How do i invite my mother to the US from Nigeria

[Ezy_and_Oghene 10]

Hello everyone,

 

My wife and I are expecting a child next year and I would like to invite my mother to come visit us for some months in the US. She lives in Nigeria and retired. I was under the impression that she needs a B2 visa. My wife and I are fully employed and capable of taking care of her while she's here. How do I go about inviting her?

Will she need an invitation letter? Any guidance provided will be greatly appreciated.

[gregcrs2 1,778]

She would have to apply for a tourist visa and based on her own merits, and must show enough ties to Nigeria that she will return there.  Invitation letter will not do any good.  If you plan to use her as a baby sitter for a while, that is a no-no as it could be considered as work.

[Clara B. 119]

You can send her an invitation letter that she can take to the consulate and provide them if necessary.

On the DS160 it asks who is paying for the trip, she can even put your name up, if she doesnt make enough money. It will still ask for her work history and income. This wont harm her application either. The consulate is really reasonable with elderly applicants. And her saying that she will come becase her grandchild will be born does not sound like work to me. She is the grandma and its more than understanding that she wants to be there for the baby birth! 

 

Ps. She will still need to prove she had ties to Nigeria. Like, she owns a house, car, the rest of the family is there. Etc. she should take proof of everything and also proof that she is retired, most recent paystubd, bank statements, etc. 

Edited December 16, 2017 by Clara Monteiro

[JFH 12,190]

 

52 minutes ago, Clara Monteiro said:

And her saying that she will come becase her grandchild will be born does not sound like work to me.

 

But it's not you that makes the decision. Call it what you like, a grandparent caring for a grandchild is called work by the law. And that's what counts here. 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "bringing family members" to "tourist visas" as the person in question is applying for a B-2 to visit*~^~*

[MacUK 983]

How to invite her? Easy, just phone her up and say "Mum, do you fancy coming to visit?"

 

As to getting a visa, invitations mean nothing. The embassy doesn't care what reasons you have to visit the US, they care about why you would leave.

[Boiler 45,757]

52 minutes ago, MacUK said:

How to invite her? Easy, just phone her up and say "Mum, do you fancy coming to visit?"

I did the same, my Mum was not Internet savvy, so many options out there now.

[Boiler 45,757]

1 hour ago, JFH said:

 

 Call it what you like, a grandparent caring for a grandchild is called work by the law. 

Called work by me as well, try it some time.

[geowrian 22,337]

Invitation letters don't matter. The CO doesn't need evidence that you are visiting a child...they need assurance that she will 1) leave and 2) do so without overstaying, working, or otherwise violating her status.

 

11 hours ago, Clara Monteiro said:

And her saying that she will come becase her grandchild will be born does not sound like work to me. She is the grandma and its more than understanding that she wants to be there for the baby birth! 

Being there for the birth is fine. Many people visit their grandchild. But if they will be babysitting the child, that's when it crosses the line into work and has resulted in visa refusals or being denied entry.

[Dashinka 24,651]

I agree with the above responses.  All she can do is try for a visitor visa, show her ties to Nigeria, and be truthful when she goes to the consulate for her interview.

 

Good Luck!

[Adaezze 23]

Try going to your portal for help.  I understand that Nigerian grandparents want to spend time with the family after the birth without labeling it as babysitting and work.  Some people don't understand that its called family time, getting acquainted with the family, and not just work. Go to the portal for Nigeria or the topics area for family visas and look for answers, and USCIS.

[Unidentified 2,930]

5 minutes ago, Adaezze said:

Try going to your portal for help.  I understand that Nigerian grandparents want to spend time with the family after the birth without labeling it as babysitting and work.  Some people don't understand that its called family time, getting acquainted with the family, and not just work. Go to the portal for Nigeria or the topics area for family visas and look for answers, and USCIS.

Some people? They're called Customs and Border Patrol Officers... We're not the ones who make up the rules, they are. 

[Adaezze 23]

As I said, try your portal for help. When your mother clearly state your customs and explain that it's not WORK, then they will understand.  There are people in your portal that have gone through similar circumstances and can give you sound advice.  God bless.

[Unidentified 2,930]

10 minutes ago, Adaezze said:

As I said, try your portal for help. When your mother clearly state your customs and explain that it's not WORK, then they will understand.  There are people in your portal that have gone through similar circumstances and can give you sound advice.  God bless.

I think it's everyone's custom to want to help take care of children. But in the eyes of CBP that's still work. 

[Boiler 45,757]

Not a specific to one Country issue, some Countries have a worse rep than others using a Visitor Visa, but that would go for most situations, not just Grandparents.