Applying for tourist visa

[Bobuy]

Hello everyone! My sister and I together with my son will be applying a US tourist visa next month. We have gathered all our requirements (banks statements, certificate, income tax, car registration, Land titles etc). I am in my mid 20s and my sister is in her mid 30s. My sister owns a travel agency and a small farm. I work with my sister's agency and have my own 5 hectares of white corn and a small clothing shop. My son is 3yo.

Our middle sister lives in the US. She acquired her tourist visa last 2008 and went to the US for two months for a vacation by herself. Then went back last 2010 for vacation but fortunately/unfortunately she got married. Started working her documents but too bad something changed with her husband. My sister doesn't disclose any more information about her married life, my sister is 34 by the way. She started paying her tax since 2011, as she have been working there since she got married. Sad to say her working permit expired this month of feb 2013 and her lawyer said must wait for the letter for her to be able to file for her green card. So in short, she can be considered overstay in the US or maybe illegal? Because her papers are still on going for processing.

Now, my question is should we declare that we have a sister in the US who still doesn't know about her status? Is there a chance for us to get denied?

Thank you all! Hope you guys would have time to read about my concern. Cheers!

[peace999]

If your purpose of visit is to visit her, you will surely get denied.
Because she is not in a proper status. You will need to show
copies of her visa and I-94.

But you can go independent of her, showing you have nothing to do with her.
For that you need to plan well.
For that I need to know the following;

* What about your wife?
* Is your sis married? What about her huband and kids?
* What is your income roughly ? Is it 1L/month or more?
* Have you traveled outside India before?
* Any other relatives in US? On what visas?

Have you applied already? Have you got an interview date?

[Bobuy]

I am actually a girl, I'm sorry about my name. I am a single parent. My siste is not married and no kids too but in a relationship with a Singaporean. The father of my son, is gone by the wind haha.. Devil only knows. Anyway, I have 5000usd in all, it may not be enough though but I've been working in my sisters company for 6 years now and my white corn farm started way back in 2008. My sister's company has been existing for 12 years already. In all travels, it has been me and my sister. We've been to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, homgkong , Macau, Laos, Cambodia. I've never been outside Asia. My sister been to Australia, Japan and the said countries.

If we will not mention our sister, we plan to visit our cousin, she's a citizen (Indian-American). She just gave birth to her second child. We've never seen for my 26 years of existence and 31yrs of my sister's existence. Visit my aunt too which is my mom's sister. They never came home for 31years now. We plan to stay just for a month so my son could visit Disneyland too. And be back afte a month since school will start for him.

My concern is that, I'm afraid if they will know that we have a sister in the US (since we plan not to declare her), if our parents name will match. Thank you get much for the reply.

[peace999]

I am not saying not to delcare your sis in US.

You will have to mention her in form DS 160 , you can't lie there.

What I am saying is your purpose of visit should be independent of her.
When asked, "why are you going to US?" you should not mention you are going to visit her.

To meet aunt and cousin you have not met in decades , will again create suspicion.
They will surely ask about when you met with them last.


To avoid involving your sis in US, You will have to use a business purpose.
And defer the pleasure visit with your son for later.
Business visit has a good chance of approval since you guys are running a travel agency,
and have traveled extensively outside India.
The visa given is the same,B1/B2, whether it is for business or pleasure.

For a travel agency, it is easy. enrol in a travel seminar, conference or go for a travel expo for a week or so.
For that please answer;
1. What is your income and your sis's income ? It is very important . They always ask that. And most decisions are based on this.
(1-5 L/yr , 5-10L / yr or 10 L + /yr)?
2. Does the agency have a good balance sheet?

[Bobuy]

I earn like 3-4L in a year including my farm. My sister would earn around 4-5L but sometimes depends especially if there's a lot of passenger, more commission plus if she sell her piglets.

If they'd ask us about our purpose of travel? Would it be alright to say, we want to visit Hollywood, DiSney, and more in L.A?

My sister by the way, got denied twice.. First, she was 26 yo got only 3000usd and employment certificate and it was after 9/11. She was told she's too young and not enough ties. Second was a familiar tour sponsored by an airline, unfortunately the airline just fax her the invitation and she brought with her the fax copy, not knowing it was very important to bring the original invitation so she got denied again. Now, we plan to apply since we have enough ties but I know and pretty aware that we don't have fat bank account though. Thank you very much for thoughts!

[peace999]

OK.

Now I get the full picture.

I am sorry it is going to be hard for you guys because
1. not very good income ( bank account is not important, but income is.)
and
2. both of you do not have husbands as family ties to India.
3. You sis is in US in a doubtful status, so they will suspect you to be
on the same path.
4. Your sis has a history of 2 denials.
5. Purpose is casual visit.

No offence, but For a casual visit like disney , hollywood, they expect you to be rich.
With a 30-50k per month income they will be suspicious how you can afford to
go to US for pleasure.

Advice;; Increase your income, expand your business and then apply.

[Bobuy]

Thank you very much peace! Really appreciated your help. Will try to plan well and improve our money first before we try to apply. Thanks again!