Parent's visitor visa rejected twice

[compassion]

Hi there,

My parent's visitor's visa got rejected twice this April. I am their only son and I can't really figure what to do next.

There situation goes like this. They first took a wrong center for interview in India (Mumbai) when actually they were supposed to go to New Delhi. Their forms etc were accepted but when they went for the interview they were asked to reschedule and go to Delhi. The questions they were asked is:
1. Is he your only son?
2. Then they were asked for financial docs, which they showed.
But anyway it was rejected.

We assumed that this was because they chose a wrong consulate center. So we got it rescheduled and they went for the next interview to Delhi (exactly after 15 days of the first interview). They were asked for their IT returns which they showed. They had traveled to Middle Eastern countries for religious reasons, so were asked about that. And again it got rejected. They were not asked anything about me (except that if I was the only son).

My questions are:
1. I am a resident doctor here in US (on H1-B). I am here since June 2008. Would it make a difference if I sponsor them next time? This time we had shown that their trip would be self sponsored.
2. My father is a doctor back in India, he has his own clinic. But they were never asked about it so he didn't say anything. Would a letter to consular officer help?
3. How and when should I apply again? What should be my plan of action?

Please do let me know.
Thanks.

[meetpravee]

I am so sorry to hear that. I am guessing that the consulate needs to provide a reason to reject the visa. Do you know what the reason was?

[compassion]

Hi,
That's the main problem. We don't really know the reason. The first time he said that when you reschedule, go to New Delhi so we assumed that to be the only reason. In New Delhi, when my dad asked for a reason, she handed ove a booklet and said when you read this you will get to know the reason and said that she would not discuss the matter further.
We don't understand what went wrong.
Thanks anyway.

[Kodi]

From my experiance, your parents have to show strong ties to prove they will return back. And you been their only son and living in US is a disadvantage for them. Its not fair but sometimes they base their decision on that. One of my relatives, his parents were denied visa to visit him to see his first born twins. He's the only son and a GC holder. Their reason for denial is that parents might not return. His wife's parents were granted visa to visit the new borns and she has 2 other siblings back home.

[compassion]

Actually my grandmother lives with them and also he has his own established practice (and clinic) back home. We had prepared an affidavit listing all that but they weren't asked for it so how do we show that?
Should I write a letter to the consulate listing all these things and should they just show as soon as they go?

[rajenk]

Try next time with a Affidavit of return assurance. That should help. This is an affidavit that you execute before a notary public in India.

[SDdesi]

My in-laws visa was rejected the first time; but they were approved on their 2nd appt about a month later. Here are some tips I could suggest:

1. Send all possible documents, including tax returns, W2s, I-134s, invitation letters, bank statements, proof of legal status (I94s, copy of visa, copy of I485 receipts if any)
2. Make an appt in your native language (e.g. hindi)
3. Analyze the questions asked before, reason for rejection (usually 214b)
4. Prepare them well for answering questions confidently
5. Get as many documents to show their ties to India (bank statements, notarized letters showing property owned with valuation etc)

Wish you all the best.

[Kodi]

I don't know the process in India but in Sri Lanka we have to give all the supporting documents, and if that's not sufficient they'll ask for more. So maybe next time give it to them whether they ask or not. Make them see it.