SHOULD I DECLARE MY STEP AUNT IN FILLING OUT MY DS160 ON A TOURIST VISA APPLICATION?

[stark777 0]

I was told by my grandmother (father's mom) that my grandfather had previous families before us. He married two women and had children with them. His first wife was Spanish. His second wife was American. Overall, my grandfather has 3 families and we are the third family. We're from Asia. Some of my grandfather's child and their families are living in the US. My grandmother used to tell me stories about this one particular daughter of my grandfather from the second wife because according to my grandma, I looked like her. So I looked for her on Facebook and luckily, I found her, she's now living in California. We exchanged 20 or less messages and that's it. I just introduced myself and that was mostly all of it. She just stopped talking to me although we are still friends on facebook until now. I never met any of my grandfather's children/grandchildren from his first and second wife. I never talked to them online, neither video chat, nor voice chat. I don't have any communications with the rest of my granddad's previous families at all. Now, I'm going to visit the US for a holiday, but I am stuck in this one particular part in the DS160 application, it asks there:

 

1.) Do you have immediate relatives in the US? I answered NO because my parents are all here in our country, I have no sibling in the US since I am an only child, and I don't have a child there either cause I'm still single and unmarried.

 

But; It asked a follow up question.

 

2.) Do you have OTHER relatives in the US? I don't know how to answer this one. Should I type YES or NO? Can my step aunt still be considered a relative? I never meet any of my grandfather's child or children. I asked my father whether he got the chance to meet her step siblings and he said that he met some of his father's children from previos marriages when my he was still in gradeschool. Although my grandmother married my grandfather legally, I don't think they are acknowledging us as a part of their family anyway because to admit, my grandmother came from a poor family when she met my granddad. Can someone help me? I'm so confused.

Edited July 18, 2017 by stark777

[KULtoATL 1,551]

For immediate relatives, the answer is 'No'.

 

For other relatives, the answer is 'Yes'. If you had ZERO idea that some of these step-relatives of yours are living in the US, it's different. But you do know and have contacted one despite her having stopped the communication presently, so I'd say answer 'Yes'.

 

The consular officer no doubt would ask you about this step-relative so be prepared to answer those questions. If I were you, I'd also have the FB conversation printed out to show that the communication has stopped, just in case you needed to have some kinda evidence to support your responses.

[stark777 0]

12 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

For immediate relatives, the answer is 'No'.

 

For other relatives, the answer is 'Yes'. If you had ZERO idea that some of these step-relatives of yours are living in the US, it's different. But you do know and have contacted one despite her having stopped the communication presently, so I'd say answer 'Yes'.

 

The consular officer no doubt would ask you about this step-relative so be prepared to answer those questions. If I were you, I'd also have the FB conversation printed out to show that the communication has stopped, just in case you needed to have some kinda evidence to support your responses.

Besides the information that she's my father's step sister, I know nothing about my her and the rest of my grandfather's families from previous marriages. I messaged her first saying, I am the granddaughther of her father's third wife. She just responded something with "nice to meet you", "how's your grandmother" "sorry, you gotta tell me about yourself cause I don't know you personally." "I only know your father and your grandmother" I introduced myself and after that she stopped talking to me. I've heard that stating you have a family in the US will lower your chances of getting a tourist visa. 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

7 minutes ago, stark777 said:

Besides the information that she's my father's step sister, I know nothing about my her and the rest of my grandfather's families from previous marriages. I messaged her first saying, I am the granddaughther of her father's third wife. She just responded something with "nice to meet you", "how's your grandmother" "sorry, you gotta tell me about yourself cause I don't know you personally." "I only know your father and your grandmother" I introduced myself and after that she stopped talking to me. I've heard that stating you have a family in the US will lower your chances of getting a tourist visa. 

That chain of conversation showed that she ceased communication with you. It pretty much would help prove that you do not have any strong familial ties in the US that would make you attempt to enter the US with an immigration intent.

 

With a B2, the burden to proof is on you to demonstrate that you have strong ties back in your home country whether or not you have stated that you have any relatives in the US. A person might not have any relatives in the US but if he/she cannot show that he/she has things in his/her home country that he/she would not and could not abandon, they can get denied by a CO just as easily.

 

Don't overthink it. Be honest in your application and make sure to gather as much proofs as you can to bring to the embassy support your case. If you are denied, wait a few years and try again after you have addressed the circumstances that caused your denial.

Edited July 18, 2017 by KULtoATL