Any known issues with parents of US citizen applying for a B1/B2 visa ?

[Ido 16]

Folks:

 

Came to the US long time ago on a work visa, became a lawful permanent resident, recently became a citizen. While under a work visa, my parents applied and got a B1/B2 visa, and came to visit multiple times, including after I became a resident. Alas, their B1/B2 visa expired a couple years ago, and they didn't apply for a new one at that time.

 

So now I am a citizen, and yes, I am absolutely aware my parents could immediately apply for an immigrant visa under IR5 category. Neither one of my parents has any interest at all to immigrate to the US - they're retired, love their house, their neighborhood, they have their own friends and activities in the old country, etc. So applying for an immigrant visa would be absolutely pointless (and costly) - they just want to visit for at most a month, and then back home to keep enjoying retirement.

 

So that said - I've done my Googling and found divergent opinions on the subject - "It is almost impossible to get a non-immigrant visa for a USC parent, because immigrant intent is assumed and hence immediately DENIED", or "There's no issue at all - matter of fact, it gets immediately approved with zero fuss".

 

Sooo - has anyone gone through this exact same scenario recently ? How likely or unlikely is for my parents to apply and get approved for a B1/B2 visa, as it successfully happened when I wasn't yet a citizen ?

 

Thanks !

 

[Just Paul 4,591]

It all comes down to the Parents being able to prove that they have no immigrant intent.   If they have strong ties back to home then they should apply.

[feeling_hopeful 45]

I may find myself in this same situation as the OP soon.  I have friends who got their citizenship and their parents had 0 problems getting into the US on a tourist visa. 

 

All they had to do was say if they wanted to stay in the USA, they'd take a legal path in, since it was available to them.  They just got the OK at that point with pretty much no interview.   Dominican Republic embassy, which is a tough one to get visa's from.

Edited March 13, 2020 by feeling_hopeful

[Boiler 43,359]

Generally somebody who had a B, used it appropriately, is one of the best candidates to obtain another,

 

So to answer the original question and based on what was posted I would say they are very likely to be issued another visa.

[suhridkhan 28]

2 hours ago, feeling_hopeful said:

All they had to do was say if they wanted to stay in the USA, they'd take a legal path in, since it was available to them. 

Agree with you. This is the point one should make.

I am a USC and my parents got their B1/B2 visa last week. It was like a 5 min interview, no issues at all. They didn't even look at any of the different documents they took with them.

I think only time it would be denied if they already have an immigration visa application under processing.

[Ido 16]

Thanks all for the feedback, folks ! I'll hence tell my parents to go ahead and apply. They're old, and they get easily flustered and confused, specially when under the examination of a consular officer. Good to know they won't be under a lot of pressure or being asked 200,00 questions . . . I don't want for either one to get their stress level up because of this.

[Boiler 43,359]

2 minutes ago, Ido said:

Thanks all for the feedback, folks ! I'll hence tell my parents to go ahead and apply. They're old, and they get easily flustered and confused, specially when under the examination of a consular officer. Good to know they won't be under a lot of pressure or being asked 200,00 questions . . . I don't want for either one to get their stress level up because of this.

At least they are not standing for US President.

[suhridkhan 28]

2 hours ago, Ido said:

Thanks all for the feedback, folks ! I'll hence tell my parents to go ahead and apply. They're old, and they get easily flustered and confused, specially when under the examination of a consular officer. Good to know they won't be under a lot of pressure or being asked 200,00 questions . . . I don't want for either one to get their stress level up because of this.

Yah, nothing to worry about.

My parents are old too, and doesn't understand English. The American CO at US Embassy Dhaka greeted and very politely interviewed them in Bangla.