Odds of getting in-laws in on B2?

[Mike B. 231]

My parents-in-law would like to visit us from Peru on a tourist visa. I am seriously concerned about their ability to do so, however, and would like to hear what other people think. Here is their overall situation

-They own a house but I don't think that they can prove that they do. They have no legal papers for the house. I know that sounds absolutely crazy to Americans, who would tend to think that if you don't have papers for the house, you don't truly own it. Unfortunately in Peru it's not that uncommon, as who owns what land is a gigantic mess given the waves of squatters/land reform/construction of new municipalities in Lima/mafia control of real estate/etc. that the past decades have seen. Barring the presentation an actual deed to the house, I figure the IO won't accept that that they own the place, though, and they don't have a deed. They get a monthly electricity bill, and that's all the paper I can think of that shows that they have a house.

-My mother-in-law is unemployed.

-My father-in-law is self-employed. I believe he actually has legal documents on his company, which basically a company that owns dump trucks and hauls construction materials.

-The dump trucks for my father-in-law's business are titled to both him and my mother-in-law.

-I have no idea how much money they have but I can't imagine it's much. Peru is a poor country and my in-laws are definitely not from the upper-crust of Peruvian society. They are decidedly working-class.

-Both of my in-laws are in their mid and late sixties. It at least strikes me as pretty unreasonable to think that people of their age would be coming here to start a new career, particularly when neither of them speaks a lick of English, but I don't know if IOs think the same way.

-My father-in-law has never left Peru in his life. My mother-in-law, however, has traveled pretty extensively throughout Latin America and has never overstayed

-Neither of them have ever been arrested, denied entry anywhere, had a visa denied, or any other thing like that.

Anyway, I'd certainly appreciate any input on whether they have a fighting chance, and anything they might do to increase their chances. It seems to me like the big one would be getting a deed to their house, but that doesn't seem possible right now.

Thanks.

[Anh map 2,098]

There is no way to know for sure other than them applying for a tourist visa at the embassy. Help them to prepare as much evidence of strong ties to home as possible. And then hope for the best.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Honestly, OP, they don't sound like they have a good chance They need more proof of really strong ties. I would recommend getting the deed to their house, if at all possible.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Odds are 50/50.

Either they do or they don't.

You won't know till you try...

[KeyWest 1]

Their age might indeed be an advantage. I do believe most IOs think that a person in his/her 60s in not going to start over again in another country where he has never been, doesn't speak the language etc. Therefore it's easier for older people to get tourist visas.

My wifes family from Colombia applied to come to our wedding. Her grandma, she is in her late 60s, got the visa with absolutely no questions asked! She didn't even have a bank account. Her aunt which is a doctor, owns numerous properties, etc got the visa too but was given a really hard time. Sadly, my wifes mother who is unmarried, middle class job, owns a small condo was denied and couldn't attend our wedding.

You just never know.

[MalaysianGirl 26]

Their age might indeed be an advantage. I do believe most IOs think that a person in his/her 60s in not going to start over again in another country where he has never been, doesn't speak the language etc. Therefore it's easier for older people to get tourist visas.

My wifes family from Colombia applied to come to our wedding. Her grandma, she is in her late 60s, got the visa with absolutely no questions asked! She didn't even have a bank account. Her aunt which is a doctor, owns numerous properties, etc got the visa too but was given a really hard time. Sadly, my wifes mother who is unmarried, middle class job, owns a small condo was denied and couldn't attend our wedding.

You just never know.

I sure hope this happens for the OP, too!

[Boiler 45,510]

The only chance you know is that is they do not apply it is nil.

[Peter&Jaime 1]

During my visa interview a couple of years ago, my husband and I saw them interviewing the people for the tourist visa. They take a bunch (maybe 5) in a room and spend about 30 seconds looking at their documents. Like everyone said it's hard to know if you have enough proof that they will return to Peru. All you can do is try.