parents to come for a visit from Ukraine

[MDD 1]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

[Rob_Lesya 4]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

Hi marina,

I don't have any direct experience with this (I'm sure there'll be plenty of folks here who will give you their personal experiences), but I do know quite a few Ukrainians here who are married to US citizens and who have parents that come and visit them regularly. I don't know of a single case among my local group here where the parent was denied, so based on what you've described I don't think you should have much trouble.

Good Luck!

[SMR 368]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

My mother-in-law and brother-in -law, both from St. Petersburg, were able to get visas to come to the wedding without extreme trouble. Neither of them have a job even. My brother-in-law is studying and works as an unlicensed taxi driver. My mother-in-law is retired. She owns an apartment and works odd jobs here and there but nothing steady or documentable.

Your parents have jobs, a car, and an apartment. I don't think you should have a problem. Your grandmother is almost certainly fine, too. She isn't really in a demographic that USCIS worries a lot about. Make sure to dot all of your i's and cross your t's with the paperwork, but I wouldn't expect a hitch.

In general, at least for Russians, it's getting easier to get tourist visas. As you found out, young, single FSU women are still frequently denied, but it's getting better.

Edited September 16, 2009 by SMR

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

Write a letter to the consulate to be included with the application where you explain the nature of their relationship to you and the USC. In the letter, make sure to give details about the USC paying for all expenses and submit evidence to that effect. And remember to include a short timeline of their trip to the US.

If you do so, it is very unlikely that they will be denied. I know somebody who brought her mother, even though she (the mother) was divorced and did not have a job.

[SMR 368]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

Write a letter to the consulate to be included with the application where you explain the nature of their relationship to you and the USC. In the letter, make sure to give details about the USC paying for all expenses and submit evidence to that effect. And remember to include a short timeline of their trip to the US.

If you do so, it is very unlikely that they will be denied. I know somebody who brought her mother, even though she (the mother) was divorced and did not have a job.

This is a good idea. I think it is more standard for the letter to be written to the foreign national, inviting them for a specified period of time and activity and stating what you will be paying for. Of course, this is just a formality since the letter is written to be read by the consulate, even though you write it to them. Point is, just send the letter to your parents and grandmother and have them bring it to the interview.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hey, guys!

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Do you think my parents have a chance to get visas? They will provide documents that they own an apartment, have a car and jobs. Also I'd really love for my grandma to come. She is still working, although retired officially. And she owns an apartment. But of course as many eldery people in Ukraine, she is not that well-off. Well, I just wanted to ask if anybody had this experience and did your relatives actually obtained visas?

Any ideas/experiences will be helpful.

Thanks

I do not have any personal experience to relate. I know of several couples where the parents and/or brothers and sisters were able to acquire visitor visas once their relative was an LPR in the US. Certainly worth a try.

[1HappyGuy 45]

My wife has a good friend that lives in Kyiv. She has been to the USA the past two years without any problem. She just had to prove she owned her apartment. The visa is pretty nice since you can stay for six months. Unfortunately, my wife's friend was unable to visit us since she was on the east coast and we are on the west coast. But, she did get to stay with her son and her grandchildren.

I don't think you will have any problem considering the property ownership. That is one of the key elements to obtaining a B-2. But single people have a very difficult time getting the visa.

[BluesTraveler 0]

Does anybody have experience bringing your parents for a visit. The thing is that my parents obviously couldn't come for our wedding back in July and we'd like to throw a party in May next year, where my parents together with my grandma can come too. Well, they will obviously have to get a tourist visa, B-2. I once applied while my boyfriend at that time and I were still dating. Well, I got denied. Not enough social ties. Usual case, I think.

Marina D had Dima and Yeva visit me and they got their tourist visas no problem. I had them get a letter from their employer showing they are currently employed. I then wrote a letter saying I would pay for everything. Interview lasted no more than 5 minutes. The only tough question was who filled out the form for you if you don't speak English. Dima replied I did.

Also I booked their tickets in advance on British Airways on the UK website. If you read the very small fine print British Airways will issue a full refund if your visa application is denied (as of July 2009). -- Although triple check and maybe worth a call to the reservations center to make sure the fare rule is still in place. I think other airlines have this rule as well.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My wife has a good friend that lives in Kyiv. She has been to the USA the past two years without any problem. She just had to prove she owned her apartment. The visa is pretty nice since you can stay for six months. Unfortunately, my wife's friend was unable to visit us since she was on the east coast and we are on the west coast. But, she did get to stay with her son and her grandchildren.

I don't think you will have any problem considering the property ownership. That is one of the key elements to obtaining a B-2. But single people have a very difficult time getting the visa.

You can send a letter of invitsation and an I-134. Technically the applicant must qualify on their own, but this cannot hurt. From other people I have talked to, when they have a relative in the USA to visit it is much easier to get the visitor visa. For one thing, they have someone to follow up with if the applicant does not return when scheduled.