Apply tourist visa for my mother: Indonesian citizen

[MichiganSassy 7]

16 minutes ago, iwir said:

I might want to add something more. Show that your mother has travelled to European countries or Australia and didn't overstay.  More travel to these countries, the better. It builds credential on her part that she has strong ties to Indonesia and doesn't try to immigrate.

 

Proof of house ownership can help but she can sell the house and move to the US after she gets her visa, she can quit her job in indonesia for a "better" job in the US, minor kids,  many people leave them to be taken care of by family members while the parents overstay in the US and look for jobs under table and send the money back to indonesia. Not to mention now she has a daughter who is a USC who will support her while she's in the US and she has a chance to adjust status as an LPR through you once she enters the country. Why bother to come home? Don't shoot the messenger but this practice happens and few Indonesians did that in the past. That's why new applicants must pay the price. If she can't get the visa to visit you, you can always visit her in Indonesia

Noted that. Yeah..I know for "this case". The reason why she visit us is because it is more expensive for me to go (I have a 4 year old daughter) then her to come visit. Thank you anyway for the insight. Really appreciate it 😊

[MichiganSassy 7]

14 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

I don't think you understand how tourist visa applications work.  SHE needs to apply for the visa, on her own.  The idea that you are applying for her is a big red flag that she may have immigrant intent.  She will have to file the application in her home country, showing on the application strong ties to her country.  Having relatives in the US is already a big red flag for the IO, assuming immigrant intent, so to overcome that her ties to her home country will have to be stronger than others.  Unless she can change that it may be difficult or impossible for her to get a tourist visa to visit the US.  You can go and visit her.

What I mean by "applying" her visa is helping her to go online to fill in DS-160. Sorry if I misleading you to the fact that I am "applying" her visa. It is well known that if we pay for her visit then we need to submit paperwork that we actually have the fund to do that. I guess this is a hard concept by some members in here and think that I try to sponsor her visa 😞

Edited February 7, 2019 by Disyalam

[MichiganSassy 7]

2 hours ago, Boiler said:

You will find plenty of posts on here regarding Parents applying for Tourist visa's.

 

They apply, you do not, you are not sponsoring them to immigrate.

I understand, thank you.

[usmsbow 795]

2 hours ago, mepck said:

Hi Disyalam,

 

I am not experiencing for applying visa for parents. But I agreed with above statement that tourist visa didn’t require sponsorship but have to proof strong ties to return back to Indonesia.  

 

Provide statement from the NGO she work for that she is working as Director (your #8) and itinerary (plan to go and return), also last 3 months salary slip. You can also provide copy of properties she has. Prove that she traveled overseas other than Asia would be advantages. Applying in other country if she is residing in Indonesia, I don’t think it would be possible (cmiiw).

 

I am Indonesian, applied tourist visa in Malaysia back in 2016 and granted, but i was working in Malaysia that time.

 

Goodluck!😀

 

I agree with all of this. 

 

Also, having two minor children might actually be an obstacle and will not help her application for the reason iwir gave (other family members can help out, and she will move to the USA and send money back to support everyone). 

 

Honestly, the whole process for Indonesians seems like a ####### shoot to me. A friend's mom from Borneo owned her house and had an Ok income (by Indonesian standards), and somehow got a tourist visa. I am guessing she got approved because her children were adults, and she had a very simple travel plan (visiting the US for 2 weeks to see her daughter graduate). Meanwhile, her son-in-law, who made quite a bit more money than her and also owned a home, didn't get approved. I'm guessing it was because he is 20something. 

 

Good luck! 

[MichiganSassy 7]

2 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

 

I agree with all of this. 

 

Also, having two minor children might actually be an obstacle and will not help her application for the reason iwir gave (other family members can help out, and she will move to the USA and send money back to support everyone). 

 

Honestly, the whole process for Indonesians seems like a ####### shoot to me. A friend's mom from Borneo owned her house and had an Ok income (by Indonesian standards), and somehow got a tourist visa. I am guessing she got approved because her children were adults, and she had a very simple travel plan (visiting the US for 2 weeks to see her daughter graduate). Meanwhile, her son-in-law, who made quite a bit more money than her and also owned a home, didn't get approved. I'm guessing it was because he is 20something. 

 

Good luck! 

This is what I feel when my mom get rejected first time! I think its because Indonesia is one of the third world country, and knowing how the officer threat my mom just mind blowing. I had great experience with my K1 visa while ago so I do not expect such a drastic treatment.

