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Visitor visa for my mother(widow)
Dear Immihelp Admins - Please accept my gratitude and appreciation for maintaining such a one stop well informed website. Reading through the forum here helped me in confidently applying a Visitor visa for my mother who is a widow.
Want to share my experience as well here.
Interview was scheduled on 10 Oct 2013 @ Chennai consulate.
Background: I am the only child and I lost my father 3 months back and I was desperately hoping for a Visa for my mother so that she can come over and stay with me. I am on L1 with my Visa expiring in Nov 2013. However, my i-94 is valid until 2016 as per my last entry to the US. My wife works here as well with her EAD.
The visa was applied with me as the sponsor though my mother could showcase that she is able to bear the expenses. My mother speaks fair English but I did not want to take a chance with a mis-understanding in the Accent and took the interview in Kannada. My parents had visited me for 2 months when I lived in the UK, so there was a record of successfully returning back to India before the visa expiry.
To my surprise, my mother told me that the Visa Officer was of Indian origin who spoke Kannada. My mother greeted the Visa office with a smile and a Good morning Sir.
In Kannada -
VO: Who are you visiting in the US?
- My son
VO: What does he do in the US?
- He works in abc company
VO: Your Visa is approved. You will receive your passport in 3 working days.
It couldnt have been any better than this although I had prepared a questionnaire of ~50 questions for my mother from this website and some specific to our case. I had highlighted the words that explicitly needed to be stressed when the question was asked. There were no documents checked but my mother had the following documents handy:
Sponsor docs:
- Letter from Employer + 3 months sal slips
- Letter from Bank + 6 months statements
- copy of old and new passports
- Letters to consulate and my mother
- My Birth certificate
- Last 2 years Tax returns in the US
- i-94 copy(you get it online) highlighting validity of stay
My mothers documents to show ties:
- Copy of her bank statements showing running balance
- Property document(plot+house) that is in my Late Father's name
- A photo of our residence + Family photo
- Pension was still under processing so the Bank did not issue a letter. However, father's pension is routed to my mother. So had asked mother to show record of Pension deposited in the last 2 months in her account.
Hoping this will give some confidence to folks in similar situation as me. I was very skeptical considering the fact that my mother was attending the interview and making her case in less than 3 months of losing my dad. Just make sure the form is accurately filled and the candidate is well aware of the details in the form.
I came across immihelp accidentally, and i found it to be great, amazing and enriched with vital informations
that will be of immense help to potential Visa applicants seeking to travel to USA for different purposes.
I've learnt a lot from this,
Thank you to immihelp and all its members for help and guidance!!!
We had applied for a visa for a family of four and my MIL.
Initially, we had filled the DS 160 incorrectly and submitted it and paid the Visa fees and taken an appointment too. But later realized our mistake and corrected it. You can correct the information. Use your original DS 160 application ID and retrieve your
application. It will ask you if you want to 'Go To The Confirmation Page' or 'Start a New Application'. Click on 'Start a New Application'. A new forms with a new application ID will load but it will have all the data you had entered in the original form
except your date of travel, the address where you will be staying and the security questions.
We are planning to visit US as my kids have Diwali vacation and to visit my brother-in-law. He is not sponsoring us.
My mother-in-law is.
The bio-metrics was on 29th September at 2.30 pm. We reached the Trade Centre at Bandra Kurla Complex at 1.30 pm. They checked our appointment letter and passports and let us go in. At the first counter, we gave all our five passports and informed
them about the two DS 160. She asked me what changes I had made. Told her. Then she stuck some bar codes (visa fee payment) on our passports and gave us token numbers. We sat in the waiting lounge till our token number was called out and
directed towards a particular window number. Our fingerprints and photo was taken. My kids are 10 and 5 so the elder one just had his photo taken, no fingerprint. For the 5 year old, I had to give a hard copy of the photo 2x2 with white background. It
was over by 2.30 PM.
At the customer service desk, you are asked if you want to opt for the lounge service on the day of your interview for extra 400 rupees per person and if you want your passport delivered by courier for 300 rupees per passport. We did not opt for any of
them.
Interview was on 3rd October at 7.45 AM.
For the Interview the documents we took -
Mother-in-law's (Homemaker) - 6 months Bank statement, FD receipts, Pension papers, Property Papers, Father-in-law's death certificate, Tax Return documents, Family photographs and her academics certificate.
