In-laws traveling separately - is this a problem?

[son-in-law]

Hi,

My in-laws are planning to visit me and my wife from India this winter, and have their visitor visa interview in Delhi in 10 days. The issue is they cannot travel the same dates: my mother in law wants to visit for 4 months (December to March) but my father in law is busy and can only join my mother in law towards the end of her visit for 1 month (February to March). They will travel back together on the same flight. Will their different lengths of stay look suspicious to the visa officer? They are self-funding the trip, and have adequate funds in the bank as well as multiple properties in India to prove their ties to the country. My mother in law wants to visit in December because that's when I have vacation, but my father in law is busy managing the properties (there is renovation work in progress at one property) and he can't travel before February. Also, my mother in law wants to spend more time with my wife, who is currently on H-4 status and therefore unemployed. They have never come to the US before, but they have visited UK, France etc. My status is H-1B.

Thanks!

[peace999]

For visa success, it would have better for them to be mentioned as traveling together. Sometimes, mothers traveling alone for long stays, they suspect daughter's pregnancy.
Now , you cannot do much as the form is submitted. That said, a lot of times the visa officers do not care about this, so it could turn out ok.

[son-in-law]

For visa success, it would have better for them to be mentioned as traveling together. Sometimes, mothers traveling alone for long stays, they suspect daughter's pregnancy.
Now , you cannot do much as the form is submitted. That said, a lot of times the visa officers do not care about this, so it could turn out ok.

Hmmm, that's interesting. Pregnancy is not a factor here. In the application, they have mentioned the actual dates that they will be traveling. We figured it's best to be honest about the situation rather than risking being asked questions at the point of entry when the in-laws do not enter together. Is there something they can say or show at the interview to maximize their chances of getting the visa? Thanks.

[peace999]

Well, they should be truthful. Nothing special I can add.

[son-in-law]

Well, they should be truthful. Nothing special I can add.

Okay, great, thanks.