Tourist visa for relatives

[Chris Parker 11]

Where did you get the idea to do an I-134 for a B visa? It sounds like a good idea, and I guess that it certainly must have helped your sister-in-law's case. Tania wants to have her daughter (21 years old) here for our wedding, and I'm looking ahead as to how best to make that happen. To her daughter's advantage, she has been to the U.S. each of the past two summers as part of a student work/travel program. I believe that she had a J visa for those visits.

Don't really think the I-134 had much to do with his approval. Suppose it could be accepted as an attachment to the invitation. The issue with using it is that it suggests the person may actually be in the U.S. for a long time.

Someone who has been in U.S. before and returned abroad is in very good shape to get a visitor's visa.

[Don E 0]

Yeah, I think I understand what you're saying and would tend to agree. I would think that not having to offer any financial support would help the visa applicant's case. I'm still curious as to why slim seemed to believe that the I-134 helped his sister-in-law's case. I would think that, with a well written letter of invitation and with two previous visits to the U.S. (and returns) with no issues, the likelihood of Tania's daughter getting a visitor visa is really good. Thanks for the reply, Chris.

Where did you get the idea to do an I-134 for a B visa? It sounds like a good idea, and I guess that it certainly must have helped your sister-in-law's case. Tania wants to have her daughter (21 years old) here for our wedding, and I'm looking ahead as to how best to make that happen. To her daughter's advantage, she has been to the U.S. each of the past two summers as part of a student work/travel program. I believe that she had a J visa for those visits.

Don't really think the I-134 had much to do with his approval. Suppose it could be accepted as an attachment to the invitation. The issue with using it is that it suggests the person may actually be in the U.S. for a long time.

Someone who has been in U.S. before and returned abroad is in very good shape to get a visitor's visa.

[slim 1,530]

I'm still curious as to why slim seemed to believe that the I-134 helped his sister-in-law's case. I would think that, with a well written letter of invitation and with two previous visits to the U.S. (and returns) with no issues, the likelihood of Tania's daughter getting a visitor visa is really good.

Because it shows that I have the resources to support my visitor while they're here, and more importantly, to send them back home!

The approval of the visa lies not on their "record" of coming to the U.S. or going to other "rich" countries and then returning, it rests on their need to come to the U.S. and their need to go home when finished. Having previous entries to the U.S. signifies nothing, especially if they were here on a student visa. Maybe now that they're all done with school (and have visited the U.S. a few times to scout it out) they're going to move here using a visitor visa.

Contrast that with something like "here's my daughter-in-law who has a husband back home, a good job and a house to return to. She's coming here to go to my wedding and then back home. I'll support her if need be but she's going to support herself."

Sounds like a valid reason to visit (and then go home!) doesn't it?

[slim 1,530]

And what is this "invitation letter" that I keep hearing about?

[Boiler 45,923]

Because it shows that I have the resources to support my visitor while they're here, and more importantly, to send them back home!

How?

An I-134 suggest there is a financial problem, best avoided, a document of last resort and it of course is not legally enforcable anyway.

Edited February 25, 2008 by Boiler

[slim 1,530]

Because it shows that I have the resources to support my visitor while they're here, and more importantly, to send them back home!

How?

An I-134 suggest there is a financial problem, best avoided, a document of last resort and it of course is not legally enforcable anyway.

Maybe not, but to an issuing official, someone who is trying to determine if the person sitting before them is going to the U.S. for a visit or to immigrate, it may paint the picture that the person they're going to visit in the U.S. (who is credible based on past compliance with visa regulations and procedures) is saying "hey, I understand this system, have done it before, and now, I want the person sitting before you to come visit me. See, I make enough money. It won't be a problem."

This is where doing the DS-156 also comes in. If you, the USC, are doing both, then the issuing official can see that you're the one that actually "invited" the person to come visit you, not the other way around.

