When can Chinese parents visit us in US?

[Teachers 12]

We just got our NOA2. Our guess is that my fiance's interview will be in March or April. After she finishes teaching for the spring semester, she would come to the US in June, and we would marry in early July.

We've heard that her parents will not be able to get a visa to attend our wedding in the US. Does anyone know for sure? How long will the wait be before they can get a visa to visit us for a few weeks or a month or two?

Tom

[E&K 0]

These are great news Tom! I'm so happy for you!!!!!

I hope you keep sharing visa processing statistings with us, they really help us keep our hopes up

[theresa 0]

Can they apply for tourist visas? I got the tour visa for US in China before. I think it was a month wait from the date you call for an interview. They can start for the Visa two months before your wedding, and of course they should bring your wedding invitation card... US has to approve the visa because Parents should attend the wedding. How can they deny it?

[kitkat1 5]

You won't know if they will be approved for a visa until they apply. They will need to follow the rules for all tourist visas to the US. Unfortunately, the desire to attend their child's wedding in the US does not mean they cannot be denied - they must meet the criteria. In order to understand the process and wait time, your best bet is to start studying the US Embassy website in Bejing: http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/visa_info.html

[pushbrk 12,569]

We just got our NOA2. Our guess is that my fiance's interview will be in March or April. After she finishes teaching for the spring semester, she would come to the US in June, and we would marry in early July.

We've heard that her parents will not be able to get a visa to attend our wedding in the US. Does anyone know for sure? How long will the wait be before they can get a visa to visit us for a few weeks or a month or two?

Tom

Timing isn't really the issue. They can apply for a visa to visit the USA but unless they can show significant ties to China indicating they are highly likely to return to China, they will be denied a visa. If they have a business and property, substantial money in the bank and other children in China, they stand a pretty good chance. Approval for visitor visas from China to the USA is purely dependant upon circumstances. Previous International travel helps too.

For example, I'm confident my wife's father who is retired from the military and a widower would be denied and wife's single sister wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. However, my wife's married brother and his wife who would leave two children, a professorship, significant business interests and two homes behind would be approved in a heartbeat.

Actually Baba would have a decent chance of obtaining a visa if he came alone but he has no interest in doing so and isn't healthy enough.

Edited March 22, 2007 by pushbrk