First Time applying for Parent's Visa

[Shikha1234]

Hi, I am on H1B in US (it was a cap exempt COS from H4 to H1). My husband is also on H1B status. We are planning to call my parents to visit us for about 2 months. This is the very first time we are applying for their visa. They both are government employees in India. Can you please help let us know:
a) Exact link where I should see the correct documentation and required documentation for B2 visa. I have seen many links here and there but can I get the official link
b) Can my husband sponsor my parents for B2 visa
c) Will it make a difference in the interview if they do a self sponsorship or if my husband sponsors them
d) Can we in US fill the DS 160 form on their behalf and send they can print the confirmation from their end
e) Do we need to fill two separate applications for them or can we combine them in one form

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much in advance !

[usvisitor1]

a) Exact link where I should see the correct documentation and required documentation for B2 visa. I have seen many links here and there but can I get the official link



In case you or your husband is sponsoring then refer following link for sponsor documents

https://www.immihelp.com/usa-visitors-visa-sponsor-documents/

Visit following link for list of visitor documents

https://www.immihelp.com/usa-visitors-visa-visitor-documents/

b) Can my husband sponsor my parents for B2 visa
Yes, your husband can sponsor your parents visa

c) Will it make a difference in the interview if they do a self sponsorship or if my husband sponsors them
Ideally self sponsorship is the best option as it shows you are independent. If your parents combined income is 12 lacs per annum or more then they should go for self sponsorship

d) Can we in US fill the DS 160 form on their behalf and send they can print the confirmation from their end
Yes you can. On the last page of DS-160 form, there is a section where you can mention your details as someone who assisted applicant while filling the form. Also, remember to save application copy as XPS or PDF so that they can read through it before their interview. You don't want them to answer something different from what is mentioned on the form. More often than not, most of the questions asked are what is already there on the form

e) Do we need to fill two separate applications for them or can we combine them in one form
You need to fill separate DS-160 form for your father and mother. While filling your fathers form, there is a section where you will have to mention your mothers detail as she will be travelling with your father and vice-versa



You can create this in your fathers name and later on there is a section where you can mention your mothers details - as a dependent travelling with your father

[Shikha1234]

Thanks so much for an excellent detail. We have decided to go for their self-sponsorship. I believe in that case documentation from our side would not be applicable. Is that correct or so we still need to give something to our parents - like our salary slips, tax statements etc. Also, I have heard that in self-sponsorship, parents need to show some amount in their bank balance savings account. Is that true? Can they show their PF statements/property etc in-spite of showing the bank balance

[usvisitor1]

Thanks so much for an excellent detail. We have decided to go for their self-sponsorship. I believe in that case documentation from our side would not be applicable. Is that correct or so we still need to give something to our parents - like our salary slips, tax statements etc. Also, I have heard that in self-sponsorship, parents need to show some amount in their bank balance savings account. Is that true? Can they show their PF statements/property etc in-spite of showing the bank balance

You need to send photocopy of your husbands and your own Passport, Visa, I797 and I94. Along with this send invitation letter and employer letter (You will find formats for these on Immihelp)

Visa officer will usually not check documents but better to be cautious so your parents should show some balance in their bank account. In addition, they can always carry proof for PF, Property, FD, Mutual fund, Government bonds and saving schemes, etc.

If they are working then they need to carry their last 3 years IT returns, 3 months bank statement, 3 months salary slip and leave sanction letter.

Most important is to fill DS 160 form honestly. Also, you must share a list of Q&As with your parents so that they can rehearse it. On this forum you will find ample Q&As, just prepare answer which is relevant for your parents and share it with them.

Typically a few of the following would be asked.

