Visitor Visa B2: Person/Entity Paying for Your Trip

[wimpog 7]

Hello,

I'm a US citizen and my wife is a Green Card holder. My mother-in-law, who lives in Ukraine, wants to visit us. She's retired and her retirement income is not sufficient to cover her trip, so I'll be paying for her trip to the US.

What documents/proof of finances do I need to provide, if I list myself in the "Person/Entity Paying for Your Trip" field on the DS-160 application?

Thank you for any suggestions.

[NikLR 13,227]

TBH this is a great way to have her visa denied.  

[geowrian 22,337]

Nothing is required from you. They just want to know who is paying for the trip.

[wimpog 7]

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

TBH this is a great way to have her visa denied.  

Sorry, what "is a great way to have her visa denied"? 

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Nothing is required from you. They just want to know who is paying for the trip.

Will they question if I have the ability to pay for the trip?

[NikLR 13,227]

Just now, wimpog said:

Sorry, what "is a great way to have her visa denied"? 

Saying that you will pay for her trip.  

A visitor must prove they will return home to obtain a visa.  If she can't afford to visit on her own to be here, what's keeping her from going home.  With visitor visas, people are assumed to have immigrant intent and to prove otherwise.  Welcome letters, paying for someone's trip, etc, we see all the time, has caused denials. 

[wimpog 7]

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

Saying that you will pay for her trip.  

A visitor must prove they will return home to obtain a visa.  If she can't afford to visit on her own to be here, what's keeping her from going home.  With visitor visas, people are assumed to have immigrant intent and to prove otherwise.  Welcome letters, paying for someone's trip, etc, we see all the time, has caused denials. 

What are the options then? How to prove she will return home?

[NikLR 13,227]

18 minutes ago, wimpog said:

What are the options then? How to prove she will return home?

Search through this forum and see what has been suggested.  It's possible she may not have an issue, and it's possible she will.  That your wife is not a USC yet is actually a positive for your MIL. 

[geowrian 22,337]

26 minutes ago, wimpog said:

Will they question if I have the ability to pay for the trip?

I have not seen them do so, but I can't say they never do (I can't prove a negative).

They are primarily considered about her ties to return home / immigrant intent (INA 214b). More than 9 times out of 10 they won't look at any documents.

[wimpog 7]

6 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Search through this forum and see what has been suggested.  It's possible she may not have an issue, and it's possible she will.  That your wife is not a USC yet is actually a positive for your MIL. 

What do you suggest, Sir? 

[NikLR 13,227]

Just now, wimpog said:

What do you suggest, Sir? 

not a sir but thank you,

please keep reading this forum and see what has or hasn't worked for others.  

[wimpog 7]

Just now, NikLR said:

not a sir but thank you,

please keep reading this forum and see what has or hasn't worked for others.  

Oh, sorry! Thank you so much. I'm new to this thing.

[Boiler 45,516]

I assume her situation is what it is and she just applies like everybody else.

[wimpog 7]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

I assume her situation is what it is and she just applies like everybody else.

Does age matter? Also, does it matter that she's retired?

[Boiler 45,516]

Being of a retirement age may help.

[geowrian 22,337]

11 minutes ago, wimpog said:

Does age matter? Also, does it matter that she's retired?

They would be considerations. Generally, the elderly (referring to those of retirement age and up here) tend to not want to uproot their entire life to move without a compelling reason. Not that many others haven't done exactly that....it would be favorable IMO, assuming there is other family back home.