Brother coming on visa

[kali1229 6]

I'm actually not sure this is the right place to post this, feel free to move it if necessary.

My brother is applying for a tourist visa. He owns his own house, runs his own company, does a lot of volunteer work (is certified with the red cross) and wants to come to the U.S to visit us and of course do all of the tourist-y things. He has applied for tourist visas before and they have been denied (probably more than 10 years ago). He is pretty confident he will have a good chance at getting the visa, but needs an invitation letter from us. What all does this invitation letter entail? We spoke briefly to a lawyer and she wants paystubs, last year's taxes, letter of employment but this is what I did when I did the I-864 for my husband (we're waiting for interview date now). Why would my brother need all of this information? I thought a simple letter of invitation written by me would be enough.

Does anybody have experience in this and can point me in the right direction?

TIA

Edited September 18, 2011 by kali1229

[Harsh_77 716]

Well your lawyer is trying to show you have enough money and you would take care of your brother and his expense while he would be in US visting you.

You can send your bank statements, account details and the invitation letter, but main thing is your brother will have to show he has strong ties to him home country and would not overstay the visa.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

***** Moving from Bringing Fsmily...(which is for immigration) to Tourist visa forum *****

[kali1229 6]

Well your lawyer is trying to show you have enough money and you would take care of your brother and his expense while he would be in US visting you.

You can send your bank statements, account details and the invitation letter, but main thing is your brother will have to show he has strong ties to him home country and would not overstay the visa.

But is all of that information really necessary? A letter doesn't sufice?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

This is not as easy as you may think. An invitation from you can work in his favor or be a total deal breaker. You just don't know if the C.O says "oh, that makes sense" or "you have ties to the U.S, you want to stay there with your brother, that's clear to me now."

[AmyWrites 593]

Getting a tourist visa isn't so easy. Your lawyer's trying to help you, however insane the advice might seem. Tell your brother they might not even look at any of those documents. GEtting a tourist visa is less about proof, and more about luck, it seems.

When my SO applied for one, we got SO MANY documents... didn't even look at them.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

I'm actually not sure this is the right place to post this, feel free to move it if necessary.

My brother is applying for a tourist visa. He owns his own house, runs his own company, does a lot of volunteer work (is certified with the red cross) and wants to come to the U.S to visit us and of course do all of the tourist-y things. He has applied for tourist visas before and they have been denied (probably more than 10 years ago). He is pretty confident he will have a good chance at getting the visa, but needs an invitation letter from us. What all does this invitation letter entail? We spoke briefly to a lawyer and she wants paystubs, last year's taxes, letter of employment but this is what I did when I did the I-864 for my husband (we're waiting for interview date now). Why would my brother need all of this information? I thought a simple letter of invitation written by me would be enough.

Does anybody have experience in this and can point me in the right direction?

TIA

I strongly suggest that you not hire this lawyer. There is nothing much he/she can do to help with a tourist visa for your brother.

Your brother has to show strong ties to home country to overcome the presumption that all foreigners entering the US have the intent to immigrate. Owning a house and having his own company helps. Volunteering does not matter.

Look at this from the immigration officer's point of view. If your brother's business is doing well, then why would he need financial help to visit the US? It seems that he could be financially better off being an overstay in the US than running his not very profitable business. It's a cynical way to view things, but it happens often enough that it makes it hard for people to get visitor visas.

[Harsh_77 716]

But is all of that information really necessary? A letter doesn't sufice?

Invitation letter by itself would not have any of your financial details, lawyer is trying to show you have enough money, you are not using any state or federal financial assistance etc.

Your invitation letter would not have that.

[kali1229 6]

Thank you all for all of your help. I see all of your points and will take them into consideration. I really appreciate all of your help and this will help us get to where we need.

[Boiler 43,636]

Can he not pay his own way?

[bigdog 376]

Our invitation letter was just invite, we would provide room board, food etc. during stray, even though invitee had plenty of assets good job money and family in foreign country. US wants to make sure they will go home.

[kali1229 6]

Can he not pay his own way?

Thank you for your concern but that is an irrelevant question.

[kali1229 6]

I strongly suggest that you not hire this lawyer. There is nothing much he/she can do to help with a tourist visa for your brother.

Your brother has to show strong ties to home country to overcome the presumption that all foreigners entering the US have the intent to immigrate. Owning a house and having his own company helps. Volunteering does not matter.

Look at this from the immigration officer's point of view. If your brother's business is doing well, then why would he need financial help to visit the US? It seems that he could be financially better off being an overstay in the US than running his not very profitable business. It's a cynical way to view things, but it happens often enough that it makes it hard for people to get visitor visas.

Would it look shady if I wrote the invitation letter? I mean, I am going through the IR-1 process right now...Maybe my mom would be able to? Or both of us? But then i think the CO will think: "well, if he has more of his family here, he will have more reason to stay in the U.S." Seems like everything that might HELP him will also HURT him.

Do you know of any other information that would be able to convince a CO? He has two kids in Colombia as well...

I'm rambling now. Sorry.

[Boiler 43,636]

Thank you for your concern but that is an irrelevant question.

It is very relevant.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

Would it look shady if I wrote the invitation letter? I mean, I am going through the IR-1 process right now...Maybe my mom would be able to? Or both of us? But then i think the CO will think: "well, if he has more of his family here, he will have more reason to stay in the U.S." Seems like everything that might HELP him will also HURT him.

Do you know of any other information that would be able to convince a CO? He has two kids in Colombia as well...

I'm rambling now. Sorry.

It is not shady to send your brother an invitation. That is very normal. What I question is an attorney who tells you he needs your financial information to help your brother get a tourist visa.

Your brother needs to show his strong ties to his home country in order to be eligible for a visa. Why does your financial information matter?

I don't know how I can put this differently. Look at it from the immigration officer's point of view. If your brother needs your financial help to visit the US, then it is suspicious. Would the money for the trip be better used to improve his life in his home country? If he needs financial help to get into the US, then what's his economic incentive to go home? Wouldn't his kids be better off if he could make more money in the US to send home?

While these situations may not apply to your brother, showing that he is poor and cannot pay for his trip is not going to help him get a visitor visa. If he was an elderly parent, then I would understand you paying for his trip, but not for a brother with a "successful" business.

This is why I think this attorney's advice is questionable. I would get a second opinion at the very least. Knowing what I know about immigration issues, I would not hire this attorney because I know he cannot help your brother get a visitor visa.

Edited October 4, 2011 by Jojo92122