trying to obtain mother in law a visa

[Pauliittaa 0]

Hello all I have a couple of questions about obtaining a visa for my mother in law. My mother in law wishes to have a US visa. I am a US citizen and I plan on traveling to El Salvador where she resides. I was hoping while I was over there to accompany her to the US embassy. Im not sure if my presence and proving that I will financially take car of her while she's here and make sure she returns will make a difference. What documents do you guys recommend she takes. 

 

Any advice you guys can provide will be very helpful . Thank you so much.

Edited May 7, 2018 by Pauliittaa

[geowrian 22,338]

There's nothing you can do to improve her likelihood to receive a tourist visa. You cannot sponsor one, nor can somebody be financially responsible for a tourist (even via an affidavit of support) nor ensure that she will leave the US. She will receive a tourist visa based on her own circumstances.

Note that you can still cover her travel costs and/or housing and other expenses. This is different than promising to financially take care of her. There is a section on the DS-160 where she will list who is paying for the trip, and it may be asked again at the interview.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

"Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."

 

As for her, if she is paying for the trip then she should carry evidence showing that she has the means to do so, such as bank statements. I personally suggest 12 months of statements (they know the game of family members putting a lump sum of money in the account before applying for a visa). If she owns property then she should provide documentation showing this. If she has a job to return to, she should provide documentation that she is due back to the job on x/y/zzzz.

The CO may or may not request - or agree to look at - any of the evidence, but it's better to have it than not have it.

 

Edit: You may or may not be allowed at the interview...idk El Salvador's policies. Generally, only applicants are permitted in the interview for a tourist visa, but I can't say for certainty that's the case here.

Edited May 7, 2018 by geowrian

[Pauliittaa 0]

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

There's nothing you can do to improve her likelihood to receive a tourist visa. You cannot sponsor one, nor can somebody be financially responsible for a tourist (even via an affidavit of support) nor ensure that she will leave the US. She will receive a tourist visa based on her own circumstances.

Note that you can still cover her travel costs and/or housing and other expenses. This is different than promising to financially take care of her. There is a section on the DS-160 where she will list who is paying for the trip, and it may be asked again at the interview.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

"Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."

 

As for her, if she is paying for the trip then she should carry evidence showing that she has the means to do so, such as bank statements. I personally suggest 12 months of statements (they know the game of family members putting a lump sum of money in the account before applying for a visa). If she owns property then she should provide documentation showing this. If she has a job to return to, she should provide documentation that she is due back to the job on x/y/zzzz.

The CO may or may not request - or agree to look at - any of the evidence, but it's better to have it than not have it.

 

She's elderly and does not work. Her children take care of her. She does have various houses and different property though. My husband and I are running with the cost of her trip. Is there anything you can recommend to improve her possibilities.

[Going through 5,671]

2 hours ago, Pauliittaa said:

 

She's elderly and does not work. Her children take care of her. She does have various houses and different property though. My husband and I are running with the cost of her trip. Is there anything you can recommend to improve her possibilities.

Have her bring documentation regarding her ownership of property.  The CO may or may not look at it, however.  

Other than that, as explained earlier, there's really nothing else you can do---she will be approved or denied based on her own merits.

[T_P 872]

Dont lose your faith.

Few things to take consideration;

• Make sure she takes the housing document on her name
• You write a invitation letter (they may or may not ask for) but you can try
• On the DS-160 make sure to add you as the one paying for her trip
• She probably has bank acount. Get balance for it for the last 3 months
• Tax receipts for the past 2-3 years....(NOT Required - Just in case)
• She a bit high in age, make sure you take time to talk to her, explain how things can happen, make sure she understand the DS160, purpose for the trip, planned date etc....
• Most countries only allow applicants to enter the embassy, so if you are travelling to El Salvador for visitation its ok, now if you are travelling with the purpose of going to the interview with her, keep in mind you may not be allowed inside since you are not applicant.

 

She needs to prove her strong ties to El Salvador, so if she has brothers, other family members she can mention that during the interview, ANYTHING that connects her to El Salvador is valid.

 

Good luck

[Boiler 45,880]

Are any of her family in the US without status?

[apple21 953]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/669290-parents-applying-for-a-b2tourist-visa-approved/

 

Hi. Check out my post. Might be helpful for  your mother in law. Good luck!

[Pauliittaa 0]

13 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Are any of her family in the US without status?

No all of them have residency or permits. 

[Ellis 1]

It is very important that she proves her strong ties to El Salvador. The consular officer must be convinced that she has a permanent residence abroad where she will return. Other proofs like significant property and financial holdings, family and a good social standing may convince the officer that she has compelling reasons to return to El Salvador. It is also important to providing supporting documents like bank statement, tax ID, PAN ID and a letter of invitation from children. 

[KeratNY 76]

On 5/7/2018 at 12:19 AM, Pauliittaa said:

Hello all I have a couple of questions about obtaining a visa for my mother in law. My mother in law wishes to have a US visa. I am a US citizen and I plan on traveling to El Salvador where she resides. I was hoping while I was over there to accompany her to the US embassy. Im not sure if my presence and proving that I will financially take car of her while she's here and make sure she returns will make a difference. What documents do you guys recommend she takes. 

 

Any advice you guys can provide will be very helpful . Thank you so much.

I don't think the advice in this thread has been blunt enough. So here it is: she has an uphill battle, from a high fraud country, to prove she is going to go back home when her stay expires, instead of overstaying in the US with her child and in-law. Your presence can actually hurt as it shows a significant tie to the US, and it is pretty common sense to see she may prefer a life in the US with her children than her life in El Salvador. 

She will have to go above and beyond to prove her strong ties to her home country.

Edited May 19, 2018 by KeratNY