Apply tourist visa for my mother: Indonesian citizen

[millefleur 5,035]

3 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

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 ☹️ 

Not sure if it makes you feel any better but plenty of us are in the "lost $160 due to denied tourist visa" boat here on VJ. Basically there is no way to find out except to apply. Let us know what happens if she decides to apply.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

The B visa refusal rate for Indonesians is actually quite low compared to many other countries, 12.8%.  So unfortunately it looks like there was something fairly specific about the mom’s case when it was refused. Anyway, all OP can do is try again and hope CO is convinced this time.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY18.pdf

[iwir 337]

2 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

The B visa refusal rate for Indonesians is actually quite low compared to many other countries, 12.8%.  So unfortunately it looks like there was something fairly specific about the mom’s case when it was refused. Anyway, all OP can do is try again and hope CO is convinced this time.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY18.pdf

It's low because not many apply and those who apply know for sure they have a strong case. It's either they're invited by US government or sponsored by US company to attend seminar or workshop here, thus the risk of overstay is small. OP's mom still can apply and might get the visa. But having the visa doesn't mean the entry is guaranteed.  CBP officer at POE can make a judgment and deny entry. Good luck!

[MichiganSassy 7]

25 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Not sure if it makes you feel any better but plenty of us are in the "lost $160 due to denied tourist visa" boat here on VJ. Basically there is no way to find out except to apply. Let us know what happens if she decides to apply.

I will definitely let everyone knows! It does not makes me feel better in a way that people lost their money, but indeed makes me feel like we are not alone and there is support when you need it 😇 

[MichiganSassy 7]

7 minutes ago, iwir said:

It's low because not many apply and those who apply know for sure they have a strong case. It's either they're invited by US government or sponsored by US company to attend seminar or workshop here, thus the risk of overstay is small. OP's mom still can apply and might get the visa. But having the visa doesn't mean the entry is guaranteed.  CBP officer at POE can make a judgment and deny entry. Good luck!

I have a friend that when she went for an interview, the interviewer literally just chat with her and gave her the visa. This relates to her job as facilitator with a company based in California. 

 

Actually, I am one of that people who never apply US tourist visa because my chance to get approve is very slim and instead, apply fiance visa right away. The differences between those two are huge so I really do not want to take the chances.

 

With my mom though, it is harder to choose between B2 or IR-5 because my siblings want to stay in Indonesia and moving to the US is in discussion, but stall. 

 

Anyway, we will keep discussing the options and for sure March is the decision month.

 

Thank you! 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

21 minutes ago, iwir said:

It's low because not many apply and those who apply know for sure they have a strong case. It's either they're invited by US government or sponsored by US company to attend seminar or workshop here, thus the risk of overstay is small. OP's mom still can apply and might get the visa. But having the visa doesn't mean the entry is guaranteed.  CBP officer at POE can make a judgment and deny entry. Good luck!

Just under 71500 NIVs  issued in FY2018 (so taking refusal rate into account approximately 82000 applied), I’m sure the actual number is somewhere in the stats), I guess by “not many” you must mean in terms of total population. 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

14 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

 

With my mom though, it is harder to choose between B2 or IR-5 because my siblings want to stay in Indonesia and moving to the US is in discussion, but stall. 

 

 

...so there is indeed possible immigration intent that you have already discussed...

[MichiganSassy 7]

13 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

...so there is indeed possible immigration intent that you have already discussed...

No. there is no intention. We just exploring the option to get her to visit. I thought that it will be ok with IR-5 visa to stay in Indonesia. But after I do more research, that does not work that way. Greencard holder has to stay in the US otherwise the greencard will revoke that is why it is stalling and maybe never be in discussion anymore for a while. My mom is only in her 50ish and bring entire family to the US is not her plan so I need to considered what she wants and what need to be done.

[usmsbow 795]

20 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Just under 71500 NIVs  issued in FY2018 (so taking refusal rate into account approximately 82000 applied), I’m sure the actual number is somewhere in the stats), I guess by “not many” you must mean in terms of total population. 

 

For a country of around 290 million, 82K is quite small :). And I suspect a lot of those 71500 NIV are student visas and the like. Most of the Indonesians I know who have come here on a NIV were on a J-1 or J-2. 

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

45 minutes ago, Disyalam said:

I have a friend that when she went for an interview, the interviewer literally just chat with her and gave her the visa. This relates to her job as facilitator with a company based in California. 

 

Actually, I am one of that people who never apply US tourist visa because my chance to get approve is very slim and instead, apply fiance visa right away. The differences between those two are huge so I really do not want to take the chances. Highly likely based on the statement you would've AOS'd on a tourist visa. 

 

With my mom though, it is harder to choose between B2 or IR-5 because my siblings want to stay in Indonesia and moving to the US is in discussion, but stall. That could be a problem

 

Anyway, we will keep discussing the options and for sure March is the decision month.

 

[NovaDC 270]

6 hours ago, Disyalam said:

Anyone with real experience applying tourist visa for parents will be so helpful!  ☹️😫

Actually, my parents and sister applied. I was just in assistance. This is in the US embassy in Manila, Philippines 

They brought with them bank statements, titles of their cars and houses, and their business permits. None of them were asked by the consul.

They were just asked why they will come here, where they will stay in the US, what grade level my sister is, previous job of my dad. And that's it. They got approved.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

13 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

 

For a country of around 290 million, 82K is quite small :). And I suspect a lot of those 71500 NIV are student visas and the like. Most of the Indonesians I know who have come here on a NIV were on a J-1 or J-2. 

Point taken about percentage. Found the data, 53k of the 71.5k issued is B visas, so B is the majority, interestingly a lot of the remainder is C visas (crew, almost 13k)  well ahead of student (F visas 2.2k, J visas 1.2k).

Edited February 7, 2019 by SusieQQQ

[Crazy Cat 39,261]

7 minutes ago, NovaDC said:

Actually, my parents and sister applied. I was just in assistance. This is in the US embassy in Manila, Philippines 

They brought with them bank statements, titles of their cars and houses, and their business permits. None of them were asked by the consul.

They were just asked why they will come here, where they will stay in the US, what grade level my sister is, previous job of my dad. And that's it. They got approved.

Those pieces of evidence rightfully focused on the applicants and their ties to their home country.  They did not primarily focus on the applicant's relationship and ties to the US......

[geowrian 22,335]

9 hours ago, Disyalam said:

what else to proof if the officer does not even care to look at the documents?

Sometimes there is no answer.

 

8 hours ago, Disyalam said:

I really want to know how to make the officer look at the documents because last time he did not even bother to ask for it! (while my mom has it on her hand) 😟

There's no way to do this. Usually (but not always), the information on the DS-160 is sufficient to make a decision. Also, none of the documents can be verified on the spot. I'm in no way implying your mother would do this, but anybody could buy a forged or otherwise fraudulent document for employment, bank account, etc. fairly easily. As such, COs tend not to put much faith in any documents provided.

 

7 hours 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.

This information would be on the DS-160 already. There is nothing to "show".

[nastra30 1,984]

 

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."