Tourist visa for in-laws

[Yodrak 7]

eric&jenn,

There's no sense re-applying unless there's significant new information to present either because their circumstances have changed or because they should have presented it the first time and did not.

Recognize that having one's papers in order does no good if what the papers show is insufficient to qualify them for the visa. They really need to know why their first application fell short. The two common problem areas are

- demonstrating that they will leave the USA when their proposed visit is supposed to end, and

- demonstrating that they can afford the visit that they propose to make.

A third area where I suspect that some people fall short is that they fail to offer a reasonable and internally consistent plan for the visit.

Yodrak

My wifes parents applied for a visitors visa last January 30the and got denied. We don't know the reason they had all there papers in order. Does the invitation letter really helps them in there application. Is it advisable for them to reapply?

[JanaknJanet 0]

Hi all. I have come across a website that has all kinds of helpful information on how a person applies for a visa from India. Im sure it has some information that can be useful for many countires.

There are letter samples on how to write invite for family members.. how to have employment letters. What kind of questions are possibly asked many other things.

Hope it helps.

USA visitor visa help ***removed***

[Yodrak 7]

JanaknJanet,

Interesting web site. I looked at a couple of the example documents and was struck by these lines from this example letter for a visa applicant:

That I would like to visit my son ... and his family and visit the tourist attraction locations in USA such as New York, Washington DC, Niagra Falls, Las Vegas, Disney Land and Florida. I would be staying at my son's residence ... . I intend to visit USA for 6 months. During my stay in the United States, my son will bear all my responsibilities including return air ticket fare, food, housing and medical insurance.

So far, pretty good. A nice, concise description of the plan for the visit. It might reasonably take 6 months to visit one end of the USA to the other.

That I have personal business of cloth retailer and that I own the firm named ... located at ... . This firm exists since 1964. My business has annual turnover of Rs. XXXXX and profit for the last year was Rs. XXXX

Sounds good. But wait a minute - whose going to keep the business going while the owner/proprietor is out of the country for 6 months? And if the business is this successful why is the person dependent on his son to pay for all the costs of the proposed visit?

I own the following property listed below:

Good.

That I have my old parents I need to take care of. My father ... is 78 years old and my mother ... is 73 years old. Both of them are staying with me and I need to take care of them as they are fully dependent on me.

So who is going to take care of these "fully dependent"people who need your care if you will be gone for 6 months?

There are some inconsistencies here that may not pass 'the smell test'. Possibly because this example was written as a 'one size fits all' type letter that doesn't fit any one person very well at all. Watch out when using these kinds of examples, tailor them to your own situation carefully.

Yodrak

Hi all. I have come across a website that has all kinds of helpful information on how a person applies for a visa from India. Im sure it has some information that can be useful for many countires.

There are letter samples on how to write invite for family members.. how to have employment letters. What kind of questions are possibly asked many other things.

Hope it helps.

USA visitor visa help ***removed***

Edited May 12, 2006 by Yodrak

[JanaknJanet 0]

Thanks Yodrak... I read the letters and assumed them to be only for guidelines not for 100% use.

I assumed that one looking for help in how to write might get some form of help.

Every Consulate has different things they look for and request.

Ultimately they all request that the one applying provide proof that they have strong ties to return to. By having one sponsor your trip shows that there is someone willing and capable of making sure you wont become a charge to the state.

JanaknJanet,

Interesting web site. I looked at a couple of the example documents and was struck by these lines from this example letter for a visa applicant:

That I would like to visit my son ... and his family and visit the tourist attraction locations in USA such as New York, Washington DC, Niagra Falls, Las Vegas, Disney Land and Florida. I would be staying at my son's residence ... . I intend to visit USA for 6 months. During my stay in the United States, my son will bear all my responsibilities including return air ticket fare, food, housing and medical insurance.

So far, pretty good. A nice, concise description of the plan for the visit. It might reasonably take 6 months to visit one end of the USA to the other.

