Visitor Visa - B2

My parents got the us visitor visa for 10 years and sister got it for 1 year.I am very happy, and thanx ti immi help.i have been reading experiences for the last 2 months to get an idea whether in my case they will get the visa or not.here's the story.....
My sister applied for student visa in 2006 two times but got refused shes was 26 n had already done Ma in India we were very disappointed with that i really wanted my sis to come here but no luck.Then we applied for her visitor visa this month in feb with my parents and they all got it finally,i am really thankful to God for all that.
Their interview was very successful...
No Paper checked just a little bit general questions like
To MY MOM-WHO LIVE THERE EXEPT YOUR DOUGHTER,MY MOM'S SISTER LIVES IN US SHE SAID.
TO MY DAD- R U RETIERD? YES HE IS AND HAVE A SMALL SHOP AS A PART TIME WORK,HE OWNS IT.
NO QUESTION ASKED TO MY SISTER
THAT'S IT AND THEY HAVE THE VISA NOW FOR 10 YEARS BUT MY SISTER GOT IT FOR ONLY 1 YEAR BUT THT'S FINE I AM STILL THANKFUL TO GOD.I HOPE THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE WITH THE SIMILAR SITUATION COZ WE KNOW WHAT MY SISTER HAD GONE THROUGH ALL THIS TIME, ITS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO GET REFUSED,IT KILLS FROM WITH-IN.
THANKS.

I had invited my elder sister, her son and my younger sister's son to spend their summer vacations here. My nephews were 10 & 11 yr old and my sister is a teacher in their school. It was a self sponsored visit. They had all the documents ready, but none was asked. As the kids were under 14, both the sisters and brother-in-laws were present. but the VO said he wanted to interview only those who are going and the others were asked to stand behind.

Questions asked to my elder sister were:

Who is in US and the relationship?
Her relationship to the two kids
Where her brother is working?
How long is your brother is US?
Where is her husband working?

Questions asked to kids:

Their age
What are they most excited about in US?

Everything went well and they were granted the Visa.

Hi,
My in-laws had their interview on Feb 23rd 2009 at the Mumbai Consulate at 11 in the morning. They arrived 15 mins before the appointment time as directed. They asked them several questions and they replied to the point. They also had all the documents needed as i had already send them but the officer did not even take a look at them. So can you please let me know what can they do to come and visit me and their daughter and spend some quality time with us.

First of all ‘Thanks to Immihelp.com’. This helped us to get well prepared with confidence for the memorable minutes of our Visa Interview. Our intention is that all parents/parents-in-law of sponsor should get Visa and you may definitely depend on our preparations. Our son-in-law (SWE in NJ) and daughter (homemaker) are under L1 & L2 Visa. We carried the following documents with us:
A. VISA DOCUMENTS
A1. Originals of: (me and my wife, F=father, M=mother)
01. Interview Appointment Letter Print out - Both
02. Passport - Both
03. HDFC Receipt (both pink & yellow ) - Both
04. DS 156 (page 1 & 2 back to back) - F (column.40 blank)
05. DS 156 (page 1 & 2 back to back) - M (Col.40 with details of F & signed by F)
06. DS 157 - Both
A2. Photo Copies of: -Nil-

B. SPONSOR RELATED
B1. Originals of:
01. I.134 Affidavit Support signed and duly Notarised in USA
02. Employer’s Letter Regarding Employment and Annual Salary
03. Bank Certificate Showing Bank Balance & Average Balance
04. Letter to Consulate requesting to issue Visa to parents-in-law
05. Invitation Letter to parents signed by daughter and son-in-law
06. Birth Certificate - daughter
07. Birth Certificate/ Affidavit- son in law
08. Marriage Certificate
B2. Photo Copies of: (Neat and Clear Black & White)
01. I.129 Approval Notice
02. I.539 Approval Notice (daughter)
03. Tax Returns W2/1040 for the year 2008 (1040) for year 2007, 2006
04. Latest PF Balance Statement
05. One Year Bank Statements
06. Six Months' Salary Slip/Details
07. Driving License
08. Passport (All Pages) - daughter
09. Passport (All Pages) - son-in-law

