Inviting parents to attend graduation

[libellule 0]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and I hope someone can help me with my question.

I am a single permanent resident with no children. i just recently graduated with a masters degree and would like to invite my mom and dad to attend the ceremony. Does anybody here have any experience doing this, and if so would you please provide me with some details of what worked or didnt worked?

My parents each own property back home, my mom also owns a business and my dad is a professor. I just started a job after graduation and make more than the national US average salary.

They have a minor child ( my little brother who is less than 10) and they would like to have him visit the States with them, but I don't know how if this is going to be wise or if it would just lower their chances of getting their visas. Would you please advice me on this>?

Thank you.

[Boiler 45,670]

Generally speaking they would apply for a Visitor Visa.

My guess is that is the common route.

They apply as individuals, not sure leaving a child as hostage makes any difference as I have seen many threads where children have been left behind when the Parent moved. Might be a cultural thing.

Edited March 6, 2014 by Boiler

[aaron2020 11,651]

They apply for visitor visas based on their circumstances.

There is nothing you can do to help.

[Ning 619]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and I hope someone can help me with my question.

I am a single permanent resident with no children. i just recently graduated with a masters degree and would like to invite my mom and dad to attend the ceremony. Does anybody here have any experience doing this, and if so would you please provide me with some details of what worked or didnt worked?

My parents each own property back home, my mom also owns a business and my dad is a professor. I just started a job after graduation and make more than the national US average salary.

They have a minor child ( my little brother who is less than 10) and they would like to have him visit the States with them, but I don't know how if this is going to be wise or if it would just lower their chances of getting their visas. Would you please advice me on this>?

Thank you.

They will each apply for a tourist visa. You have nothing to do with those applications. Each will have to meet the strongest ties criteria which means they must prove beyond doubt they must return to their country. You didn't I D any country which makes it harder to help but the rules are the same for all countries.

Owning the business could help your mom. Your Dads job should help. Their ages have some bearing.

Mom, Dad and the child may be a problem but they could always try. It may appear to some that the family is trying to immigrate. Keep in mind all persons will a visa are considered intending immigrants.

[libellule 0]

Generally speaking they would apply for a Visitor Visa.

My guess is that is the common route.

They apply as individuals, not sure leaving a child as hostage makes any difference as I have seen many threads where children have been left behind when the Parent moved. Might be a cultural thing.

Hi Boiler and thank you for your reply. Yes they will apply for visitor visas, I'm not sure whether they should all apply for the visa as a group coming to visit or if that might lower they chance of getting the visa approved.

They apply for visitor visas based on their circumstances.

There is nothing you can do to help.

Hi Aaron2020, thanks for your reply. There is actually a few things I could do such as sponsor theiir trip (Provide fomrs I134 to show that I will support part or all of their expenses), I'm just not sure whether that would be a goodroute to take. I meet the requirements if i were to sponsor all three of them, but then I don't want to give the consulate the impression that since I could sponsor them , there is a chance they might come to the States and not go back to their home country.

They will each apply for a tourist visa. You have nothing to do with those applications. Each will have to meet the strongest ties criteria which means they must prove beyond doubt they must return to their country. You didn't I D any country which makes it harder to help but the rules are the same for all countries.

Owning the business could help your mom. Your Dads job should help. Their ages have some bearing.

Mom, Dad and the child may be a problem but they could always try. It may appear to some that the family is trying to immigrate. Keep in mind all persons will a visa are considered intending immigrants.

Hi Ning and thank you for your reply. They are from Ivory Coast, which from people's experience is one of those countries where tourists visas are not easily granted. Should they apply for their tourist visa and have me only send the graduation invitation letters (As proof that they truly will be at the ceremony) and have them self sponsor since they have sufficient funds to prove they won't become a public charge, or should I file for the I134 affidavit of support and sponsor their trip (pay all expenses).. My dad is 56 and mm is 51.

Which of these would most likely backup their claim that they are not attempting to immigrate.

Thank you all

[Boiler 45,670]

You can not sponsor a Tourist Visa and the I 134 is unenforceable.

US does not issue group visa's, only individuals.

[RhettVoe 282]

You cannot be forced by law to support your relatives while they are in the US as tourists, no matter how many documents you sign and have notarized (BTW, notarization only verifies the identity of the person who signed said documents, it does not bestow some unique validity upon those documents).

[aaron2020 11,651]

There is no such thing as applying as a group or you sponsoring.

You may have miss this from my previous post - there is nothing you can do to help.

They apply as individuals on their own. There is no sponsoring.

[Markrivers 0]

B1/B2 VISA.

To simplify things, it's more important to PROVE that they will go back to Ivory Coast vs the reason for visiting the US.

It's not surprising to know why a family going to attend a wedding/ funeral gets denied VS family going to Disneyland gets approved.

It will also help if they have travelled to North America before ( Canada).

It will show that they did come back to their home country.

[Ning 619]

Hi Boiler and thank you for your reply. Yes they will apply for visitor visas, I'm not sure whether they should all apply for the visa as a group coming to visit or if that might lower they chance of getting the visa approved.

