Tourist Visa of Senior Citizen Parents from the Philippines

[Margiee 2]

Hi everyone. My parents applied for tourist visa and their interview will be next week. I am very nervous as to the outcome but definitely very hopeful. They are both retired (both aged 70+), never been in the US, does not have a fat bank account. They have a house, small store, livestock and piece of land. I am their only child, they have no other direct relative other than a grandson from my late brother.Their reason for their visit is tourism and at the same time enjoy it as a birthday present. I understood that they should qualify based on their merits but it is just logical to say that we will cover their expenses as part of the birthday present and their bank account wouldn't justify if otherwise. I'm an LPR and we just want my parents to visit us this summer. What do you think their chances will be? I am planning of booking a refundable round trip ticket for them if it helps. 

 

Any insight will surely help.

 

Thank you

[blooms 63]

Hi,

It may help their case if they are well traveled. Maybe they have a schengen visa? Australian or Japan visa?

I have a couple of friends have similar circumstances. Parents have a small business, living modestly, and want to visit daughter (one case to attend the daughter's wedding), both friends' parents got denied recently for B2 visa. 

From what I understand, they never traveled overseas before and the CO didn't even bother looking at the papers being presented as proof. 

 

They can always try, nobody can really tell you exactly if they will be granted a visa or not. If they are denied, they can re-apply hopefully this is not the case for you. Good luck

 

blooms

[Margiee 2]

1 hour ago, blooms said:

Hi,

It may help their case if they are well traveled. Maybe they have a schengen visa? Australian or Japan visa?

I have a couple of friends have similar circumstances. Parents have a small business, living modestly, and want to visit daughter (one case to attend the daughter's wedding), both friends' parents got denied recently for B2 visa. 

From what I understand, they never traveled overseas before and the CO didn't even bother looking at the papers being presented as proof. 

 

They can always try, nobody can really tell you exactly if they will be granted a visa or not. If they are denied, they can re-apply hopefully this is not the case for you. Good luck

 

blooms

My father used to work in Saudi Arabia for 10 years. Other than that, they didn't travel overseas. 

Thank you. 

[Unlockable 7,315]

Usually elderly couples who have established a life in there country have a better chance of getting tourist visas than younger single counterparts. Seems like they have some ties to home but their only child being in the US could be looked at as a tie to the US. Father has a travel history.

 

You don't have to purchase the tickets as it will likely have no weight in the decision. But it is your choice.

 

Keep us updated on the results.

[Boiler 45,942]

What is the point of booking a refundable round ticket?

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Elderly relatives have a pretty easy time getting visitor visas.  Many of my relatives in their 50s can't get visas, but those in their 60s usually can.

 

The US Embassy will not consider the non-refundable tickets.  If they did, then everyone would be rushing to buy tickets.  Airline tickets are not strong ties to their home country.  

[Margiee 2]

46 minutes ago, Boiler said:

What is the point of booking a refundable round ticket?

I was just thinking that it may establish "assurance" that they won't overstay and they intend to return home. 

[Margiee 2]

43 minutes ago, Jojo92122 said:

Elderly relatives have a pretty easy time getting visitor visas.  Many of my relatives in their 50s can't get visas, but those in their 60s usually can.

 

The US Embassy will not consider the non-refundable tickets.  If they did, then everyone would be rushing to buy tickets.  Airline tickets are not strong ties to their home country.  

Thank you. Hopefully CO will consider.

[Boiler 45,942]

42 minutes ago, Margiee said:

I was just thinking that it may establish "assurance" that they won't overstay and they intend to return home. 

You have lost me, refundable?

[Margiee 2]

37 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You have lost me, refundable?

 

37 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You have lost me, refundable?

Yeah, refundable. That's in case CO will deny their application. 

[millefleur 5,047]

I don't think plane tickets will help. the UStraveldocs site says not to buy any tickets until you actually have a visa.

[az2014 381]

12 hours ago, Margiee said:

 

Yeah, refundable. That's in case CO will deny their application. 

The point Boiler is making is that your logic is flawed.

 

The fact they are refundable makes your point about it being an 'assurance' laughable.

[Umka36 781]

I see buying the refundable ticket as more of an assurance that you get your money back should one not get the visa rather than convincing evidence that your parent would return home. 

 

I've heard it posted many times here that the CO usually has already made their decision before the interview, so it may be a moot point by adding further evidence during the interview. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Edited June 9, 2017 by Umka36

[Margiee 2]

10 hours ago, az2014 said:

The point Boiler is making is that your logic is flawed.

 

The fact they are refundable makes your point about it being an 'assurance' laughable.

I get his point. But it's not like telling CO that, "here, I purchase a refundable ticket." I was just  thinking of getting one in case the CO asks for it or if in any case it will improve their chance. Thank you the help. 

[Margiee 2]

9 hours ago, Umka36 said:

I see buying the refundable ticket as more of an assurance that you get your money back should one not get the visa rather than convincing evidence that your parent would return home. 

 

I've heard it posted many times here that the CO usually has already made their decision before the interview, so it may be a moot point by adding further evidence during the interview. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Yeah, sounds right. Looks like it will be more of a trouble to purchase one so I'll just hope that what we prepared are good enough. Thank you for the insight.