Tourist visa for minor

[OKflyboy 35]

I'm reading the US Embassy website

http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-svc-visachild.asp

and do not see an option for a minor child to apply for a B visa without a parent or a school group, if the parent does not have a visa already and is not traveling with the child.

Am I missing something? Do they maybe mean that it is possible, but in this case the child will have to appear for an interview?

[RhettVoe 282]

A minor should be accompanied by a parent...

[OKflyboy 35]

A minor should be accompanied by a parent...

I know that. But it says that a minor does not have to appear for the interview at all.

[jan22 3,056]

I know that. But it says that a minor does not have to appear for the interview at all.

Actually, that is not what it says. It says:

If a parent already has a U.S. visa and will be traveling with the child, or if the child will be traveling with a school group, you may submit the child's application without appearing for an interview.

If the parents do not have a visa and the child is not going with a school group, the application must be made in person. For minors under 14, this means going it with the parent. BTW, it's usually an uphill battle for a minor child to qualify for a visa without their parents having visas (or, again, the school trip).

[RhettVoe 282]

The State Dept wants to minimize child abductions and also reduce the number of children who are brought here, then left behind with some relative, attending public school at taxpayer's expense or having said relative 'adopt' the child unofficially, so the child will have a better life here....but that is not what tourist visas are for, hence the additional requirements when minor children apply for a visa.

[Boiler 45,972]

The B2 in question is for the OP's minor Brother, last mention was that it was to obtain medical treatment in the US.

The OP's Mother has or will be immigrating having been sponsored by the OP.

[RhettVoe 282]

This is a common ploy to bring left behind children to the US when a parent immigrates by virtue of another Amcit adult child, since there is no derivative visa available...usually, within 2-6 months of the petitoned parent's entry to the US, the left behind child suddenly comes down with some unknown disease...too convenient...and something else..in order to get a b2 visa for medical 'reasons', there must not be an available remedy (medically) in the applicant's country and the applicant must overcome 214b...

[RhettVoe 282]

Not wanting the alleged 'sick' child to appear for an interview is also common....people don't want the VOs to see how healthy the child really is....

[Boiler 45,972]

If I remember correctly the idea was for the sibling to visit before the Mother obtained a visa. They they would both go back waiting for the siblings immigrant petition.

[OKflyboy 35]

Boiler, you remember correctly. The mother does not need a B visa and thus will not be applying for it with the child. I suppose, since the website does not specify what kind of US visa the parent is supposed to have to apply for a child without physically appearing at the consulate, an immigrant visa counts as well.

And I got my answer, thank you everybody.