[Don E 0]

Thanks for the reply, but I'll admit that I still don't follow all of your logic. Maybe I'm just slow. I thought that it was most important to show ties to the homeland, and that would include family, property, jobs, money, etc. If the applicant can't demonstrate sufficient resources to make the trip (and return) without support from someone in the U.S., I guess I don't understand how that really helps the case. Maybe it is viewed as just another resource (albeit in the U.S.) available to the applicant and maybe you're right.

Granted, each visa application has to stand on it's own merit, but I still believe that if the applicant has a (good) history of receiving visas and complying with the terms of those visas that it will be to the applicant's advantage. I know that I've read DOS guidance on visa applications which clearly states that if a visa applicant has recently (I believe in the past year) received a similar visa, the applicant won't (or at least may not) require an interview.

In any event, I appreciate you sharing your experience and thoughts, and thanks for taking the time to reply!

Because it shows that I have the resources to support my visitor while they're here, and more importantly, to send them back home!

The approval of the visa lies not on their "record" of coming to the U.S. or going to other "rich" countries and then returning, it rests on their need to come to the U.S. and their need to go home when finished. Having previous entries to the U.S. signifies nothing, especially if they were here on a student visa. Maybe now that they're all done with school (and have visited the U.S. a few times to scout it out) they're going to move here using a visitor visa.

Contrast that with something like "here's my daughter-in-law who has a husband back home, a good job and a house to return to. She's coming here to go to my wedding and then back home. I'll support her if need be but she's going to support herself."

Sounds like a valid reason to visit (and then go home!) doesn't it?

[slim 1,530]

I absolutely agree with you, Don.

I guess what I'm saying is, as you said, I'm just providing "my side" of it, and that is the validity of visiting. So that covers only the "why I want to visit the U.S." side of the applicant's petition.

It's definitely a burden on them to establish ties to the homeland and a valid reason to go back. (And yes, past "visits" can't hurt!)

[Don E 0]

And what is this "invitation letter" that I keep hearing about?

This information is directly off of the Moscow Embassy's website....

"Temporary Business or Tourism (B)

For those persons going to the U.S. on tourism, please indicate where you will be staying. If you are visiting friends, please feel free to bring correspondence or letters of invitation from them. PLEASE do NOT bring a notarized form or letter to this effect. The consular officer may ask how you met the person you are visiting. If you are visiting family, please indicate the inviting person's relationship to you and indicate whether that person is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (i.e. bearer of a U.S. green card), or nonimmigrant in the U.S. on a work or student visa.

Individuals applying for business visas should be prepared to explain what kind of business trip they are making. For those persons visiting business contacts or clients, please bring correspondence that explains the nature of the trip. If you choose to include an invitation letter with your visa application, it is not necessary that it be notarized."

"Supporting Documents

Documents that provide evidence of the applicant’s social, economic, and/or family ties to Russia, as well as correspondence from relatives or business associates you plan to visit, may facilitate the consular officer’s decision. Some examples of documents that may be helpful include:

Evidence of employment. A letter from your employer can be useful.

Evidence of income (and in some cases evidence of your spouse's income), such as earnings statements.

Evidence of immediate family (spouse, children) in Russia.

Evidence of ownership of property.

Evidence of ongoing studies if applicant is still a student.

Evidence of ongoing projects for those in entertainment fields.

Your old passport bearing earlier visas and entry stamps indicating the date on which you returned to Russia (for those who have traveled to the U.S. previously).

Good discussion! Thanks alot!

I absolutely agree with you, Don.

I guess what I'm saying is, as you said, I'm just providing "my side" of it, and that is the validity of visiting. So that covers only the "why I want to visit the U.S." side of the applicant's petition.

It's definitely a burden on them to establish ties to the homeland and a valid reason to go back. (And yes, past "visits" can't hurt!)

[slim 1,530]

If you fill out the DS-156 for them and list yourself as the person completing the form, then that pretty much makes it your invitation letter. There is a spot for "reason for travel" and "whom will you visit" and "relationship" or something to that effect. When you fill all of that in yourself, you're signing the end saying to the embassy "Hey look, I filled all this out for my visitor, Sisterova."

Coupled with the I-134, you're basically assembling an "invitation packet" for them.