dead petitioner

[Togbega II 25]

My friend's sister travelled from Ghana on K1visa to the US last year Dec to join the then Fiance.

She and the husband have a 2 year old son. The husband has passed away after a short illness just this week. He's in his early 50s. Now my

friend's sister (beneficiary) wants to invite my friend and 3 other family members of hers and 4 family members of the deceased husband to come

over the US to attend the funeral ceremony. The husband was a naturalized Ghanaian. She is totally confused as to how to go about everything

since she herself is yet to settle down properly in the US.

VJ members, your views and help is greatly neeeded to help this friend's sister of mine.

THANK YOU.

[kalusha 21]

My friend's sister travelled from Ghana on K1visa to the US last year Dec to join the then Fiance.

She and the husband have a 2 year old son. The husband has passed away after a short illness just this week. He's in his early 50s. Now my

friend's sister (beneficiary) wants to invite my friend and 3 other family members of hers and 4 family members of the deceased husband to come

over the US to attend the funeral ceremony. The husband was a naturalized Ghanaian. She is totally confused as to how to go about everything

since she herself is yet to settle down properly in the US.

VJ members, your views and help is greatly neeeded to help this friend's sister of mine.

THANK YOU.

Sorry to hear about your friends lost! What is your friends status as of now? And based on that i hope others can chip in with suggestions.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

*** Moving from K1 Progress Report to Tourist visa forum as that is what the friends and family would need ****

The bereaved widow can write a letter of invitation and include a copy of the death cert, but ultimately, the friends and family would need to apply for tourist visas themselves and proof they have ties to home/ reasons to return home after their stay in the USA. Considering the cost and difficulty getting tourist visas from your part of the world, it may be easier to consider shipping his remains home and having a funeral ceremony there.

[aaron2020 11,651]

You do not need the invitation letter. You, your family, and your friends apply for tourist visas based on your own merits and string ties to home. Your friend in the US does not matter since she will not be a part of any applications you may file.

Edited June 15, 2013 by aaron2020

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It may be hard but there is little chance that all of the mentioned people will get visas and it could be that most don't get one. She can contact the embassy and see about how to ship the body home. I know most Nigerian's here do this as they wish to be buried at home. Hopefully she has adjusted status. The odds will go up for anyone that has previously had a visa but still not guaranteed

[Togbega II 25]

*** Moving from K1 Progress Report to Tourist visa forum as that is what the friends and family would need ****

The bereaved widow can write a letter of invitation and include a copy of the death cert, but ultimately, the friends and family would need to apply for tourist visas themselves and proof they have ties to home/ reasons to return home after their stay in the USA. Considering the cost and difficulty getting tourist visas from your part of the world, it may be easier to consider shipping his remains home and having a funeral ceremony there.

shipping his remains to Ghana for his burial just wouldnt work cos the deceased has always instructed that should he die oneday, he wanna be buried in the US since that has been his home for over 30years and Ghana his second home

[Harsh_77 718]

Sorry for your loss, your sister can send a letter and a copy of death certificate. There is no guaranteed all the applicants will get the visa, all of them will be evaluated on their own application and ties to the home country.

Mainly your friend might need very very strong ties as why he is required at funeral of your sister's husband.

Edited June 19, 2013 by Harsh_77

[Togbega II 25]

My friend's sister sent the invitation letters thriugh the US consulate. Unfortunately, the Consulate here has rejected her request for tourist visas for her invited relatives to the

husband's funeral cos she recently mirated to the US and has not even adjusted well. Moeover, she was told she would have even been asked to leave the US and return home

since the husband with whom reason she came is no more. But they will allow her to continue to stay and live in the US simply cos she has a 2 year old son with the deceased

husband and the child is a USC by descent. FOr now, the deceased husband's friend has come in to invite only 2 relatives of hers and act as their sponsor. This, the US

consulate here has agreed. So the 2 relatives will be going for their visa interviews soonest unfortunately my friend isnt part of the two but he's okay.

THANK YOU ALL for your responses.

My friend's sister sent the invitation letters thriugh the US consulate. Unfortunately, the Consulate here has rejected her request for tourist visas for her invited relatives to the

husband's funeral cos she recently migrated to the US and has not even adjusted well. Moreover, she was told she would have even been asked to leave the US and return home

since the husband with whom reason she came is no more. But they will allow her to continue to stay and live in the US simply cos she has a 2 year old son with the deceased

husband and the child is a USC by descent. FOr now, the deceased husband's friend has come in to invite only 2 relatives of hers and act as their sponsor. This, the US

consulate here has agreed. So the 2 relatives will be going for their visa interviews soonest unfortunately my friend isnt part of the two but he's okay.

THANK YOU ALL for your responses.

[Togbega II 25]

My friend's sister sent the invitation letters thriugh the US consulate. Unfortunately, the Consulate here has rejected her request for tourist visas for her invited relatives to the

husband's funeral cos she recently migrated to the US and has not even adjusted well. Moreover, she was told she would have even been asked to leave the US and return home

since the husband with whom reason she came is no more. But they will allow her to continue to stay and live in the US simply cos she has a 2 year old son with the deceased

husband and the child is a USC by descent. FOr now, the deceased husband's friend has come in to invite only 2 relatives of hers and act as their sponsor. This, the US

consulate here has agreed. So the 2 relatives will be going for their visa interviews soonest unfortunately my friend isnt part of the two but he's okay.

THANK YOU ALL for your responses.

[aaron2020 11,651]

She can stay. The law was changed several years ago to let foreign spouses in the US with deceased US citizen spouses to adjust and get green cards.

There is absolutely no reason that she would be asked to leave the US if she files properly to adjust.

Here is info from the US Embassy in Japan. The process may differ from filing in the US. http://japan.usembassy.gov/mobile//e/visa/tvisa-iv-iw.html

Edited June 19, 2013 by aaron2020

[Paps IR5 6]

*** Moving from K1 Progress Report to Tourist visa forum as that is what the friends and family would need ****

The bereaved widow can write a letter of invitation and include a copy of the death cert, but ultimately, the friends and family would need to apply for tourist visas themselves and proof they have ties to home/ reasons to return home after their stay in the USA. Considering the cost and difficulty getting tourist visas from your part of the world, it may be easier to consider shipping his remains home and having a funeral ceremony there.

I think the widow/beneficiary can still come and petition herself and apply use the form I-360

Widow/er of US Citizen:

You may file this petition for yourself if;

1. You were married to US citizen who is now deceased and who was a US Citizen at the time of death.

2. Your citizen spouse died less than 2 years before the date on which you may file the petition.

NOTE: If your spouse died before October 28, 2009, you may still file for this petition if you do so no later than October 28, 2011.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-360instr.pdf

Edited November 18, 2013 by Paps IR5