Visitors visa queries

[Priya Thylur]

Hi,

I came to the US in 2013 for my Master's and I graduated in December 2014. My graduation ceremony is in May 2015 and I would like to invite the following members of my family for the same:

1. My parents
2. My sister and her 5 month old son
3. My cousin

Little background on all the applicants:
1. My father is a retired state govt employee (63 years old)
2. My mother is a state govt employee (59 years old)
3. My younger sister (25 years old) is a nurse but currently on maternity leave as she delivered in December 2014. Her husband is working in Abu Dhabi
4. My nephew (born on December 4th 2014). He will be 5 and 1/2 months old while traveling, in case the visa gets approved
5. My cousin (24 years old) who is working as a Software Engineer in an IT company-

Here are my questions:

1. Should I send a single invitation letter for all of them or should I separate it as follows:
- One letter for my parents
- One for my younger sister and her baby
- One for my cousin

2. Should I book different visa appointment slots separately: One for my parents, one for my sister and her baby and one for my cousin?
Can I book a single slot for my parents, sister and her baby?

3. Are these documents enough?

(a) I would be sending:
Invitation Letter from the university, photocopies of my I-20, my Passport, my visa and my EAD (Employment Authorization Document) Card.

(b) My mother will show travel expenses for herself and my dad. They will show bank balances and property in my home town. My mother is also getting NOC from her department as she is a govt employee. She will carry her employment letter, pay slips, IT returns and leave sanction letter.

(c) My sister will show bank deposits of herself and her husband in order to cover the travel expenses for her and her baby. She will carry NOC from her husband for the baby, her employment letter, her pay slips, her husband's employment letter and pay slips.

(d) My cousin will show her bank deposits to cover travel expenses, her employment letter, pay slips, IT returns, leave sanction letter

Please let me know if the above documents would suffice or they would need anything else.

4. Few of my friends told me that my cousin, my sister and my nephew might not get the visa because: Cousin is not an immediate family member and my sister is married and her husband resides in Abu Dhabi.
Is it possible that their visas get rejected for the above reasons?

Thanks.

[Anusha3212]

HI Priya,
I had a same situation i also sent them to interview for same reason for my graduation ceremony due on may 30th. my mom and my own brothers(2 of them) went for visa interview on april 15th 2015.

They gave visa only to my mom and rejected for both of my brothers under 214(b).The interviewer did not asked any more questions for my brother the moment they said their profession (my younger brother still studying btech, elder brother taking care of business) she has rejected no more questions or proofs were asked

when I have done research on this before my family interview ,the information i got is visa will be issued to only immediate family members with same surname. But its all luck they may get you can try.

From my experience i would to suggest send your cousin to interview only if she is married.

yes, you can send common invitation letter for all of them and can book a common slot for all of them (adding other members as dependents).


Let me know if you need any other info, I will be happy to help you.

[Priya Thylur]

HI Priya,
I had a same situation i also sent them to interview for same reason for my graduation ceremony due on may 30th. my mom and my own brothers(2 of them) went for visa interview on april 15th 2015.

They gave visa only to my mom and rejected for both of my brothers under 214(b).The interviewer did not asked any more questions for my brother the moment they said their profession (my younger brother still studying btech, elder brother taking care of business) she has rejected no more questions or proofs were asked

when I have done research on this before my family interview ,the information i got is visa will be issued to only immediate family members with same surname. But its all luck they may get you can try.

From my experience i would to suggest send your cousin to interview only if she is married.

yes, you can send common invitation letter for all of them and can book a common slot for all of them (adding other members as dependents).


Let me know if you need any other info, I will be happy to help you.

Thanks a lot for the reply ****ha. I have sent a single invitation letter for all of them (my parents, my sister, my nephew and my cousin).
If they go for a group interview, is there a possibility that my parents visa might get rejected because my sister or nephew or cousin's visa got rejected?
Also, please let me know what all documents your mum and brothers took for the interview. I'm quite unsure about the documents.

Thanks.

[Anusha3212]

Priya,

I don't think your parents visa will reject because of other family members(in my case though mom and brothers went for group interview they gave visa for mom and rejected for brothers)

documents sent by me:I was supporting them financially so I have quite additional documents sent by me
visa copy
passport and I-94 copy
Last year W2 (if you are supporting financially)
last 6 mnths pay stubs(if you are supporting financially)
Bank statements and verification letter(if you are supporting financially)
Invitation letter to family
letter to consulate from you
invitation letter from school
I20's if you have worked on CPT earlier
I-134(if you are supporting financially)
petition to graduate
transcripts
Lease copy
Employment letter if your working
Birth Certificate



From you parents:
Passport copies
Appt confirmation
DS-160 confirmation
Affidavit of assurance to return
Property/Income Evaluated/Notarized document
Axis bank receipt
Government issued Photo Id's


Note: all the above documents are not mandatory , its just safe to carry all these.


Let me know if you still have any questions.