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CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

Valid passport that does not expire in the next 6 months

Two copies of passport (one to keep in checked-in luggage, one to keep in carry-on)

Some loose dollar notes like $1, $5, and $10

Sufficient supply of medicines

Two pairs of eyeglasses (if you wear eyeglasses)

Contact number of children and relatives in USA

1.______________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________

Address of stay in USA (immigration officer might ask at POE)

_______________________________________________________

Medical record (esp. for chronic diseases)

Medical Insurance

Copyright© Path2usa.com 2010. All rights reserved. All content available in this document, including design, text, graphical illustrations, and arrangement thereof is copyrighted by Path2usa.com, Inc., under US and international copyright laws. No part of this document may be published, copied, or reproduced on any media without prior written permission from Path2usa.com, Inc.

Useful Terms to KnowBaggage: Another word for luggageCarry-on luggage: Luggage that you will carry with you inside the airplane (also called cabin luggage)Check-in luggage: Luggage that you will give to the airline. You will receive this luggage on arrival in USA.Cabin crew: Air hostesses inside the airplane.

Before you travel

Make sure you have your passport,US currency and insurace.

Airline: baggage allowanceMeal: Reconfirm your meal preference with agent or airline to make sure you have the correct meal booked for yourself.Reaching airport: 3 hours ahead of departure time

Prohibited Items

Do not carry the following items in your carry-on luggage: razors, blades, sharp objects, flammable items, weapons.Do not carry the following items at all, not even in your carry-on luggage: fruits, seeds, razors, blades, sharp objects, flammable items, weapons.

At The Airport

Step 1: Enter the airport

At the entrance of the airport, show your ticket and passport to the security guard. On verification, the guard will let you in.

Enter to airport show your passport & tickets to security person on the gate.

Step 2: Scan your luggage

Scan your luggage in the X-ray machine close to your airlines check-in counter. Here the person in charge will put a safety-checked sticker on the luggage. (No need to X-ray the hand luggage here). Keep your passport, ticket, and a pen handy. Find the check-in counter for your airline and proceed to the counter. The airline check-in counter is close by.

Security X-Ray for baggage.

Step 3: At Airline Check-In Counter

At the airline check-in counter, hand over your luggage. They will give you a boarding pass. Take the boarding pass, ask for your seat preference (e.g. window seats), ask for transit details (if you have any flight change in between), and take a receipt of your checked-in luggage.

Show passport,tickets to airline counter staff.

TIP: If you need a wheelchair, ask for it at the time you are checking in. You may not be able to request it afterwards.

TIP: Pick up a tag from the airline counter and put it on each of your carry-on bags. These are required after immigration, otherwise you may be asked to return to airline counter to collect these tags.

Put baggage tag on all your bags.

TIP: Make sure the destination airport stamped on your luggage receipt is correct for the checked-in luggage, otherwise you can lose your luggage.

Step 4: Departure Forms

Pick up an “embarkation form” from the airline check-in counter. You will also find these forms lying just outside the immigration counter. Fill it carefully in all capital letters. If you have any confusion, ask the airline staff. Now proceed to the immigration counter.

Step 5: Immigration Check

At the immigration counter, the immigration officer will ask for your passport, ticket, boarding pass and embarkation form. He might ask few questions about your journey, visa, purpose of travel, etc. Answer clearly. The immigration officer will take the embarkation form and will return all your other documents after stamping your passport. This stamp is proof of your departure from India. Now proceed to the customs counter. Make sure you check the date stamped on your passport.

Immigration counter India before security check.

Step 6: Security check

At the security checkpoint, have your “check-in” luggage scanned. Then you have to pass through a metal detector, where a personal security check will be done. The officer in charge will put a "security checked" stamp on your boarding pass. Collect back all your stuff. Now you are all set to board the plane.

TIP: Sharp objects like knives, razors, scissors, and liquids like oil, gel, lotions are either not allowed or must be placed in clearly sealed transparent plastic bags while passing through the security check.

TIP: Take security checks very seriously. Obey the security officers and never crack jokes during a security check.

Security check.

Step 7: Departure Gate

Check for the departure gate number written on your boarding pass and go to that gate. Wait here until the boarding is announced, usually about 30 minutes prior to departure.

