Tourist visa for baptism

[Hazah 0]

We're trying to get my mother-in-law and brother-in-law from Ukraine over to the US on a tourist visa for the baptism of our newborn daughter. My brother-in-law will be her godfather and he's a surgeon with a house, wife, and 2 kids living in Ukraine. We figure the embassy won't deny his visa and since my mother-in-law will be accompanying him she won't be refused either right? If you apply for a joint visa is there the chance that only one person will be granted?

Is there anything different we should provide as opposed to a normal tourist visa? We're planning on submitting a letter from the priest performing the baptism, but the birth certificate is going to take several weeks to arrive. Do you think it's mandatory?

[1HappyGuy 45]

I don't know what a Joint Visa is? I think you are likely to be successful but the primary cause for denials is the lack of evidence someone has that they need to return. Jobs and homes are best and if you have a job a letter from the employer saying the employee (visa applicant) will be returning to the job is pretty strong evidence.

[Hazah 0]

I don't know what a Joint Visa is? I think you are likely to be successful but the primary cause for denials is the lack of evidence someone has that they need to return. Jobs and homes are best and if you have a job a letter from the employer saying the employee (visa applicant) will be returning to the job is pretty strong evidence.

On the DS-160 form you can add a person accompanying you on the visa. That's what i meant by joint visa. My brother-in-law never had a visa denied so he's a clean slate. The embassy didn't even look at the documents my mother-in-law submitted on her previous attempts. They simply denied her and said she didn't have any documents.

[slim 1,525]

Technically, the visa is still a tourist visa so they wouldn't need the birth certificate. However, I'd include at least an announcement or invitation or something... or wait until the birth cert. is available. Tourist visas are processed pretty fast so you could probably wait a little bit.

I don't know if the joint visa makes any difference but in this case, it makes sense. I'd assume either they both get it or they both don't. Make sure you show a valid reason to visit and a valid reason to go home. Specifics seem to help in these cases. "Coming to attend baptism and stay for six days before returning for work."

[SMR 368]

On the DS-160 form you can add a person accompanying you on the visa. That's what i meant by joint visa. My brother-in-law never had a visa denied so he's a clean slate. The embassy didn't even look at the documents my mother-in-law submitted on her previous attempts. They simply denied her and said she didn't have any documents.

Yes, there is a line that asks who you will be traveling. That doesn't make it a joint visa. It's just another piece of information they ask for that may be used in determining whether or not to issue the visa (sort of like asking who you are visiting, why you are travelling, etc.). Every adult will need his or her own visa.

They may consider the travel status and accept or reject as a group but that is at the discretion of the interviewing officer and I would be very surprised if this worked to your advantage (I suspect that if they want to give the same answer they will reject both instead of accept both). However, the simple fact that they are traveling together to a family event gives the story plausibility and will likely go in your favor.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We're trying to get my mother-in-law and brother-in-law from Ukraine over to the US on a tourist visa for the baptism of our newborn daughter. My brother-in-law will be her godfather and he's a surgeon with a house, wife, and 2 kids living in Ukraine. We figure the embassy won't deny his visa and since my mother-in-law will be accompanying him she won't be refused either right? If you apply for a joint visa is there the chance that only one person will be granted?

Is there anything different we should provide as opposed to a normal tourist visa? We're planning on submitting a letter from the priest performing the baptism, but the birth certificate is going to take several weeks to arrive. Do you think it's mandatory?

Each person must be approved on "their own merit" Your brother in law's job as a surgeon is of no assistance to your mother in law. There are no "joint visas" I ever heard of.

There needs to be shown a "compelling reason to return". Alla was denied a visa despite having TWO children, owning a home, having a job that paid more than surgeons make in Ukraine, and was treated like "a reptile" at the consulate. Go figure. The reason they are coming to America makes no difference. Their reasons to RETURN make all the difference.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

On the DS-160 form you can add a person accompanying you on the visa. That's what i meant by joint visa. My brother-in-law never had a visa denied so he's a clean slate. The embassy didn't even look at the documents my mother-in-law submitted on her previous attempts. They simply denied her and said she didn't have any documents.

Previous denials make no difference. The line for adding the name is just further information on any other visa holders that will be traveling with them. It is NOT a joint visa. No such thing I ever heard of. YES they can approve his and deny hers. Even a K1/K2 is not a "joint visa". Each is a separate application. Your mother in law needs a separate application for a visa.

[Hazah 0]

Each person must be approved on "their own merit" Your brother in law's job as a surgeon is of no assistance to your mother in law. There are no "joint visas" I ever heard of.

There needs to be shown a "compelling reason to return". Alla was denied a visa despite having TWO children, owning a home, having a job that paid more than surgeons make in Ukraine, and was treated like "a reptile" at the consulate. Go figure. The reason they are coming to America makes no difference. Their reasons to RETURN make all the difference.

How do you prove to the embassy of her reason to RETURN when the officer doesn't even examine the documents the applicant provides?

[slim 1,525]

How do you prove to the embassy of her reason to RETURN when the officer doesn't even examine the documents the applicant provides?

You write a bit about it on the form in the space provide where it says, "purpose of visit."

When I applied for my unemployed, unmarried SIL back in '08 I filled out all the documents for her and simply put "sign here" with little post-it notes where she was supposed to sign her name. I put my name in the "filled out by" box so they'd know I was the one applying for her.

While I realize it doesn't matter who fills out the paperwork, having a USC fill it out saying, "To attend the baptism of niece and become godfather on XXXXX. Arrival on XXXX and departure on XXXX will ensure being back to work as a surgeon at XXXX hospital on XXXXXX."

Make it sound like official business where it's impossible to not make it back home. I personally believe many people get denied because in that block they put something like, "to see my new granddaughter and help take care of her." WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Because that sounds a lot like "I can stay as long as I need to and don't really need to go home."

Make it sound like they HAVE TO go home, or else!

I recommend filling out all the paperwork for them. I know it "doesn't matter" if they do it or not, but when you do it, that looks a lot more like you saying "I want them to come... and then go home" as opposed to "my brother-in-law wants me to come visit him. Seriously, he does."

Paint the picture.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

How do you prove to the embassy of her reason to RETURN when the officer doesn't even examine the documents the applicant provides?

You give them all the documents you can showing the reason to return, pay the fee and hope for the best.