B1/b2 visa- stamp on invitation letter

[Chercy1 15]

I was advised to have my fiancee put a stamp on the 'letter of invitation' so as to make it authentic. My dad and sister are coming with me for my wedding. I just want to know if this stamp thing is necessary or can the letter be notarized instead. He doesn't know where yo get the stamp in Portland.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

What “stamp”? No invitation letter is needed anyway, whether notarized, stamped, or nothinged. Where are you getting this “advice”?

[Chercy1 15]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

What “stamp”? No invitation letter is needed anyway, whether notarized, stamped, or nothinged. Where are you getting this “advice”?

That's what my agent said. My fiancee is inviting my dad and sis and he's sponsoring the trip that's why he was asked for an invitation letter as it details where they would lodge and his sponsoring their stay .

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Why are you using an agent? Sounds like you are paying someone for bad information. Have you read the official US page on visas? 

 

Fyi this is what it says

 

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.

 

This part is relevant for your parents:

 

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

The purpose of your trip,

Your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or

Your ability to pay all costs of the trip. 
 

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.

 

I can guarantee you that you will not find anything about stamping an invitation letter anywhere. This is the official site so you can check for yourself: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

 

Remember this is the official US information page. Where is your agent plucking his information from?? i guess this is part of the reason the US warns people against using “agents”.

 

sorry I don’t mean to sound harsh. But I think this agent is making you pay for bad advice. Please make sure you follow all official guidance.

Edited February 26, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Boiler 45,922]

No sponsoring a visitor visa, agent sounds like a scammer.

[Chercy1 15]

41 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Why are you using an agent? Sounds like you are paying someone for bad information. Have you read the official US page on visas? 

 

Fyi this is what it says

 

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.

 

This part is relevant for your parents:

 

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:

The purpose of your trip,

Your intent to depart the United States after your trip, and/or

Your ability to pay all costs of the trip. 
 

Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your trip and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your trip, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your trip.

 

I can guarantee you that you will not find anything about stamping an invitation letter anywhere. This is the official site so you can check for yourself: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

 

Remember this is the official US information page. Where is your agent plucking his information from?? i guess this is part of the reason the US warns people against using “agents”.

 

sorry I don’t mean to sound harsh. But I think this agent is making you pay for bad advice. Please make sure you follow all official guidance.

Wow! I'm so grateful to you. I'm super speechless at this point. Thank you

[Chercy1 15]

45 minutes ago, Boiler said:

No sponsoring a visitor visa, agent sounds like a scammer.

Wow! This is so revealing! I had no idea!

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

27 minutes ago, Chercy1 said:

Wow! I'm so grateful to you. I'm super speechless at this point. Thank you

Also check the Nigeria specific requirements here 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ng-niv-visaapply.asp

(this is the official site linked from the embassy website https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ )

 

 

good luck!

[Chercy1 15]

3 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Also check the Nigeria specific requirements here 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ng/ng-niv-visaapply.asp

(this is the official site linked from the embassy website https://ng.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/ )

 

 

good luck!

Thank you so much

[nastra30 2,315]

16 hours ago, Chercy1 said:

That's what my agent said. My fiancee is inviting my dad and sis and he's sponsoring the trip that's why he was asked for an invitation letter as it details where they would lodge and his sponsoring their stay .

Your dad and sis have to 'sponsor' themselves. Your fiancee can't sponsor them for a US tourist visa. If they get their visas and your fiancee wants to buy their airplane tickets and stuff, then by all means she can after visas have been issued.

In some countries invitation letter is required; not the US. Invitation letter to the US is a waste of paper. Putting a stamp on the invitation letter will just make it look like an 'official' waste of paper. The consulate won't look at it at all.

[Chercy1 15]

2 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

Your dad and sis have to 'sponsor' themselves. Your fiancee can't sponsor them for a US tourist visa. If they get their visas and your fiancee wants to buy their airplane tickets and stuff, then by all means she can after visas have been issued.

In some countries invitation letter is required; not the US. Invitation letter to the US is a waste of paper. Putting a stamp on the invitation letter will just make it look like an 'official' waste of paper. The consulate won't look at it at all.

My dad and sis aren't sponsoring themselves because my fiancee is the one asking them to come and is footing all the expenses including the visa fee. They won't be coming if he wasn't asking them to come for the wedding

[nastra30 2,315]

9 minutes ago, Chercy1 said:

My dad and sis aren't sponsoring themselves because my fiancee is the one asking them to come and is footing all the expenses including the visa fee. They won't be coming if he wasn't asking them to come for the wedding

He can pay the visa fee. But your dad and sis will have to convince the CO on their own regardless of whether someone is asking them to come or not. Showing the CO that someone is paying for all their expense is a recipe for visa refusal. They will have to show they have the means to travel on their own merit AKA 'sponsoring' themselves.

Edited February 27, 2019 by nastra30

[geowrian 22,338]

7 minutes ago, Chercy1 said:

My dad and sis aren't sponsoring themselves because my fiancee is the one asking them to come and is footing all the expenses including the visa fee. They won't be coming if he wasn't asking them to come for the wedding

That's a reason for them to come to the US, not sponsoring them.

The US doesn't really care why somebody is coming to the US (i.e. a wedding). They want to know why they are compelled to leave on time and without violating status (see INA 214(b)). There is nothing one can do to impact that decision as the non-applicant.

[Chercy1 15]

49 minutes ago, geowrian said:

That's a reason for them to come to the US, not sponsoring them.

The US doesn't really care why somebody is coming to the US (i.e. a wedding). They want to know why they are compelled to leave on time and without violating status (see INA 214(b)). There is nothing one can do to impact that decision as the non-applicant.

So what would you advice I do now. They do have a way to show strong ties here but it just doesn't include the finances

[Chercy1 15]

54 minutes ago, nastra30 said:

He can pay the visa fee. But your dad and sis will have to convince the CO on their own regardless of whether someone is asking them to come or not. Showing the CO that someone is paying for all their expense is a recipe for visa refusal. They will have to show they have the means to travel on their own merit AKA 'sponsoring' themselves.

Wow! This is tough ok. Thank you