Questions from the DS-160 form for B1/B2 visa

[joy83]

So my parents are eligible for dropbox facility for their B1/B2 visa renewal. Their last 10 year visa expired on Apr. 2018. I (son) was completing their DS-160 from US on their behalf, and had couple of questions from that form.

1. Should I select B1/B2 (Business & Tourism) or just B2 (Tourism/Medical Treatment) in the visa category? I'm asking this because there is also a question later in the form which asks "Are you applying for the same type of visa?". I checked their last visa and it says B1/B2 under Type/Class and R under Visa . They will just be visiting me for pleasure and tourism and not for any business, so I'm a bit confused as to what to choose. Their previous visa was also used for pleasure and tourism and not for any business. If I choose B2, then should I answer "Yes" to the question "Are you applying for the same type of visa?" (as their last visa was B1/B2)

2. On the question of "Person paying for the trip", I selected "Self" as my parents will be using their own funds to travel to the US. Of course once they are here, they will stay with me and their expense with food and other basic amenities will be covered by me. So is "Self" the correct option to choose? My father is also retired but they are well off in India with a good pension and a house. My mother was never employed and is a homemaker. So does putting "Self" have any affect on the outcome despite my father being retired? Essentially, what I mean is whether choosing "Self" is too ambitious for a retired individual, and whether that would trigger an interview call from the consulate to check their financial status.

Thanks.

[Libra_14]

1. Should I select B1/B2 (Business & Tourism) or just B2 (Tourism/Medical Treatment) in the visa category? I'm asking this because there is also a question later in the form which asks "Are you applying for the same type of visa?". I checked their last visa and it says B1/B2 under Type/Class and R under Visa . They will just be visiting me for pleasure and tourism and not for any business, so I'm a bit confused as to what to choose. Their previous visa was also used for pleasure and tourism and not for any business. If I choose B2, then should I answer "Yes" to the question "Are you applying for the same type of visa?" (as their last visa was B1/B2)

Select B2 in your DS160 & you are still applying for the same visa. If you remember you must have applied for B2 only last time & they usually give B1/B2 visa to everyone.

2. On the question of "Person paying for the trip", I selected "Self" as my parents will be using their own funds to travel to the US. Of course once they are here, they will stay with me and their expense with food and other basic amenities will be covered by me. So is "Self" the correct option to choose? My father is also retired but they are well off in India with a good pension and a house. My mother was never employed and is a homemaker. So does putting "Self" have any affect on the outcome despite my father being retired? Essentially, what I mean is whether choosing "Self" is too ambitious for a retired individual, and whether that would trigger an interview call from the consulate to check their financial status.

Yes, select "self" & it is favorable for them, since they are paying for their own ticket - its the truth. Having them staying with you doesn't mean you sponsoring their visit.

[joy83]

Thank you very much for the prompt response. I have one, hopefully last question about the form. In the section where it asks "Were you previously employed?". I checked "Yes", and then it asks me to give the details of the Employer name, address, telephone number, zip code, supervisor name, employment start from date, employment end date, job duties etc. This is for my father.

Now my father was employed with only one big Indian PSU bank for his entire employment career from 1972-2010. However, as with anyone else he was at different locations and different branches during this time (he told me he was at 14 different locations). I put the information of the last branch that he was in before he retired. I'm confused as to what should I write on the employment start date/end date. If I put 1972 as start date then that technically means he was in that particular branch throughout his career (which is not true). Do I need to list all the 14 places that he was in all with the correct dates? This seems to be too cumbersome as he doesn't of course remember every detail about those branches including the names of his supervisors.

Since his main employer was still the same bank throughout his career, is it okay to just use the details of the last location that he was in with 1972 as start date?

Thanks.

[Libra_14]

Thank you very much for the prompt response. I have one, hopefully last question about the form. In the section where it asks "Were you previously employed?". I checked "Yes", and then it asks me to give the details of the Employer name, address, telephone number, zip code, supervisor name, employment start from date, employment end date, job duties etc. This is for my father.

Now my father was employed with only one big Indian PSU bank for his entire employment career from 1972-2010. However, as with anyone else he was at different locations and different branches during this time (he told me he was at 14 different locations). I put the information of the last branch that he was in before he retired. I'm confused as to what should I write on the employment start date/end date. If I put 1972 as start date then that technically means he was in that particular branch throughout his career (which is not true). Do I need to list all the 14 places that he was in all with the correct dates? This seems to be too cumbersome as he doesn't of course remember every detail about those branches including the names of his supervisors.

Since his main employer was still the same bank throughout his career, is it okay to just use the details of the last location that he was in with 1972 as start date?

Thanks.

I checked in my father DS160 form, he too was a bank employee & keep changing work location every 3 years or so. I just filled in his last work location with dates from somewhere in 19's till his retirement.

I guess the purpose of asking this question in DS160 is to identify, if the person belongs to any field/knowledge, which they would like to drill more, for example chemical, pharmacy, aeronautical, nucler etc.

[joy83]

Again, thank you for your reply. So I'm guessing I just use the date 1972 as his start date and put his retirement date as the end date, and there is no need to include all the locations that he has been in? Also, there is a section to "Briefly explain your duties". In addition to mentioning the duties preformed at the bank, do you think it's required to mention that the information provided above is for the last branch that he was in, and that he was always employed with the same bank throughout his career?

Thanks.

[Libra_14]

Again, thank you for your reply. So I'm guessing I just use the date 1972 as his start date and put his retirement date as the end date, and there is no need to include all the locations that he has been in? Also, there is a section to "Briefly explain your duties". In addition to mentioning the duties preformed at the bank, do you think it's required to mention that the information provided above is for the last branch that he was in, and that he was always employed with the same bank throughout his career?

Thanks.

I don't think its required, but if you want you can mention that. I just briefly mentioned regular banking duties/managing branch etc.