Mom/Sister/Nephew visa rejected 2nd time

[rcmax]

My mom, sister and nephew's visa was rejected today in Chennai. Their visa
was rejected the first time in 2004. My mom is a widow and that was the reason
they rejected the first time after asking her whether the sponsoring son was the
oldest. My sister's husband is an army officer and she is also working in a
private firm. I have four other brothers and sisters married and well settled in India. My mother has signifcant amount amount in terms of property and bank balances and also gets pension. I don't think there could be any stronger
family/financial ties than this.

This time I prepared the documents (both sponsor and visitor) very well but it
did'nt help. It seems as soon as they went to the window, the VO (a lady, not the
Burqa one) glanced at her computer and read something, then asked couple of normal
questions to my mom about how many children and then she told my sister "There is
no way I can grant a visa to your mom and son. Your mom has never travelled abroad.". She asked a few questions to my sister, asked her to show her husband's
pay stub. The VO could not understand the Indian govt. paystub and said I can't
see the amount you quoted as his salary in the paystub. Obviously she was unaware
of PF, LIC deductions etc. and rejected my sister's visa too.

She looked at all my sponsor documents. The first document I placed in there was
letter to consulate showing why they are not potential immigrants which she must
have atleast taken a look at.

It looks like they have a set criteria in their computer program and if the
applicant's case is pre-decided by it. It seems in that window almost every one was getting rejected, whereas the next window where there was a male VO almost
everyone was getting the visa.

Well, its bad luck. I am not applying anymore.

[deba_sinh]

rcmax, sorry to hear about that. You have been kind enough to give pointers to my post. I think there maybe some truth in pre determining the application. When my parents were rejected this time, my mom said they were constantly checking the computer and typing on the keyboards. I guess to check the facts of earlier applications. As I had posted in reply to another case, that writing a Senator did not help either. They just send the lame reply that cases are considered on indivdual basis, applicant can apply again blah, blah. I think if there is a probable case for rejection it is very difficult to overcome like the VO said she has never travelled abroad etc. I think if your mom can get a few other visa stamps in her passport it might facilitate the case a little bit more.

[rcmax]

Deb, do you think they store in their computer system all details that we filled up in I-134/DS-156? I dod remember that in 2004 I made a small mistake in filling up the I-134. I mentioned my mom as dependent because i thought since I am sponsoring her visit I have to say that. This time I did'nt. I don't know if that could have triggred something.

[deba_sinh]

Fact is, we don't know what is captured in their database and what not. The way I see it, part from the luck factor the main reasons for almost sure rejection are (other than financial):
1. Single child or all children live in the US or parent is widow/widower.
So, the logic becomes parents have no or little connection to home and hence are judged to me potential immigrants. This is probably the basis for argument everywhere, not just in India. So, seems to me this would be a factor regardless of the country or visa post.
2. If the application is rejected once, then it becomes all the more difficult to overcome the burden of proof unless something has changed substantially or drastically.
3. If a VO has to grant a visa next time then it basically means overturning last times's rejection. If things haven't changed much this amounts to making a mistake by the first VO and I don't think they will allow that cuz in effect it is an admission that the first VO was wrong.
In my case, I have decided to wait atleast a year or so. Also, I am trying to see if I can get my parents to go on some trips conducted by Indian tour operators. That way they will have some foreign visa stamps on their passports. In your mom's case I guess it would be more difficult since she is a widow and would be difficult to travel alone. It understandably gets more difficult for aged parents every year. My Dad's health is not very good and he is not too interested to travel that much for tourism purposes either. He just wanted to come to US to visit me. However, it is our bad luck that the consulates don't see it that way. So, I guess if you want to apply again think on these terms.
If the VO was concerned that she has never been abroad, then maybe it is one of the factors that they have noted in their computers/application.
When I applied last time I used to live in Rochester. This time I had moved to Texas and had given a new address in the docs. The VO asked where did I live and work and then asked where did I live before. My parents answered the question correctly. So is the sponsor's address noted in their computers and they cross check from the new docs? Maybe so. What else is noted? We have no idea.
I guess it is not just one thing but a combination of factors. We have no way of knowing how and what exactly things are noted in their system.