Better for all or some of family to apply for tour visas

[Dave&Aya 0]

My 87 year old mother in US wants to see her first great-grandson (recently born) this thanksgiving.

Are tourist visas more likely to be approved if all members of a family apply for a tourist visa, or just a few? I assume that some staying behind doesn't satisfy the embassy that those going will return. Would it be OK for all 5 people to apply, or is that just asking for troubles and making things worse?

I understand about "strong ties" and in our case it's the usual situation. One couple owns a home in Japan, the other rents. Neither is especially prosperous, but they live OK. But if "strong ties" is really a code-word for wealthy, then they don't have that.

They desire to come for one week, Thanksgiving week, this year.

Is it mostly pointless to apply (Tokyo used to have a bad reputation when it comes to Chinese.) And, would it be better for some to apply, or everybody.

On the US side of things, I am financially successful. So buying airplane tickets and paying expenses is a non-event. Money is no problem. But perhaps even that would raise red flags for the paranoid and closed-minded officials.

FINALLY: Does the argument that everybody would, of course, return because if they didn't then they would have no chance in the future of immigrating if they ever wanted to? (My wife could sponsor them and they would queue for 12 years, I suppose. But that possibility is out if they jumped their visas.

Thank you for your advice.

The family tree I am discussing is this:

Me (US Citizen)

Wife (US Permanent Resident)

Son & Wife

Great Grandson

Son & Wife

Edited September 30, 2015 by Dave&Aya

[Boiler 46,004]

Japan is a VWP country.

Presumably they have some sort of long term residency in Japan which must be a plus.

They apply individually.

Those who want to visit should apply.

Better they show that they can fund the trip themselves not that bank information is usually asked.

[LBeachey 45]

Dave, Your post is honestly a little confusing. I take it you want your mother to come here to the US? Where does Tokyo fit into this? Would she be applying for the visa in Japan?

I can tell you my wife and I have successfully gotten a visa for her father twice to come to the US from China. He is in his 60's, retired and a widower. My wife is an only child so his family ties to China are minimal.. We paid his expenses, we filled out all of the paperwork online together with help from her cousin to pay the fee in China.

We wrote an invitation letter and he presented the paperwork for his apartment and got the visa relatively easy. My wife's cousin who is in her 30's and applied at the same time was denied.

It has gotten much easier for elderly Chinese to visit the US to see family, not necessarily for younger Chinese. My observation, if you can present a reason that makes sense, you can get a visitor visa. Don't overthink the process.

I would think your mother has an excellent chance though 87 is fairly old to be making that trip herself.

[Boiler 46,004]

I assumed it was his Mother in the US who wanted to meet her Chinese step great grand child?

[LBeachey 45]

I assumed it was his Mother in the US who wanted to meet her Chinese step great grand child?

In Japan? I doubt you will find many experts on Japanese visitor's visas on this site. Family visas to China for US citizens is fairly straightforward. Denials are rare.

[Boiler 46,004]

No in the US.

[Dave&Aya 0]

My 87 year old mother is in the US, she cannot travel. She would like her great-grandson to come to the US, along with her grandsons and grand daughters. My mother is wheelchair bound and she has never met her grandsons, granddaughters, or great-grandson.

All of them live in Japan. But they are Chinese citizens. My wife is a US Permanent resident. Her two sons are Japan permanent residents and have no US status. They live in Japan.

So my wife's two sons, their wives, and their son would like to visit the US for a week, preferably for Thanksgiving.

The issue is the reputation of the Tokyo embassy as being very reluctant to grant tourist visas to Chinese nationals, even if they have permanent resident status in Japan. The basic problem is that the Tokyo embassy is a standard career stop for hopeful diplomats. They need a perfect track record. So they are reluctant to take any chances in granting tourist visas, lest there be a problem on their record.

But really I am asking:

1) Is it reasonable for everybody (5 persons) to seek tourist visas? Or, its it more likely if not everybody comes? That is, does more people in a family asking reduce the chances of being approved?

2) Does anybody know about the current attitude of the Tokyo embassy when it comes to granting tourist visas to Chinese citizens? Historically they have a terrible reputation, but perhaps this has changed?

Thank you.

[Boiler 46,004]

As I said they apply individually, not as a group.

Never heard of any issue with Japan, thought it may have come up. Why not apply back in China if they are concerned?

[Dave&Aya 0]

They live in Japan. You are supposed to apply in the country in which you reside.

[Boiler 46,004]

Assuming that was the case does it matter what the situation is, they have no other choice?

Edited October 2, 2015 by Boiler

[LBeachey 45]

But really I am asking:

1) Is it reasonable for everybody (5 persons) to seek tourist visas? Or, its it more likely if not everybody comes? That is, does more people in a family asking reduce the chances of being approved?

2) Does anybody know about the current attitude of the Tokyo embassy when it comes to granting tourist visas to Chinese citizens? Historically they have a terrible reputation, but perhaps this has changed?

Thank you.

Thanks for the clarification. First, I probably would apply as two separate groups - son/wife and son/wife/child. I am not sure there is any reason to group all five together.

As I said earlier, it has gotten easier for Chinese to get visas in China to go to the US though I have no idea about Japan though it should apply to Japan as well. I believe this is a specific issue Obama and Xi Jinping talked about when Obama visited China; allowing Chinese relatives to visit Chinese who are permanent residents/citizens in the US.

While in the past, some have used the strategy for a wife or husband to come individually using the other as proof of return. As a practical matter, it is unreasonable for the child to travel without his mother and I would imagine the mother wouldn't want to come without her husband. So it appears you apply for all three and see what happens. They should be prepared to prove ties to Japan - jobs, property, bank accounts plus a letter of invitation from you.

Good Luck.

Edited October 2, 2015 by LBeachey