Parents US visitors visa

[millefleur 5,039]

12 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

This thread is rife with misinformation and misunderstandings.  Boggles the mind.

12 hours ago, aaron2020 said:

The reason this thread is rife with misinformation and misunderstandings comes from people who insist that an invitation letter makes a difference in granting a visa in explicit contradiction to the State Department's written statement that invitation letters are not considered in granting a visa.  

To be fair, the ustraveldocs website itself gives conflicting info on this matter, at least on the Russia specific page it does. It says this:

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-typeb1b2.asp

 

Visiting a relative
Bring photocopies of your relative's proof of status (e.g. Green Card, naturalization certificate, valid visa, etc) and a letter (or scanned/faxed copy) from friends or relatives in the United States describing your relationship and details of your proposed trip. The letter does not need to be notarized.

 

Yet, we know that by contrast the DoS website says that it's not needed and will not be considered. It would be nice if one hand knew what the other was doing here and they could stop sending out mixed signals to people about what is needed. I suspect more people look at the ustraveldocs site (because that's where you sign up to get an interview) than they do the DoS site. Hence the endless confusion.

 

Edited October 9, 2021 by millefleur

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

7 minutes ago, millefleur said:

To be fair, the ustraveldocs website itself gives conflicting info on this matter, at least on the Russia specific page it does. It says this:

https://ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-typeb1b2.asp

 

Visiting a relative
Bring photocopies of your relative's proof of status (e.g. Green Card, naturalization certificate, valid visa, etc) and a letter (or scanned/faxed copy) from friends or relatives in the United States describing your relationship and details of your proposed trip. The letter does not need to be notarized.

 

Yet, we know that by contrast the DoS website says that it's not needed and will not be considered. It would be nice if one hand knew what the other was doing here and they could stop sending out mixed signals to people about what is needed. I suspect more people look at the ustraveldocs site (because that's where you sign up to get an interview) than they do the DoS site. Hence the endless confusion.

 

Imo, the way that is worded (“describing your relationship and details of your proposed trip” - and note, nothing asked about funding) makes it sound less like an invitation letter and more like they are trying to see if the relationship is such that you will be tempted to overstay, or are using the visit visa as an excuse to get in and then intend to stay. It sounds like just more detail of the question about relatives asked in the DS160.  So, it seems to me it’s part of the calculation of whether ties to home are greater than those to the US. The fact that they are asking for valid proof of status of the contact is itself telling imo - as we know from some other posts here that if a relative has overstayed in the US it sometimes makes it less likely for the person themselves to be granted a visa.

[millefleur 5,039]

31 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Imo, the way that is worded (“describing your relationship and details of your proposed trip” - and note, nothing asked about funding) makes it sound less like an invitation letter and more like they are trying to see if the relationship is such that you will be tempted to overstay, or are using the visit visa as an excuse to get in and then intend to stay. It sounds like just more detail of the question about relatives asked in the DS160.

True, it seems more like a "detailed purpose/plan of travel" letter. Definitely no need to mention anything already on the DS-160, such as who is paying for the trip.

 

I wonder if some members here are just confusing this style letter with the "sponsorship" letter that mentions who is paying/family members paying for and "sponsoring" their relative's trip to the US. Regardless, though, even if one brings the "purpose of travel" letter, the CO is not required to look at it or consider it for the decision, which is the important thing to remember.

Edited October 9, 2021 by millefleur

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

True, it seems more like a "detailed purpose of travel" letter. Definitely no need to mention anything already on the DS-160, such as who is paying for the trip.

 

I wonder if some members here are just confusing this style letter with the "sponsorship" letter that mentions who is paying/family members paying for and "sponsoring" their relative's trip to the US. Regardless, though, even if one brings the "purpose of travel" letter, the CO is not required to look at it or consider it for the decision, which is the important thing to remember.

It sounds more like what is (or at least was when I used to need it, presume still is) required for a UK visa if visiting family - that was definitely more about examining potential fraud or overstay issues, becasue they already had so much other detail from that nightmare of a visa application that wanted detail on every aspect of your life lol.

[Redro 4,601]

10 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Imo, the way that is worded (“describing your relationship and details of your proposed trip” - and note, nothing asked about funding) makes it sound less like an invitation letter and more like they are trying to see if the relationship is such that you will be tempted to overstay, or are using the visit visa as an excuse to get in and then intend to stay. It sounds like just more detail of the question about relatives asked in the DS160.  So, it seems to me it’s part of the calculation of whether ties to home are greater than those to the US. The fact that they are asking for valid proof of status of the contact is itself telling imo - as we know from some other posts here that if a relative has overstayed in the US it sometimes makes it less likely for the person themselves to be granted a visa.

Yep! This sounds more like they're asking for an itinerary (like they do in Japan) as opposed to asking the US resident/ citizen to sponsor the visa. 

[millefleur 5,039]

51 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Yep! This sounds more like they're asking for an itinerary (like they do in Japan) as opposed to asking the US resident/ citizen to sponsor the visa. 

It's still not a requirement though, more just like a suggestion (in the rare case the CO asks to look at it.) Some countries actually require such a letter, the US doesn't.

[Ahmed&Freda 628]

I agree with what others have said above:

 

You don't apply..they do.  They must show strong ties that they will be returning home.  

 

As others have said those documents stay home.  We don't vacation with them.  

 

In regards to the support - Unfortunately this is the belief in Pakistan that is very difficult  to deter them away from.  Partly because a sponsorship is required for a Pakistan visit visa coupled with ALL advisors there claiming this is a requirement.  No matter how many times you tell a Pakistani its not needed they won't believe you.   IMO I'd be more concerned of it possibly hurting the case.  They need to prove strong ties home Not here.

 

Follow the steps to applying for the visit visa.  That's it..don't throw in extras.