how can I have my parents attend my wedding in the US?

[beauty2783 0]

Hi guys,

I would like my parents to attend my wedding in the US, but I dont know what to do to bring them there. I dont even know where to start. Should I tell them to file for a tourist visa? If I let them file for a tourist visa provided I give them our wedding invitation, will that be enough guarantee that they will be able to come?

All suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

[john_and_marlene 162]

They need to apply for tourist visas. There is no way to guarantee they will be approved.

[beauty2783 0]

Yes, that is what I thought so too. I mean, I know tourist visas only have about a 50% chance of being approved, but I was hoping that maybe a wedding invitation would be enough to satisfy the consul that my parents really have a purpose for going to the US and will not go TNT over there but will be coming back to the Philippines.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to petition a parent to the US once I have AOS?

[ED*Riza 0]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107037

[English Muffin 59]

Do you have any idea how long it takes to petition a parent to the US once I have AOS?

Petition them for what, a tourist visa?

[tom&tata 2]

Yes, that is what I thought so too. I mean, I know tourist visas only have about a 50% chance of being approved, but I was hoping that maybe a wedding invitation would be enough to satisfy the consul that my parents really have a purpose for going to the US and will not go TNT over there but will be coming back to the Philippines.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to petition a parent to the US once I have AOS?

You do not need to petition for tourist visa. You can provide invitation but they need to provide ties to home country.

[beauty2783 0]

No no no, I mean petition them for the I-130 (petition for alien relative to immigrate to the US). I know that is a long way from now since I am not yet a USC and have not AOS yet, but I'm curious how long that takes? I know the tourist visa is no guarantee that they will be able to come, just wondering when I can possibly see them again as soonest as possible. So i mean, if they cant come on a tourist visa, might as well file them for I-130. Does anyone know how long that process takes?

[felnfrank 1]

not sure... some people use the tourist visa. it works ok with them but still depends. It's a case to case basis. Just provide the necessary requirements like have ur parents a strong proof that they'll be going back to phi. so there wouldnt be any doubt for them to be a TNT

[dj1206 0]

Let your parents apply for tourist visa first. My family(parents, 2 sisters) was approved. I let them bring our wedding invitation as well as their own papers to show their ties in the Philippines for their interview but the consul never asked for any documents. They asked for my name though and the consul checked it on their system. My younger sis is a College student and she was only asked the question: "Are you a student?" She said "yes". That's all. There were more questions asked from my dad since he's the head of the family. He was asked about the company he's working for, how me and my husband (then fiance) met, what his job is, what his address is, etc. That's it! We really prayed about it and God answered our prayers. I also know a lot of people who got approved with tourist visas.

[*JG* 2]

Yes, that is what I thought so too. I mean, I know tourist visas only have about a 50% chance of being approved, but I was hoping that maybe a wedding invitation would be enough to satisfy the consul that my parents really have a purpose for going to the US and will not go TNT over there but will be coming back to the Philippines.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to petition a parent to the US once I have AOS?

You need to naturalize first. Then, you can file.

[Michael and Milahjean 0]

My asawa and I discussed the possibility of her parents coming to the US when she arrived here a bit over a year ago. There was no possibility of her folks coming here on a tourist visa for a US wedding since they essentially have no assets. So, we opted to marry in the Philippines in the presence of all of her family and friends, which was the most incredible experience of my life!! I was not about to deny her and her family this once in a lifetime event. As is turms out, her CR-1 visa was processed in only 9 months, so the K-1 is not always the fastest or best route to take.

Shortly after she arrived in the US in April 2007, we also discussed how long it might be before her parents would be able to come to the US as immigrants. Based upon today's processes and procedures (always subject to change), we believe it would be nearly 10 years from the day she first arrived. She first needs to establish her US citizenship, which can be applied for after 3 years legal permanent residency (married to US citizen), which for us is April 2010. Once she receives her citizenship, we plan to petition both parents whether they wish to come to the US or not at that time. We know, at least at this point, there are a limited number of visas available each year for certain categories, so based upon information we have, the backlog would take 5 years or more to work through. We also have investigated how long it would take for her younger sisters to come here, and basically, if they do not find a foreigner husband or manage to be granted a student or employment visa, the wait for them as a sibling of the US citizen petitioner would be 25 years or more, and during the wait they must absolutely remain single. Again, nothing our government does reduces processing times, so expect that these times will be extended as the years marches on.

If you have access a very good source of current information is TFC's weekly TV show called Citizen Pinoy. There are many immigration topics that are discussed, with very interesting stories of Filipinos who have been struggling with petitions submitted for their family members.

[beauty2783 0]

Wow, so it takes that long to petition parents into the US, huh? I guess I could try having them apply for a tourist visa, even though there is no guarantee of approval. Thank you to everyone who replied.

To Michael and Milahjean : so you watch Citizen Pinoy, huh? Yep, I have been watching it now too. It's a great show, you can truly learn a lot from it.

To dj1206: I hope my parents get approved in their application for tourist visa just like your parents have been. It will certainly be nice to have them at my wedding in the US. Thanks again!