my 78 year old grandma...

[nicoli]

Hello Everyone,

She turns 79 in Jan 2009. Her daughter and her two grand-children are in the USA as LPRs. The earliest her daughter can become a citizen is in 3 more years. My grandma would like to visit her family in the US within the next year or two.


My questions are:
Might age affect if a US tourist visa being granted or denied?

My grandma has strong ties to the Dominican Republic that she has no intension of giving up via her church, one grandchild, two great-grand children, one sister and many friends.

Thank you

[C4us]

Her daughter's citizenship does not affect a visitor's visa; it only allows petitioning of the parent for a green card.

Her age does not work for or against her getting a visitor visa. She needs proof of her ties to her home. Check the Home tab on this site for more information about what is required or suggested.

[peace]

nicoli

I think , a lack of any children in DR and her age will adversely affect the outcome of visitor visa because the officer will think because of her age, she would like to live permanently where her daughter is,that is in US, so she will most likely be denied a visitor visa which requires a non-immigrant intent.

Grandchildren, siblings are not considered immediate ties to home country, neither are friends.

[nicoli]

I think , a lack of any children in DR and her age will adversely affect the outcome of visitor visa because the officer will think because of her age, she would like to live permanently where her daughter is,that is in US, so she will most likely be denied a visitor visa which requires a non-immigrant intent.

Grandchildren, siblings are not considered immediate ties to home country, neither are friends.

Cruel as it may sound (from a US perspective) she would NEVER stay apart from her church congregation. That is the NUMBER ONE reason she would return. Her church congregation is more important than her $15,000+ house she has, her multiple bank accounts, her $10,000+ worth of CDs and even her daughter and sister.

Might any of this affect the decision?

[peace]

The officers put family ties above all else.

But people have been successful on subsequent attempts with efforts to show community ties.

There is no harm in trying once, she should gather all documents of her work with church congregation and preferably get a strong letter written from the chief stressing
*how important she has been to the church detailing her work
*that she will be gone only a few weeks to meet her daughter.

Good luck