Walk towards airline departure gate.

Waiting lounge.

Walk towards airplane when boarding is announced.

Step 8: Inside the airplane

Once you are in the flight, look for the seat number mentioned on your boarding pass. If there's any problem, contact the cabin crew. They will also help you place the baggage in the overhead bins. Read the safety instruction booklet. In the plane you will be served food, snacks, drinks etc., from time to time. You will be given a blanket and a pillow.

Find your seat number inside the airplane.

Use the remote control in your seat to call air hostes.

TIP: In case of any problem during your flight, do not hesitate to ask the staff.

At Intermediate Airport

As soon as you reach the intermediate/transit airport, first thing you must do is to look for the Terminal and Gate number of your next flight.

All airports usually have good maps and directions. In case of any problems, ask the airport staff.

Once you find the gate, then depending on the time you have, you can relax or shop at the airport. BUT — be at your gate 40 minutes prior to the flight time as they require some time to check your tickets etc. You won't have to do any other formalities here, apart from passing through the metal detector and X-ray of your hand baggage.

TIP: In case you have to change the terminal, then first find out information about the connecting airport shuttle to the respective terminal. It is always advisable to find out such information beforehand while booking your ticket, as in some countries, you may need a Transit Visa to leave one airport to go to the other one.

Before you reach USA

Few hours before arrival, the flight attendants will give you two forms to fill. One will be the US custom form, and the other will be the immigration (I-94) form. Fill them very carefully. If you have questions while filling the form, do not hesitate to ask any co-passenger for help.

When you reach USA

Step 1: Immigration

As soon as you get out of the airplane, you will go through immigration check. You may have to wait in line for a few minutes. When your turn comes, the inspector will check your passport, the I-94 form and the customs forms you filled in the airplane before reaching USA. He might ask a few questions about your visa status, purpose of visit, address of stay, duration of stay, etc. Answer them very carefully and politely. Do not give more information than you are asked. The officer will stamp your passport and attach a part of the I-94 form to your passport. They will take your fingerprints and a photograph as well.

Walk towards immigration counter.

Follow other passengers.

Follow the instruction of officer(Give your passport,I-94 and custom forms) .

Follow the instruction of officer(Finger print and picture will be taken) .

Move towards baggage collection.

TIP: The counter slip of I-94 is very important. DO NOT LOSE IT. Check for visa status and expiry date written by the officer on it. The date written on the I-94 is the date up to which you can legally stay in USA and not the date on the visa. The visa only allows you entry into the United States.

It is the I-94 that determines how long you can stay in the country.

TIP: If you later realize that the information on the I-94 is not correct, contact your local Customs Office (CBP) or call 1- 877-CBP -5511 Monday-Friday, between 8:30 and 5:00 Eastern Time.

TIP: The immigration officer may ask questions related to length of stay. How will you convince the immigration officer at the port of entry why you should stay for 3-6 months? For parents visiting USA, this should not be a big problem, but they still need to satisfy the officer with a proper and genuine answer that justifies the longer stay. Possible reasons: Emphasis on meeting their children, grandchildren,relatives, and a plan to tour around in USA, which requires more time, etc.

TIP: The sponsor can write a simple formal letter stating the problem of communication in English language for those parents who can't communicate in English properly, requesting the officer to allow for a 6 months stay for their parents, while citing the above possible reasons.

TIP: The airport at which you land first in USA is called the “Port of Entry” (POE). Even if you have connecting flights within USA, your Port of Entry will be the first airport at which you land in USA.

Step 2: Baggage claim

Once you are done with immigration, proceed to the Baggage Claim area. The baggage claim area may be crowded.

Take a trolley (which may cost a few dollars, so keep some change handy).

The baggage claim area has many conveyor belts. The conveyor belt where your luggage will be coming will be marked with the flight number AI001.Wait for your bags to come out of the conveyor belt, and get all your bags. If all passengers’ bags have come out and your bag is missing,find the baggage loss counter for your airline and report your baggage loss there. They will give you a claim number and some documents.

Locate the right baggage area for your flight.

