B1/B2 VISA FOR PARENTS OF A US CITIZEN

[CharleneB 112]

Hi all,

 I am a citizen and I am  about to start the process of inviting my parents from Nigeria . Other than the invitation letter and cover letter with my proof of citizenship, what else do I need to add ? I have seen all kinds of suggestions given but I believe a USC do not have the same requirements as GC holder base on this kind of application. Any input base on experience would be appreciated.

[designguy 1,179]

You dont submit any documents. There is nothing you can submit that will help their case. They need to show strong ties to Nigeria.

[Just Paul 4,591]

They just apply for the Visas.  There is no invitation or support.  They will be approved or denied based on their ties to Nigeria and their non immigrant intent.

[SalishSea 16,776]

1 hour ago, CharleneB said:

Hi all,

 I am a citizen and I am  about to start the process of inviting my parents from Nigeria . Other than the invitation letter and cover letter with my proof of citizenship, what else do I need to add ? I have seen all kinds of suggestions given but I believe a USC do not have the same requirements as GC holder base on this kind of application. Any input base on experience would be appreciated.

It sounds more like you want them to immigrate.  If this is the case, you will need to petition them properly.

[Dashinka 23,251]

I agree, the title of this thread seems to indicate the parents are planning to apply for a B2, but the OP seems to indicate they, the OP, is planning on filing the I130 for the parents.  If a B2, as others have said, the parents will need to demonstrate their own ties to their home country, and they will have to disclose that they have a USC child in the US on the DS160.

 

Good Luck!

[Rocio0010 5,565]

For a B2 visitor's visa, there is nothing you should do. It's their application.

If you're sponsoring them to immigrate, that's a whole other game.

[millefleur 5,037]

**Moved from Bringing Family Members of US Citizens to America to Tourist Visas**

[millefleur 5,037]

Can you clarify the goal of what you want the parents to do? If it's for a short term visit, then B visitor visa. If you want them to move and immigrate to the US, IR-5 visa which requires I-130 and sponsorship.

[CharleneB 112]

While appreciate the input of everyone,  @Dashinka and @Jorgedig  you are very wrong for your myopic and abrupt impression about my intent, if I had mentioned that I wanted them to live here, then your quick conclusions would have been appropriate .

I am well aware that I have the right to bring my parents down here if I so please but it's not in my immediate plans or theirs and I do know how to do that without them leaving Nigeria. I just threw the question here because I have been out of touch when it comes to new developments in  visa applications and they could only visit at a particular time because of their own schedules.

Thanks everyone.

[millefleur 5,037]

3 minutes ago, CharleneB said:

I am well aware that I have the right to bring my parents down here if I so please but it's not in my immediate plans or theirs

OK, so visitor visa then. There's nothing new with tourist/visitor visas: applicants apply on their own merit and have to overcome intent to immigrate by showing strong ties to home country. Pay the fee, schedule an appointment, attend interview and get an approval or denial on the spot (in most cases.)

 

Only "new developments" might be to check the current wait time at their local embassy for a visitor visa:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

 

[CharleneB 112]

Thanks @millefleur ,yes the wait time is long because of heavy backlogs. I got all I needed from another member who did that recently for his Nigerian parents, which is country-specific. Thanks guys.

[millefleur 5,037]

14 minutes ago, CharleneB said:

Thanks @millefleur ,yes the wait time is long because of heavy backlogs. I got all I needed from another member who did that recently for his Nigerian parents, which is country-specific. Thanks guys.

You can also find country-specific info here on ustraveldocs:

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

[Dashinka 23,251]

2 hours ago, CharleneB said:

While appreciate the input of everyone,  @Dashinka and @Jorgedig  you are very wrong for your myopic and abrupt impression about my intent, if I had mentioned that I wanted them to live here, then your quick conclusions would have been appropriate .

I am well aware that I have the right to bring my parents down here if I so please but it's not in my immediate plans or theirs and I do know how to do that without them leaving Nigeria. I just threw the question here because I have been out of touch when it comes to new developments in  visa applications and they could only visit at a particular time because of their own schedules.

Thanks everyone.

Not really sure I was concluding anything here, just asking for clarification which you provided.  Good luck with their B2 application.  Remember most B2 applications are decided before the interview even happens, so the DS160 information is extremely important, and the COs are required to assume immigration intent with all applications.  

[Rocio0010 5,565]

2 hours ago, CharleneB said:

you are very wrong for your myopic and abrupt impression about my intent,

Not being mean, but they got that impression based on your own post. You were the one that mentioned your own status and a letter of invitation. None of those are relevant for a tourist visa application and if anything, it could hurt more than help because the CO is required to assume intent to immigrate with all applications. The burden is on the applicant to prove that they are not planning on overstaying their visas. And how do applicants do that? By proving strong ties to their home countries, such as (but not limited to)

- Deeds of property located in the home country,

- Employment contracts/ employment verification letters.

- Utilities on their names, etc.

 

[CharleneB 112]

6 minutes ago, ra0010 said:

Not being mean, but they got that impression based on your own post. You were the one that mentioned your own status and a letter of invitation. None of those are relevant for a tourist visa application and if anything, it could hurt more than help because the CO is required to assume intent to immigrate with all applications. The burden is on the applicant to prove that they are not planning on overstaying their visas. And how do applicants do that? By proving strong ties to their home countries, such as (but not limited to)

- Deeds of property located in the home country,

- Employment contracts/ employment verification letters.

- Utilities on their names, etc.

 

I mentioned my status because when you are inviting  your " parents /kids"  on B1/B2 not even siblings ( which is another case on it's own), it's totally different from someone whose intent is for tourism. For instance, some countries/cities have B1 visa application separate from B2  but  in my city , it's combined .And  some types of visa holder ( F1, H1B)  also have the right to invite their parents/kids  just like GC holder or USC but what would be asked to present varies. And what the CO base their decisions on is country-to-country basis. Thanks for your input and  like I said I got the exact tips I needed from the Nigerian forum.