Visa Granted to Mother but Father got rejected (merged)

[AA100 19]

Hi VJ Members,

In summers earlier this year, My father (70 years of age) applied for a visit visa to US. My cousin who is very well established in US sent him the invitation. I did not send any invitation documents because I had only been in US for 7 months. But at the interview, the visa officer asked following questions:

Q. Where is your Son?

A. In US

Q. What do you do?

A. I am retired

My father retired long time ago but he has been maintaining the operations of a late friend's business and is a salaried employee. My father upon my advice did not mention anything about me being a US resident in the application form. He also mentioned that he is retired even though he works. His visa was denied on the basis that he could not show ties and was unable to prove that he would return back to his homeland.

I intend on bringing my father on a visit early next year. Taking into consideration the pervious interview, what advice would you guys give to me while filling out his application form this time.

Your input is highly appreciated.

Thanks

[Girl from Celebes 588]

The application is your father's responsibility. If he can't prove that he has a strong ties to his home country, there is nothing you can do about that.

[Ning 619]

Hi VJ Members,

In summers earlier this year, My father (70 years of age) applied for a visit visa to US. My cousin who is very well established in US sent him the invitation. I did not send any invitation documents because I had only been in US for 7 months. But at the interview, the visa officer asked following questions:

Q. Where is your Son?

A. In US

Q. What do you do?

A. I am retired

My father retired long time ago but he has been maintaining the operations of a late friend's business and is a salaried employee. My father upon my advice did not mention anything about me being a US resident in the application form. He also mentioned that he is retired even though he works. His visa was denied on the basis that he could not show ties and was unable to prove that he would return back to his homeland.

I intend on bringing my father on a visit early next year. Taking into consideration the pervious interview, what advice would you guys give to me while filling out his application form this time.

Your input is highly appreciated.

Thanks

Make sure he understands to not lie again when asked questions at the embassy OR if he is ever granted a visa, at the POE.

Your cousin didn't realize he shouldn't have sent him anything. Neither should you.

He applies solely on his own merits including the ability to prove beyond doubt he must return to his country. You can assist him by helping him with the application but the most important aspect is indicating why he must return and he must do that.

I suggest he uses his age, culture, language, other family, the need to return to operate the business & income from that job as reasons to return.

[Boiler 45,467]

A lot of it is about credibility and having lied once how do you regain it?

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Isn't there a question on the visa application that asks for relatives in the US? What did your father write for that question?

Difficult to gain that trust back

good luck

[VOL 425]

A lot of it is about credibility and having lied once how do you regain it?

I would think once you lied you would be flagged and probably now it would be almost impossible to get a tourist Visa.

I think in this case the OP was their own worst enemy

[AA100 19]

Thanks guys for all your comments. Let me make this clear first. My father did not lie. I told him not to mention anything about me in the application. He is 70 year old man and has never been in a situation like that before. But at the interview when he was asked if he has any relatives in US, he told them yes my son lives in US. My mother applied on the same exact documents that my cousin sent and she got her visa. The reason he said that he is retired is because he is really not actively working. He looks after his friends business out of care and in return he gets minimal salary. I know it appears that he lied but actually he didn't.

I would like advice from VJ members on how to approach the interview and the application form this time.

Thanks a lot

Edited December 15, 2014 by AA100

[AA100 19]

Make sure he understands to not lie again when asked questions at the embassy OR if he is ever granted a visa, at the POE.

Your cousin didn't realize he shouldn't have sent him anything. Neither should you.

He applies solely on his own merits including the ability to prove beyond doubt he must return to his country. You can assist him by helping him with the application but the most important aspect is indicating why he must return and he must do that.

I suggest he uses his age, culture, language, other family, the need to return to operate the business & income from that job as reasons to return.

