AlinaB

2 minutes ago, Phoenix777 said:

Yes,  but I mean the first 6  digits of the receipt number. As sometimes it gives more information than the date of the applying for the timeline. 

I will not be sharing the receipt number. Literally all the relevant dates are documented in detail.
 

I would urge everyone to keep your receipt numbers private, even partial numbers. 

19 minutes ago, Phoenix777 said:

Thanks for the update and congratulations! Do you mind please sharing your first 6 digits of the receipt number? Like SRC123456XXXX. Appreciate it.

Congratulations! Do you mind also sharing the first 6 digits of your receipt number? Trying to see the approximate timeline...thanks in advance 

Hi,

My timeline is in both my signature and updated in the forum tool as well. I will update my signature later this week. 

1 minute ago, Sweet5884 said:

It was texas service center too? your profile says California! Anyway, good news! Hope get mine soon too.

Originally yes, then transferred to TX which I thought was in my signature?

4 minutes ago, Sweet5884 said:

When did you file? Share your timeline please. April 2019 transfered to potomac february 2020 no update after

Im on my phone so I can’t update my signature. My timeline is updated tho, please click the link. End of January. 

2 minutes ago, Mlb182 said:

Awesome!!  When did you file? Jan 2019?

Yes, that’s why I updated here. It’s also in my timeline. TX service center. 

Got an email this morning saying New Card Being Produced. No interview and no approval notice. 

We got an email early this morning that says “New Card Being Produced”. We had no interview. 

Biometrics was late in the afternoon on Nov 5th. The morning of Nov 6th we got an email that biometrics review was completed and they are now processing the I-751. 

1 minute ago, MASH said:

its best to still go in case, you never know with USCIS .

..... We never had any intention of missing the appointment. 

Just to let others know, we also got our "you can skip biometrics" letter a few weeks ago. And then last week got our "go in for biometrics" letter. We are going Nov 5th. 

Update! 

Its a good thing we bought the ticket. They were asked for it when boarding ANA  in Indonesia. However, CBP did not ask for it and didn’t really seem concerned about much during questioning. They got a 6mo stamp (but will still go home in 3) and we are so happy and relieved! 

Thanks for all the kind advice! 

Thank you everyone!  I will update you all in a week.

PS - The new ignore function is AWESOME.  

2 hours ago, missileman said:

Technically, I don't think a return ticket is mandatory to enter on a B2 visa (It is mandatory for VWP visitors), but immigration can certainly ask them about their return plans.....and could deny entry if he/she feels the visitor is a risk to stay.......I would certainly purchase a return flight before entering.

This makes total sense - I bought them this morning. I’m highly risk averse and very law-abiding. I haven’t even gotten a traffic ticket in a decade. Better be safe than sorry! 

9 hours ago, ElDiablo said:

This topic makes no sense. Why does it matter what entry stamp they get in relation to buying their ticket? They have the visa, so surely they have a plan of how long they want to visit, just like every other genuine visitor, unless they are not genuine.

People on this forum are so rude. The topic makes total sense- I will explain:

today I'm buying a ticket for them to return early August. So probably 80 days or so. We were told by the consulate that they would get 90 days max. (This apparently isn’t true, but let’s continue.) We were also told that stay date is at the discretion of CBD. So they could come in, say they are leaving in early August but get a stamp that tells them to leave in early July and we would have to either a) change tickets or b) apply for a visa extension. Both of which are $$$ and I would prefer not to do. 

However, thanks to the advice of kind people, I’d rather buy the ticket and risk the extra fees, then risk them not being allowed entry. As I’ve stated - they have lives there and cannot stay in the US. This is not the land of milk and honey for everyone and would certainly not be for them. Thanks for the accusation though - Happy Mother’s Day to you and yours.

2 minutes ago, mepck said:

True, am Indonesian. Visited 3x to the US under tourist visa. Each visit granted 6 months on my passport entry stamp (even each trip I only stayed for 2 weeks). CBP didn’t ask for my return ticket but obviously asked me how long will I stay. I wouldn’t risk to not having return ticket on hand. It’s better safe than sorry.

Thank you! This makes me so happy! I’ll buy their ticket ASAP. Hopefully we won’t have to change any flights too because they can’t stay longer than 2-3 months. Refundable tickets are $$$$$$$$ and ticket change fees could be up to $500 each. 

3 minutes ago, usmsbow said:

 

Sorry, but this isn't true. Two of my wife's friends were granted 6 months when they came here on tourist visas. One visited a year ago, the other in March. 

