How to best approach US Consulate regarding foreign parents attending wedding

[billyboy02 0]

Hi everybody,

Has anyone here ever had to have their fiance(e)'s parents apply for tourist visas to the US so that they could attend the wedding ceremony?

We wanted to find out if there are any helpful pieces of evidence or any statements or documents that would help them get the tourist visa (and/or reassure the consulate that all they really want to do in the US is to attend the wedding of their son).

All replies are welcome, but if your fiance(e) is from the Philippines, I would love to hear your answer even more.

Thanks in advance!

[norotonfd 1]

I am in the same situation with parents coming to our wedding. US Consulate is more likely to give them a tourist visa is they pose little or no risk of failing to return home. As you know many people come into US on tourist visas and don't leave. Things that make it easier to get family here are if your parents own a house or business. If they have jobs on their application that is good as well. Basically US Consulate wants to make sure they have a reason to return home after the wedding.

[Karen_L 1]

I think them being (presumably) middle-aged or older would automatically help. I read that a younger person is more likely to be denied a tourist visa because older people tend to be more established in their home country. My fiance' once applied and interviewed for a tourist visa (and was denied, of course lol), but I think the process is fairly simple. There are some documents to fill out, but at least in my fiance's case, his interview happened in like a week. You will need to write them letters of welcome, explaining that you want them to come for your wedding to their daughter. THEY will need to bring a statement from their bank showing their savings, any proof of steady income, proof of owning any property or business, any proof of having other non-financial responsibilities in the home country (i.e. if your fiancee has younger siblings that are still living with the parents, or if the parents care for elderly relatives; any proof of needing to return home). Also, make sure you have a VERY specific window of time in mind. Don't just have them say they want to come visit for "the fall" or something; they will need to say, for instance "October 8 - October 28, 2006."

I hope they're able to come! I will be in a similar situation after my fiance' and I plan our large circus-wedding. I think his parents have a good chance of getting tourist visas since they own a house and his dad owns a pretty profitable business and they're both hovering around 50 years old. But his 18 year old brother... I don't think he's got a single chance to get a tourist visa. But anyway, good luck!

Edited July 9, 2006 by Karen_L

[billyboy02 0]

thanks for the replies!!! I was thinking the same thing regarding his siblings...he has a brother and a sister who I would love to include in the entourage as a bridesmaid and a groomsman.

I haven't thought of sending that "welcome" letter...thank you for the suggestion! I think I will do that.

Thank you for the warm wishes as wellk, Karen_L, and good luck to you too!

[Karen_L 1]

thanks for the replies!!! I was thinking the same thing regarding his siblings...he has a brother and a sister who I would love to include in the entourage as a bridesmaid and a groomsman.

I haven't thought of sending that "welcome" letter...thank you for the suggestion! I think I will do that.

Thank you for the warm wishes as wellk, Karen_L, and good luck to you too!

oops! I'm SORRY!! maybe because of your name BillyBoy, but I thought YOU were the guy and I was like "get married to their daughter!" SORRY! lol But Good luck! And thanks!

[billyboy02 0]

no worries i was probably asking for it when i chose that user name

[griffin 7]

pasted from us embassy, manila FAQ:

We wish to attend a wedding in the United States. Should we bring a copy of the invitation to the interview?

The applicant may bring it but the officer may not necessarily examine it. The interviewing officer is less concerned with why the applicant is going to the United States than with whether s/he has ties that will bring him/her back.

What do you mean by "ties to the Philippines?"

"Ties" are the aspects of one’s life that bind him/her to his/her place of residence, including family relationships, employment and possessions. In the case of younger applicants, who may not have had an opportunity to establish such ties, interviewing officers may look at educational status, grades, the situation of parents, and an applicant's long-range plans and prospects in the Philippines. As each person's situation is different, there is no set answer as to what constitutes adequate ties.

griffin

[billyboy02 0]

don't you just love how ambiguous the embassy's statements can be

my fiance just let me know that his cousin's friend had been granted a tourist visa valid for a week by presenting the invitation. I'll probably also heed Karen_L's advice to send personal invitations (letters) to his family over there

Edited July 11, 2006 by billyboy02

[duellema 0]

i'm confused... are they staying longer than the 90 days? I haven't thought of it being a problem for my fiance's family to come for our wedding or to bring documentation for them to go home... we are moving to Germany after our wedding anyway.

You're getting me a little nervous here!

[billyboy02 0]

No they're not...in fact, they might be staying for just a week here. But applying for a tourist visa in the Philippines is hella hard, so I was just picking other people's brains here if they've encountered a similar experience.