Step 3: Customs

Take your luggage and proceed through the Customs area. Hand over your customs form to the customs officer. If you have declared any plants, meats, or other merchandise on the customs form (points 11, 12, 13, 14), the officer will ask you to get your luggage checked. Once you are done, you can proceed towards the "Exit" gate.

If you are expecting somebody to receive you, you might find them here in this lobby. If not, you may go to the information counter desk, and enquire about the transport information.

Hand over your custom form.

TIP: If you are questioned by the airport officers, answer them properly without any fear. But be careful, there should not be any discrepancy in the information stated in your documents and what you answer. It has happened in few cases, that due to the unsatisfactory answers about the stay, status, etc, people have been deported immediately. For instance, if you hold H4, L2, B1 or visitor visa, don't ever say you will work in US.

Go towards exit gate.

Making a phone call from any airport

Option 1: You can make a phone call to anywhere in the world from most of the airport public booths using a credit card. You will find dialing instructions on the phone.

Option 2: Buy calling cards from the shops inside the terminal. It's always better to carry some $5 or $10 bills. Dialing instructions will be on the card.

Option 3: Those who can purchase an international calling card can carry the calling card that can be used internationally. Usually along with the card you get the dial-in instruction of various countries. Simply follow the instructions.

American English

Here are some useful differences between Indian and American English. You may find this useful during your flight or at the airport, especially if your destination is USA and you are travelling in an American airline.

Indian English American English

Air Hostess Flight Attendant

Dollar Note Dollar Bill

Bathroom Restroom

What if at the last moment, they ask you to give your cabin bag as check-in luggage?

Sometimes, it happens that at the last minute you may be asked to check in your cabin bag. You may have some important documents and jewelry in it. Don't panic. Just insist that you want to keep them with you. Remember you are doing a favor to them by traveling by their airline and not vice versa, so politely try to talk to them about your problem.

What if you lose your luggage?

Normally, this doesn't happen. In case you do not find your check-in luggage, inform the airlines authorities. If it is misplaced during transit or in the airlines, then it will be delivered to your address in a few days. If it is delayed for more than 2 days or so, you may ask for the compensation to buy daily necessary stuff till you get your luggage back. If your luggage is missing forever, they will compensate according to their nominal rules.

What if your flight is delayed or canceled?

In case your flight is delayed because of bad weather, or any other reason, airlines might offer you food, and make arrangements for your stay. Or ask to make stay arrangement or another travel plan.

What if you miss your flight?

Talk to the airlines staff or authorities at the airport, they should be able to send you on the next available flight, or make alternative arrangements.

What if you lose your passport during travel?

If you lose your passport, and you have a photocopy of your passport with you:

If you are at US airport, inform an immigration officer or security officer.If you are at the transit airport, inform the airline staff immediately.

What if you lose your wallet during travel?

If you are at airport, inform airport security.If you are in airplane, inform airline staff.

What if nobody comes to receive you at the airport?

Find out information from the Information Counter, about the taxi stand or the airport shuttle schedules. It's always better to have a complete address of your stay. Try to get driving directions from the web sites like yahoo etc. These directions can be useful for the driver to take you to the right place.

What if you fall sick during travel?

If you are at an airport, there is usually primary medical care available. Simply inform airline staff and they should take care of your situation.If you fall sick in the airplane, inform the air hostesses. They should be able to arrange medical care for you.

What if immigration officer stops you for additional checks?

Keep phone number of children handy. Request officer to call your children immediately.

How much money do you need, and what are the limits?

During the trip, you will need money for only meals and small purchases. You will only need money for emergencies. Keep approximately $500 (US Dollars) cash in various denominations. There is no use of keeping currency in Rupees. You cannot carry more than $10,000 in cash or cash value (e.g. travellers cheques, money order) across the border while travelling from and to the United States.

Medical Issues

Ask your doctor about travelling precautions. Make a list of all the medicines and their salt compositions (you won't find the same brand name here) needed for your recent or recurring ailments, allergies, etc.

Carry enough pills, dosages, and emergency medicines. Remember, you might need a prescription to buy them in the USA. Without recognized prescription you can't get medicine except basic medicines for cough, cold, fever, headache, etc.

