B-2 Tourist Visa

[KP&RP 4]

Hello everyone! My wife and I are planning to bring my mother-in-law here in the US from the Philippines using a tourist visa. I was going through their website and my question is what supporting documents does she need to present during the interview so that she has a higher chance of getting approved. She is 60 years old and unemployed. Thank you!

[SalishSea 17,824]

15 minutes ago, KP&RP said:

Hello everyone! My wife and I are planning to bring my mother-in-law here in the US from the Philippines using a tourist visa. I was going through their website and my question is what supporting documents does she need to present during the interview so that she has a higher chance of getting approved. She is 60 years old and unemployed. Thank you!

She needs to show strong ties to home.  Being unemployed is a negative.  They don't look at documents during the interview, as 100% of the info needed to make a decision is contained in the DS-160.

 

You might be better off having your wife sponsor her when she becomes a citizen.

[MaxP22 186]

No documents are needed.

[Redro 4,611]

14 minutes ago, KP&RP said:

Hello everyone! My wife and I are planning to bring my mother-in-law here in the US from the Philippines using a tourist visa. I was going through their website and my question is what supporting documents does she need to present during the interview so that she has a higher chance of getting approved. She is 60 years old and unemployed. Thank you!

She fills out the DS160 and then goes to the interview. she can bring documents showing her ties to the Philippines but the CO does not have to look at them. 
When I went for my B1/B2 visa I was only asked questions. Didn’t show any documentation. 
 

this thread might interest you:

 

[KP&RP 4]

On 4/16/2024 at 2:21 PM, SalishSea said:

She needs to show strong ties to home.  Being unemployed is a negative.  They don't look at documents during the interview, as 100% of the info needed to make a decision is contained in the DS-160.

 

You might be better off having your wife sponsor her when she becomes a citizen.

Thank you for the information @SalishSea! What do you mean by “unemployed is negative”? Will it be a negative impact on her application?

[KP&RP 4]

On 4/16/2024 at 2:21 PM, MaxP22 said:

No documents are needed.

Thank you for the information @MaxP22!

[KP&RP 4]

On 4/16/2024 at 2:23 PM, Redro said:

She fills out the DS160 and then goes to the interview. she can bring documents showing her ties to the Philippines but the CO does not have to look at them. 
When I went for my B1/B2 visa I was only asked questions. Didn’t show any documentation. 
 

this thread might interest you:

 

Thank you @Redro!

[SalishSea 17,824]

7 hours ago, KP&RP said:

Thank you for the information @SalishSea! What do you mean by “unemployed is negative”? Will it be a negative impact on her application?

Yes, it will be a negative.   B visas are judged on the applicant’s ties to their home country, and a job is a reason to return.

[Boiler 45,482]

Is she looking for work?

[KP&RP 4]

16 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Yes, it will be a negative.   B visas are judged on the applicant’s ties to their home country, and a job is a reason to return.

Can we not say she’s unemployed? Because she’s a senior citizen, so technically she is retired. @SalishSea

[KP&RP 4]

14 hours ago, Boiler said:

Is she looking for work?

No she is not @Boiler . She’s just visiting.

[Boiler 45,482]

3 minutes ago, KP&RP said:

Can we not say she’s unemployed? Because she’s a senior citizen, so technically she is retired. @SalishSea

Not many people can afford to retire at 60 nowadays, having a good pension will help.

[SalishSea 17,824]

5 hours ago, KP&RP said:

Can we not say she’s unemployed? Because she’s a senior citizen, so technically she is retired. @SalishSea

Again, I think it will be likely that she’s seen as an immigrant risk.   
 

It’s your $185 to try your luck though.

[KP&RP 4]

17 hours ago, Boiler said:

Not many people can afford to retire at 60 nowadays, having a good pension will help.

Since you brought up 'pension', what are the best examples to show ties with the Philippines @Boiler ?

11 hours ago, SalishSea said:

Again, I think it will be likely that she’s seen as an immigrant risk.   
 

It’s your $185 to try your luck though.

What are the best examples to show ties with the Philippines @SalishSea ?

[Boiler 45,482]

OK my Mum did not need a visa but if she did and was applying now.

 

She worked until retirement age, which in the UK is now 67, I do not know what the retirement age is in PI.

 

She had a State Pension and a Work Pension, my Dad did not like travelling but she did so was always off somewhere.

 

The big issue for her last trip was Travel Insurance, by then 2 weeks Travel Insurance was the same cost as the flight! Hopefully your MIL does not have any medical conditions. 

 

They had a house they had lived in since 1959, like I said my Dad did not travel, and if the situation had come up a lot of reasons to go back, biggest one was Medical I guess.