In-Law tourist visas

[Casprd 167]

Anyone have first hand experience with getting a tourist visa for their in-laws to visit? I've been through the guides and the DHS and GUZ websites so I'm familiar with the process and requirements, just wanted to see if there are any gotchas particular to GUZ that we need to be aware of. We're looking at having my wife's sister and nephew visit us over the summer. She has a 10+ year employment history as a teacher, home ownership, a car and her husband would be back in China still so the ties are pretty good I think. Not sure if having my wife's mom try to come at the same time would make it harder to get everything approved as her mom is retired and while they own two homes, she splits time living with her daughter and staying at my wife's house in nanning. I think the mother in law visa will be more difficult since she is retired and has a small pension so no big financial ties other than the house and the only social ties being my wife's sister and brother, but if the sister and nephew come to visit then one of the "ties" would be in the US so not really a tie at all

[Operator 1,927]

Casprd I don't have any first hand in-law experience but we did successfully get a tourist visa for Jane (before she was my fiancée) which we had been told by all the nay-sayers would be impossible (she was 26 at the time). As far as sister and nephew are concerned I think the chances are very good. If she has the evidence of home ownership, a letter from her school stating length of employment and that she is expected to return, bank statements and a letter from you stating that they will be visiting you in your home and that you will ensure that they return safely to China at the end of the visit it should fly.

As far as mom goes I'm a little torn. On one hand I think that traveling with her daughter and grandson could improve her odds if her English skills are lacking. On the other hand like you said it could be viewed that having another daughter and grandson still in China would be a compelling reason to return.

Has your mom-in-law ever traveled outside of China before? If she has I would think the option to have her travel alone would be the better of the two.

Jane mentioned to me that during her interview she thought there were several older couples being denied tourist visas in GUZ trying to visit their children, so maybe having family to return to would be a benefit.

I hope it works out either way and also if you would please let us know how it goes because we will likely be making an attempt next year to do the same thing.

Good luck!

[Casprd 167]

Yeah having her mom visit on her own would probably have better success for getting a tourist visa, but her mom hasn't really ever flown by herself and has never traveled outside the country (neither has her sister but she's a little more savvy for travelling). If AA's five star service were available in Shanghai or Beijing it would help for her but they don't have it there yet. The logistics we can figure out once/if we get a visa for her

One of my Nanning wife club friends successfully got had his mom in law visit last year so I'll tap his brain and pass on any info I get.

[bigdog 376]

Just supply a letter of invite list you will support while in US. I sent a second letter with her application to the embassy, indicating my invite and support. You should be OK.

[Eric & Jin 10]

My wife's parents received B-2 visas last October without any problems at all and used them to visit us earlier this year for the birth of our son. They took their bank statements, proof of retirement income, evidence of real estate & stock holdings and proof of other family members still living in China (copies of their 2 son's Hukou and national ID cards and family photos) as well as an I-134 which I had filled out for them. In the end only the I-134 and family photos was asked for. They were allowed to interview together and my mother in law ended up doing all the talking. Here are the exact questions that they were asked at their interview and their answers.

1. Why do you want to visit the US? To visit our daughter and her husband and to help them out whenever their baby is born in February.

2. How long do you plan to stay? We will go in February and stay 2-3 months - we need to return to China before the summer break starts because we will need to keep our grandsons in China during that time.

3. How did your daughter and her husband meet? They originally met online and then my son in law came to China to visit 4 times before they were married.

4. When did your daughter move to the US? July 2009

5. What company does your son-in-law work for? My mother-in-law gave the VO one of my business cards

6. How many family members do you have that live in China? My Mother in law had made a small photo album of family photos which she showed to the VO and briefly explained who the various people in them were.

The VO then asked to see the I-134 which I had filled out for them - she briefly scanned over it and then returned it to my in laws at which time she said - "No problem - you get the visa".

BTW - my in laws interviewed for their B-2s at Guangzhou and they remarked that the majority of those who interviewed for B-2s on the same day were also approved. I filled out and submitted their online DS-160 visa applications for them.

[Casprd 167]

Cool. thanks for the details. It's nice to know what kind of questions to expect.

[Operator 1,927]

My wife's parents received B-2 visas last October without any problems at all and used them to visit us earlier this year for the birth of our son. They took their bank statements, proof of retirement income, evidence of real estate & stock holdings and proof of other family members still living in China (copies of their 2 son's Hukou and national ID cards and family photos) as well as an I-134 which I had filled out for them. In the end only the I-134 and family photos was asked for. They were allowed to interview together and my mother in law ended up doing all the talking. Here are the exact questions that they were asked at their interview and their answers.