If you wear spectacles, note the specification of your lenses. It is advisable to carry a backup pair with you. Even if you wear contact lenses, carry a pair of glasses. Keep all the needed eye drops and ointments.

If you need to take medications that contain narcotic drugs or are addictive, get a doctor's certificate for it. To ensure you do not violate the laws of the country you are visiting in any way, consult the embassy or consulate of those countries beforehand.

It is also advisable to get a thorough check up done before travelling.

People with some restrictive food diet: diabetic, gastric patients, etc must carry some food items like fruits. However, food and perishable items are not always allowed during flight travel. You might have to buy them from the airport itself, after your security check.

During take-off and landing, the cabin pressure changes which may cause ear blocking and ear pain. This may be relieved by chewing gum, or by opening your mouth widely as if you were yawning. Carry candies to chew and some cotton balls to stuff your ears, as it is not provided in most of the international flights.

If you are traveling with a severe cold, then this pain will get worse. In such case carry some nasal drops, or medicine for cold. Consult a doctor in case you have a problem.

Some people have problems like vomiting sensation, nausea, dizziness, pain in ears etc. Ask your doctor about the required medicines prior to traveling.

Letter for Immigration Officer while Entering USA

The Immigration Officer,

Dear Sir/Madam,

I, , residing at the above address, am writing on behalf of my parents,since they cannot communicate well in English. The purpose of their visit is to spend time with us, and also tour the country. I will be accompanying them during their tours.

Since I work full-time on week days, I can only show them around and take them to various places on weekends and long weekends. A 6-month stay will allow them to not only to tour USA properly, but also allow them to spend some quality time with my family. They already have a return ticket for ___________ and I have obtained the health insurance for them currently for a period of 4 months. I will extend their return travel date to the end of their 6 months stay in USA and will also extend their insurances to match the new return date. Therefore, I request you to grant them a longer stay in the USA and let them to stay for 6 months in USA.

Please contact me if you have any questions. Thanks in advance.

Name: Address: Phone :

09 34548901

DEPARTURE CARD FOR PASSENGERSPlease write in CAPITALS only. One Character in one box as shown below.Do not write across the lines. Leave one box blank for space.

1. Name (as in passport) Leave one box blank after every part of the name/initial.

2. Sex (tick appropriate box) 3. Nationality

Male Female

4. Country of Residence 5. Date of Birth (DD/MM/YY)

6. NRI/PIO/OCI Status (tick appropriate box) 7. PIO/OCI Card No., if any

NRI PIO OCI None

8. Passport Number 9. Date of Issue (DD/MM/YY)

10. Date of Boarding (DD/MM/YY) 11. Flight Number

12. Port of final destination

13. Occupation

14. Address in India

15. Telephone number

To be filled by Indians only

16. Does your Passport carry an ECR stamp? (tick appropriate box)

Yes No 17. Purpose (tick appropriate box)

Business Transit Official Employment Education Conference

Visit Friends / Relatives

Medical / Health Religion / Pilgrimage

Leisure / Holiday Sport Others

Signature of Passenger Immigration Stamp

Copyright© Path2usa.com 2011. All rights reserved. The above form is a sample for your reference only and should not be treated as the original. Do not submit this form. You must fill out and submit the appropriate original form provided by the government.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OMB No. 1651-0111

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Welcome to the United StatesI 94 Arrival / Departure Record

This form must be completed by all persons except U.S. Citizens, returning resident aliens, aliens with immigrant visas, and Canadian Citizens visiting or in transit. Type or print legibly with pen in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Use English. Do not write on the back of this form. This form is in two parts. Please complete both the Arrival Record (Items 1 through 17) and the Departure Record (Items 18 through 21). When all items are completed, present this form to the CBP Officer. Item-9 If you are entering the United States by land, enter LAND in this space. If you are entering the United States by ship, enter SEA in this space.

