Poor parents visiting GC holder daughter

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

Hi all,

 

I'm from South Africa and moved to Seattle on a K1 visa about 3 and a half years ago. I've since married and have a green card, with my naturalization coming up in November. I really want my parents to visit us this December and they are soon starting the visa process. I'm feeling rather anxious about them getting their visas denied as they are not wealthy. They make enough to get by but would not be able to pay for their trip/ticket (I am doing this as a gift for them). They are also divorced but live together. Both are employed but my mother has more 'ties' than my dad - a credit card, lives with and is a caregiver to her elderly mother, has monthly hospital visits at a state hospital, inherited a house, etc. My dad doesn't have any of these except for his employment and his entire family living in SA. I am worried that they both will be denied due to lack of funds or that one would be approved and not the other. Also, I know they have to file separate applications, but will they interview together? Should they tell them (if they ask) that I am paying for the plane tickets? Thanks!

[Boiler 45,941]

Can not think why they would interview together?

 

Obviously better if they can show they can fund their trip but if it is not possible then there is no other option.

[Unlockable 7,315]

They can certainly try.

 

Curious as to why apply together if they are divorced. To me it seems that it wouldn't make their case stronger.

[caliliving 606]

Seperate application, seperate interview...they dont need to menyuon the other since they r divorces..u being a gc holder or naturalized wont make any difference w the approval or denuial. Eqch should state ourpose of the trip and show ties seperately to back home

..its worth a try thats all u can do.

 

Have they traveled to other countries before?

 

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

13 hours ago, Boiler said:

Can not think why they would interview together?

 

Obviously better if they can show they can fund their trip but if it is not possible then there is no other option.

I was just wondering, because even though they aren't married anymore, they still live together as if they were. Anyway, they will probably interview separately. My mom does have some savings but not nearly enough to cover plane tickets/costs of trip. I've kind of gotten conflicting information about this while researching it, but do you think a letter of support from me would help or hurt their cases? Thanks!

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

7 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

They can certainly try.

 

Curious as to why apply together if they are divorced. To me it seems that it wouldn't make their case stronger.

They still live together as if they are married, but you're right. They will apply and interview separately. Thanks!

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

1 hour ago, caliliving said:

Seperate application, seperate interview...they dont need to menyuon the other since they r divorces..u being a gc holder or naturalized wont make any difference w the approval or denuial. Eqch should state ourpose of the trip and show ties seperately to back home

..its worth a try thats all u can do.

 

Have they traveled to other countries before?

 

Thanks for the info! My dad has been to countries in Africa, but has not left the continent. My mom has not travelled abroad at all. I think they will probably be denied but I guess I'm just hoping for some glimmer of hope. Like you said, worth a try!

[caliliving 606]

1 hour ago, LilyLunaLovegood said:

Thanks for the info! My dad has been to countries in Africa, but has not left the continent. My mom has not travelled abroad at all. I think they will probably be denied but I guess I'm just hoping for some glimmer of hope. Like you said, worth a try!

yeah, they are divorced.. who owns the house? your dad may get it.. mom may not, it really depends.  if they have never tried before they should try but i would try to build as strong as they can ties to home on why they would return.. as people have stated the IO ONLy cares about your reasons to go home, not the reasons to visit the usa.  so make sure to put down everything they can on each on reasons to go home 

 

goodluck and please keep us posted on what happens! so many people dont come back and update us on the decision

[Sunnyland 639]

Don't be afraid. Let them apply on their own. My mother in Argentina does not have a lot of funds either and she got her tourist visa approved in 2014 with me being her only child. I was afraid that she would be denied but to my surprise she was NOT. A good point in their favor is that during all these years that you moved to US they did not apply for a tourist visa so that might work on their side I guess. I say this because that is something that the embassy interviewer said to my mom.

Besides you are on your path to naturalization so if you wanted them to move with you, you can totally petition them later on when you become USC. So I really don't see much risk.

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

15 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

Don't be afraid. Let them apply on their own. My mother in Argentina does not have a lot of funds either and she got her tourist visa approved in 2014 with me being her only child. I was afraid that she would be denied but to my surprise she was NOT. A good point in their favor is that during all these years that you moved to US they did not apply for a tourist visa so that might work on their side I guess. I say this because that is something that the embassy interviewer said to my mom.

Besides you are on your path to naturalization so if you wanted them to move with you, you can totally petition them later on when you become USC. So I really don't see much risk.

Thanks so much for sharing your story! It gives me a bit of hope, and i'm glad your mom could visit you! They are going in for the interview next month, so I will update then. Thanks again!

[Sunnyland 639]

Hope all goes well and they can visit you. Remember that the embassy know it all. They know you are in US, etc. So your parents should not lie about anything. Keeps us updated! 

[LilyLunaLovegood 1]

Hey guys, just wanted to post an update on my parents. They had their interview on Tuesday (27th of June) and even though they did separate applications, they were interviewed together. The interviewer asked why they wanted to visit the US and they said it was to visit me, their daughter. From that point the interviewer asked 4-5 questions all about my husband and I. She didn't ask to see any documents except their employment letters (they prepared a ton of documents from my invitation letter to bank statements and even medical documents). Unfortunately we forgot to include a copy of my green card (facepalm) so the interviewer retained their passports and asked them to email a copy of my GC to them ASAP and return to the embassy in two days. So that's what they did. They went to the embassy today (29th of June) and told the security officer why there were there. He didn't let them in but instead called someone who asked for their surname and then told them the visas were issued! They checked the Ceac website after and the visas were indeed granted! 

 

I was really worried about being the only child and about them not having lots of money but that didn't even factor in. I'm happy it's over and that they can visit us and RETURN to SA afterwards. Thanks!