Visa for siblings graduation and a vacation

[Libra_14]

That's was helpful as I also needed more help for my trip as well.

Please click "like" on the post you think helped you.

[peniti]

Hey guys,

My sister is going to USC for LLM and is expected to graduate next year.

I need some guidance on how exactly should I go about with the application to obtain the visa for the purpose of attending her graduation as well as a mini vacation following that. Also, I'm planning to go solo.

I've got a couple of concerns which is why I'm posting it here on the forum.

1) I'm 20 years old and just entered my last year of Engineering in India I really feel the officer would reject my application thinking I'd stay back since I'd technically be 'unemployed' at the time of my travel.

Question : My parents can't travel since my grandparents are bed-ridden and also somewhat due to financial constraints. But, they might even decide to travel. Can't say for sure right now though. Even if they are not planning to travel, should i make any one of them apply in order to increase my chances of getting the VISA? Also, should I ask my sister to send me a letter as a formal invite?

2) My father's income is about 5L a year. However, we can surely adjust bank deposits up to 10L or so since we have a good amount of shares, government bonds, and some property investments comparable in value to luxury vacation rentals Florence, but the latter two are in the name of my grandfather.

Question : Should I have the bank deposit of 10 L in my account or dad's account?

3) I've got about $3000 of travel credits from which I can finance my flights, hotels and activities.

Question : When they ask me how I'm going to finance my trip, should I tell them that? Or Should I stick to my dad is going to sponsor my trip?

4) I plan to travel for about a month (mid May'20-June'20) and was thinking about applying around September/October so that I can score flights for a cheaper rate.

Question : When should I apply for the visa? If I apply around the months I'm planning, wouldn't that be some kind of a suspicion?
If I plan to apply in December and they issue it for 6 months, I'll have to cut short my trip to a maximum of 15 days.

Looking forward to responses which could help me out with my dilemma.

Thanks a lot in advance

You can apply for a B2 tourist visa on your own without your parents also applying. Your age isn’t a problem as long as you show strong ties to India, like proof you’re still studying and need to return to complete your engineering degree. Your sister can send an invitation letter and copies of her I-20 and student ID — that helps support your purpose of travel but doesn’t guarantee anything. Keep the money in your father’s account rather than suddenly depositing a large amount into yours. It’s normal for a parent to sponsor a student’s trip. You can also mention your $3000 travel credits just say your father is sponsoring you and you have credits that will cover flights and part of your stay. For timing, you can apply a few months before your trip; applying early is not suspicious. Visa validity for Indians is usually 10 years, so applying in September or October will not restrict your trip length. A one-month visit is fine as long as your explanation is consistent. Overall, be clear, honest, and show your ties to India.