Sponsoring for Visitor VISA

[njgcmar03]

Hello Folks,

I need a clarification from you whether I need to have a valid H1B extension Approval or receipt inorder to sponsor Visitor VISA for my in-laws.

My current 7th year H1 extension will expire by the end of July 2007. We will be eligible to file for H1 extension by the month end of January 2007 and as I have my I-140 approved, I will be getting 3 year extension. I want my in-laws to be here by the end of April 2007 and stay until October 2007. I am planning on sending them for VISA stamping in February 2007 but most probably, I will not have neither the H1 Approval nor the receipt. So, can I send my current H1b Approval(which expires in 2007) for them to get the VISA stamped? If they get the VISA stamped, will it be stamped only until my H1b expiration date?

Please post your experiences or anyone who went thru a similar situation.

Thanks,

[njgcmar03]

Just bumping.

[STAmisha]

I'm exactly in the same situation.

My in-laws have visitor visa appointment in March 07 (Mumbai).
My current H1 and I-797 expires in May 2007.
My company will file H1 extension in Feb 2007.

When my in-laws appear for interview, does my H1 extension needs to be approved? or filing of H1 extension is good enough?

[Not2Happy]

I recently sponsored my in-laws. I provided the H1 extension reciept cuz I had not recieved the extension approval by the time of their appointment.

I also sent in my labor approval and the I140 approval copies. My current H1 is expiring in Feb 2007 and my in laws appointment was last week. My mother in law requested for 10 years multiple entry visa and the visa officer granted her that.

Hope that helps

[njgcmar03]

I recently sponsored my in-laws. I provided the H1 extension reciept cuz I had not recieved the extension approval by the time of their appointment.

I also sent in my labor approval and the I140 approval copies. My current H1 is expiring in Feb 2007 and my in laws appointment was last week. My mother in law requested for 10 years multiple entry visa and the visa officer granted her that.

Hope that helps
I appreciate the reply. But, what should I do in my case? Should I wait until I get either the receipt or send my current H1B which expires in July?

[calvinhobbes]

I recently sponsored my in-laws. I provided the H1 extension reciept cuz I had not recieved the extension approval by the time of their appointment.

I also sent in my labor approval and the I140 approval copies. My current H1 is expiring in Feb 2007 and my in laws appointment was last week. My mother in law requested for 10 years multiple entry visa and the visa officer granted her that.

Hope that helps
Could u please tell the procedure for requesting 10 yrs mulitple entry visa..did ur mother-in-law request the Visa officer for multiple entry or is there any option in the visa form for tht?..my parents have their interview next month...wud prefer a multiple entry visa.

Thanks.

[Not2Happy]

Well there is no such provision in the visa form for multiple entries that I am aware of. My inlaws have visited us in the past. At that time they just got a 6 months visa. The next time they just verbally requested asking of long term visa to facilitate their future visits to US.

I think there are no set rules for documents to be produced. I just sent in all possbile docs - current h1b, pending h1 extension reciept, labor copy, employment letter, recent pay stubs, tax copies etc. The irony is that the visa officer just asked a few questions without going through all these docs.

In the end, just like every other situation, the end result depends on the visa officer processing your case.

[calvinhobbes]

Thanks for the useful info.

[javaconsultant]

Only filing the H1B extension enough.Make sure you have the filing receipt and a letter from your lawyer with the documents.MY in-laws got their visa approved in the same situation

[njgcmar03]

Only filing the H1B extension enough.Make sure you have the filing receipt and a letter from your lawyer with the documents.MY in-laws got their visa approved in the same situation
Could you please include the message for which you responded?

Thanks,

[p7810456]

I appreciate the reply. But, what should I do in my case? Should I wait until I get either the receipt or send my current H1B which expires in July?

I would suggest wait for your approval notice before sending your papers for their Visa. I've a friend whose in-law's visa got denied cos he did not valid have I-797 and his current visa was either already expired or was expiring soon.