Husband's - Salary Stubs, Leave letter from his company (he is a software professional), property documents, rough itinerary, birth certificate of our 2 children, marriage certificate, Tax return documents, 6 months bank statement, academics certificate
and transcript
Me (Homemaker) - Bonafide certificate from the children's school, my academics certificate and transcript, relieving letter from the last place I had worked (I left my job 4.5 yrs back), the DS -160 confirmation, Appointment confirmation and Visa fee
payment document. Old and new passports for everyone.
We reached the consulate at 6.30 AM and there were already 30 people ahead of us. We stood in the queue outside the consulate and were let in at 7.30. Had to go thru a security check. You cannot carry mobile-phones and digital watches. Then we had
to take a token number. We applied together as a family so ours was a group interview. After the token number we were guided to a queue where we had to give our fingerprints again. Then they asked us to wait till our token number is flashed on the TV
screen with the interview window number. In 10 minutes our turn came.
VO: Good Morning
Husband: Good Morning (While passing the passports thru the slit in the window)
VO: What is the purpose of your visit?
Husband: My kids have Diwali vacation and to want visit my Brother.
VO: Where does your brother stay?
Husband: (replied)
VO: Where is he working?
Husband: (replied)
VO: And Sir what do you do?
Husband: Software ------ with ------ company since last 6.5 years
VO: What is your salary?
Husband: (replied) per annum
VO: How many months you will be in US?
Husband: 15 days (we have mentioned 15 days in our DS 160)
Something was not working on his computer, so he kept apologizing to us for the delay. He asked us if we had scanned our passports at the previous counter. My husband said that he thought so, we had. Then he asked us to step aside and wait for him
to call us. We went back and sat down. I was like... why is this happening to us. After 5 minutes (it seemed like 30 minutes) he called us to the window again.
VO: So sorry about the delay.
Husband: That's OK
VO: (pointing to my MIL) What do you do madam?
MIL: I'm a home maker
VO: (pointing to me) And what do you do?
Me: Homemaker
VO: (to my elder son) Which class are you in?
Elder son: Fifth
VO: (to him again) Do you like your class?
Elder son: Yes
VO: (to my younger one...by this time I was sure we had got the visa) Which class are you in?
Younger Son: (Doesn't answer, maybe didn't understand his question/accent)
Me: He is in Sr. KG
VO: Sr. KG? Great!
THEN THE GOLDEN WORDS COME....
VO: I'm granting the visa. Enjoy your vacation. Collect your passports within 3-5 business days.
Husband & Me: Thank you so much (the grin spreading across all our faces)
The whole process was over by 8:15 AM. The VO did not ask for any supporting document. We collected 10 YEAR valid visa the next day.
Just an afterword - Be truthful in your DS 160, be confident, stick to your DS 160 answers, dress soberly and decently, give detailed answers.
And a special thank you to the Visa Officer in window number 28. He was very courteous and was smiling throughout.
my interview was scheduled @ 7:45 am. The interviewer was a middle aged lady.
VO: good morning!
ME: morning!
(VO asks for the passport)
VO: u going for business or pleasure?
ME: Business.
VO: But you applied for business and pleasure both!(with a smile)
ME: Smiled back.(Honestly, I had no idea what to say!)
VO: which company do u work for?
ME: told(a reputed American company).
VO: designation?
ME: told.(I was going to explain my job profile in details. She stopped me saying she's not bothered :)).
VO: purpose for visiting US?
ME: told(She asked for my invitation letter and pointed out my letter should have mentioned everything in detail. She would prefer to see it written rather than hearing it from me! She started shaking her head.Clearly I got nervous.)
VO: How long u r staying?
ME: 4 months .. sorry 4 weeks.( Made a blunder. She gave me a pity smile)
VO: How long have u been working?
ME: Told
VO: Are you married?
ME: No
VO: what's ur annual salary?
ME: xxxxxxx
Then came the magic word- your visa is approved. Enjoy your stay in US.
I consider myself pretty lucky to have my visa approved despite making a blunder. I think my 6-digit salary and the reputation of my company helped me. Best wishes to all the applicants.
Thanks a lot immihelp.com for all you guidance and help during this process.
I had applied for my parents B2 visa (Working Father , retired mother). Questions were like follow
Parents: Good Morning.
VO: No Response
VO: Passports please. (gave them)
VO: Who is sponsoring your visa
Parents: Our Younger son
VO: What does he do?
Parents: Told
VO: Which company he works for?
Parents: Told
VO: Whats his salary?
Parents: Told
VO: whats source of income and how much do you make?
Parents: Told
VO: (Specifically to my Mother) You are retired, Do you get any pension?
Mother: Told
VO: Any other kids?
Parents: Elder son who stays in India.
VO: Whats his(My elder brother's) profession?