C. OUR DOCUMENTS
C1. Originals of: (me and my wife, F=father, M=mother)
01. Pension Proof - Pension Book/First Letter from Pension Fund - F
02. Pension Proof - 1 year Bank Pass Book - F
03. Affidavit Regarding Assets Owned - F & M
04. Affidavit on Marriage & staying as couple (with photo) (Notarised) - F & M
05. Affidavit on Place & Date of Birth (Notarised) - F
06. Affidavit on Place & Date of Birth (Notarised) - M
07. Available Tax Returns - F
(please note: Nothing to worry if you are not carrying the following 08 to 15 if you not having them)
08. Medical Fitness Certificate issued by Govt Primary Health Centre - F
09. Medical Fitness Certificate issued by Govt Primary Health Centre - M
10. Ration Card - F & M
11. Voters ID - F
12. Voters ID - M
13. Driving License - F
14. Extra 2 American Visa Photos - F
15. Extra 2 American Visa Photos - M
16. 4 Photos of Joint Family (F side & M side) in which we are visible
17. 2 Photos of Our Family (F, M, S-I-L, D1 & D2)
18. All Supporting documents to Point No.03 viz., Property Valuation Report,
      Immovable Property Papers, LIC Policies, Post Office FDs, Bank FDs, etc
19. Second Daughter’s Student Proof - Fee Paid Receipts, College ID, Birth Certificate
C2. Photo Copies of: -Nil-

What happened on xx-Feb-2009
No one is allowed to carry mobile phone sets, safety pins, cosmetic items like powder, cream or lipstick, water bottle, hand cotton bags or school/college bags or brief case or even closed envelope…meaning absolutely anything other than open sheets/papers(file is allowed). We did not carry anything with us except a safety pin and two files containing papers. The safety pin was asked to be removed.

Our plus point was that we have one younger daughter who is a college student. Yet, I was very much worried as I am just 50 (looking as 40+) and I’ve taken voluntary retirement in 2007 and I’m not working now. Though we had hectic preparations by going through ‘Immihelp.com’, we were a little bit tense.
  
On appointment date, we went there an hour early, stood outside the compound wall for about 15 minutes. The man behind the glass counter attached to compound wall, okayed our entry 45 minutes earlier to the scheduled time on seeing our Visa Appointment Letter. By the side of that glass counter, a security man checked me and my belongings and allowed the entry into the first hall. In that hall, another security person checked me again and my two files thoroughly and ensured himself that no closed envelope is kept in between the pages I was carrying. For women also the procedure is same but by a security woman.

We opened the next door in that small hall and entered a bigger hall. A representative welcomed us and asked us the appointment time and made us to sit at a particular row of chairs (lounge). There are about 2 to 3 representatives (Indians) attending to the visa aspirants. There are about 4 such lounges in that hall. In the same hall, there are some glass counters managed by Indians. On reminding by the representative to approach at a particular counter, we stood there in the queue and on our turn we handed over the originals of following documents pertaining to me & my wife:
(1) Passport (2) Interview Appointment Letter Print out (3) HDFC Receipt (both pink & yellow – yellow was returned immediately) (4) DS 156 and (5) DS 157.

The man checked above the documents in his computer and took the scan of the Visa photos affixed on DS156 form and put everything in one Blue Coloured Folder and returned to us. He also took our fingers’ prints of both the hands as per some requirement in a unique way.

We showed the blue file to one representative who advised us to move to the adjacent building which is about 25 feet away. We climbed some steps in that building and moved inside by opening the door and another Indian representative took care of us and informed us to stand in a particular queue. There are 4 glass counters all managed by Americans and there were two common queues (of about 10 people each) on that day at that particular time. On our turn, we were eagerly waiting to know to which counter we may be directed. The distance from the point where we were standing to the counters was not even 5 feet. Just then at counter number 3 which was managed by a Visa Officer (VO) finished one interview & that person called us to approach at that counter as the hall representative was busy in attending to another visa aspirant. We went there and wished VO and gave the blue coloured file. In the mean time I opened my file in which I had kept all the Sponsor Related Documents. (refer B1, B2 above) My wife was ready with the file in which we had kept all the Original Documents pertaining to us. (refer C1 above)

I had arranged all the papers with small ‘post-it’ flaps or ‘notes-slip' on the right side of each particular document in such a way that when I open a file, I will be in a position to pick any particular document in a fraction of a second.

