Visitor's visa question, please answer if you are an expert or law student?

Question

ok, it's a simple question but I don't know what to do.

I am a U.S permanent Resident and I had a kid in costa rica when i was a teenager, I was able to find him and I just want him to visit me here in the U.S.

Do I have to go to the U.S embassy and get a visitor's visa?

or he can do it on hiw own? he is only 14

Answer 1

The person who wants the tourist visa has to apply.  He is a minor, and he cannot leave his country accompanied by one parent without his other parent's written, notarized & verifable permission.  You do not have custody.  Are you even listed on his birth certificate as his father?  Does he have a step-father who has adopted him?

Unaccompanied minors are not admitted to the US.  And these days it is most unwise to allow any child to travel alone, especially internationally.  He really would need to travel with his mother since she is the custodial parent.  Both would need visas and the mother has to prove she has sufficient funds for all of their vacation expenses -- all the "typical tourist stuff."

Trying to get this child a visa, making travel arrangements, etc. opens several cans of worms.  It really would be much better for you and the child to visit him there.  You are a stranger to him.  He will be more comfortable getting to know you in his familiar surroundings.

And how does his mother feel about him traveling internationally to see a man he has never really known?

Bad idea from standpoints of family law, immigration law, safety & psychological concerns for the child, and sheer practical logistics.

Answer 2

i am neither of the ones above,

since you are not his legal guardian or parent? you cannot do this without the mother's permission,and? he cannot do this on his own since he is a minor,

it all depends on what you want to do in your life about this child?

Answer 3

You have two options here

You can

A petition him as your son and start the process for him to get his Green card also..since he is under 21..this process will take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to get approved.

B.He can apply for a Tourist or Student Visa to come to the USA..since he is only 14 years old..his legal guardians in Costa Rica will need to do the paper work for him and they must prove to The US embassy that they do not intend to stay in the USA Beyond their authorized stay.

You can also do all the paper work and go to The interview with him.This would complicate things though because they will see him as a Higher risk stay due to the fact you are his Mom and are living in the USA

In order to start the Process the Guardians of Your son  must

Call

To make an appointment for the visa interview, at: 0-800-052-1465 Monday thru Friday from 8-6PM. There is a $14 fee for this call.

How to Make a Visa Appointment:

With a valid credit card through the call center (VISA or Mastercard) or  

A Personal Information Number (PIN) purchased at any branch of Banco Nacional in Costa Rica.  

Applicants may use the PIN to call multiple times for information and appointment scheduling, up to a total of 8 minutes of service. Applicants can schedule appointments for up to five immediate family members with a single PIN.  

The Call Center operator will ask for passport information for each applicant. Please have your passport ready before you make the call.

Calling from the United States: Applicants or applicants’ family members in the United States can contact the Call Center from the United States by dialing: 1-866-535-6189 Monday thru Friday from 6-8PM.

An application fee of $131 (payable in colones) must be paid at a branch of Banco Nacional before your interview.  Upon payment, Banco Nacional will provide you with a receipt for the fee.  Please bring the receipt to your interview.

Each applicant must present the following required documents:

Application forms (Form DS-156 and, for males ages 16 through 45, Form DS-157) completed online and printed out so the three inch bar code appears at the bottom of the form;

Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of proposed travel;

Receipt for payment of the $131 application fee (in colones) from any Banco Nacional; and

An unmounted full face photo taken within the past six months. (A photographer is available at the Embassy at minimal cost.) The photo should be 2’ X 2 inches (in color against a white background.) The photo must be clearly in focus facing the camera with the face covering about 50% of the photo. Eyeglasses, hats, or anything that covers the face must be removed before taking the photo.

For applicants under the age of 15, both parents should attend the interview.  Parents should present the child’s birth certificate, along with their own passport or ID card.  Legal guardians must show proof of custody of all minor children.   Parents and guardians must show an exit travel permit from the National Child Welfare Agency, issued by the Immigration Department.  Except under extraordinary circumstances, a failure by either parent to attend the visa interview may result in a refusal of the visa.

Under this standard, each applicant must demonstrate that he or she has a permanent residence outside of the U.S. that he or she does not intend to abandon.    The burden of proof is on the applicant to show that he or she qualifies for the visa. Proof may come in many forms, but when considered together, it must be strong enough for the interviewing officer to conclude that the applicant’s ties to Costa Rica (or other country of residence) will compel him or her to return at the end of a temporary stay in the United States.

Evidence of Ties

“Ties” are aspects of an applicant’s life that bind him or her to a place of residence.  Ties may include family relationships, employment, educational status, property ownership, and the applicant’s overall social and economic circumstances.  In the case of younger applicants, the interviewing officers may look to the ties and circumstances of the applicant’s family.  As each person's situation is different, there is no set answer as to what constitutes “adequate ties.”

During the interview, each applicant should be prepared to provide convincing, original evidence of the applicant's (and the immediate family’s) long-term economic, family, academic and personal ties that would compel the applicant to return home after a short visit to the United States. This evidence can include the following:

Evidence of property ownership.

Bank account statements for at least the past 3 months.  Statements that show both the current balance and account history (debits and credits) are most useful.

If you are a company employee: Evidence of income (including 6 months of ordenes patronales) years of service and authorized vacation time.

If you are a business owner: Evidence of business income (including business bank accounts), business licenses, profitability, tax payments, and property ownership.  If your business has employees, please bring the planilla from the Caja de Seguridad Social.

If you are a farmer: Evidence of sales of your agricultural product(s), property ownership, and savings.

If you are retired: Evidence of your pension, savings, and your children’s employment.  

If you are a full time student: Evidence of your academic record, focus of study, and your parents’ or guardians’ employment and ties to Costa Rica

I would suggest you Contact the US Embassy in Costa rica for more infomation

Here is their info

The U.S. Embassy is located in the Pavas area of San José, at the intersection of Avenida Central and Calle 120.

http://sanjose.usembassy.gov/embinfo.htm...

Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Make your life simple. If you really miss him, go to costa rica and visit him there. (or her) Especially if he/she is not on your record as an LPR.**