Need advice to get visitor visa for my sister

[sundarms]

Hello,

I am naturalized US citizen and trying to get my parents and sister to visit me. They have never been to USA.

Today my sister's non-immigrant visitor's visa application was rejected at US Consulate Chennai. She is single and went with my parents for her visa. Visa officer gave visa for my parents but not for her. She is working in a private school as School Administrator for the last 18 years. I routed their case through my local congressman.

My sister had carried all the documents that she could get to prove her non-immigrant intention like ServiceCertificate, LeaveLetter, Various insurance policy, Bank Statement, Salary Slip etc., It looks like Visa Officer did not even bother to look at any of the documents and summarily rejected her case.

What are the options I have now for her to get a visitor's visa ? What additional documents that could possibly convince the officer her non-immigrant intention ?

Thanks and regards.

[txh1b]

It is difficult to prove ties due to single status, the VO might assume that she has immigrant intent. Added to that, you are a USC.

Another try after a few months might yield success. All said and done, visitor visa is a hit or miss situation and depends on luck also in addition to the primary factor of proving non-immigrant intent.

[sundarms]

Followup :

My sister got her visa couple of days back at Chennai. She got single entry visa valid for 2 months (exp. Sept 1st week 2008).

My understanding is that visa validity is only for the entry. Her actual stay period will be determined by her I-94 stamp. She plans to stay in US for 3 months starting beginning of August. Will the immigration officer at the airport give her the I-94 date based on her visa validity dates ? Or we can expect that she can get 3 months time in I-94 if she asks for it ?


Thanks.

[txh1b]

It depends on the CBP officer. Visa validity date is immaterial and I-94 date counts.