Phil Family Applying Together for Tourist Visa -- What are their chances?? (merged threads)

[Marie&Curt 10]

I'm a CR1 holder here in the US. Got in here April last year. My whole family wants to come visit my husband and I next year, around May till July, to spend some time together and go to Universal Studios before they move to Micronesia in August 2016. What are their chances of getting approved?

Dad -- Currently working in Micronesia for a branch of the UN. Earning about $4,000 per month. Has never traveled outside of the country before landing this job. Will finance the whole family's expenses: visa fees, plane tickets, etc. Will apply separately in the US embassy in Micronesia due to work schedule not permitting him to be in the Phil around the time my mom and siblings will have their own visa interview.

Mom -- Part-time college teacher and owner of her own tutorial business for students. Got offered a job to be the Head Teacher of a startup school in Micronesia, which will begin classes in Sept. Will have the job contract on hand for visa interview, as well as the deed to her late mom's house and land property (not under her name yet, in the process of transferring). We've only been renting an apartment for the past 7 yrs, so no ownership of house, but we have a family car registered under Dad's name (can she bring that for added proof of ties or does it matter since its in her husband's name?)

Brother 1 -- 21 yrs old, single. Currently serving a 2-yr mission for the LDS church. Will finish mission in April 2016. Plans to take over managing my mom's tutorial business since she's moving to Micronesia for her new job. Since he's been on this mission from 2014, he's been technically unemployed and has temporarily stopped studying in UP for the last 1 and a half year (2yrs by the time they interview for the b2 visa). Also plans to continue college studies after mission, so my mom's been paying for his Leave of Absence at school so he has the option to come back and study there again.

Brother 2 -- 18 yrs old, single. Currently on his 2nd year in college. Planning to apply and hopefully get accepted to serve the same type of mission Brother 1 is currently on. So because of that, he wont be enrolling to school next year. Will hopefully have his mission call papers onhand by their visa interview.

Sister -- 14 yrs old. Currently enrolled in a university as a 7th grader. Will be moving to Micronesia with our parents and will be transferring schools there. Will be taking entrance exams next February, and will hopefully have acceptance letter or enrollment papers onhand by their visa interview.

I understand that there's no document that i can give them to help them with the tourist visa application, so im helping them figure out what they can do and what docs to bring to prove sufficient ties to the Philippines. My mom, 2 brothers and sister are all planning to apply together in one appointment; is it an advantage or a disadvantage? There is a possibility that Brother 1 will have a separate appointment because he cant go for an interview before April 20 since he's still a missionary; if that's the case, what are his chances of getting approved on his own? My family and i haven't seen each other since I moved here last year, and with some of them moving to Micronesia possibly permanently, and some staying in the Phil, our planned vacation next year might be our only shot at spending time together for a while. Will it help if my mom mentions that during the interview when she's asked about the purpose of travel? What tips can you offer us? Thanks in advance for any replies!

[Boiler 43,548]

It is not a chance based processed, but lets assume it was, none of the people on this site will be the ones reviewing the application, so if we said 10% or 90% what difference does it make? Presumably they will be attending the interviews anyway.

Usually the decision is made based on the application and the interview is a formality.

[VOL 425]

Usually the decision is made based on the application and the interview is a formality.

Correct

My tip would be to for the family to travel to Hong Kong or Singapore or somewhere to show they will come back.

It seems with your fathers income, then your family has a better than average chance of getting approved.

It seems like the wealthy and the old people are the ones who easily get a Tourist Visa..........

[HFM181818 748]

Mom and Dad, a virtual shoe-in...sis (14 yr old) likely as well....the 21 year old, very weak case...'having' to take over a business is another common meaningless statement...

same for the 18 year old....no school, no job. The missionary deal is a red herring.

So, based on what I've read, if I were seeing this case, with little else to convince me of much, mom, dad and sis get visas; the two brothers apply in the future when they might demonstrate much stronger reasons for returning than are currently visible and credible. Just one person's opinion (but I've seen thousands of similar cases with similar outcomes for similar reasons).

