:If all goes well I'll be home on Friday. My lawyer (yeah, yeah, I don't trust lawyers too much anymore) said there was a "100% chance" that we would get our visa. We went to Toronto today. I hope everything goes well.
Thanks for all the prayers and positive thoughts.
woohoo! You came to Toronto! Awesome!
Well, I wish it was under better circumstances, but here's hoping everything goes well with the visas for you guys!
Good luck Jim!
Canada still loves ya don't ya forget it.
-justin-
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WindRunner
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