Visitor Visa for Husband's Sister

[Laurel0708 21]

I am just now looking into the possibility of helping my husband's sister(s) apply for a visitor visa. Yes, I know, they receive it or do not on their own merit, but I've done all my husband's paperwork and will help prepare theirs. My husband came in 2016 on a K-1 visa. We married. He received a conditional green card in Sep 2017, and we have just applied for the removal of conditions. We have visited Nicaragua and Costa Rica during this time. His sisters are nineteen and sixteen. We would love to bring one (just the older) or possibly both for a week or two visit. What sort of evidence do they need to be approved? Obviously, based on their young age, they won't have land or cars or any sort of property. Their parents and 3 yr old brother are in Costa Rica, but what else can I do to prove that they will definitely be returning? Thank you!

[MacUK 983]

There is absolutely nothing you can do to prove that someone else will do anything.

You can provide any amount of letters saying you will guarantee they will leave but other than physically carrying them onto a plane and strapping them to a seat how exactly can you guarantee it?

[Laurel0708 21]

Let me rephrase the question. How can she show that she will be returning? 

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

Just now, Laurel0708 said:

Let me rephrase the question. How can she show that she will be returning? 

School obligations, etc might help......

[apple21 953]

53 minutes ago, Laurel0708 said:

Let me rephrase the question. How can she show that she will be returning? 

Nothing to show. Just fill out the ds160. Everything the embassy needs to know is asked there. Don't bother with show documents. The officer will not even bother to see it. Check out my signature link below. It's about my parents' b2 application. I posted some sample questions there for the interview.  Might be helpful. Good luck!

[Laurel0708 21]

Thanks apple 21! That's really helpful. I am considering only apply for the older sister in case she gets denied, we don't lose all that money. Before my husband's k-1 visa, he was denied for a visitor visa. She will have just graduated from university in a program that promises to pay for her schooling as long as she works their job for 2 years. Hoping she can provide some sort of proof about that.

[apple21 953]

2 hours ago, Laurel0708 said:

Thanks apple 21! That's really helpful. I am considering only apply for the older sister in case she gets denied, we don't lose all that money. Before my husband's k-1 visa, he was denied for a visitor visa. She will have just graduated from university in a program that promises to pay for her schooling as long as she works their job for 2 years. Hoping she can provide some sort of proof about that.

She can indicate that as her job and employer on the DS160. No need for proof. 

[Boiler 45,764]

Just to clarify you do not apply, they do, and it is a pretty simple process, certainly compared to a K.

[Laurel0708 21]

Yes, I was just reading through the application process online, and it's fairly simple. So how can they deny people if they barely know anything about them?

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

5 minutes ago, Laurel0708 said:

So how can they deny people if they barely know anything about them?

One might also say, how do they know an applicant won't stay in the US illegally if they barely know anything about them.   Remember that, by law, all applicants are already assumed to be intending to stay in the US......

[apple21 953]

1 hour ago, Laurel0708 said:

Yes, I was just reading through the application process online, and it's fairly simple. So how can they deny people if they barely know anything about them?

The info on the ds160 is all they need to make the decision. Also the applicant's answers during the interview must also be consistent with what's on the ds160. They don't like it when the answers don't match, it's like lying on their book. So memorize! Lol.  Best of luck!

[Unlockable 7,315]

1 hour ago, Laurel0708 said:

Yes, I was just reading through the application process online, and it's fairly simple. So how can they deny people if they barely know anything about them?

Was going to respond to this but @missileman hit it right on the head. By law, all applicants of non-immigrant visas are deemed to have immigrant intent. The CO will just be doing their job based on this law and the burden is on the applicant to prove otherwise. Unfortunately, just like most things in life, some people have an easy time with this than others.

 

Best they can do is apply. School (Uni) would be a big help. Unless there is any indication that the sister wants to attend school in the US then that is a huge red flag.

[arken 4,197]

Yeah, consider B2 visa approval is like a lottery.

[YecaCruz 379]

Wanted to share our experience with you.

We tried to see if my husband's younger brother could get a tourist visa on two separate occasions. Once in 2016 and then again in 2017.

 

The first time it was just to visit us and the CO was in utter disbelief that my husband's greencard came so fast that she kept saying stuff like "it's impossible he was approved so quickly". Instead of asking questions about my bro-in-law she was focused on my husband and his quick green card processing. Was denied quickly. Thanks for nothing, lady!

 

Second the plan was to meet in Ohio for the Gold Cup when Nicaragua's soccer team advanced in the tourney then he would come back with us to ND. He was denied again.

 

He has a full ride scholarship to UCA in telecommunications and engineering (or something like that, he's a really brilliant kid). I would have thought that would be a great case to convince the CO...'twas not.  I guess just like families, houses, or jobs they've probably seen that education is thrown down the drain and abandoned once they come to the US on a tourist visa. Neither of the times was the CO interested in seeing proof of his full ride scholarship or his top-of-his class grades or anything. I don't blame them though it still stings as so many people tricked the system in the past, y'know. There's a reason they gotta be so strict.

 

Since then my bro-in-law has travelled to a few places within CA with his passport. So maybe after he graduates and gets a job we might try again.  The only thing you can do is try. It's just very hard to get a tourist visa as a youngster in Nicaragua without stuff like a good job or family (as in a spouse and kids). We try to visit Nicaragua when we scrape together enough funds to do that since at the moment, none of his family have the hopes of being able to come here.

 

Good luck!

Edited June 26, 2019 by YecaCruz

[Amadia 711]

18 hours ago, Laurel0708 said:

Let me rephrase the question. How can she show that she will be returning? 

What ties does she have to prove that she will return to her home country?

I have known persons applying for tourist visas who have property, permanent jobs, well-established bank accounts, etc. and have gotten denied for their tourist visa for insufficient ties to their home country. One can never truly tell what the consulate officer feels like doing on a daily basis but we should all know that all embassies have a daily quota of approvals and denials to fulfill....sounds harsh, but it is true.