Tourist Visas - Colombia

[dleeg 2]

My Colombian wife's mother and her mother's husband (he's not my wifes biological father) are applying for tourist visas. They are at the point in the process where they want to schedule a date for the interview and biometrics. My wife and I have almost five years of a happy marriage and we would like for them to visit us for their first time this Christmas and into the new year for a three week period. I'll make it short and to the point: my wife's mother is a homemaker and her husband has been employed with the same company for 12 years. They have been paying off their house for the last 3.5 years. They manage without much of a savings account, we help them out monthly to make ends meet. My wife and I will be paying for everything, travel, their time here, EVERYTHING, we just paid the visa applications as well. Before they have their interview I'm going to send her parents a completed form I-134 (affidavit of support) and copies of our tax returns for the last 2 years just in case they ask for it.

Is there anything else to be aware of?

Also, has anyone bought a airline ticket from the US for someone abroad using a US credit card? If approved we'd like to purchase airline tickets early but not sure if there will be a problem if they are asked to present the credit card used that purchased the tickets.

Thanks in advance for any advice and info!

Danny and Francys

[ryna 132]

My Colombian wife's mother and her mother's husband (he's not my wifes biological father) are applying for tourist visas. They are at the point in the process where they want to schedule a date for the interview and biometrics. My wife and I have almost five years of a happy marriage and we would like for them to visit us for their first time this Christmas and into the new year for a three week period. I'll make it short and to the point: my wife's mother is a homemaker and her husband has been employed with the same company for 12 years. They have been paying off their house for the last 3.5 years. They manage without much of a savings account, we help them out monthly to make ends meet. My wife and I will be paying for everything, travel, their time here, EVERYTHING, we just paid the visa applications as well. Before they have their interview I'm going to send her parents a completed form I-134 (affidavit of support) and copies of our tax returns for the last 2 years just in case they ask for it.

Is there anything else to be aware of?

Also, has anyone bought a airline ticket from the US for someone abroad using a US credit card? If approved we'd like to purchase airline tickets early but not sure if there will be a problem if they are asked to present the credit card used that purchased the tickets.

Thanks in advance for any advice and info!

Danny and Francys

I can't really take a guess as to their actual chances of being approved, but we have friends in Colombia that are a married couple - he works, she stays home, have a house - and they were approved. It's all about convincing the immigration officer that they have more reasons to return to Colombia than they do to stay in the U.S. The I-134/tax returns will NOT matter because you can't sponsor a tourist visa. The only thing I can add is, since you will be paying for it, that they be up front about it (if asked). And, they should have a very specific itinerary in mind - at least as to the dates and places they will be. The IOs don't like vague, undefined plans for trips to the U.S.

As for the airline ticket, I purchased my wife's ticket (she was my fiancee at the time) from Colombia when she moved to the U.S. on my CC without any problem whatsoever.

Good luck to them!

Edited April 20, 2016 by ryna

[dleeg 2]

Thanks for your response I really appreciate it!

[dleeg 2]

I can't really take a guess as to their actual chances of being approved, but we have friends in Colombia that are a married couple - he works, she stays home, have a house - and they were approved. It's all about convincing the IO that they have more reasons to return to Colombia than they do to stay in the U.S. The I-134/tax returns will matter because you can't sponsor a tourist visa.

As for the airline ticket, I purchased my wife's ticket (she was my fiancee at the time) from Colombia when she moved to the U.S. on my CC without any problem whatsoever.

Good luck to them!

Thanks for your response I really appreciate it!

[ryna 132]

Thanks for your response I really appreciate it!

No problem! I did edit my post slightly, though.

Edited April 20, 2016 by ryna

[dleeg 2]

No problem! I did edit my post slightly, though.

Got it thank you.

[Boiler 45,482]

Let us know how they get on.

[az2014 381]

You sending documents is a waste of time as it is their own ties to Colombia that matter. There is no 'sponsorship' and you paying for everything is another red flag, shows the applicants cannot support themselves so have more reason to not come back.

Do not buy a ticket until the passport with the visa is in their hand.

Let us know the result.

[dleeg 2]

Let us know how they get on.

Will do!

You sending documents is a waste of time as it is their own ties to Colombia that matter. There is no 'sponsorship' and you paying for everything is another red flag, shows the applicants cannot support themselves so have more reason to not come back.

Do not buy a ticket until the passport with the visa is in their hand.

Let us know the result.

Thank you, I'll definitely post a result probably within 6 weeks or so.