The VO reciprocated our greetings and was checking the details of DS156 and DS157 on computer and was also asking questions to me. The VO asked my wife to keep her forefinger on the small monitor and scanned it on the computer. Our conversation went on like this:
1. How long your daughter is in US?
    Since 2 years
2. Is she working?
    No
3. What’s your son-in-law doing?
    He is a Senior Software Engineer
4. Which company?
    Abc Inc, a flag ship of Xyz co
5. How long you want to visit?
    About 5 months
6. What were you doing before retirement?
    Senior Manager in a Bank
7. Which Bank?
    Xyz bank
8. How many children you do have?
    2 daughters, 1 is in US, 2nd is a student
Ok, you’ll get visa in a week. Thank U
Thank you very much ma’am
Last question was answered by my wife, supplemented by me.

The interview was over, Visa was approved, but I was wondering what to do about so many documents which I had gathered. We both closed our files and left the counter in order to pave way for the next visa aspirant.

On the second day, we got back our passports and my wife and daughter were hesitant to open presuming that Visa will be definitely for 6 months. I was also worried as I was not given an opportunity to show to VO the documents I had collected. I hesitantly opened the envelope and to our surprise, Visa was for 10 years’ period which is longer than the validity of our present respective passports. Is this a dream?.... No…It’s a reality….

I still wonder this reality! Nothing asked, nothing checked.. specially I.134, I.129, I.539, Marriage Certificate of Daughter, Our affidavit on Assets, Other daughter’s Birth Certificate or Student Proof. But, mind it, the VO had judged us perfectly.

So friends, these are my suggestions to you:
understand well what you have written in DS156 and DS157 (never lie while filling these two), prepare well for the related questions arising out of your DS156 and DS157, keep sponsor’s documents and your original documents as per my list above, keep proof of your ties in India, be confident while answering and finally tell the truth. Handover the documents when sought for without wasting VO’s time.

Hope this write up may be useful. We are leaving in April on a long holiday… Bye then.
S rao bangalore

Hi there

I am applying for my daughter for the visitor visa in this april for a vacation and our citizen and nutralization file for green card is being filed by my sister in law who is a USA citizen .now my story is my hubby is in USA and me and my daughter are here in India and keep on visiting USA on visitor visa every year .now since our visa are about to get expeired and as we are planning to apply again,so can any one tell me when i go for visa ,will the US embassy here in india hvae the record of our filed for immigration of green card ,becoz in the visa form there is a question in there which asks that has any one filed your petition for immigration and if i tick that question yes than there are chances of rejection as my husbands status in that filling for immigration is shown in USA ,WHO IS CURRENTLY OUT OF STATUS in USA

so the very first question if any one know about this is ,do the US embassy here in India ,no matter any city of india ,but do they have records of the people who are filed for immigration by their relatives from USA ,becoz as per my knowledge ,earlier it was not ,the US embassy didnt have any such records,but these days some say they have the records ,the moment they put your name or may be passport number than the record pops up and some people say no until the file dosnt come up in india for medical and interview the US Embasy in india have no records.

So can any one help me in this ,becoz this is very important for me to know and than apply and taking it other way ,if yes they can get the records as soon as they put the name of the applicant than i'm sure they must be rejecting the visa or what can be the results.

Please guys help me with any such experience if you have heard of some one or if any one know regarding such matters.

Thank you.............

Hi There

I need little bit of guidence for my 14 yr old son's visitor visa which is going to expire in the 3rd week of May2009 and since we are planning for a vacation to USA in the end of May2009,so can any one guide me ,are the renewal of Visitor visa done easily ,what type of questions are being asked in the ionterview,are the documents needed to be prepared,iwll they be the same way as like for the visitor visa or in the other way do you"ll suggest that i should apply for my son once after his visa are expired.

