Tourist Visa for Mom 4 yrs after expired Visa!!

[ganesh]

Hi all,

I have noticed that this forum is usually visited by people who are applying the first time for their parent's visa etc. You very rarely get infomation on people whose visas are expired or are applying again after a long gap or such situations.

To make a long story short....my mom had a 5 yrs ME visitor's visa issued in 1997 which expired in 2002. During those 5 years she came to the US thrice. The first time she had come we had extended her visa which was approved and the next two times she came and went for about 3-5 months. Somehow the need never arose and she also didn't seem interested to come come here so we never renewed her visa or applied for a new one.

This January I lost my Dad very suddenly. My brother and I are their only kids and both of us are here in the US. I am a citizen and my brother has a GC. This time around he sponsored because we thought he had a better chance since he was not a citizen yet and also he works for a major MNC. She went for her visa today that is 9/21/06. She was approved. Only 3-4 questions were asked about how many kids she had. Where were they? What was their status? We had asked my mom not to lie about anything so she honestly mentioned about me being citizen. The lady asked to see photo copy of my passport and also my spouses and she told my mom to pay the fees!!

I am really so happy about this.... I think if one of the kids are citizens they invariably figure out that if we refuse they will file for a green card anyway so as well send them as vistors! We are yet to find out the duration of the visa and if she got multiple entry. Just wanted to share this news with all of you.....

Thanks

[jaya_06]

Congratulations on your mom's visa. Sorry to hear about your dad's loss.

For a child being a USC, the theory could go either way. Either they think that visitor visa is safer otherwise her son might apply for her green card OR they may think her son went on H1B (which is a NON immigrant visa) several years ago and finally settled there in USA and I don't want to take a chance on another member of the same family to let her go on NON immigrant visa anymore. If your theory is right (regarding filing for immigration of your mom), then I am sure they granted her 10-yr multiple entry visa (if not a 20-yr visa if allowed :-)

I just want to know the inputs on this subject from all the big heads here. Do you think the chances of visa are better if the son/daughter is on H1B or GC or USC? If a person is a USC, is it worth to apply for visitor visa or worth to file for GC for his/her parents (assuming parents are okay to travel to USA once a year to maintain their GC status)?

Thank you.

[ganesh]

Reply to Jaya_06

You are right ...it could go either way. Maybe we just got lucky !!! The very reason why I tried for a visitor's visa first was because a GC would take anywhere between 9-18 months. My mom after Dad's death had been very lonely and you can imagine how tough it must be for her to be all alone so we were just trying to get her here on just anything which can help her get here quickly.

[savithari]

Folks,

My parents are visting us after 8 years. They came in 1998. They were given 6 months (my mom was working still, my dad was retired at that time)

They stayed for 3 months 18 days. They went back within time that they were authorized to stay. NO OVERSTAY WAS DONE

Now they really will stay for about 4-5 months. All the papers have been sent. Their appointment is on Sep 28.

I am the only son and first time they came I was on H1. This time, I''m GC.

I am trying to understand as to what might make them at risk. My parents really do not want to stay here. They want to be in the middle of their friends.

Am I being a little oversensitive or is there real good reason for me to be touchy ?

Thanks
-Narahari

[jaya_06]

To: Savithari (Narahari)

I didn't mean to tense you based on your GC situation.

To ease your mind, we are green card holders and we applied for my parents' visa last month. My parents got 10yr multiple entry visa. We have been in USA for 8+ yrs, but my parents never applied for a tourist visa before.

As long as you prepare your parents well for the interview, there is nothing to worry about. For "couples" (unlike single moms or single dads), there is always a good chance whether they are retired and whether their only son is in USA. Ask them to mention 'tourism' as the primary purpose of the visit. If it has been more than an year that they saw you, they can say 'tourism and to see our son'. Ask them to highlight on their brothers/sisters/parents in India, properties, bank accounts etc. If asked 'have you not toured the places in 1998?', they can answer that based on the seasonal changes (Ex: We went in the summer of 1998, but this time we want to go in winter to see the fall colors and enjoy the snow etc) OR they could say "our son was very busy with his work in 1998 and hence he couldn't take us around to a lot of places. This time, he saved enough vacation this year to take us around places" etc.

Good luck to your parents.

[jaya_06]

To: Ganesh

I know how important you feel about your mother coming here while she was feeling so lonely in India. I am so glad that she got the visa without any issues.

(Side note: I didn't know that it really takes that long to get a GC for our parents.... Thanks for the info)