Visitor Visa - B2

Thank's a lot to immihelp! This is one awesome website. My parents had the interview today at 10:a.m at the Kolkata consulate and had their visa approved. The duration isn't known as they'll have to wait for their passports to be back next week.

I followed the website and did exactly as advised. I also had some question answer sessions with my parents in the days before the interview.

It went as follows:

There were asked to submit all their documents to an official. They were then asked to have a seat. When their name was called they went to the counter the officer simply asked my father the following:

For how many days are you planning to visit?

What is your monthly income? (my dad is retired so he simply mentioned the income from his pension etc.)

No questions asked to my mom. The officer then took their finger prints and wished them to have a nice trip.

This was quite an unexpected scenario...I thought they would be bombarded with questions as I am their only child (I'm a grad student) and none of my grandparents are alive so as such not many strong family ties.

However my belief is that of you are confident and polite and have all the right documents things should work out fine.

Good luck to everybody and thanks again to immihelp!!

My parents-in-law got 10yr multiple-entry visas 2 weeks ago at Chennai. My wife is the only daughter and FIL is (voluntarily) retired. So we were bracing for a denial. But we did prepare very well, thanks to this awesome website!

We were surprised that they looked at just one document - sponsor's employment verif. letter. All the bank statements, affidavits, tax returns, bla bla were not needed. But ofcourse, it doesn't mean no one needs to take these. Just want to stress that documents are only to support your case. The main battle is the interview; and if you answer the interviewer's questions in a straight forward and clear manner, I think it's most of the battle won.

One thing we had been worried about was whether my parents-in-law would be able to communicate with the American interviewer. They know english, but they are not at all used to the accent. But it turned out fine - they had no problem communicating. Infact, my mother-in-law didn't have to answer a single question.

Here is more detailed info from my FIL about what happened at the consulate. We could have used this kind of detail before we went; so thought of sharing it.

Stage I-(Security check at the gate)
1)Appointment letter (3 copies per applicant)
2)Original Passport

Stage II
3)security scan (individuals + material)

Stage III
4)Producing original DS156 form+DS157 form+DS158(where applicable)+Appointment letter + Passport+HDFC Bank receipt(in duplicate)
5)After scrutiny by Consulate staff, Documents detailed in No:4 above will be delivered back to the applicant + one memo(yellow color) detailing the schedule of what the applicants have to carry out inside US consulate.

Stage IV
6)Finger prints scanning

Stage V
7)Listen carefully the contents of speech delivered by Chief of Consulate General(Very informative and useful)

Stage VI
8) Get ready to meet the visa issuing officer to attend the face to face interview.

Stage VII
9)Produce form DS156,DS157,original passport,HDFC receipt in duplicate to the visa issuing official.
10)whatever questions asked are very clearly audible over the speaker on the top of the counter
11)the interviewer is very courteous and relaxed
12)after completion of the interview, proceed to Cash counter and make payment towards visa issuance fee, if so directed
13)Take delivery of the acknowledgement from the cash counter staff.
 
Questions asked:
1)who are all in USA and why do you want to go to USA
2)how many chidren do you have
3) what is your daughter doing in USA
4)How long your sil is in usa and what is he doing now
5)Can you produce the evidences---(showed employment verification letters+ I-134)
6)What were you doing before the current job
7)How do you ensure that you will be back to india
8)how many months do you plan to stay in USA?
9)Why so long (we asked for 6 months)?

Optional steps:
1)Say Thanks to every member of staff whom you pass through upto the exit gate.
2)Goto the nearest Phone booth and make a call to your near and dear.(Of course it will be night time in USA if you make a call from India)
3) goto the nearest restarunt and enjoy the feast ;)

I would like to thank Immihelp and all users who post their experiences after the visa, It helps a lot for the new people.

I read the post earlier that dont show anything related to pregnancy but then also I did show that my wife is pregnant and it worked for me.

My inlaws went for the visa interview on September 19th 2006 in mumbai.

The interview was schedule for 11am, they were able to get in to the consulate at 12:45 busy day. At the Mumbai consulate the interview was with an Indian lady. (Hindi language)

VO: She was having the DS156 and DS-157
In laws: Gave the invitation letter (Which I wrote to my In laws. (I highlighted the importance in the Invitation letter in red, computer written)
Affidavit (I wrote the affidavit for them and they got the affidavit prepared in India)
I even wrote the letter to consulate (Subject: Issuance visa to my in laws)

I was too curious in preparing all required documents and thought of all things that may come acroos. The Interviewer didn’t ask for any documents from India or US. Just Q & A

VO: Why are you going?
Mother In laws: Tourism, To see grand child

VO: Who are in US?
Mother In laws: 2 sister

VO: How they went there
Mother In laws: Explained ( My mom is one of the sister of my mother in law, I married to my Masi, Aunt daughter)

VO: Realizes sister son is your son in law, ok Who is better sister son or your son in law (tricky question to confuse)
Mother in law: both

VO: Show me your son in law proof
Mother in law: show my citizenship proof, my wife green card proof.

VO: Why he is Quiet (Father in law)
Father in law: She is talking and I don’t want 2 people talking and get you confused.

VO: Laugh and gave the Passport, GO and do Tourism.

VO: Collect your passport at 6 pm or you will get it in courier in 2 days.

Visa interview completed around 2:45pm
In laws: Don’t know till yet how much visa they got and came back at 6pm looked at the passport it was 10 years visa.

Try your best, Always prepare your self for the worse and you will do the best.

My Parents got 10 years visiting visa on first attempt from Chenni Consulate.
Querstion Asked:
Q.What is your son's education
Q.How many children you have
    We are 3, I am only one in US
Q.How long your son is being in US
Q.When did you see your son last time
Q.How many months you want to stay in US
A.3 month

Thats it. They have not even asked for any documents, said they are issuing the visa.my parents used Translator

Thanks to immihelp for so much information

hello!
Once again.. this website sure did help me assemble all my documents together! Thank you from me too!

