Urgent! Are Sponsor Docs Reqd in my Case?

[ninakarra]

Hi

Need some urgent info. I am v confused abt this.

I am visiting my sister and her husband in the US. I shall be going alone as my husband cannot join me due to work. But he will be paying for my entire trip and taking care of my expenses in US.

In that case, do I need sponsor form I-134 from my sister? My travel agent said not required but many others are saying it is required.

My agent said it is enough if I get my sister's status copy, copies of her passport pages, and Invitation letter from her. From my side, he said I have to show strong financial viability and proof of good income, investments etc, leave letter from my company etc.

Please advise!!!

Thanks Nina

[skk538]

No, you do not need an I-134. It is only required when you do not have enough funds of your own. In fact your self financing the trip
is a plus factor for getting a visitor visa. It proves your financial
ability in India and thus you are less suspect to stay back in US. People depending on an I-134 for support may be suspect to stay back in US
since the consular may think they have someone to support them there.
(Assured return is a very important issue when applying for a visitor visa).

Your agent gave you the right advice about what documents
to take.Make sure you show a very strong financial base (and all your family's assets) on an asset statement from a CA, so the consular can look at that one big number at a glance.

Good luck

[ninakarra]

Hi,

Thanks so much for your prompt and reassuring reply. It has really calmed me down!

Further to your reply, i have some more questions:

1. Apart from the documents I mentioned, do I need a bank statement from my sister? She is not working but has a Joint a/c with her husband. I guess from what you said earlier this may not be required, but I'm just checking!
2. Regarding my financial papers, I am planning to submit the following:

a. Bank statements for the last 6 months for both me and my husband showing very strong balances
b. IT Returns for both of us for the last 3 years
c. FD receipts, Shares of my husband
d. Other investments of ours

We don't own property but the Bank balances and investments put together will be a very good amount.

3. Asset statement - it makes sense as it can show one big number but is it required to record details of the above investments? Like I said, i dont have property? if u feel it will still help, is there a format for this that you can give me?

Thanks a million!

Nina

[skk538]

No, you do not need a bank statement from your sister since she is not
sponsoring you.
Consular has only a few minutes at the interview, so I think it
helps to record all your investments as a statement
of savings,that he/she can look at fast.
It helped me for a B1/B2 , so I know. Plus you should carry all that
you show on that statement.

Do carry evidence of other ties to home
country like a job/business ,yours' or your husband's, children if any.
And when asked about the duration of stay, keep it short for the interview
(2 months).

STATEMENT OF SAVINGS FOR MR.(YOUR HUSBAND) AND MRS.(YOU)
Resident of---

Name of deposit ----------------- Amt. in Rs.

1. Savings a/c. no. , bank
2. FD no., bank
3. UTI investment. folio no.
4. Bonds, bank, folio, no.
5. Shares ,brief details
6, Insurance policies , nos.
7. POST OFFICE SAVINGS

GRAND TOTAL(IN WORDS) IN NUMBERS

VERIFICATION; CERTIFIED THAT I HAVE VERIFIED THE ABOVE INFORMATION
WITH THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.
C.A. SIGNATURE, NAME , ADDRESS,SEAL, DATE.

[ninakarra]

Hi

Thanks again for your valuable advice Will definitely do as you have suggested. A few more queries:

1. Does it matter that the investment papers will mostly be in my husband's name? All the big investments and major bank balances are in his name. But I am showing it for MY visa.

2. Apart from our job, other committments include aged mother and in-laws whom we support. I am mentioning it in my covering letter as part of "strong ties to homeland". But how can I prove it - will family photos help?

3. In case the Officer asks me where my sister's husband works, and then asks for proof of that? I'm not carrying any of her husband's employment papers/salary slips/bank statements etc since I'm self-sponsoring.

Sorry to keep bugging you. I really do appreciate your taking time out to reply !

[skk538]

1. That should not be a problem because he is your husband.
Do carry evidence of any investments/accounts that are jointly held, just in case. Club whatever you have and your husband's savings under one
header like in my format.
2. For them your job, business,property and your children are more important as ties to India than coming back to old parents. No need to take
pictures. They assess ties by way of indirect questions,
not from what you say in your cover letter.

3.I don't think it will matter but she could include employment
info about her husband in the invitation letter.

[ninakarra]

Thanks again for the great advice.

1. I just read a posting by another member on this website which said that even if you are financing your trip yourself, you still need to get everything else from the relative in US, EXCEPT the I-134 form. I was a little worried after reading this. What is your opinion?

2. I also read on the Unitedstatesvisas.com website that the US consulate discourages bringing CA statements to the Interview. But you had said that it helped you in getting a visa. Would it be better to provide a consolidated Statement of Savings but NOT verified by a CA?

3. At the time of sending DDs, Application form DS-156, and photos to VFS , I did not take photocopies of any of these. Will this be a problem at the Interview? It's not mentioned on VFS website that one needs photocopies but I am worried.

4. I just checked my Interview Appointment letter sent by VFS and found that it acknowledges receipt of only Application Fee (Rs.4400) and Logistics Fee (Rs. 607). It does not acknowledge Issuance fee (Rs.2200). Any idea why?

Grateful for your help.

[skk538]

Hi, Anyone reading the experiences on this forum can say how
unpredictable the B1/B2 interview can be. I read a post where the consular
rejected Rs 15 lacs as insufficient funds!!!! You can carry everything and
you may still be rejected due to a miscalculated reply. In the end it may boil down to your luck.

1-2.There is no harm in getting other papers from your relatives if you feel like. CA-format: I told you what I learned from mine and others' experience. I used that format to get my visa in 2003. Maybe they discourage it now;You can email the embassy's Non-immigrant visa dept and make sure.
[email protected]


3. You should have made copies for your own future reference.
Try to match what you say with what you wrote on the form.

4. Because your visa has not been issued yet. If you are denied,
you will get the issuance fee dd back with your passport.

good luck