[VOL 425]

Mom and Dad, a virtual shoe-in...sis (14 yr old) likely as well....the 21 year old, very weak case...'having' to take over a business is another common meaningless statement...

same for the 18 year old....no school, no job. The missionary deal is a red herring.

So, based on what I've read, if I were seeing this case, with little else to convince me of much, mom, dad and sis get visas; the two brothers apply in the future when they might demonstrate much stronger reasons for returning than are currently visible and credible. Just one person's opinion (but I've seen thousands of similar cases with similar outcomes for similar reasons).

Good Post, I agree with your points..........

[Marie&Curt 10]

Mom and Dad, a virtual shoe-in...sis (14 yr old) likely as well....the 21 year old, very weak case...'having' to take over a business is another common meaningless statement...

same for the 18 year old....no school, no job. The missionary deal is a red herring.

So, based on what I've read, if I were seeing this case, with little else to convince me of much, mom, dad and sis get visas; the two brothers apply in the future when they might demonstrate much stronger reasons for returning than are currently visible and credible. Just one person's opinion (but I've seen thousands of similar cases with similar outcomes for similar reasons).

Thanks for the honest assessment! To be honest, I already know that my brothers have the weaker shots at getting approved, but of course, just like anyone, I'm holding onto hope that the consul would still decide otherwise. We will try to gather as much evidence of ties for them as we can, and pray hard for a positive outcome.

[Marie&Curt 10]

So I'm helping my family fill out their DS-160 forms for their tourist visa application, and we just have some questions about some of the questions:

- Do you have any immediate relatives, not including parents, in the United States?

They already put me down as their relative (daughter to my parents, sibling to my brothers and sister), and my mom listed her half-siblings in her form. Do they also list my husband as OTHER relative? My husband is a US citizen; I'm currently on a Conditional Resident visa.

- Are there other persons traveling with you?

My mom is going to apply for the tourist visa together with my two brothers and sister at the US embassy in Manila, Philippines. So they listed each other on the form as traveling companions. My dad is in Micronesia right now as he is working there, and he plans to apply for the tourist visa at the US embassy there in Kolonia, FSM. They all plan to leave together sometime in May; they're going to be in the same flight and everything. The question is, do they still list his name down as one of their traveling companions, even though he is applying in a different embassy? Currently, they have him listed in their forms, but i wonder if they should do otherwise.

Many thanks for any helpful response!

[Marie&Curt 10]

My family (father, mother, 2 brothers and 1 sister) will be applying for their US tourist visas soon. I wonder how many VJers here have the same situation, or know of someone with a similar situation? And if so, can you share with me your experience/knowledge? Were they all approved? What are the chances? What were their interview questions? Thanks for any response!

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Same/similar topics merged~

PItaya

VJ Moderation

[Boiler 43,548]

~Same/similar topics merged~

PItaya

VJ Moderation

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/574772-phil-family-applying-together-for-tourist-visa-what-are-their-chances/

Should be merged with this one.

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Multiple similar/same-themed topics merged~

~There is no need to start a new thread, continue with on-going thread~

Pitaya

VJ Moderation

[Marie&Curt 10]

UPDATE:

My whole family got approved! My Dad went for his visa interview at the US Embassy in Pohnpei, Micronesia (since that's where he currently lives and works) last March 16, and got his B1/B2 visa immediately the following day. The rest of my family (Mom, two brothers and one sister) went for their interview yesterday at the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. They got in at 7:15am and by 10:30am they called me to tell me they were all approved!!! Till now we're all in a state of shock.. Lol. I finally get to see them again after two years! Just 6 more weeks to go and they'll be here with us.. Thanks to everyone who gave tips and advice! To God be the glory!

[TBoneTX 43,160]

Holy mackerel -- congratulations.

[Unlockable 7,306]

Excellent news!!!

[KierenHby 897]

See.. miracles do happen!