how to bring parents in the US for visit

[bluedamsel 0]

Hi folks, i am new here in visajourney but I heard that this is a very helpful site, i came to the US petitioned by my husband 2 years ago, that means, I only have a conditional permanent residence visa. my question is can i apply for my parents a visitor visa to come here for at least 3 months? anybody here had that experience? or does anybody here advise me on how to do that, where am I suppose to start?

[tallcoolone 102]

They can apply any time they want for a Tourist Visa

Until you become a US Citizen you can't petition anyone

[sheila526 2]

Your parents will have to apply for a tourist visa in the Philippines at the US Embassy.

[bluedamsel 0]

ok thanks for all the reply, so its them who need to apply in the philippines and not me. but how about on my behalf? i know i have to be ready for something right? like proof that they will stay with me, I can accomodate them, and more...

Your parents will have to apply for a tourist visa in the Philippines at the US Embassy.

[jsnearline 2]

You can send your parents a letter of invitation. However, don't bother doing an affidavit of support for them.

The biggest thing the Embassy will be concerned about is whether your parents have "ties" to the Philippines that are strong enough that they would return home after their visit to the US.

My advice is if they do get a visa, don't max out the period of authorized stay. It's good to get a history of visiting the US for reasonable periods of time and then going home after.

[lbounds 16]

I thought tourist visas from the Philippines to US are almost never granted. Am I wrong about that ?

My girl comes from a poor farming family. Her mom asked if she could come visit and I told her it was very doubtful a tourist visa will be approved. From what I understood you have to show substantial evidence of owning property like was mentioned or strong "ties" to return. Otherwise they think you will use the tourist visa as your entry to the US and never return.

I had thought it was a waste of time to get her elderly mother to fly to manila and spend time in this process for tourist visa when it would most likely be denied. Has anyone else been successful with this ?

[tallcoolone 102]

I thought tourist visas from the Philippines to US are almost never granted. Am I wrong about that ?

My girl comes from a poor farming family. Her mom asked if she could come visit and I told her it was very doubtful a tourist visa will be approved. From what I understood you have to show substantial evidence of owning property like was mentioned or strong "ties" to return. Otherwise they think you will use the tourist visa as your entry to the US and never return.

I had thought it was a waste of time to get her elderly mother to fly to manila and spend time in this process for tourist visa when it would most likely be denied. Has anyone else been successful with this ?

Correct

From PI to USA is difficult.

Seems the older the better, the richer the better, when it comes to getting approved for a Tourist Visas to USA

But if someone has extra cash and time on thier hand, I guess it worth a shot

[TripleG 3]

I am sure there are plenty of success stories, but I only know of one Filipino that tried to come here on a tourist visa. A filipino friend of mine that holds two engineering degrees, has property, a small business and brings in a monthly salary of about 55,000php. His American boss who is another friend of mine wanted him to come visit his house in the U.S.A. They have worked together for over 10 years and are very close. Anyways this Filipino guy tried to get his tourist visa for this visit, and when he went to his interview the Filipino interviewer said "I have known my boss for 15 years and have never been to his house, and he lives right here in the Philippines, request denied!"

Essentially the whole process can come down to whoever does the interview regardless of proof of ties. In this case the interviewer didn't believe the guy was going to visit his boss, because he couln't imagine someone doing so. Crazy stuff in my opinion and basically a ####### shoot. If they turned this guy down, my in-laws have absolutely NO SHOT regardless of their reasons for wanting to visit. I heard that if you have kids and both have jobs that parents are sometimes more likely to get a tourist visa to visit to help with the kids....but I don't know the validity to that tale.

Wyatt

[nowhereman 1]

Hi folks, i am new here in visajourney but I heard that this is a very helpful site, i came to the US petitioned by my husband 2 years ago, that means, I only have a conditional permanent residence visa. my question is can i apply for my parents a visitor visa to come here for at least 3 months? anybody here had that experience? or does anybody here advise me on how to do that, where am I suppose to start?

Perhaps they would have a better chance of success if they came to the U.S. individually? The "strong ties" would be the other parent back in the Philippines. Anyone try it this way?

[jsnearline 2]

I heard that if you have kids and both have jobs that parents are sometimes more likely to get a tourist visa to visit to help with the kids....but I don't know the validity to that tale.

Actually it's quite the opposite. My mother-in-law was here for a visit last year and when she applied to extend her stay, one of her reasons was to help my wife take care of our son while I recovered from throat surgery. Her application was denied because taking care of children can be considered working even if you aren't being paid to do it.

I know several people who had their parents come to help with the kids. They even extended their stays. The only thing is that they lied about what their real purpose for coming was. In our case, we decided it's better to be honest and it wound up costing us. I don't understand why the system seems to reward lying and fraud, but goes after those who try to do things the right way.

I would stick with using a more generic reason, like wanting to visit family in the US.

Edited November 23, 2009 by jsnearline

[bluedamsel 0]

ok, ok, ok.. so many discussion since i last logged in, thanks for all the thoughts.. very logical and informative. well, my reason for wanting my parents come to visit is for them to try it out and see how they're gonna like it.. I want to petition for them in 2011 0r 2012 when i get my citizenship. they are not employed, down to earth filipino citizen, all they own is a medium size house and lot. My 2 younger brother still lives with them (16 and 19 yrs old)

any thought?