Bringing Mother-in-law to USA for long visit?

[Tahoma 2,292]

Hey Jojo......I see that you got your first Tagalog lesson.

Also, it's a pretty good bet that the consular officers at the U.S. Embassy Manila know a little something about Filipino culture. It's common in 'Pinas for grandma to help out with the baby. I don't think it will be an issue when it comes to the visitors visa.

As was mentioned by other posters, the biggest hurdle to overcome is providing enough substantial ties to 'Pinas in order to show the consular officer you won't go TNT in the USA. I'm guessing that less than half of the people who apply for a tourist visa get approved. I mostly base that on what I've read on pinoy exchange website.

By the way, if grandma gets a visitor visa, I think she can stay in the U.S. for up to six months.

Edited November 2, 2011 by Tahoma

[Tahoma 2,292]

Would someone please translate TNT for Jojo.

Salamat po.

[rlogan 2,036]

Immigration is bad enough without people trying to get attention by fear-mongering.

My point is that how "nanay" presents her case at the visitor visa interview will matter.

Captain obvious has arrived to save the day.

I concede the point, Jojo. Thank you. Do not use "employee" to refer to yourself when you are a grandmother. Do not call your daughter "employer". Do not say your address is Al Qaeda, Afghanistan. Do not say you have 50 lbs of C-4 in your luggage when you meant "underwear".

**********************

People have covered well enough the point you need to show returning to the home country is inevitable through strong enough ties for a visitor visa, amongst which is owning a business or having property and investments.

[Thunderstruck 1]

Wow, I did not realize my use of Nanay instead of Mother or MIL on the Philippines forum might cause a conflict like it did. It was certainly not my intent. My apologies for not being more clear in my original post.

I do appreciate all of the information from everyone. Our intent is to do just as a few of you mentioned in other posts, to have my wife's mother be there to comfort and teach my wife who is 29 but will still a first-time mother. Yes I am sure she will help with the baby as any grandmother would, but I have no intentions of hiring her as a nanny. My wife and I (and my MIL) want her to come as it is a big event for us all and will help my wife feel better as all of my family live hundreds and even thousands of miles from us. There won't be much support from that side. Admirably, family (and extended family) are a very big deal to Filipinos and with just me and maybe a few friends we have here, it will be all the harder on my wife. Having her mother here would help her immensely.

For the visitor's visa, I don't suppose my MIL having a husband, 87 year old mother and other children count as valid reasons she will want to go back to the Philippines? My MIL is certainly not rich and I am not sure if the substantial farm property is in my MIL's name or her mother's name. Ownership of things in the rural province seem to be a lot different than they are in Manila or other big cities.

Thanks for all the advice and information.

[TeapotGirl 66]

For the visitor's visa, I don't suppose my MIL having a husband, 87 year old mother and other children count as valid reasons she will want to go back to the Philippines?

If your mother-in-law is 87 and your wife is 29, then that's not her bio mother. She's kinda old too to travel, I dunno if she will still have to undergo medical exam too that will lead to another problem.

Edited November 3, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Immigration is bad enough without people trying to get attention by fear-mongering.

Captain obvious has arrived to save the day.

I concede the point, Jojo. Thank you. Do not use "employee" to refer to yourself when you are a grandmother. Do not call your daughter "employer". Do not say your address is Al Qaeda, Afghanistan. Do not say you have 50 lbs of C-4 in your luggage when you meant "underwear".

**********************

People have covered well enough the point you need to show returning to the home country is inevitable through strong enough ties for a visitor visa, amongst which is owning a business or having property and investments.

I made a mistake. I admitted to it.

You accuse me of fear-mongering and making threats. I asked you to quote my posts where I made any threats, and you can't because I didn't do any of those things.

It is so easy for you to make accusations. Why is it so hard for you to prove? Why can't you quote me??? I guess this makes you a liar, doesn't it?

---------------

To the OP,

I apologize for my mistake. I am sorry for the anxiety I caused. Best of luck to you and your family.

Jojo

Edited November 3, 2011 by Jojo92122

[Tahoma 2,292]

If your mother-in-law is 87 and your wife is 29, then that's not her bio mother. She's kinda old too to travel, I dunno if she will still have to undergo medical exam too that will lead to another problem.

I think the OP is saying his mother-in-law's mother is 87.

[Thunderstruck 1]

Yes. Tahoma is correct. My wife's grandmother is 87.

[B_J 2,752]

Yes. Tahoma is correct. My wife's grandmother is 87.

Yes, but how old is the nanny?

[andrea4prez 1]

Wow, I did not realize my use of Nanay instead of Mother or MIL on the Philippines forum might cause a conflict like it did. It was certainly not my intent. My apologies for not being more clear in my original post.

I do appreciate all of the information from everyone. Our intent is to do just as a few of you mentioned in other posts, to have my wife's mother be there to comfort and teach my wife who is 29 but will still a first-time mother. Yes I am sure she will help with the baby as any grandmother would, but I have no intentions of hiring her as a nanny. My wife and I (and my MIL) want her to come as it is a big event for us all and will help my wife feel better as all of my family live hundreds and even thousands of miles from us. There won't be much support from that side. Admirably, family (and extended family) are a very big deal to Filipinos and with just me and maybe a few friends we have here, it will be all the harder on my wife. Having her mother here would help her immensely.

For the visitor's visa, I don't suppose my MIL having a husband, 87 year old mother and other children count as valid reasons she will want to go back to the Philippines? My MIL is certainly not rich and I am not sure if the substantial farm property is in my MIL's name or her mother's name. Ownership of things in the rural province seem to be a lot different than they are in Manila or other big cities.