5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(3) Privacy Act Notice: Information collected on this form is required by Title 8 of the U.S. Code, including the INA (8 U.S.C. 1103,1187), and 8CFR 235.1, 264, and 1235.1. The purposes for this collection are to give the terms of admission and document arrival and departure of nonimmigrant aliens to the U.S. The Information solicited on this form may be made available to other government agencies for law enforcement purposes or to assist DHS in determining your admissibility. All nonimmigrant aliens seeking admission to the U.S., unless otherwise exempted, must provide this information. Failure to provide this information may deny you entry to the United States and result in your removal. CBP Form I-94 (05/08)

Arrival Record OMB No. 1651-0111

Admission Number

691349570 21

1. Family Name

2. First (Given Name) 3. Birth Date (DD/MM/YY)

4. Country of Citizenship 5. Sex (Male or Female)

6. Passport Issue Date (DD/MM/YY) 7. Passport Expiration Date (DD/MM/YY)

8. Passport Number 9. Airline and Flight Number

10. Country Where You Live 11. Country Where You Boarded

12. City Where Visa Was Issued 13. Date Issued (DD/MM/YY)

14. Address While in the United States (Number and Street)

15. City and State

16. Telephone Number in the U.S. Where You Can be Reached

17. Email Address

Departure RecordAdmission Number

4. Country of Citizenship

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Customs Declaration FORM APPROVED

19 CFR 122 27, 148.12, 148.13, 148.110, 148.111, 1498;31 CFR 5316 OMB NO. 1651-0009Each arriving traveler or responsible family member must provide the following information (only ONE written declaration per family is required):

First (Given) Middle

2. Birth Date Day Month Year 3. Number of family members traveling with you

4 (a) U.S. Street Address (hotel name / destination)

(b) City

5. Passport issued by (country)

6. Passport number

7. Country of Residence

8. Countries visited on this trip prior to U.S. arrival

9. Airline / Flight No. or Vessel Name

10. The primary purpose of this trip is business Yes No 11. I am (We are) bringing

(a) fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, food, insects: Yes No (b) meats, animals, animal/wildlife products: Yes No (c) disease agents, cell cultures, snails Yes No (d) soil or have been on a farm / ranch / pasture: Yes No 12. I have (We have) been in close proximity of (such as touching or handling ) livestock: Yes No 13. I am (We are) carrying currency or monetary instruments over $10,000 U.S. or foreign

equivalent: (see definition of monetary instruments on reverse):Yes No

14. I have (We have ) commercial merchandise: (articles for sale, samples, used for soliciting orders, or goods that are not considered personal effects)

Yes No

15. Residents – the total value of all goods, including commercial merchandise I/we have purchased or acquired abroad, (including gifts for someone else, but not items mailed to the U.S.) and am/are bringing to the U.S. is:

Visitors – the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S., including commercial merchandise is:

Read the instructions on the back of this form. Space is provided to list all the items you must declare.I HAVE READ THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM AND HAVE MADE A TRUTHFUL DECLARATION.

(Signature) Date (day/month/year)For Official Use Only CBP Form 6059B (01/04)

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Parents Visitor Visa USA - Documents, Checklist, letters Templates

US Visitor Visa(B2) for Parents – Process, Sample Documents

One of the most frequently asked questions among friends, either during graduation time, after they start working in the US, or if they are expecting a baby, is “What is the process to apply for a visitor or tourist visa(B2 visa) to parents to come to the USA? What documents do I need? How do I start ?”

The below article covers the step-by-step process to apply for a B2 visitor visa for parents or family members, including sample documents and templates.

Basic Requirements: Passports, Funds for US Trip, Documents

The two most important things you need to plan before applying for a visa are passports for your parents and the funds required for their travel to the US.

Getting Parents’ Passports

The first step before you plan the B2 Visa is to apply for a passport for your parents if they do not have one.
Depending on the country, the time to get a passport can vary. Consider the time to get the passport when you plan the overall time to get a B2 Visitor visa for them.
Check out the passport application website for details. You may read our article on applying for How to do passport renewal in India to get an idea of the process.

Bank Savings for Sponsorship

If you are paying for your parents’ trip, you need to have enough funds secured for the same.
There is no official guidance on how much money you need to have in the bank account from the US Department of State. They say the applicants must have enough funds to pay for the trip.
You can do a ballpark estimate of the expenses that your parents might incur based on flight tickets, local travel, etc., and come up with an amount you think makes sense.
As a rule of thumb, a good amount totaling up to $10,000 Dollars or more to cover their expenses would be ideal to have in the bank account.
It is advised to start saving for the same three months before and accumulate steadily rather than just borrowing money and putting it in the bank. Again, there is no hard-and-fast rule, just some general guidance.