Thanks guys for all your comments. Let me make this clear first. My father did not lie. I told him not to mention anything about me in the application. He is 70 year old man and has never been in a situation like that before. But at the interview when he was asked if he has any relatives in US, he told them yes my son lives in US. My mother applied on the same exact documents that my cousin sent and she got her visa. The reason he said that he is retired is because he is really not actively working. He looks after his friends business out of care and in return he gets minimal salary. I know it appears that he lied but actually he didn't.

I would like advice from VJ members on how to approach the interview and the application form this time.

Thanks a lot

Edited December 15, 2014 by AA100

[kzielu 1,149]

Thanks guys for all your comments. Let me make this clear first. My father did not lie. I told him not to mention anything about me in the application. He is 70 year old man and has never been in a situation like that before. But at the interview when he was asked if he has any relatives in US, he told them yes my son lives in US. My mother applied on the same exact documents that my cousin sent and she got her visa. The reason he said that he is retired is because he is really not actively working. He looks after his friends business out of care and in return he gets minimal salary. I know it appears that he lied but actually he didn't.

I would like advice from VJ members on how to approach the interview and the application form this time.

Thanks a lot

Form you mentioned typically requires to list location of your relatives and that form is signed by him.

So how did he exactly answer the question on the location of his family ?

[Dohan 133]

For the next attempt it is best to mention that he runs operations for his friend's business, his friend could also write a basic letter saying

"So and so runs my business operations at company X from the date ____. I have given him permission to take some time off to visit the US and he is expected to return on (date). (doesn't have to be specific date maybe month and year)."

I think the reason he was denied was because he did say he is retired and the US government is concerned with people becoming public charges. They see him as a risk to overstay his visa because he is retired AND has family in US, more likely that he would want to stay with his relatives, especially his son. I am not saying your father would ever do this, but this is how the immigration officers are trained to think.

If your father owns any property in his home country, demonstrating that would help. Car insurance, home ownership.

I also heard some people prepare an itinerary to demonstrate that they have a planned return date.

I hope this helps and best of luck!

[Boiler 45,467]

If he did not mention you he lied.

[Jawaree 717]

_{Not revealing he has a son here, then a cousin sends an invitation letter raised a red flag}

_{That's in their computer and he signed that app. so that stands, retiring and helping a}

_{friend can be explained, but omitting a child in the US will not get him a visa, apply}

_{for citizenship and after petition him, also mom has a visa, these applications are checked}

_{out B4 you even get an appt. date at embassy, the COs mind are about 70 % made up}

_{then one goes in and prove they will return home ,}

[AA100 19]

For the next attempt it is best to mention that he runs operations for his friend's business, his friend could also write a basic letter saying

"So and so runs my business operations at company X from the date ____. I have given him permission to take some time off to visit the US and he is expected to return on (date). (doesn't have to be specific date maybe month and year)."

I think the reason he was denied was because he did say he is retired and the US government is concerned with people becoming public charges. They see him as a risk to overstay his visa because he is retired AND has family in US, more likely that he would want to stay with his relatives, especially his son. I am not saying your father would ever do this, but this is how the immigration officers are trained to think.

If your father owns any property in his home country, demonstrating that would help. Car insurance, home ownership.

I also heard some people prepare an itinerary to demonstrate that they have a planned return date.

I hope this helps and best of luck!

Thank you Dohan. I appreciate your input. I will get in touch with you if I need some help. I hope you wouldn't mind.

[Asia 2,498]

Exactly.

If he didn't mention the you in his visa application and then mentioned you at the interview, he lied.

It will be hard to overcome.

[Ian H. 207]

Very bad idea to not be truthful on the application because it could lead to a permanent denial including the ability to ever become an LPR. Lying by omission is considered lying for these purposes. It's good that at least he told the truth to the CO, but everything said to the CO should coincide with the application.

Also letters of invitation are of no help whatsoever, this cannot be stressed enough around VJ. On the contrary, they often times do more harm than good because the applicant has to prove their own ties and assure the CO that they are not an intending immigrant. If letters of invitation were of any help, more people would be approved.