[satyasaich]

There is no specific request ( per say ) that an applicant can make to the officer during the interview at US consulate. It's the usual practice they grant 10 year multiple entry visa. However sometimes, it may not be the case. First time(in 2004) my sister got only for 1 year multiple entry. But in 2006 she was given 10 year visa again. why not in 2004, god better knows.
Where as my monther was given 10 multiple entry last month. i'm the same person who is on H1B,same employer, same status, same chennai consulate.
Let me honsetly admit that i did not even sent the affidavit of support I-134 form. The reason is i was india last month. If i'm US, i would have notarized, but in india when i tried to notary no one came forward at any stamp vendor offices.So i went along with my mother, stood in the queue, asked the person at the counter whether i should sign infront of them? They said "yaa, we don't need, take it easy". Well my mother went inside and they granted 10 year visa.
Funny, isn't it?
Could u please tell the procedure for requesting 10 yrs mulitple entry visa..did ur mother-in-law request the Visa officer for multiple entry or is there any option in the visa form for tht?..my parents have their interview next month...wud prefer a multiple entry visa.



Thanks.

[njgcmar03]

I would suggest wait for your approval notice before sending your papers for their Visa. I've a friend whose in-law's visa got denied cos he did not valid have I-797 and his current visa was either already expired or was expiring soon.
Thanks for the suggestion. I spoke to my attorney few days ago and according to her if there is a valid proof of employment(letter from employer) and current H1B, it shouldn't be a problem. My in-laws appointment had already been scheduled and they will be going to the Consulate on 9th feb. I will post the details soon after they inform me the result. I really appreciate your response.

Thanks,

[javaconsultant]

Could you please include the message for which you responded?

Thanks,

My post above is for this note below:
Hello Folks,

I need a clarification from you whether I need to have a valid H1B extension Approval or receipt inorder to sponsor Visitor VISA for my in-laws.

My current 7th year H1 extension will expire by the end of July 2007. We will be eligible to file for H1 extension by the month end of January 2007 and as I have my I-140 approved, I will be getting 3 year extension. I want my in-laws to be here by the end of April 2007 and stay until October 2007. I am planning on sending them for VISA stamping in February 2007 but most probably, I will not have neither the H1 Approval nor the receipt. So, can I send my current H1b Approval(which expires in 2007) for them to get the VISA stamped? If they get the VISA stamped, will it be stamped only until my H1b expiration date?

Please post your experiences or anyone who went thru a similar situation.

Thanks,

[RandyK]

Why would you need to file a I-134?

I am on H1 and my I-140 is approved. Just curious as I am planning on sponsering my parents for a visit soon.

Thanks

[satyasaich]

There is a form you need to download, fill in the details about your financial strength to support your parents for their roundtrip travel/ stay/medical insurance/ all other incidental expenses . To make it authentic, one need to notarize the same.You can go to your bank, provide the proof that you have sufiicient funds (as you declare in the form),get it stamped by the notary.
Usually they (means your bank) don't charge anything for this.
This is the only way you can tell the US consulate in abroad that you have sufficient money to sponsor your parents. One rule of thumb is per person it's advisable to show atleast $6000. Say you want to bring both your mom&dad, that means ideally around $12000 is fine. Again, that's just a general opinion.

send this form or so called Affidavit of Support, alongwith supporting documents such as bank statements, proof of salary deposit, copies of pay stubs, a letter from a bank to say that your account is in good standing etc;

Affidavit of Support is not something you file, but you need to fill all the details, get it notarized, send the original to your parents
Let me know in case of any questions


Why would you need to file a I-134?

I am on H1 and my I-140 is approved. Just curious as I am planning on sponsering my parents for a visit soon.

Thanks

[njgcmar03]

Hello Folks,

I need a clarification from you whether I need to have a valid H1B extension Approval or receipt inorder to sponsor Visitor VISA for my in-laws.