Not sure of when this letter was written either but isn't a majority of the B-1/B-2 visas now only given for 90 days.. ? I think in past they possibly granted longer visas so this timeframe is irrelevant. Main thing is it shows that you are traveling touring and have a planned itinary.

That I have personal business of cloth retailer and that I own the firm named ... located at ... . This firm exists since 1964. My business has annual turnover of Rs. XXXXX and profit for the last year was Rs. XXXX

Sounds good. But wait a minute - whose "going to keep the business going while the owner/proprietor is out of the country for 6 months? " And if the business is this successful why is the person dependent on his son to pay for all the costs of the proposed visit?

"" Not all owners or Proprietors are the only ones running businesses. .. The statement shows that he owns a business and that he has income and ability to provide, also shows strong ties and responsibilities to have to return to .

I own the following property listed below:

Good.

That I have my old parents I need to take care of. My father ... is 78 years old and my mother ... is 73 years old. Both of them are staying with me and I need to take care of them as they are fully dependent on me.

So who is going to take care of these "fully dependent"people who need your care if you will be gone for 6 months?

This is showing the need to return.. It is not stating that the care is not being provided for them by someone in his absence is it? It could have indeed been clarified further stating that if visa is granted the care for his dependents will be provided by hired care or other.

There are some inconsistencies here that may not pass 'the smell test'. Possibly because this example was written as a 'one size fits all' type letter that doesn't fit any one person very well at all. Watch out when using these kinds of examples, tailor them to your own situation carefully.

Very true about the one size fits all... agree with that as well. Best to understand the culture that one is applying from as well.

Thanks for the comments too..

[Yodrak 7]

janaknjanet,

Sounds like you are confusing the duration of the visa with the duration of the allowed stay in the USA. Understandable, given the language of the example letter, and points out another flaw in the letter. It's the CBP agent at the POE who determines how long a visitor will be allowed to stay in the USA, not the visa.

Not sure of when this letter was written either but isn't a majority of the B-1/B-2 visas now only given for 90 days.. ? I think in past they possibly granted longer visas so this timeframe is irrelevant. Main thing is it shows that you are traveling touring and have a planned itinary.

The statement also calls into question the truthfulness of the claim to a successful business, in two ways.

The visa applicant makes no mention in his letter of how the alleged successful business will be kept going in his absence. It's the duty of the visa officer to be skeptical, not to assume information that the visa appliocant has not provided.

And there's the inconsistency between claiming to be a successful businessman yet needing a sponsor who will pay for everything. Inconsistencies are negatives, and need to be avoided or addressed.

"" Not all owners or Proprietors are the only ones running businesses. .. The statement shows that he owns a business and that he has income and ability to provide, also shows strong ties and responsibilities to have to return to . [/i]

Another inconsistency that needs to be addressed but is not. This does not show a need to return, it shows an inability to leave. You are quite right - the letter is not stating that care will not be provided. Nor does it say how care that is claimed to be essential will be provided. The care can't be too essential then, can it? And if there is another way to provide the care, that removes the need for the visa applicant to provide the care, doesn't it?

That I have my old parents I need to take care of. My father ... is 78 years old and my mother ... is 73 years old. Both of them are staying with me and I need to take care of them as they are fully dependent on me.

So who is going to take care of these "fully dependent"people who need your care if you will be gone for 6 months?

This is showing the need to return.. It is not stating that the care is not being provided for them by someone in his absence is it? It could have indeed been clarified further stating that if visa is granted the care for his dependents will be provided by hired care or other.

Yes, I look at these things as a complete skeptic. Because that's the way that visa officers look at things.

Yodrak

Edited May 12, 2006 by Yodrak

[Boiler 45,525]

I saw that site a year or so back.

1) It is very Indian Sub Continent specific.

2) A large number or posts and very few replies, and many of the replies are suspect at best.

From a quick glance it has not changed very much.

Edited May 15, 2006 by Boiler