Background:
Mom is widow and housewife.
Applied 2 times at Mumbai consulate - got denied.
They gave no reason.
Applied third time after one year:
This time - things changed:
Worked with a travel agent/ lawyer in Mumbai to book visa appointment date
Got a letter from a Senator in NJ to vouch for credibility of candidate
Added pictures to show ties back home (relatives photos, wedding pics etc).
Showed more money in liquid/ showing personal assets (prepared more documents like affadavits, stamp papers etc.)
Prepared mom with possible questions and answers (taken from this forum)
Asked her to mention about her self sufficiency, and non-dependency on kids for money.
No regional translator - asked mom to speak in English
Questions asked:
Who is sponsoring you? son
What does your son do?
What does his wife do?
Do they have kids? Yes, just had one recently
Are they calling to babysit? No
Who will sponsor for trip? Partly myself, and partly my son
Who will sponsor the ticket? - same as above-
How long will you go? 3-4 months
When will your d-i-l go back to work? in the next month or so
Who will take care of baby when you are there? Mom replied d-i-l has day care in her office.
Places that you will be visiting: NJ, NY
Show me your sponsor's papers.
Visa approved for 10 yrs.
I hope this helps all that are in the same boat ! Just make sure docs are in order, if possible add any kind of support document (to add some external weight - like senator's letter, more liquid assets etc.), so that they atleast interview the candidate. Also, do prepare parents with questions and answers (I think the confidence of knowing the answers when the visa interviewer asks them a question they are ready for - really gives them a moral boost).
Bottomline - there is no basis for denials! Nothing of the above docs might matter, and all of the above might help in getting the visa! All we can do is try our best! Do not lose hope!
Thank you all for your support, guidance and help!
Best of luck with your issues !
Mom is widow and housewife.
Applied 2 times at Mumbai consulate - got denied.
They gave no reason.
Applied third time after one year:
This time - things changed:
Worked with a travel agent/ lawyer in Mumbai to book visa appointment date
Got a letter from a Senator in NJ to vouch for credibility of candidate
Added pictures to show ties back home (relatives photos, wedding pics etc).
Showed more money in liquid/ showing personal assets (prepared more documents like affadavits, stamp papers etc.)
Prepared mom with possible questions and answers (taken from this forum)
Asked her to mention about her self sufficiency, and non-dependency on kids for money.
No regional translator - asked mom to speak in English
Questions asked:
Who is sponsoring you? son
What does your son do?
What does his wife do?
Do they have kids? Yes, just had one recently
Are they calling to babysit? No
Who will sponsor for trip? Partly myself, and partly my son
Who will sponsor the ticket? - same as above-
How long will you go? 3-4 months
When will your d-i-l go back to work? in the next month or so
Who will take care of baby when you are there? Mom replied d-i-l has day care in her office.
Places that you will be visiting: NJ, NY
Show me your sponsor's papers.
Visa approved for 10 yrs.
I hope this helps all that are in the same boat ! Just make sure docs are in order, if possible add any kind of support document (to add some external weight - like senator's letter, more liquid assets etc.), so that they atleast interview the candidate. Also, do prepare parents with questions and answers (I think the confidence of knowing the answers when the visa interviewer asks them a question they are ready for - really gives them a moral boost).
Bottomline - there is no basis for denials! Nothing of the above docs might matter, and all of the above might help in getting the visa! All we can do is try our best! Do not lose hope!
Thank you all for your support, guidance and help!
Best of luck with your issues !