Tourist visa for my sister

[Giskat09 2]

Hello, I would like to ask about the process of Tourist Visa. Im now a US Citizen and I would like my sister to visit me. 

Is it okay if i will be the one who will fill up the DS-160 application form online or she has to be the one? Also, what does she need to bring on her interview? Can i give her an invitation so she can show it to the consul?

 

Thank you for your time.

[aleful 1,905]

you can fill it out for her but nothing else

 

a letter of invitation doesn't do anything, she must show strong ties to he country

 

 

[JE57 239]

She must show strong ties to her home country..  The way tourist Visa's work is that by US law the interviewing officer at the embassy must assume that your sister intends to travel to the USA and stay.   (In short US law means that the CO must assume that she will illegally immigrate).  It is necessary for her to 'prove' that assumption wrong and the 'convince' the officer that she will only be traveling for tourist purposes.   Assuming your sister is from the Philippines she should have a good job, a travel history outside the Philippines that shows a history of traveling and returning and perhaps owns property in the Philippines. You may provide her with an invitation letter but this will not help her and is more likely to hurt her chances as it implies that she does not have the funds or experience to make the trip for tourism purposes.    You can fill out the DS-160 forms for her if you like since they are online but the information is hers and she will be the one applying for the VISA.   It would therefore be better if she filled out the form as she has all the information to do so. 

Good luck!

[Giskat09 2]

Thank you for the input. 

[geowrian 22,337]

You can fill it out, but it's her application and she's the one responsible for the accuracy of the data in it. She must be the one to sign and submit it. I'd suggest going over it at the same time as her (along with her signing/submitting it herself).

 

An invitation letter won't help her case. It only gives a reason for visiting (which she can provide at the interview anyway), not for returning home. An invitation letter can actually include implied ties to the US within it, which can hurt the case. The key point is that she needs to show evidence of her need to return home without overstaying, engaging in work within the US, etc.

[RetConnOff 17]

how did you acquire US citizenship? Via marriage to a USC? And did that come about via a K1 or a B2 visa? The answer to that question will be important during your sister's interview.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

10 minutes ago, RetConnOff said:

how did you acquire US citizenship? Via marriage to a USC? And did that come about via a K1 or a B2 visa? The answer to that question will be important during your sister's interview.

How?  I've never seen that as an issue or anyone here on VJ asked that 

 

as well, checking the OP's timeline would answer such questions for you

Edited May 18, 2017 by Transborderwife

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

3 hours ago, RetConnOff said:

how did you acquire US citizenship? Via marriage to a USC? And did that come about via a K1 or a B2 visa? The answer to that question will be important during your sister's interview.

I agree with the poster above as well. The way she immigrated to the US has no bearing to her sister and her tourist visa. If she is asked "Why do you want to go to the US?" her answer should simply be "I am visiting my sister, or I am visiting my sister and her husband". 

[RetConnOff 17]

not necessarily true....if a family member uses a B2 visa and a mind change to gain access to the US for unrevealed purposes, it may have a bearing on other family members...when one FM figures out the loophole, it won't be long before that information is passed....the COs are there to determine credibility,,,not from papers, but from a variety of sources...a person who goes through the normal/proper channels was perceived (by me and others I trained) suggests that other family members will be more prone to do the same...remember, we only had 3-4 minutes to assess an applicant...214b is a rather malleable law to apply...since there was not time to completely background an applicant, other information regarding visa compliance, telling the truth, etc., by other members of the same family was useful info...(I forgot to look at the timeline)...the fact that the OP appears to have followed the basic path to marriage/LPR/citizen is a good thing...it does not make the sister's case an instant approval, but it may add a little equity to her case.

[RetConnOff 17]

2 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

I agree with the poster above as well. The way she immigrated to the US has no bearing to her sister and her tourist visa. If she is asked "Why do you want to go to the US?" her answer should simply be "I am visiting my sister, or I am visiting my sister and her husband". 

that will not be the only question she will be asked...the more important follow up questions will deal with why the sister would return to the PI...an invitation letter will not add anything positive to her case (as has been said over and over and over again)....is the sister working, if so, for how long, doing what....and other questions may follow...

[ConOfficer 167]

14 hours ago, Transborderwife said:

How?  I've never seen that as an issue or anyone here on VJ asked that 

 

as well, checking the OP's timeline would answer such questions for you

I frequently ask people how their relatives moved to the U.S. Being in latin america at the moment we ask because if your relatives entered without inspection, that's a good sign that the family's economic situation is weak. But if someone tells me their sister went on a B1, got married, and never came back home that's definitely a concern.

 

It can work the other way as well. If someone's siblings or parents are LRRs and they can explain their immigration history coherently, it shows that the family waited their turn in line and respects the law.