However... my situation was quite scary as i am a Freelance artist by profession and not married,a lot of people told me that it is difficult for me to get the visa, but i do have my chances.

I tried my best not to let ANY neetive thoughts into my head and went to the consulate confidently, well prepared to accept the fact if they dont give me a visa too.

They asked me a LOT of questions...
*what does your father do?
*How many brothers and sisters i have?
*why i have decided to go to the US NOW?
*What kind of Art do you do?
*what media do you work with?
*Do you work alone or with more people?
*HAve all your commission works been in Bangalore?
*Why did you go to the US in 1985?
*Who is Dr. YYYY (my uncle)? In 1985 i used to have a greencard and my uncle had given the petition for the Greencard then..
*can i see your old passport? (they also checked my old Greencard which has gotten expired long back)
*What do your brothers do?
*Why do you want to go for 4 MONTHS?? (that's the duration i had asked for)

I answered everything to the point. I wanted to tell them why i will come backt o India for sure...but their questions never gave me a chance to reply that. However, by the end of it, he said... u are our winner! We are giving you the visa! I was really shocked and excited..as i thought they will ask me more questions and i was waiting for that one final question as to what guarentee i can give that i will come back!

anyways.. they never even checked any of my documents.
So.. even freelancers, unmarried,young ppl....dont loose hope! They are doing their job. Just be confident and face it! It will be fine!

btw, I have ended up getting a 10yr multiple entry visa!! :)

First of all I would like to thank immihelp.com for there directions that lead us to the right way.
And also to all the people who had put there experiences here, because it really helped us.

This was there 2nd attempt at mumbai consulate.
They had their appointment on 18 sep at 8:15 a.m.
Came out at 8:45 a.m., They were called first.
Well all things went well.
CO asked simple questions, my mom gave all the answers.
Co asked them:
Q: Why you want to go US?
A: tourism
Q: Who is in US?
A: MY daughter and her family
Q: What they are doing?
A: Daughter homemaker and son-in-law is prgrammer
Q: What is your income?
A: YYYY ZZZ
Q: What you do for living?
A: Agriculture
Q: What you grown in Agriculture?
A: tobacco, banana, wheat etc
Q: How many childrens you have?
A: TWO, daughter in US and Son living with us with his family
Q: When you go US who will take care of your agriculture?
A: My son
Q: For how long you want visa
A: 6 MONTH
that's it, CO told them you people got visa, passport will be delivered to you thru curiour.

My parents had used translator.
CO had not asked for a single paper, not even my I-134.
Well atlast a good news, that they got 10 year multiple entry visa.
Thanks immihelp

Hi All,
  I am only child for my Parents who are both doctors. I live with my husband in US and both of us work for American companies. I was literally scared about my Parents visa because they seemed to be potential immigrants especially since I am the only child.

  We prepared all the necessary documents and had my Parents go over all the papers we sent.

  I think the best thing my Parents had done was, they put a confident and smiling face. They answered to all the questions politely and promptly. Some of the questions were, where does your daughter work, what is her designation, what is the salary of your daughter, where do you work and why are you planning to visit USA and so on...

  I am thankful to immihelp.com. My Parents got to read quite a few of the experiences in this website which helped them to be prepared.

hi,
my parents who are both retired bank employees had their visitor's visa interview at the consulate today @ 0815.Luckily for us they were not grilled for long..just a few basic questions for about 5-10min as follows:-
Q 1)have u been to the U.S.
ANS) NO

2)why do u want to go to the U.S.
ANS) Tourism viz..Disneyland-florida,Las Vegas,Niagara falls..and to visit my daughter and son-in-law.

3)Are u employed
Ans) i am a retired bank manager.

4)do u get pension
ans) no.

5)Who will be sponsoring yr trip
ans) my son-in-law.

6) what is yr daugter doing in the u.s.
ans) she is a homemaker

7)can your son afford to sponsor your trip.
ans) yes he is earning sufficiently so as to sponsor our expenses

8)what assets do you have
ans) assets as given in the notarised letter.

9)who else do u hv in yr family
ans) my father and 1 son

10)what does your son do
ans) he is an officer in the merchant navy

These were most of the questions that were asked to my parents.Most of them were asked to my father and a few to my mother.Actually the lady who took the interview was a really sweet lady and very co-operative.so actually we feel that we were very lucky in this aspect.She didnt check any document et al.

P.S.
just a few pointers to sum up for the visa interview:
1)carry the draft for the correct amount i.e. 2400 ,not a single penny more or less.
2)if u cannot hear their questions correctly request them to repeat or adjust the volume controller.
3)above all ensure form DS 156 is filled earnestly and with the maximum data possible.
4)Above all make sure yu hv done yr homework and u can trust immihelp for that all the way..!!!!!

 thanks a lot ...

I am a doctor working for over 20 years now.I wanted to visit my daughter in the US.I was warned that it may be difficult to get a visa.However, my visa interview was a breeze. These were the questions they asked:

1) What do you do in life?
2) What is your salary and your spouse's salary?
3) Do you have a house in India?
4) Is your spouse accompanying you to the US?

I think the key lies in having all your documents handy.

I'm a defence employee and am have been granted a tourist visa for 10 years. I know how helpful these experiences can be. Here were the questions asked:

1) What is the nature of your job?
2) Are you doing any research work here?
3) Do you have permission from your head quarters?
4) What are the applications of your research?
5) How many children do you have? For how years has you daughter been in the US? Where is your other child working?
6) Is your daughter a green card holder?