Visitor Visa - B2

Hi,

I wanted to add a data point for a B2 applied for my mother. I was quite apprehensive of my mothers chances - she is a recent widow and most of her children are based in the US (2 NIV and 1 citizen). One other child not in the US is also abroad. So, I was really concerned about a 214b rejection though my mother has absolutely no intent of staying there even for a couple of months let alone permanently.

I set her DS-160 to state that her son was covering expenses for the trip (truth) although my mother can adequately fund her own trip. I wasn't sure about writing self-funded trip and then writing Homemaker as occupation though surely there's no relation between the two as you can have lots of money and not have to work. I gave her property documents as well as bank statements (hers and mine) in case question of ties or financial capability came up. I did not give her any formal affidavit of support since their website clearly stated that an affidavit of support or a letter of invitation would not be considered in the evaluation process even if provided and instead had a summary document listing financial and immovable assets.

Points of interest: although I put myself as funding the trip AND traveling with her, I put down a different city other than my US address for where she was going and contact person was also in that city (I marked that person as being a "relative"). I put down 2 months as length of visit. I got my H1B renewed at the same mission 6 weeks earlier using drop box.

Here are the questions she was asked. Most of them were DS-160 questions. She was doing the interview in the local language with a female American consular officer.

1) Why do you want to go to the US?
2) Where is your husband?
3.1) Where will you go / where is your daughter in the US? (Child 1).
3.2) What does your son do (in the US, Child 2)?
3.3) You have another daughter (in the US, Child 3)?
3.4) Do you have another child? (Yes, Child 4).
4.1) Have you been to other countries? (Some major and minor countries).
4.2) (Took a look at old passports). What were you doing in country XYZ?
4.3) What did your husband do?
4.4) So what were you doing in country XYZ?
4.5) So what did your husband do?

So, in summary, her interview was an in-depth interrogation about all her family. She was asked specifically about every child and her husband. Since she had been to some offbeat non-touristy countries with my father (accompanying him to academic conferences), she was questioned about those places and my father's occupation.

Everything specified in DS-160 was the truth and all her replies were honest. We lay out her situation exactly as it was with the acceptance that if they didn't give her a visa, then so be it.

The lady then said that her visa was approved. It was ready for pickup the next afternoon in 24 hours. My mother was given a 10 year multiple entry visa.

I believe this is a total luck of draw. They hardly take any information, which would allow them to make a proper judgment of 214b intent except documenting immediate family member's location. They typically don't look at any documents that might establish some ties (which I knew in advance but prepared a packet nevertheless). They could have said the exact opposite thing well in our case - that you have intent to immigrate (which would have been wrong). I can admit that there are some nonverbal cues / body language they can see when interviewing people but plain and simple, they don't have sufficient information in DS-160 or look at documents or do comprehensive questioning to establish immigration intent.

I think in the end it depends on who you get and whether they got up happy or cranky in the morning. So, be completely honest about your case and let the decision take its course. Do practice interviews based on DS-160 information and use the questions found on this forum.