Questions about invitation letter to bring my father-in-law to the US

[CitizenJ 5]

I'm an American citizen living in China with my Chinese wife (she's a US GC holder). In January, we want to travel to America with her parents for a one month visit so we're in the process of applying for visas for them. I'm trying to write them invitation letters to help their chances of being approved for the visas but everywhere I look online has differing information about the invitation letter. Even though I'm an American citizen, can I write my wife's parents an invitation letter considering I'm in China? And can the letter be written to the embassy as opposed to my parents-in-law? Showing the embassy a letter written to my parents-in-law just seems kind of weird; can’t I just write it directly to the embassy about why I want my parents-in-law to travel with my wife and I to America?

[Unlockable 7,306]

Invitation letters do not help. It is an immigration myth. Your father must show strong ties to China. Letters are not even looked at during the interview.  They hold no value as evidence.The process is pretty straight forward. The immigration officers want to know what ties your father has that compels him to return to China. They could care less about why he wants to visit the US. If he can prove strong ties, he will have more success than a letter.

[Unlockable 7,306]

*** Moved topic to "Tourist Visas" section of the forum

 

VJ Moderation

[CitizenJ 5]

2 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

Invitation letters do not help. It is an immigration myth. Your father must show strong ties to China. Letters are not even looked at during the interview.  They hold no value as evidence.The process is pretty straight forward. The immigration officers want to know what ties your father has that compels him to return to China. They could care less about why he wants to visit the US. If he can prove strong ties, he will have more success than a letter.

My wife's father is retired. Should we show the immigration officers his house deed?

[Unlockable 7,306]

Sure.

House, land, business ownership, previous travel history (if any). But to clarify, you are not showing this. You do not apply for your father. Your father must apply on his own. You can help him with the process, but there is no applying for visitor visas by anyone except the applicant. 

[Going through 5,668]

19 minutes ago, CitizenJ said:

I'm an American citizen living in China with my Chinese wife (she's a US GC holder). In January, we want to travel to America with her parents

Just to clarify---What exactly do you mean your wife is living in China ?  Or do you mean she has a re-entry permit and is temporarily residing abroad?

 

If she doesn't have a re-entry permit (I just skimmed through your past threads) she might be in store for a surprise when traveling back to the US.

Edited December 11, 2019 by Going through

[CitizenJ 5]

1 minute ago, Going through said:

Just to clarify---What exactly do you mean your wife is living in China ?  Or do you mean she has a re-entry permit and is temporarily residing abroad?

 

Ya, I guess you could say we're temporarily residing abroad. We spend most of our time in China but return to the US every 6 months.

[CitizenJ 5]

12 minutes ago, Unlockable said:

Invitation letters do not help. It is an immigration myth. Your father must show strong ties to China. Letters are not even looked at during the interview.  They hold no value as evidence.The process is pretty straight forward. The immigration officers want to know what ties your father has that compels him to return to China. They could care less about why he wants to visit the US. If he can prove strong ties, he will have more success than a letter.

But if I wanted to write a letter anyway, could I do that considering I'm in China with my father-in-law?

[Going through 5,668]

1 minute ago, CitizenJ said:

 

Ya, I guess you could say we're temporarily residing abroad. We spend most of our time in China but return to the US every 6 months.

So she's using the green card as more of a glorified tourist visa.  

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

2 hours ago, CitizenJ said:

But if I wanted to write a letter anyway, could I do that considering I'm in China with my father-in-law?

The CO isn’t going to look at your letter or anything else he brings. It’s based on the application. You writing a letter when you are all coming here to travel -you don’t live here- doesn’t make much sense.

[Downloader 197]

2 hours ago, Going through said:

So she's using the green card as more of a glorified tourist visa.  

LOL, then the next thread you see is:

”Wife heavily questioned at POE....Help!!!”

[MrsCrabs 24]

5 hours ago, Unlockable said:

Invitation letters do not help. It is an immigration myth. Your father must show strong ties to China. Letters are not even looked at during the interview.  They hold no value as evidence.The process is pretty straight forward. The immigration officers want to know what ties your father has that compels him to return to China. They could care less about why he wants to visit the US. If he can prove strong ties, he will have more success than a letter.

My mom and my uncle both were asked to show invitation letters at the visa interview. I would say more - my mom who has 3 year tourist visa was asked to show invitation letter at the US border in November though she wanted to visit me, her daughter (I would assume usually you don`t need a formal invitation explaining why you want to see your relatives). She was told that next time she won`t be let in the country without this paper from me.

[Unlockable 7,306]

6 minutes ago, MrsCrabs said:

My mom and my uncle both were asked to show invitation letters at the visa interview. I would say more - my mom who has 3 year tourist visa was asked to show invitation letter at the US border in November though she wanted to visit me, her daughter (I would assume usually you don`t need a formal invitation explaining why you want to see your relatives). She was told that next time she won`t be let in the country without this paper from me.

By whom were your mom and uncle ask to show invitation letters? By the officer? This is extremely rare because their is no official policy on any US immigration site or legal document stating that such document is needed. And to be honest, it is too much of a risk. Think about it, what if your mom and uncle did not have a relative in the US to give them an invitation letter but wanted to come here to vacation in Disneyland? A policy request for them to have such letter would put them out of luck.

[Boiler 43,476]

Seems there are multiple issues, wonder how the Parents will answer about relatives living in the US.

[MrsCrabs 24]

1 hour ago, Unlockable said:

By whom were your mom and uncle ask to show invitation letters? By the officer? This is extremely rare because their is no official policy on any US immigration site or legal document stating that such document is needed. And to be honest, it is too much of a risk. Think about it, what if your mom and uncle did not have a relative in the US to give them an invitation letter but wanted to come here to vacation in Disneyland? A policy request for them to have such letter would put them out of luck.

At the interview they were asked by the officer. The letter we wrote just had our plans about travels with our guests and lodging possibilities, and we also promised to take care of them leaving country on time. With my mom`s last visit when with valid visa she was asked to show letter at the border it doesn`t make any sense at all. To make sure I know that my mom is coming to see me?I thought maybe officer at the border tried to stress her so she could show some nerves and emotions and maybe check if shes lying about purpose of visit and length on staying. But she was telling the truth all the time and just promised officer to have such an inviting letter with her next time and she was let in. I absolutely understand that this kind of invites will not make officer to make a decision but hey! it was needed to demonstrate each interaction with officers. And their purpose was to see me, not just traveling for fun so I guess letter was pretty useful.