Also, it is important to secure all the relevant documents about your status in the US as they would be important for the process. Let’s look at them below.

Employment Letter from your Company or Graduation Letter

When you invite your parents or family, one of the things that a US Consular officer would look at is your current US Visa status and supporting documentation for the same. You may need to get a different set of documentation based on your status as an employee working in the US or a student studying in the US.

Below are the two main options based on your situation:

Working in the US on a Visa (H1B, L1, OPT , Green Card) – Employment Letter

If you are working on a work visa, you need to get an employment letter from your current company verifying that you are working in the US on H1B, L1, or other visa, including Green Card, OPT or STEM OPT. This is to make sure you are in good standing in the US and are getting paid to support the travel of your parents.

Depending on the company, your company may ask for details of your parents or their passport copies and directly address the employment verification letter to the consulate. There is no rule or format given by the US Consulate. You are free to use what your company gives. Check the sample templates section at the end of the article, if you want a sample. All they care is if you are employed and in good standing.

The employment verification Letter should have information like when you joined them, what role you are working in, and how much salary you make. Some employers are quick, and some are slow in doing this. Plan well and make sure you have it with you.

International Student on F1 Visa – Graduation Invitation

If you are an F1 international Student inviting your parents for Graduation, you need to send your current status details like your F1 Visa copy, I-94 copy , I-20, and Graduation invitation letter to your parents. This would act like an invite as well as supporting documentation for them.

Step-by-Step Process for Parents’ US Visitor Visa (B2)

Below are the various steps that you can follow to apply for a visitor visa for parents. Some of these can be done in parallel, but below is a general step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Complete DS-160, Book US Visa Appointment

Before booking your parents’ US Visa stamping appointment, you must fill in Form DS-160, which is nothing but the online Nonimmigrant US Visa application form. Make sure you have scan copies of their passports before you start the process to avoid issues. Sometimes, your employer may also ask for the same for documentation.

Complete Form DS-160 Online for Parents

Unless your parents are well educated and have all the facilities, such as a computer with internet access, etc., they may not be able to do DS-160 on their own. It would be better if you fill it out for them and then declare the same at the end. It saves a lot of pain for your parents to fill it out without any mistakes.

Important Info to know before you fill out Form DS-160 Form for Parents

Separate DS-160 Forms: You must create separate DS-160 application profiles for every visitor visa applicant. If you invite both your mother and father, you must create two DS-160 Profiles online separately for your parents.
Creating Family Member DS-160 from the Thank you page : When you are filling out the first DS-160 form for the first family member, at the end, when you select ‘Email Confirmation’ on the confirmation page, you will go to “Thank you ” page and on that page you will have the option to create a family or group application, you can choose this option so that some of the information from your first application will be copied over and imported. Of course, you can change those details as needed.
Required info to Fill DS-160 form: You will need a lot of information like education details, work history, identification info, etc. We have compiled the entire list of required items for DS-160 and tips to fill the same. Read the article: Documents Needed to Fill out DS-160 Form, to get an idea.
Filling up the DS-160, Declaration: If you are filling out forms on behalf of your parents, at the end of the completion of DS-160 form, there is a section that reads ‘Sign and Submit page’, you should fill out your details as a third party and then inform your parents regarding the endorsement of the application by them and help them click on sign and submit button. You may check more info and discussion on sign and submit option.

Where to Fill out DS-160 online at the Official State.gov website

You should go to the Official US Govt State.gov website for DS-160 form Creation. Here is the link: US Govt ceac.state.gov Non-Immigrant Visa Application Website

If you have any questions, you can visit any of the below links to fill the DS-160 form.
US Travel Docs India Official Website: Info on DS-160 form
US State Govt Website: FAQs on DS-160 form

Once you complete the DS-160 form, next step is to pay the fee and book visa interview appointment.

Booking US Visa Interview Appointment , Native Language

You need to book a visa appointment at a US embassy/ consulate to get B2 Visa stamping to travel to the US. It involves paying fees, selecting a location, and interview language. Let’s look in detail.

