Bring Mother & Father to US?

[botipapa 0]

Well, I'm a Naturalized US Citizen, and would like to get my parents here to visit.

They don't want to live here, just visit every year for a couple of weeks.

We applied for a non-immigrant visa about a year ago (I was LPR back then) and

they got denied because of my history... (I overstayed my tourist visa, and then got married to USC)

We're a part of the VisaWaiver program, but they will mostlikely be denied due to the earlier denial.

I-130 I think is not an option, because they will not stay here permanently.

It's pretty frustrating that I'm a citizen, and basically can't bring them here to VISIT.

Any suggestions?

Try the non-immigrant visa again?

At this point I really don't know...

[Otto 83]

You should be able to find out if they would be denied entry via the VWP. If they're not 'deniable' then there should be no issue with them traveling to the US occasionally.

If there is an issue - the tourist visa (non-immigrant visa) would be the next step - this is applied for directly at the Embassy/Consulates US Embassy - Budapest .

An I-130 or similar family-immigration path would probably not be prudent; it sounds like you probably already know all this though. It should all work out just fine - if they need to apply for a tourist visa, the Embassy can issue a long-term visa so they don't have to go through a huge hassle each time.

Edited October 11, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[Boiler 45,909]

Why did they apply for a visa if they are eligible to use the VWP?

[botipapa 0]

Why did they apply for a visa if they are eligible to use the VWP?

At the time they applied, Hungary

was not a participant of the WVP.

[Boiler 45,909]

Why did they apply for a visa if they are eligible to use the VWP?

At the time they applied, Hungary

was not a participant of the WVP.

They are eligible to use the VWP but can expect questioning about their previous visa refusal.

[botipapa 0]

Why did they apply for a visa if they are eligible to use the VWP?

At the time they applied, Hungary

was not a participant of the WVP.

They are eligible to use the VWP but can expect questioning about their previous visa refusal.

Yes, we know this, thank you.

[Boiler 45,909]

Then why did you ask!

[Lancelotte25 1]

I thought Hungarian citizen are entitled for VWP, so why do you have to apply a Tourist Visa for your parents?

[Boiler 45,909]

I thought Hungarian citizen are entitled for VWP, so why do you have to apply a Tourist Visa for your parents?

Exactly

[botipapa 0]

Then why did you ask!

Do you see me asking about the VWP?!

[Boiler 45,909]

Then why did you ask!

Do you see me asking about the VWP?!

Did you see me answering?

[botipapa 0]

I thought Hungarian citizen are entitled for VWP, so why do you have to apply a Tourist Visa for your parents?

Exactly

This is quoted from the ESTA FAQ's:

"If you were previously denied a visa, or previously refused entry to the United States,

or previously removed from the U.S., your ESTA application will most likely be denied"

So if they would "most likely be denied" then the next step would be the Tourist Visa.

I was kinda hoping there's another way to bring them here, but I guess Otto und Karin was right.

[botipapa 0]

Then why did you ask!

Do you see me asking about the VWP?!

Did you see me answering?

Yepp...

[Darnell 8,479]

You are IN STATUS NOW, right?

I get some feeling, however malformed, that your parents will be ok if they apply for a tourist visa in the future. I could be wrong, of course !

[botipapa 0]

You are IN STATUS NOW, right?

I get some feeling, however malformed, that your parents will be ok if they apply for a tourist visa in the future. I could be wrong, of course !

Yes, I certainly hope so.

The only thing is that I was actually in status (permanent resident) when they got denied.