1. Why do you want to visit the US? To visit our daughter and her husband and to help them out whenever their baby is born in February.

2. How long do you plan to stay? We will go in February and stay 2-3 months - we need to return to China before the summer break starts because we will need to keep our grandsons in China during that time.

3. How did your daughter and her husband meet? They originally met online and then my son in law came to China to visit 4 times before they were married.

4. When did your daughter move to the US? July 2009

5. What company does your son-in-law work for? My mother-in-law gave the VO one of my business cards

6. How many family members do you have that live in China? My Mother in law had made a small photo album of family photos which she showed to the VO and briefly explained who the various people in them were.

The VO then asked to see the I-134 which I had filled out for them - she briefly scanned over it and then returned it to my in laws at which time she said - "No problem - you get the visa".

BTW - my in laws interviewed for their B-2s at Guangzhou and they remarked that the majority of those who interviewed for B-2s on the same day were also approved. I filled out and submitted their online DS-160 visa applications for them.

Great information! Thank you for sharing this.

[freetv 7]

The entire system is messed up, my mother in law and sister in law (she is a twin) got denied two years ago and they just wanted to go to our wedding. The visa officer looked at the I-134 I signed and asked what other countries they had traveled to before saying you are denied.... the whole thing took 45 secs. I understand her sister but her mom doesn't make any sense.... I contacted my congressman and was told that many relatives in China get denied because the consulates have to be overly protective and all she could do was make sure they look at the documents and at least consider it... BUT at that point I was so pissed about them throwing away $300 is visa fees that it wasn't worth it. Her dad is going to try and come in May, but I am fairly sure he will get approved since he is a doctor and has much more money in his name.... but you shouldn't have to be rich to get approved. I have had friends in China that had their 90 year old Grandma apply for a tourist visa 4 or 5 times to see their new born kids in the u.s. and get denied every time and told "just apply for the green card old lady... you would already be in the u.s."

[Casprd 167]

The entire system is messed up, my mother in law and sister in law (she is a twin) got denied two years ago and they just wanted to go to our wedding. The visa officer looked at the I-134 I signed and asked what other countries they had traveled to before saying you are denied.... the whole thing took 45 secs. I understand her sister but her mom doesn't make any sense.... I contacted my congressman and was told that many relatives in China get denied because the consulates have to be overly protective and all she could do was make sure they look at the documents and at least consider it... BUT at that point I was so pissed about them throwing away $300 is visa fees that it wasn't worth it. Her dad is going to try and come in May, but I am fairly sure he will get approved since he is a doctor and has much more money in his name.... but you shouldn't have to be rich to get approved. I have had friends in China that had their 90 year old Grandma apply for a tourist visa 4 or 5 times to see their new born kids in the u.s. and get denied every time and told "just apply for the green card old lady... you would already be in the u.s."

I here you. This is why I strongly encourage people not to come on a tourist visa and AOS or try to shortcut the system.

[Eric & Jin 10]

The overall percentage of denials of B visas from China is not nearly as high as one might expect - in reality the overwhelming majority of those who apply for them are approved. Official State Department statistics show that the refusal rate for B visas in China has been steadily decreasing every year for at least the past 5 years. In 2006 the B visa refusal rate for China was 24.5% however in 2010 the refusal rate had dropped to 13.3%. Granted these rates are based upon on all B visas (B1 & B2) however this is very encouraging news for our families.

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY10.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY09.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY08.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY07.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY06.pdf

[freetv 7]

The overall percentage of denials of B visas from China is not nearly as high as one might expect - in reality the overwhelming majority of those who apply for them are approved. Official State Department statistics show that the refusal rate for B visas in China has been steadily decreasing every year for at least the past 5 years. In 2006 the B visa refusal rate for China was 24.5% however in 2010 the refusal rate had dropped to 13.3%. Granted these rates are based upon on all B visas (B1 & B2) however this is very encouraging news for our families.

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY10.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY09.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY08.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY07.pdf

http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/FY06.pdf

That is good news, but when you consider the fact that many visas are given to tour group members or businessmen who make regular trips it isn't as likely to be approved as the numbers suggest. Nevertheless, I think within the next 5-10 years things should start to get a lot easier... at least I hope.