Thanks for all the advice and information.

my MIL got her 10 year multiple entry visa last April 2011, I recently gave birth too so she was here with us not as a NANNY but as a MIL wanting to be with her first grandchild and also assisting me since I am a first time mother. Let's just say we got lucky because my MIL is a fulltime housewife, never travelled abroad or even rode a plane. She just said that her hubby has a business and hubby is supporting her. The consul asked her during the interview, you are going to California to visit your son? and she said YES and then consul asked what do you do? She said she is helping her hubby with their business...then that's it. She even brought bank papers to show their money in bank and even paperwork to prove that FIL has a business in the Philippines, but consul did not ask for it. My MIL does not even own any property in the Philippines. The strong ties that my mom showed why she will be back to the philippines is that she still has an 18 yr old daughter studying back home.

[TeapotGirl 66]

my MIL got her 10 year multiple entry visa last April 2011, I recently gave birth too so she was here with us not as a NANNY but as a MIL wanting to be with her first grandchild and also assisting me since I am a first time mother. Let's just say we got lucky because my MIL is a fulltime housewife, never travelled abroad or even rode a plane. She just said that her hubby has a business and hubby is supporting her. The consul asked her during the interview, you are going to California to visit your son? and she said YES and then consul asked what do you do? She said she is helping her hubby with their business...then that's it. She even brought bank papers to show their money in bank and even paperwork to prove that FIL has a business in the Philippines, but consul did not ask for it. My MIL does not even own any property in the Philippines. The strong ties that my mom showed why she will be back to the philippines is that she still has an 18 yr old daughter studying back home.

The business is the strong ties, not the 18yrs old daughter and perhaps the documentation was presented already during the application. It is owned by her husband so technically she owns it as well. She will also go through background check, verify he documents presented and at times agent will come to the area and ask the neighbors, like what they do in bank loan application. Everyone's got a kid here so you cannot refer that as a strong ties.

Edited November 4, 2011 by teapotgurl1983

[andrea4prez 1]

The business is the strong ties, not the 18yrs old daughter and perhaps the documentation was presented already during the application. It is owned by her husband so technically she owns it as well. She will also go through background check, verify he documents presented and at times agent will come to the area and ask the neighbors, like what they do in bank loan application. Everyone's got a kid here so you cannot refer that as a strong ties.

I was just relating what happened to my MIL and not telling the OP that having a kid is a good proof of strong ties. It's case to case basis and she got lucky. She brought a letter from the bank and proof of her husbands business but she never presented it all during application and at the interview. The business is under the hubby's name and he was not present during the interview or not even trying to get a tourist visa too.

I dont think she went through background check and there is no documents presented to verify. I might be clueless but I didnt know agents go to the area and ask neighbors. As is, her interview that time was a Tuesday by Saturday she got the Visa.

[MI.PI 7]

The only way for your MIL to visit is through a tourist visa and as others have mentioned, it’s not an easy process. While it is true that the consular officers at the US embassy in Manila gives more emphasis on the financial capability of the applicant, I think they also have other considerations for the elderly. When I had my interview for my tourist visa application, I was seated close to one of the windows so I was able to hear how the interview was being conducted. There was an old lady (probably in her mid 70’s) who asked for an interpreter during the interview as she could not understand and speak English very well. She was asked the usual question (i.e. purpose of visit, etc.) and when asked about her source of living, she said she just sells banana que (deep fried plantain with caramelized sugar). She was granted the visa.

Everyday, there are hundreds of applicants for tourist visa at the US Embassy in Manila. They come from all walks of life. Some get lucky, some don’t. With the huge volume of applicants, the consular officer spends, on the average, 3 to 5 minutes per applicant, so they really don’t have the luxury of time to even ask for and check additional documents to support the application unless deem necessary (probably to support a claim during the interview process). The decision for granting the visa is based largely on the information provided in the application form and the questions that will be asked during the interview. I am not saying that you should not have supporting documents. It is always good to be ready when they ask for it so if you have any supporting documents that she can bring with her during the interview then make sure she has those.

Your MIL might have a chance if she will be able to handle her interview really well. The main thing to remember during the interview aside from being completely honest is to answer the questions accurately and forthrightly. Do not talk too much and offer unnecessary information that might cause doubtful impression. Answer only what is being asked.

As I said, some get luck...some don’t. But it won’t hurt to try. I was denied the first time I applied but was granted the 10-year multiple visa on my second try.

Good luck.

[MI.PI 7]

I was just relating what happened to my MIL and not telling the OP that having a kid is a good proof of strong ties. It's case to case basis and she got lucky. She brought a letter from the bank and proof of her husbands business but she never presented it all during application and at the interview. The business is under the hubby's name and he was not present during the interview or not even trying to get a tourist visa too.

I dont think she went through background check and there is no documents presented to verify. I might be clueless but I didnt know agents go to the area and ask neighbors. As is, her interview that time was a Tuesday by Saturday she got the Visa.

Actually, you might be right about her having a kid as a good proof of strong ties in the Philippines, along with some other information she might have said during the interview. As I said in the my earlier post, consular officers don't usually ask for supporting documents so the decision is based primarily on what transpired during the interview. Supporting documents are not submitted with the application form, the applicants bring these documents with them during the interview so there is no way for the consular officer to find out the applicant's specific financial status.

[andrea4prez 1]

Actually, you might be right about her having a kid as a good proof of strong ties in the Philippines, along with some other information she might have said during the interview. As I said in the my earlier post, consular officers don't usually ask for supporting documents so the decision is based primarily on what transpired during the interview. Supporting documents are not submitted with the application form, the applicants bring these documents with them during the interview so there is no way for the consular officer to find out the applicant's specific financial status.

Thank you!

I asked her again and she said she was not asked to present any documents to prove her financial status. She was just asked those simple questions in my earlier post and that's it. She was lucky in my opinion.