My current 7th year H1 extension will expire by the end of July 2007. We will be eligible to file for H1 extension by the month end of January 2007 and as I have my I-140 approved, I will be getting 3 year extension. I want my in-laws to be here by the end of April 2007 and stay until October 2007. I am planning on sending them for VISA stamping in February 2007 but most probably, I will not have neither the H1 Approval nor the receipt. So, can I send my current H1b Approval(which expires in 2007) for them to get the VISA stamped? If they get the VISA stamped, will it be stamped only until my H1b expiration date?

Please post your experiences or anyone who went thru a similar situation.

Thanks,
Hello All,

I have an update regarding my In-laws Visitor visa stamping. They were given 10 year multiple entry visa on 9th of February.

I assume that there will be lot of people in the same boat as I am in and I hope the information I am providing would be useful to someone someday.

I am on 7th Year H1B with approved I140. My 7th year H1B will expire by the end of July 2007. I scheduled VISA appointment for my in-laws for Feb 9th, 2007.

Here is the list of documents I sent them.

1. Pre-filled DS-156(one for each)
2. Pre-filled DS-157(for my mother-in-law)
3. Interview letter issued for each of them
4. Original Letter from my employer stating that I still work for them and since when I was working for them + my title + salary info). I sent them 2 original letters, one for each.
5. Original I-134(I sent 2 originals)
6. Original letter from bank stating my current balance and average monthly balance for the past 12 months(I sent 2 originals)
7. Copies of three recent pay stubs(2 copies)
8. Copies of three recent bank statements(2 copies)
9. Copies of Tax returns for last three years(2003,2004 and 2005)(2 copies)
10. Copy of Our Marriage certificate(2 copies)
11. Copy of my Birth Affidavit(2 copies)
12. Copy of my wife's Birth Affidavit(2 copies)
13. Copy of my wife's latest H4 approval notice(2 copies)(expires by the end of July 2007)
14. Copy of my latest H1 approval notice(2 copies) (expires by the end of July 2007)
15. Copy of my passport(2 copies)
16. Copy of my wife's passport(2 copies)

By the time they went for the appointment, I did not have my new H1B or the receipt of filing. As a matter of fact I still don’t have them with me. My attorney said I might get the receipt next week. I did not send either my labor approval notice or my I140. I have not seen anywhere that these are required and hence did not send.

I asked my In-laws to take the following to the interview

1. Their passports
2. No Objection Certificate from my father-in-law’s office
3. My father-in-law’s 3 recent pay slips
4. 3 recent income tax returns(copies)(Form-16)
5. Updated pass book from bank

Along with this, they took the original HDFC receipt. Their interview was at 2 PM in Chennai on 02-09-2007. The Visa officer asked how long they would want to stay in US and whether he can get leave for so many days (they said 6 months). When my father-in-law showed him the no objection certificate, they were told that the passports will be sent in courier.

He also asked how many kids they have (answer: 2(Son (works in India) and daughter (my wife)) and let them go. According to my in-laws, the process was really smooth and cool. As their appointment was scheduled on a Friday afternoon at 2PM, we did not expect the passport to be delivered at the counter between 4 and 5 PM. They returned to Hyderabad the following day (Saturday).

I started checking the status online since Saturday. On Monday, the online message said that they can come and collect the passports at the counter in Chennai between 4 and 5 PM. On Monday evening (after 5PM IST) the online message stated that the passports were sent via Blue Dart courier service and they received the passports on Tuesday morning. Blue dart people attempted multiple times as there was some problem locating the address that was given on the DS-156.

The biggest problem for Andhra addresses is they have a municipality issued number which has special characters like /,- etc. I could not fill the number as the online DS-156 form did not accept the special characters. My advice is to call Blue Dart as soon as you see the status which states that the passports are with Blue Dart and inform them the phone numbers, the municipality codes and if there is a landmark around the address, provide that too so that they can easily identify the address.

I hope the info I provided is useful.