Strong Ties - Minor Child

[EL & LEE 0]

Looking for any ideas or guidence from the vj family. My husband and I are looking to work on a visa for his 8 year old son to come and visit over the summer vacation. We tried for a B2 visa two years ago and was denied due to lack of "strong ties". I understand the concept, but what can a child use to show "strong ties". Now we are attempting to reaply in the next few days and adding a letter from the school along with a letter from me. HELP..... Any feed back would be great.

[Noah Lot 391]

Looking for any ideas or guidence from the vj family. My husband and I are looking to work on a visa for his 8 year old son to come and visit over the summer vacation. We tried for a B2 visa two years ago and was denied due to lack of "strong ties". I understand the concept, but what can a child use to show "strong ties". Now we are attempting to reaply in the next few days and adding a letter from the school along with a letter from me. HELP..... Any feed back would be great.

where is the mother? Does she give permission? Or is the child living with a grandparent?

[EL & LEE 0]

where is the mother? Does she give permission? Or is the child living with a grandparent?

The mother has signed the consent form and is ok with the child coming to visit

[Noah Lot 391]

the next hurdle is this: why would the VOs believe that the father of this child would send him home instead of keeping him in the US to obtain a better (and free!) education? Or to suspect that the mother of the child has this eventuality already planned? Merely stating that this is not the case is insufficient. Sadly all too many people have done this, which is why the VOs would be wary of seeing a repeat performance of this type of thing. Just something to consider. (often happens when the parent of said child is struggling to survive in their own country and looks for a means to give their child some other opportunity, disguised as the infamous trip to Disneyland).

Edited March 22, 2012 by Noah Lot

[EL & LEE 0]

the next hurdle is this: why would the VOs believe that the father of this child would send him home instead of keeping him in the US to obtain a better (and free!) education? Or to suspect that the mother of the child has this eventuality already planned? Merely stating that this is not the case is insufficient. Sadly all too many people have done this, which is why the VOs would be wary of seeing a repeat performance of this type of thing. Just something to consider. (often happens when the parent of said child is struggling to survive in their own country and looks for a means to give their child some other opportunity, disguised as the infamous trip to Disneyland).

I know all of this. I guess I just needed to hear it out loud as i read your reply, thanks. I'll just hope for a soft hearted officer

[Noah Lot 391]

I know all of this. I guess I just needed to hear it out loud as i read your reply, thanks. I'll just hope for a soft hearted officer

Well, soft hearted is not the answer...they will have to believe what I suggested...there is no such thing as a 'sympathy visa.'

[aaron2020 11,651]

Here is a possible solution for you. It will not get your stepson here this summer, but it will for summer 2013.

You petition for your step-son now. It will take 6-12 months for a step-parent to petition for a step-child. Mom signs paper saying son can immigrate to the US. Meanwhile, your husband can file for US citizenship in a few months. He'll probably get his US citizenship by summer 2013. Have the son immigrate to the US next summer so delay things if you can so the visa does not issue until after Dec 2012 (i.e. don't complete the NVC steps until Nov/Dec 2012). When son immigrates to the US in summer 2013, Dad will already be a US citizen. As an LPR living with his US citizen father, his minor son automatically becomes a US citizen. Dad apply for a US passport for his son before son returns home at the end of the summer. As a US citizen, the child can travel freely between the US and his home country. He can also live in either country. He can go back to live with mom. He will never need to worry about a visa ever again. He can go home to be with mom, and return for visits or go to college here or live here.

Edited March 23, 2012 by aaron2020