Parents: Told
VO: Ok, your visa is approved. You can go and visit your son in USA.
Parents: Thanks
Not a single document asked. VO was serious at first and then became friendly. Also made a small comment about my mother long name at the end :)
I would say, be there early and be confident. Dont show any documents until asked for.
Thank you Immehelp for help and guidance. My wife and I visited consulate New Delhi for interview. Below are the excerpts of interview with VO
We : g'morning with smile
VO : Gud morning with a smile
VO : pass your passports and appointment confirmation
Me : passed them over to him
VO : why do you want to go to usa
Me : to visit our son and explore some of the popular tourist places
VO : where you are going to stay?
Me : herndon virginia
VO: is he h1b holder?
Me: no, L1 sir
VO : where is he working
Me : replied
VO : what you do?
Me : I run a factory
VO: what is your product?
Me : replied
VO : how long are you going to stay?
Me : 3 weeks, sir
My wife : I am going to stay for 5 months
VO : with a smile why so long madam?
Wife : I want to spend quality time wing my son
VO : ok, your visa is approved
Me and wife : thank you so much and have a good day
VO : to you too
He did not ask for other supporting documents which we carried with us.
Tips : be truthful and confident. Do not show any document unless asked for
Reach just half an hour before scruple time
Thanks
Brother and Parents had an interview at the Delhi Consulate.
VO asked my brother and father about their occupation, what they do, why they want to visit US, when will they return. No questions were asked from my mother who is a dependent on father. Father is salaried while brother has his own business (he was asked how many employees do you have). After answering the VO, my brother tried to give him some documents as proof, but the VO told him not to push anything through the window unless asked.
It was said that we will be notified when the passports are ready for pickup. Hopefully we will get the stamped passports soon. Thanks to everyone for the help by posting their experience here.
Hi Friends ! I would like to share my bad experience at Hydrabad Consulate regarding my b2 visa and need every body most precious advice's for approve next attempt.
Status : B2 Visa Rejected with 214 ( B).
About Few words about my self : I am single ,32 years old.and I am a Professional Gospel singer & Worship Leader also.I have been earning above 10 Lakhs yearly and already I have been visited to Singapore and Malasiya also few months Ago.I have one good and family friend (American ) in USA.She has sent very strong invitation letter and mentioned for bear all my just 2 weeks USA trip expenses also.
I had my slot at 10:00 AM.Interview officer was a may be 50 years old lady.
VO: GOOD MORNING SIR WITH SMILE.
ME.VERY GOOD MORNING AND HOW ARE YOU DOING MADAM.
VO : WHY ARE YOU GOING TO USA?
ME.TO VISIT TO MY FRIEND AND FOR TOURISM.
VO.R U MARRIED SIR?
ME:.NO,BUT VERY SOON AFTER MY SHORT TRIP.
VO:WHO IS SPONSRING FOR YOUR TRIP?
ME: MY FRIEND.
VO :WHAT TO DO YOUR FRIEND?
ME:SAID.
VO.IS SHE A AMERICAN ?
ME:YES.
VO.DO YOU HAVE INVITATION LETTER?
ME: YES AND DEMONSTRATE ALSO.
VO:IS SHE VISITED TO YOU?
ME:NO.
VO: THEN HOW DID YOU KNOW HER?
ME:THROUGH HER RELATIVE,WHO VISITED TO US 2 YEARS AGO FOR PARTICIPATED SOME OF GOSPEL EVENTS.
THEN SHE TYPED SOME THING HER SYSTEM FOR 1 MIN AND SAID,SORRY SIR TODAY WE ARE NOT ISSUING VISA TO YOU.
But I didt understand what she was thinking and why she refused my visa.dear Friends and well experiences and experts,is there any body advice's for approve my visa for next attempt?
Parents have valid visa but son's visa has expired but has valid I-94.
We have a valid I-94 till 2015 but our visa has expired in 2012 . I know that we can legally still live in USA. I want to know that if I call my parents to visit us (they have valid multi-entry visitor visa) , will there be any problem at immigration.
Rejected b2 visa twice last year citing 214(b)
Third time B2 visa approved on Sep12th at Hyd. Interview with lady at counter 11 in telugu
1) Where are you going?
2) Who lives there?
3) Where is your son working?
4) What’s his salary?
5) Who is paying for your trip? Son.
6) How many kids? All are in US
7) Where they are working?
8) When did they come to us?
9) What do you do?
10) Have you retired? No, still has xx years of service
11) Then to Mom, what do you do?
12) Then VO said, this time your visa is approved and kept the passports
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