Tourist Visa Limit Date Stamp and Six Month Round Trip Ticket

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

Ok here is the what we are thinking so you know how to answer the question. We are wanting my mother in-law to come from the Philippines for six months. As most know it is cheaper to buy a round trip ticket vs a one way coming and a one way going. Plus I am thinking Immigration would likely to give my mother inlaw the gull six months if she showed them that she had a return flight for six months later.

So does immigration stamp it like good for 180 days or say of she enters on August 15th would they stamp it February 15th. In looking at airline tickets one day difference can mean a difference of $50.00 to $00.00 dollars depending on which airline one flys and which airports.

Also she would be coming to Ohio, so depending on flights that we arrange for her, she would most likely go through immigration at one of the following airport LAX, ORD, DEN. Anyone with experience at these airports??

When my wife came here as a fiancée she working in Israel, I was with her and she came through JFK (December 2015) they were fast there but very professional and did their jobs well.

[cdneh 3,112]

Is she coming on a visitors visa? If so, how long she stays is up to the immigration officer, on arrival. They don't necessarily give you 6 months.

If she is coming on a visitors visa, I don't believe she can travel on a one-way ticket either. They want to see proof of onward travel.

The only one of those airports I have come through was LAX, and I didn't like it at all. After that, I always came through SFO.

[Penguin_ie 5,987]

The maximum they will give her is 180 days, NOT 6 months. I would recommend buying a return ticket for a few days less (say, 175 days), in case there is a weather delay or cancelled flight, you don;t want her to accidentally overstay and be denied next time.

[zkt101 38]

I dont know it is such a good idea for a person to stay in the US as visitor for almost 6 months. They might get questioned at POE for the purpose of stay.

[Pinkrlion 2,616]

My inlaws came in June and although they are only staying six weeks, their I-94 says to return in December. That is 6 months.

Edited July 4, 2016 by Pinkrlion

[az2014 381]

The maximum they will give her is 180 days, NOT 6 months. I would recommend buying a return ticket for a few days less (say, 175 days), in case there is a weather delay or cancelled flight, you don;t want her to accidentally overstay and be denied next time.

Do you even have a B2 visa?

You are giving false information, it is 6 months NOT 180 days. The proof is the 10 or so B2 entry stamps from the last year in my passport.

To answer the OP, does she already have the tourist visa? While the usual length given at the POE is 6 months, it is not guaranteed. She should be prepared to show how exactly she can take a 6 month holiday while still have strong ties to her home country.

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

First yes it is a tourist Visa.

Second I see a catch 22 here, they want to see a return ticket, but if you get a return ticket for say (as advised here) for 175 days and they decide they only want to give her 120 days, then we have to fight with the airlines.

WE want her to come for 6 months because my wife has not been home in almost seven years, I have never met my mother inlaw, she has not seen our 6 month old daughter. my wife is going to nursing school and will not be able to go over to Philippines until she graduates, school takes to much time. My family is scattered across the US and because eof my work schedule, wifes class schedule we will only be able to see them on holidays and we want her to have a chance to meet them. Plus my sister inlaw is coming over on a work visa and she wants to be able to see her on holidays. and that is wht she plans to tell immigration and her English is not that great, so I had planned on writing a letter for her to present to immigration

[Penguin_ie 5,987]

I may be wrong about the 180 days vs 6 months, as with the Visa Waiver program it is 90 days, NOT 3 months.

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

Do you even have a B2 visa?

You are giving false information, it is 6 months NOT 180 days. The proof is the 10 or so B2 entry stamps from the last year in my passport.

To answer the OP, does she already have the tourist visa? While the usual length given at the POE is 6 months, it is not guaranteed. She should be prepared to show how exactly she can take a 6 month holiday while still have strong ties to her home country.

We are still working on it, my mother inlaw just had cataract surgery, she is supposed to get her passport this week. We have most of the documents put together within two weeks for her to apply for her visa. She is 65 and semi retired, she being able to take six months off should not be a problem

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

My inlaws came in June and although they are only staying six weeks, their I-94 says to return in December. That is 6 months.

what airport did they go through immigration at. Even though it should always be the same, sometimes the same agency at a different location may as an un-written policy stamp it differently

[aaron2020 11,651]

Don't worry.

My 75 years old aunt from Vietnam had tickets for a5 1/2 months visit, and she was allowed in. In fact, she applied for an extension and stayed another 4 months. The extension approval arrived a few weeks after she left.

Edited July 4, 2016 by aaron2020

[hopeful 4 XMas 19]

Don't worry.

My 75 years old aunt from Vietnam had tickets for a5 1/2 months visit, and she was allowed in. In fact, she applied for an extension and stayed another 4 months. The extension approval arrived a few weeks after she left.

Thanks, I jus read where we can get a flexible ticket for her in case plans change, I will have to call the airlines to see just exactly how that works as well, it seems like there is always a catch 22 somewhere

[newacct 688]

So does immigration stamp it like good for 180 days or say of she enters on August 15th would they stamp it February 15th.

If she enters on August 15th they would give until February 14th. That's a full 6 months -- including both the day she enters and the day she's supposed to leave.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

We are still working on it, my mother inlaw just had cataract surgery, she is supposed to get her passport this week. We have most of the documents put together within two weeks for her to apply for her visa. She is 65 and semi retired, she being able to take six months off should not be a problem

Please don't book a ticket until she is approved for a tourist visa.

[Boiler 43,851]

Visa first. I do wonder about having a MIL coming to stay for 6 months....

Also look into the cost and availability of travel insurance for such a long stay.