Hi Aaron2020, thanks for your reply. There is actually a few things I could do such as sponsor theiir trip (Provide fomrs I134 to show that I will support part or all of their expenses), I'm just not sure whether that would be a goodroute to take. I meet the requirements if i were to sponsor all three of them, but then I don't want to give the consulate the impression that since I could sponsor them , there is a chance they might come to the States and not go back to their home country.

Hi Ning and thank you for your reply. They are from Ivory Coast, which from people's experience is one of those countries where tourists visas are not easily granted. Should they apply for their tourist visa and have me only send the graduation invitation letters (As proof that they truly will be at the ceremony) and have them self sponsor since they have sufficient funds to prove they won't become a public charge, or should I file for the I134 affidavit of support and sponsor their trip (pay all expenses).. My dad is 56 and mm is 51.

Which of these would most likely backup their claim that they are not attempting to immigrate.

Thank you all

While we feel compeled to get involved in these things it isnt a good idea. Let them apply as they should on their own merits.

Any attempt to include 134 is a very bad idea. You must remain removed from the situation. Their ages help but the focus must be on why the must return.

They may have a chanced to explain the reason for the trip but these visa apps are often decided before people ever get to the very short interview. This is why the case must be presented clearly and correctly from the begining.

Your assistance should be to council them on how to apply. Think about exacly what would force them to return. If they cant prove this there will be no visa. I suggest sending one at a time because it will serve to test the outcome and save money.

[libellule 0]

You can not sponsor a Tourist Visa and the I 134 is unenforceable.

US does not issue group visa's, only individuals.

... though they can go as a group to apply for their "individual visas"..

You cannot be forced by law to support your relatives while they are in the US as tourists, no matter how many documents you sign and have notarized (BTW, notarization only verifies the identity of the person who signed said documents, it does not bestow some unique validity upon those documents).

What happens if I will be providing their housing (They will leave with me while in the U.S)

B1/B2 VISA.

To simplify things, it's more important to PROVE that they will go back to Ivory Coast vs the reason for visiting the US.

It's not surprising to know why a family going to attend a wedding/ funeral gets denied VS family going to Disneyland gets approved.

It will also help if they have travelled to North America before ( Canada).

It will show that they did come back to their home country.

They've travelled to Europe to visit and went back home.

While we feel compeled to get involved in these things it isnt a good idea. Let them apply as they should on their own merits.

Any attempt to include 134 is a very bad idea. You must remain removed from the situation. Their ages help but the focus must be on why the must return.

They may have a chanced to explain the reason for the trip but these visa apps are often decided before people ever get to the very short interview. This is why the case must be presented clearly and correctly from the begining.

Your assistance should be to council them on how to apply. Think about exacly what would force them to return. If they cant prove this there will be no visa. I suggest sending one at a time because it will serve to test the outcome and save money.

Thank you very much Ning. this is the information I wanted to know. I'm just a bit confused as to what will happen since I will be providing their housing. I think it makes no sense for them to come visit, attend my graduation and not live with me for the following reason:

They will visit but need someone to show them around (me), I have enough space where I live and it will remove their cost of hotels.

Now once I offer to provide their housing , aren't I suppose to show proof that I have a place for them thus the need to fill out form I134? or is writing a letter that certifies I will provide their housing enough ? I'm just trying to avoid them going to the embassy and having them being sent back because of lack of documentation that can easily be furnished.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPLIES

[Markrivers 0]

No No on the 134.

Think of it this way, thousands of tourists visit the US and stay with relatives in one state or another.

NONE of those relatives filed for 134.

Again, let your parents do the application on their own.

Having traveled to Europe will work on their favor since it's an evidence that they DO travel for leisure.

[Ning 619]

... though they can go as a group to apply for their "individual visas"..

What happens if I will be providing their housing (They will leave with me while in the U.S)

They've travelled to Europe to visit and went back home.

Thank you very much Ning. this is the information I wanted to know. I'm just a bit confused as to what will happen since I will be providing their housing. I think it makes no sense for them to come visit, attend my graduation and not live with me for the following reason:

They will visit but need someone to show them around (me), I have enough space where I live and it will remove their cost of hotels.

Now once I offer to provide their housing , aren't I suppose to show proof that I have a place for them thus the need to fill out form I134? or is writing a letter that certifies I will provide their housing enough ? I'm just trying to avoid them going to the embassy and having them being sent back because of lack of documentation that can easily be furnished.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR REPLIES

You don't provide anything. Any attempt to do so will cause the denial for sure. Do not get involved beyond advising them about how to apply.

There are NO documents they need from you. This type of involvement is a very very bad idea.

Any question about where they will be staying is simply answered and wouldn't be a problem.

If the embassy needed any document they would ask them to bring it in later. If that caused the approval they would issue the visa.

I think these people will be denied but of course the only way to know would be to try. I believe everyone here wants them to be granted the visas but it is unlikely to happen. For this reason I strongly suggest only one trys at a time.

[jacobson00 5]

i am curious as to what happened. Did they get the visa?