 

 

You would have nothing to apologize for if that’s true! That’s not what the consulate told us. I’d love that. 

Did they have to show their return ticket to CBD?

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Ok, when you said “are visiting” it sounded like they are here already.

thanks for explanation re Indonesian limits.

Absolutely there is a high chance of being denied entry if they try to do so without a return ticket. It’s not something I personally would risk. If you are really worried about CBP giving the a shorter time, buy a ticket that you can change.

Wow damn. I had no idea. I’ll be buying one this weekend then. 

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

What do you mean by the visa allows 90 days? Tourist visas generally allow up to 6 months per visit, but this is up to the discretion of CBP at entry. What does the stamp in their passport say?

 

i don’t understand why you couldn’t buy a return ticket though, don’t they know when they want to leave? 

 

Edit: I’m not actually clear if they are already in the country or haven’t arrived yet.

Thanks for helping. They arrive May 21 so no stamp yet. Indonesian citizens are not allowed longer than 90 days at a time. And you did confirm that the time allotted is at the discretion of CBP,  which is why I waited to purchase their return ticket. My fear is that they will be turned away because the CBP won’t see a clear intention to return. (Which - they 100% will. They have other kids and grandkids and a business back home.)

My In-laws are visiting on a tourist visa. I didn’t buy them a return ticket yet because I was under the impression that immigration stamps them with a time limit on entry (despite them being allowed 90 days on the visa).

Is this correct and ok?

Just now, WeGuyGal said:

Congrats on their visa.

 

A majority of the posts were fact based advice based on past trends. Applications for visitor visas are a chance based on individual circumstances. Glad they're approved and hope they enjoy their visit. 

Yes. However, some of them were bullying, rude, and totally unnecessary. I live in a fact based world - based on my career and PhD. It’s how I categorize life. I thanked the people who gave me facts without any snide comments. 

Just coming back to let everyone know, especially the naysayers, that my very poor in-laws were approved yesterday. Which just shows that if they have someone helping them in the process, the chances of success are greater. We paid for everything and accepted the cost risk - comforted by the knowledge that we had to at least try.

The only thing they brought to the interview, beyond what was required, was proof of home and fishing boat ownership. 

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

I don’t know if I necessarily agree with this. If you’re poor, and especially if you’re elderly,  being poor in your home country where you have property, probably a cheaper cost of living, probably a family-and-friends support system and probably access to public healthcare (I don’t know the Indonesian system) is way easier than being poor and illegal in the US. We’ve had other posters on here report success in getting visas for their “poor” parents to vacation in the US, paying for airfare and hosting them etc.

 

OP, it’s not a shoe-in but definitely worth a try. Anything that ties them to home needs to emphasized in the application. 

THANK YOU for your honest, yet kind advice. This is what we are hoping will be case. We have several months to help prepare them as well, to make sure they can clearly articulate their strong ties back home. Beyond the house and his fishing house boat, their livestock and garden, they also have another grandbaby in Indonesia, as well as their entire family. My husband's Dad can rent his boat out while he is gone to help provide money to help his son take care of the house. And his son and daughter-in-law have jobs of their own (government) and no house of their own as a burden. We see a pretty clear story of both ties and no financial burden from leaving. 

If they don't get approved, which we will mentally prepare for, at least we tried. I truly appreciate your reply. 

4 hours ago, Springrain22 said:

I'd say their chances are slim to none. Too poor for a visa. You can't really sponsor their trip, there's no such thing for a tourist visa.

Don't know what you mean about "sponsor their trip". We have read the pertinent information that writing letters and such does no good, so we had no intention of doing so. We did however see that there is no problem with someone else purchasing the flight for those visiting. And that as long as it is financially feasible for them to be gone, which is absolutely is because while they make nothing, their bills are also nothing, then there should be no problem there either. 

Please clarify your statement so I can better understand your meaning. We prefer to be prepared for the worst, but it won't stop us from trying. As I have mentioned ad nauseam on this thread - we are not delusional. 

21 hours ago, usmsbow said:

She's coming in May for 2-3 weeks. I don't know if she booked her plane ticket before getting her visa. She will be staying with her daughter, so I assume they didn't inquire much about accommodations while she's here. 

Great thanks =)

13 hours ago, CEE53147 said:

Do NOT buy tickets before they get the visa. It will not improve their chances.

Never intended to - not my first rodeo ;-) 

25 minutes ago, Boiler said:

How long do they want to visit?

A few months would be preferential, but nothing is set in stone. As is usually the case with Indonesia. We take life as it comes and we will take what we can get - if anything at all.