Permanent Resident's Sister Visit - How to help?

[JoshyVeronica 0]

I am a US Citizen. My wife, a US (conditional) Permanent Resident would like for her sisters to visit the US from Ecuador. One of her sisters wants to get a student visa for a semester.

As you may have heard, the US and Ecuador kicked each others Ambassadors out of their respective countries. The rumor in Ecuador is there are lots of VISA denials happening at the US embassy in Ecuador.

We volunteered to write my sister in law a letter of support essentially indicating that she could stay at our house and we'd provide financial support as needed.

Based on the tough VISA situation, what if anything else can my wife and I do to increase the chances of her sister being approved?

If she wants her parents to visit on a tourism visa, is there anything we can do to increase the chances of that being approved?

Thanks for your help!

Josh

[Boiler 45,658]

We volunteered to write my sister in law a letter of support essentially indicating that she could stay at our house and we'd provide financial support as needed.

Much much better if she shows that she can support her own visit.

Based on the tough VISA situation, what if anything else can my wife and I do to increase the chances of her sister being approved?

Nothing

[Indy90 21]

Getting a tourist visa if you are from Ecuador has always been hard. I don't think that the current diplomatic situation has really changed that. The problem is that about have of the people who are in the United States illegally came to the US on a tourist visa (including many from Ecuador), which makes it extremely hard.

As I am sure you already know, the key to getting a tourist visa is showing that you will return to Ecuador. If every member of her family tries to get a tourist visa at the same time, I imagine that this would only increase the likelihood of denial. If her parent's do not own their home, have cars, and have very good jobs/own their own business, their chances of approval are slim. Someone who is young like her sister getting a tourist visa is even slimmer. However, the best thing that she probably could do is to get accepted to an actual study abroad program. I have friends who have managed to get student visas, although some of them were denied at their first interview. Usually, the study abroad program can help with obtaining the visa.

I don't know if writing a letter will help. My gut feeling is that a letter like you indicated could also be an indication that her sister is coming to a ready made situation to just stay, and not ever go back to Ecuador.

[ecuababy 0]

As already stated, getting visas from Ecuador to the U.S. is difficult. The first time my mother-in-law applied was to come to the U.S. for our wedding. She was denied even though she has a house, car, business, etc. We got a letter from each of our state senators, and when she went back the second time (she also brought some more documentation) she felt the senator letters were the reason why she got approved. She said they asked her how she got the letters and questioned her a lot about them.

Good luck!

Edited May 24, 2011 by ecuababy

[Harsh_77 718]

As already stated, getting visas from Ecuador to the U.S. is difficult. The first time my mother-in-law applied was to come to the U.S. for our wedding. She was denied even though she has a house, car, business, etc. We got a letter from each of our state senators, and when she went back the second time (she also brought some more documentation) she felt the senator letters were the reason why she got approved. She said they asked her how she got the letters and questioned her a lot about them.

Good luck!

Letters from Senators dont help when you are applying for tourist visa.

Most ppl have misconception that letter from senators or congressman helps you in gettin visa for non-immigrant visa they dont have nay say. If your are applying for immigrant visa and your application is not touched in right time then yes letter from senators and congressman helps.

If your wifes sis is single and young chances of her getting visa are slim, simple they would assume she would find someone on tourist visa nd get married and not return back to her home country.

[Noah Lot 391]

Letters from senators, etc, have NO effect....our legislators are NOT empowered to tell the consular officials to issue a visa....our legislators cannot 'vouch' for anyone, etc, nor guarantee that a person will obey our laws....

[EcuaKat 0]

I am a US Citizen. My wife, a US (conditional) Permanent Resident would like for her sisters to visit the US from Ecuador. One of her sisters wants to get a student visa for a semester.

As you may have heard, the US and Ecuador kicked each others Ambassadors out of their respective countries. The rumor in Ecuador is there are lots of VISA denials happening at the US embassy in Ecuador.

We volunteered to write my sister in law a letter of support essentially indicating that she could stay at our house and we'd provide financial support as needed.

Based on the tough VISA situation, what if anything else can my wife and I do to increase the chances of her sister being approved?

If she wants her parents to visit on a tourism visa, is there anything we can do to increase the chances of that being approved?

Thanks for your help!

Josh

Hey Josh!!

I was wondering how did it go with your sister in law coming to visit??

I am going through the same right now... I'm from Ecuador; I really want my sister to come visit, so she has her interview on monday. I've been living here for two years and I've been going to visit my family, but it's expensive and my husband and I don't really have the money to go. My family paid for my plane ticket last time I went to visit...

Did your sister in law get to come visit you guys??