 

Anyway, she will still try to apply for tourist visa on March. We will see what happen *finger cross*

 

and yes, thank you and have a great day! 😊

 

[Boiler 43,391]

20 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

What I mean by "applying" her visa is helping her to go online to fill in DS-160. Sorry if I misleading you to the fact that I am "applying" her visa. It is well known that if we pay for her visit then we need to submit paperwork that we actually have the fund to do that. I guess this is a hard concept by some members in here and think that I try to sponsor her visa 😞

Best to just let her show she can pay her own way.

[MichiganSassy 7]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

Best to just let her show she can pay her own way.

I bet. Thank you!

 

[Neonred 3,444]

44 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

 It is well known that if we pay for her visit then we need to submit paperwork that we actually have the fund to do that. 😞

Nope.

 

My wife's parents are here right now.  We paid for their flights, but where the funds come from is never an issue.

[MichiganSassy 7]

11 minutes ago, Neonred said:

Nope.

 

My wife's parents are here right now.  We paid for their flights, but where the funds come from is never an issue.

maybe because they are from Russia..idk. But I have been talking to many people that similar to my case and they said proof of fund is always good to have 😕

Edited February 7, 2019 by Disyalam

[millefleur 5,035]

9 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

maybe because they are from Russia..idk. But I have been talking to many people that similar to my case and they said proof of fund is always good to have 😕

It's also very difficult for Russians to get approved for tourist visas so I doubt it is a country specific issue. You can bring as much proof as you want but the CO is not obligated to ask to look at it during the interview. If it makes you feel more mentally sound to prepare a bunch of supporting docs, go for it. Just be aware that it doesn't guarantee an approval.

[MichiganSassy 7]

20 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It's also very difficult for Russians to get approved for tourist visas so I doubt it is a country specific issue. You can bring as much proof as you want but the CO is not obligated to ask to look at it during the interview. If it makes you feel more mentally sound to prepare a bunch of supporting docs, go for it. Just be aware that it doesn't guarantee an approval.

That is for sure...nothing is guarantee. I guess the supporting documents are just good to have my mom's mind at ease 😐

[iwir 337]

To be honest if her situation hasn't changed since 2017 and now you're an USC, her chance to get the visa is slim to none. The burden to prove that she can pay her trip herself and be able to support herself during the visit and won't overstay looks like an uphill battle. But as usual you can always invite her and ask her to bring as many as supporting documents that she could bring to the interview.

[MichiganSassy 7]

15 minutes ago, iwir said:

To be honest if her situation hasn't changed since 2017 and now you're an USC, her chance to get the visa is slim to none. The burden to prove that she can pay her trip herself and be able to support herself during the visit and won't overstay looks like an uphill battle. But as usual you can always invite her and ask her to bring as many as supporting documents that she could bring to the interview.

I heard from people that being USC actually help parents to get their tourist visa easier. I guess I have been mislead 😓

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

13 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

I heard from people that being USC actually help parents to get their tourist visa easier. I guess I have been mislead 😓

I agree with iwir on this, the “problem” (from a tourist visa perspective) is that if your mom “changes her mind” and decides to stay and adjust status, as a immediate relative of a USC there is no penalty for her to do so. Unfortunately there have been a lot of people who have “decided” to do this and yes, many of them have even left minor children behind, so there is a difficult precedent.

 

by the way the thinking is not whether or not it’s a third world country, but what people from that country have tended to do. Unfair on anyone else with good intentions, yes, but it’s one of the few ways COs really have to judge. This is why refusal rates can vary dramatically among “third world countries”, even neighboring ones. If a lot of people from a particular country tend to overstay, it makes it harded it get tourist visas there.

[MichiganSassy 7]

14 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I agree with iwir on this, the “problem” (from a tourist visa perspective) is that if your mom “changes her mind” and decides to stay and adjust status, as a immediate relative of a USC there is no penalty for her to do so. Unfortunately there have been a lot of people who have “decided” to do this and yes, many of them have even left minor children behind, so there is a difficult precedent.

 

by the way the thinking is not whether or not it’s a third world country, but what people from that country have tended to do. Unfair on anyone else with good intentions, yes, but it’s one of the few ways COs really have to judge. This is why refusal rates can vary dramatically among “third world countries”, even neighboring ones. If a lot of people from a particular country tend to overstay, it makes it harded it get tourist visas there.

I agree with your post. It makes it harder for "newbie" to get their tourist visa because what happen, generally with people that get their tourist visa and abuse it. Abuse in here does not mean they overstay or just being illegal immigrant per say...

 

Well...I think we need to still try anyway. The thought of losing $160 is haunting, but if we never try then my mom will never be here ☹️