General
Q. Where are you going and which places?
Q. Who lives in the US?
Q. Why do you want to go to the US?
Q. What do you want to see in the US / Where do you want to go?
Q. Who is sponsoring your trip?
Q. For how long are you going to stay?
Q. Isn’t X weeks a short time?
Q. Anyone else apart from your daughter in the US?
Q. Where will you stay in the US?
Q. When did you last meet your daughter / When was your daughter last in India?
Q. Will you come back?
Q. Why do you want to travel at this time?
Q. Is this your first visit to US?
Q. What does your daughter and SIL do / Which company do they work for?
Q. What is his/her company about?
Q. Do they have kids / Is she pregnant?
Q. Where is your daughter living?
Q. How much does she / SIL earn?
Q. When did she go there / For how many years is she in the US?
Q. On which Visa did she travel to the US?
Q. For how many years has she been working there?
Q. Why did you not apply earlier?
Q. Which visa is she on?
Q. Have they applied for a Green card?
Q. Do your daughter and SIL have a leave sanction?
Q. When are they planning to visit India next?

Parents
Q. What do you do / What’s your income?
Q. What you used to do? (If retired)
Q. When did you retire?
Q. How many kids do you have?
Q. Do you have any property?
Q. Do you get pension?
Q. Have you traveled abroad / Have you traveled to any other country?


Q. What do you do? (In case employed)
Q. How much do you earn?
Q. Since how long are you working here?
Q. Do you have a leave sanction from your company?
Q. How will you manage your expense in the US?

[Shikha1234]

Thank you so very much This forum is awesome.

You need to send photocopy of your husbands and your own Passport, Visa, I797 and I94. Along with this send invitation letter and employer letter (You will find formats for these on Immihelp)

Visa officer will usually not check documents but better to be cautious so your parents should show some balance in their bank account. In addition, they can always carry proof for PF, Property, FD, Mutual fund, Government bonds and saving schemes, etc.

If they are working then they need to carry their last 3 years IT returns, 3 months bank statement, 3 months salary slip and leave sanction letter.

Most important is to fill DS 160 form honestly. Also, you must share a list of Q&As with your parents so that they can rehearse it. On this forum you will find ample Q&As, just prepare answer which is relevant for your parents and share it with them.

Typically a few of the following would be asked.

General
Q. Where are you going and which places?
Q. Who lives in the US?
Q. Why do you want to go to the US?
Q. What do you want to see in the US / Where do you want to go?
Q. Who is sponsoring your trip?
Q. For how long are you going to stay?
Q. Isn’t X weeks a short time?
Q. Anyone else apart from your daughter in the US?
Q. Where will you stay in the US?
Q. When did you last meet your daughter / When was your daughter last in India?
Q. Will you come back?
Q. Why do you want to travel at this time?
Q. Is this your first visit to US?
Q. What does your daughter and SIL do / Which company do they work for?
Q. What is his/her company about?
Q. Do they have kids / Is she pregnant?
Q. Where is your daughter living?
Q. How much does she / SIL earn?
Q. When did she go there / For how many years is she in the US?
Q. On which Visa did she travel to the US?
Q. For how many years has she been working there?
Q. Why did you not apply earlier?
Q. Which visa is she on?
Q. Have they applied for a Green card?
Q. Do your daughter and SIL have a leave sanction?
Q. When are they planning to visit India next?

Parents
Q. What do you do / What’s your income?
Q. What you used to do? (If retired)
Q. When did you retire?
Q. How many kids do you have?
Q. Do you have any property?
Q. Do you get pension?
Q. Have you traveled abroad / Have you traveled to any other country?


Q. What do you do? (In case employed)
Q. How much do you earn?
Q. Since how long are you working here?
Q. Do you have a leave sanction from your company?
Q. How will you manage your expense in the US?

[Shikha1234]

Hi

I have another question. To pay the fee, I was creating a profile using the link suggested by you.


I created my father's profile and it asked for DS-160 confirmation number on Personal Data page. You suggested that only one profile can be created for both father and mother. But DS-160 confirmation number would be different for both. Does that mean we need to create two profiles, fill in their respective DS-160 number and schedule two different appointments?

Thank you so very much This forum is awesome.