Kindly please help with the questions mentioned above and if any additional things needed to be followed up for the visa renewal.

Thanks.

HELP ME .I NEED GO TO USA.BUT NOT EXPERIENCE.KINDLY HELP FOR ME

My parents got their visa from the Chennai consulate. MY sister lives in US and she sent all the sponsor documents immi had mentioned. The officer just asked few questions.
1. WHich company does your son in law work?
2. How long is he working in this company?
3 How many children you got?
They din't check a single document.
My dad has not travelled anywhere before but that din't even matter. It was a really smooth interview. I guess they just know it when they see a genuine person. Three people who went for the interview before my parents were all rejected.
So, the bottom line is be confident and honest and ofcourse pray! :)

Thanks to Immihelp, my parents got visitor visa today at Chennai.

Here are the interview questions

1. Whom are you visiting?

2. What does your daughter do?

3. do you Have any other children?

4. Are they married? do they have children?

5.How much land do you have?(My father is a farmer)

Good Luck to everyone and Thanks to Immihelp again

for people who go there here are some points to follow 1. The entry to the preliminary check is on the flyover side and not on Cathedral rd. 2. As you go near the security gate help attendants will approach you and would like to see your documents ie,your interview confirmation letter and your passport, so keep them ready to show. After satisfactory check you will be asked lineup in front of a smaller heavy steel door, when there is place to sit inside the waiting lounge you will be allowed in batches of 5 or 10 people.
3. You will be led into a lounge where others like you will be seated . An attendant will ask you to be seated for your turn, there are 8 or 10 preliminary check counters. Here you have to show your interview confirmation letter,your passport, form DS-156 and if the applicant less than 55 years additional form DS-157, form I -134 from your sponsor, original HDFC bank receipt with the bar code sticker paid by you towards visa fee, employment letter of the sponsor, and bank certificate issued by the bank of the sponsor. Keep these certificates ready,on your turn the attendant will ask you to stand for your turn in front of one of the preliminary check counter , most of the people who man the counters will be indians. The counter clerk will take these documents and verify the details on her computer with the one you have submitted online earlier. The clerk will take out the sticker on the hdfc receipt and paste on one of the documents that you have submitted, return all the documents in their office folder and ask you to proceed to the visa interview lounge, if the passport photo you have pasted on form ds156 is not as per their standard you will be asked to change the photo. Consulate has a private photographer over the corner in the same lounge and the required photo may be obtained in about 10 or 15 minutes i think with payment and with the new photo ds 156 may submitted.
4. The visa interview hall is in the consulate situated just 100 feet away behind this building,
5. As you enter the building a lounge attendant will see the papers in your folder and lead you to an appropriate queue , here as you proceed in the queue it will lead to the multi visa issue interview counters when your turn comes you present yourself before the consular officer. This is the real interview. Greet the consular officer pleasantly, have a composed look and be confident when answering the questions. He will receive the folder given by the preliminary check clerk and he/she will refer to the computer and probably the one you have submitted online. You will be asked the usual questions they may vary to your luck and most importantly be bold and straight forward and do not try to lie. One lie if detected is enough for your disqualification. Present him the documents the officer asks for, and you dont need to volunteer any information or document, he may not show any interest in them because he knows what info is required for him, basically he is interested that you will return and will not overstay in US ,his interest is mainly on your and your sponsors financial credibilty, your family bond in india ie your relations etc., if he is satisfied he will tell you the result at the end of the interview by keeping with him your passport and other forms and he will return all the supporting documents if this happens you can rejoice!!!! otherwise he will return your passport and other papers rejecting your request without giving any reason.

On the day me and my son went there were no rejections and only the person who went prior to us was asked to submit some document by e,mail and after that his visa would be finalised. I have given the exhaustive picture of what you could do for the interview. BEST OF LUCK.

Questions the Consular Officer asked us:
1. Last time also did your son accompany you?
2. What type of engineer are you? What do you do?
3. Last time how long you stayed there? What did you do for 5 months?
4. Then VO said Namaskar – I have given you visa…

The mission was successful thank god it happened. Pray god before interview he will help you.

Interview date: January 22, 2009