B1 visa documents

[ibrahim123]

Dear Senior Members,

I'm an Indian citizen working in the Middle East planning to visit USA for attending a 4-day conference hosted by a major software company. I have a letter of invitation from the company in the US. The company in the US will be sponsoring my accomodation and personal expenses while I am there.

I will be taking care of the travel and visa expenses myself. I am going for this conference of my own interest and the company I work for (which is a software company in the middle east) has got nothing to do with it and hence I will not have a letter from my current employer. I plan to get the visa processed through the Consulate at Chennai.

Is it mandatory to have a letter from my employer for obtaining the B1 visa? I have a good balance in my bank account at my home country. What other document should I produce to show strong "ties" with my home country? i.e. what proof is usually produced (and accepted) to show that one's family is in India?

Please advice,
Ibrahim

[immihelp]

No, it is not mandatory to get employment letter from your current employer mentiong your intentions to get B1 visa.

However, I believe that your employer should always be willing to give a general employment letter indicating that you work there, what you duties are etc.