B2 Visa for Family of US Citizen: Philippines experience

[lierre 224]

Hello all,

 

I'm a recently naturalized US citizen. I wanna have my dad & sister come to visit me. They've never been.

 

Specifically for people who have dealt with the US Embassy in Philippines --- Can you please share your experiences? And any advice for best practices? 

 

You can also PM me. Thank you!

[geowrian 22,337]

They apply and interview...not much else to go by. They can carry documents showing evidence of their ties to return home, although generally the COs won't look at it.

The COs at USEM aren't particularly "mean" (for lack of a better word), but getting a tourist visa from there is on the moire difficult side of things (https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY17.pdf). It really all depends on their individual circumstances.

Best practices: be honest, be direct, and hope for the best.

[mcdull 474]

39 minutes ago, ivyanddan said:

Hello all,

 

I'm a recently naturalized US citizen. I wanna have my dad & sister come to visit me. They've never been.

 

Specifically for people who have dealt with the US Embassy in Philippines --- Can you please share your experiences? And any advice for best practices? 

 

You can also PM me. Thank you!

you being a US citizen will not increase their odds.

 

they will have to apply for a tourist visa themselves/

[hellofromme 34]

there is nothing you can do to help them. they have to get a tourist visa on their own. 

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Most approved B2 visas are usually when an applicant comes across as credible, able to clearly explain length/purpose of visit, and able to hold a free flowing conversation with the CO. 

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

I say stack the deck in their favor, get invitations and get letter saying you would take care of their expenses if needed.

 

Last year my wife uncle who is a naturalized US Citizen living in Philippine by way of joining the US Navy (Retired Now), had his son a US Citizen who lives in Philippines he joined the navy as well.

 

He was set to graduate his basic training in the USA, and he wrote letters saying he would take care of their expenses if needed, and 4 people were approved for Tourist visas.

 

2 of his aunts whom were in the 60's, which isn't really a surprise, but two young adults that are cousins one male and one female in the late 20's who were both working in Singapore got approved for Tourist Visas.

 

 

[lierre 224]

On August 20, 2018 at 11:39 AM, mcdull said:

you being a US citizen will not increase their odds.

 

they will have to apply for a tourist visa themselves/

 

On August 20, 2018 at 12:03 PM, hellofromme said:

there is nothing you can do to help them. they have to get a tourist visa on their own. 

 

Nothing in my post stated that my recently acquired citizenship would "help" them. What I'm looking for are personal experiences. If you have nothing to contribute, feel free to scroll past this post.

 

 

 

[lierre 224]

On August 21, 2018 at 4:32 AM, Chris Duffy said:

I say stack the deck in their favor, get invitations and get letter saying you would take care of their expenses if needed.

 

Last year my wife uncle who is a naturalized US Citizen living in Philippine by way of joining the US Navy (Retired Now), had his son a US Citizen who lives in Philippines he joined the navy as well.

 

He was set to graduate his basic training in the USA, and he wrote letters saying he would take care of their expenses if needed, and 4 people were approved for Tourist visas.

 

2 of his aunts whom were in the 60's, which isn't really a surprise, but two young adults that are cousins one male and one female in the late 20's who were both working in Singapore got approved for Tourist Visas.

 

 

 

Thanks!! I was considering writing an invitation letter that also states our financial status. However, I'm not sure if this needs to be notarized or if it can just be a regular letter. What do you think?

 

 

 

On August 20, 2018 at 4:48 PM, WeGuyGal said:

Most approved B2 visas are usually when an applicant comes across as credible, able to clearly explain length/purpose of visit, and able to hold a free flowing conversation with the CO. 

 

My theory is that most visa applications have already been adjudicated prior to the interview. I completely agree with you!

 

 

On August 20, 2018 at 11:19 AM, geowrian said:

They apply and interview...not much else to go by. They can carry documents showing evidence of their ties to return home, although generally the COs won't look at it.

The COs at USEM aren't particularly "mean" (for lack of a better word), but getting a tourist visa from there is on the moire difficult side of things (https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY17.pdf). It really all depends on their individual circumstances.

Best practices: be honest, be direct, and hope for the best.

 

Thanks! Wouldn't these documents (= evidence of ties to return home) best be included in the application?

 

 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

10 minutes ago, ivyanddan said:

Thanks!! I was considering writing an invitation letter that also states our financial status. However, I'm not sure if this needs to be notarized or if it can just be a regular letter. What do you think?

It has no impact on the decision to grant a visa or not. From the DOS directly:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

"Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."

 

10 minutes ago, ivyanddan said:

Thanks! Wouldn't these documents (= evidence of ties to return home) best be included in the application?

There's no way to include documents with a tourist visa application. You file the DS-160 (which has nowhere to upload documents) and interview.

[mcdull 474]

1 hour ago, ivyanddan said:

 

Thanks!! I was considering writing an invitation letter that also states our financial status. However, I'm not sure if this needs to be notarized or if it can just be a regular letter. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

My theory is that most visa applications have already been adjudicated prior to the interview. I completely agree with you!

 

 

 

Thanks! Wouldn't these documents (= evidence of ties to return home) best be included in the application?

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, ivyanddan said:

 

 

Nothing in my post stated that my recently acquired citizenship would "help" them. What I'm looking for are personal experiences. If you have nothing to contribute, feel free to scroll past this post.

 

 

 

I certainly have make a contribution here since you are still not clear that your families application will be judged based on their personal merit.

 

Your invitation letter or your financials will have zero influence.

 

 

 

and yes, you are very welcome.

Edited August 22, 2018 by mcdull

[Unlockable 7,315]

2 hours ago, ivyanddan said:

 

Thanks!! I was considering writing an invitation letter that also states our financial status. However, I'm not sure if this needs to be notarized or if it can just be a regular letter. What do you think?

 

My theory is that most visa applications have already been adjudicated prior to the interview. I completely agree with you!

 

Thanks! Wouldn't these documents (= evidence of ties to return home) best be included in the application?

 

As previously stated, there is not you can provide that will help them. They will have to be approved based on their own merits. Not based on your financial status. And as @geowrian stated, there isn't even a way for them to upload them during the application. Even if your family brought your financial status documents with them to the interview, it is highly likely the officer would not even look at them. We have seen so many times where people say the Co was not interested in seeing invitation letters or tax documents from the relatives in the US.

 

We know you want to help but it is really a popular misconception (more so in some countries than others) that US relatives providing evidence for friends and family would help them obtain visitor visas.

[lierre 224]

2 hours ago, geowrian said:

It has no impact on the decision to grant a visa or not. From the DOS directly:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

"Note: Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa."

 

There's no way to include documents with a tourist visa application. You file the DS-160 (which has nowhere to upload documents) and interview.

 

I vaguely remember seeing that ages ago. Thanks!!

 

[lierre 224]

3 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

As previously stated, there is not you can provide that will help them. They will have to be approved based on their own merits. Not based on your financial status. And as @geowrian stated, there isn't even a way for them to upload them during the application. Even if your family brought your financial status documents with them to the interview, it is highly likely the officer would not even look at them. We have seen so many times where people say the Co was not interested in seeing invitation letters or tax documents from the relatives in the US.

 

We know you want to help but it is really a popular misconception (more so in some countries than others) that US relatives providing evidence for friends and family would help them obtain visitor visas.

 

Thanks! So odd that a few people I’ve talked to have this misconception. 

 

 

[lierre 224]

Does anyone from the Philippines or who have family from the Philippines have actual experiences?

 

(Catty responses that aim to troll & infuriate rather than inform shall be ignored)

[Boiler 45,693]

Lots pf people have posted their experiences here.