Visitor visa for my brother's family

[Mukhiya]

Hello Friends,

I am a green card holder.

My brother (a business owner in India) and his family - wife (housewife), son (medical student) and daughter (engineering student) would like to visit us this summer.

I would like the following help from you experts:

1) The process - where to start, how. If I am understanding it right, I need to fill DS 160 and take an appointment with consulate?
2) List of documents I need to produce
3) List of documents my brother and his family needs to produce
4) They plan to visit in May/June of 2020, when should I start the process? when should they go for visa interview?

Also, my brother has an arrest history in a petty case but is not convicted. Could this be a problem? Should I or should I not report this on the DS 160?

Thanks
M

[Libra_14]

1) The process - where to start, how. If I am understanding it right, I need to fill DS 160 and take an appointment with consulate?

Yes, follow the normal B2 visa process mentioned @ https://www.immihelp.com/usa-visas/

2) List of documents I need to produce

You need to prove that you are legally staying in USA (passport, visa, GC etc) & earning money to support their visit (Bank statement, W2, Payslip, job letter etc).

3) List of documents my brother and his family needs to produce

They need to prove strong ties to home country (Assets, income tax, bank statement etc).

4) They plan to visit in May/June of 2020, when should I start the process? when should they go for visa interview?

Now.

5) Also, my brother has an arrest history in a petty case but is not convicted. Could this be a problem? Should I or should I not report this on the DS 160?

Never hide the truth or tell lie, when it is asked explicitly in DS160.

[Mukhiya]

Never hide the truth or tell lie, when it is asked explicitly in DS160.

Thank you Libra_14 for your help and guidance.

But I was reading somewhere that if we declare that there was an arrest, the visa will be straight away rejected. Can you please advise me on this?

Also, do each family member of my brother need a separate DS160?

-M

[PKumar01]

An arrest or conviction is never an automatic denial unless the crime is associated with specific listed crimes (such as terrorism, kidnapping, other "vices" or security threats). So, be honest in the DS-160 and explain anything if the CO asks.

[Libra_14]

But I was reading somewhere that if we declare that there was an arrest, the visa will be straight away rejected.

If you hide the detail & later they found it, then you might be banned for longer period to get any visa. If you mention that in your DS160, at least you'll have a chance to explain the situation during interview.