US Consulate Location for Interview: Depending on your home country, there may be one or more locations in your country. You need to choose the US Consulate that is close to where your parents live. For instance, in India, each consulate has a list of states that they serve. Depending on your state, you need to select the respective Consulate. You can read US Consulates India – What states they serve, contact info .
India Consulates – No Option to Choose Language in System: Starting from 2023 with the new system in place, in India, you do not have the option to choose the interview language such as your mother tongue like Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, etc. You will only get the option of English. If you feel your parents are not fluent in English, then you can ask them to request a local translator at the US Consulate/ Embassy on the day of the interview. For India, depending on the consulate, some languages may not be available. So, it is important to attend the interview at a location that is relevant for your state. You can check US Consulates Contact Info, Served States for more info. You can email the consulate/ embassy beforehand to be sure as well.
You need to create an account and follow the process in there. You will be asked to pay the fee online for booking an appointment.
If you cannot pay online, you may need to go to the bank, pay it there, and get a code to use for booking an appointment.
You do not need two accounts, you can add your parents as family in the same account and book visa interview appointment.
If you are booking an appointment in India, you can read How to Create Account on USVisaScheduling.com

You can also read the complete guide apply for a US Visa Appointment for step-by-step process.

Step 2: Prepare for US Visitor Visa(B2) Interview, Documents

You will need to prepare and carry all relevant documents for the US Visitor visa interview for your parents. You will need to send them invite letters, sponsorship letters and other info. Let’s look at each of them.

Funds Proof – Bank Account Balance Lette r, Sample

If you are sponsoring your parents or in-laws trip, you need to send the relevant proof to show that there are enough funds in your bank. While you can print out the Bank statements online, it is recommend that you go to your Bank and get a Bank verification or Bank Balance Statement Letter signed and stamped by the Bank officer.

Go to the primary bank, where you have your longest standing account and the bank which has your savings and ask them to give you a Bank Verification letter for Visa. Depending on the bank, the process can vary.

For instance, at Chase Bank they do it instantly. For Bank of America, or others they make take couple weeks or more. Do this in advance. All they do is, give a letter saying when the bank account was opened and average running balance since opening. It is just a simple letter. If possible, get the visiting card of the bank manager( not necessary, more documentation the better). Check out Sample Bank Verification Letter for Parents Visa

Invitation Letter, Visa Officer Cover Letter, Other Documents

Below are the other set of documents that you will need to have ready for the visa interview, so that your parents or in-laws can show the same.

Invitation Letter: You need to send an invitation letter to your parents saying that you are inviting them to visit you and sign it. It supports your parents intent to come to the US and you are inviting them to visit. You can get a sample template copy in the below section.
Visa officer Cover letter: It is recommended to send a cover letter with all the documentation addressing the visa officer. It just lets you keep in track of what you are sending and if visa officer needs to check, it is easier for him and more clear for our parents. See the templates section below.
Copies of W2 Form, Pay stubs, etc : You will need copies of W2 Forms for all the years, last three pay stubs or salary statements, Last three bank statements, Copy of your passport, I-94, H1B visa approval ( I797). This is extra piece of documentation to be given to your parents to avoid any issues. This is like an optional, I strongly suggest that you carry these documents.
F1 Student Status Documents: If you are a student on F1 visa and not working, you may not have pay stubs, so do not worry about it. Send whatever you have regarding your current status like I20, etc.
(Optional ) Affidavit of Support I-134 Form: This is an optional form, which is typically filed with family-based green card applications by sponsors. This is to establish that the applicant will not become public charges while in the United States. If you submit this form, you are legally signing that you take all the liability and they will not become a public charge. You may fill, sign and send the affidavit of support to your parents. It has some basic info. Nothing fancy and tricky out there. All you are telling in this document is that you are going to support their entire trip. You can Download the I-134 Form, Affidavit of Support from USCIS website
Sending Documents to Home Country: Ideally, you want to print out everything and sign all the documents where you filled forms I-134 (optional), invitation letter and cover letter. Make copies of all the documents as listed above. Send originals of Employment letter and Bank letter. You can use DHL or FedEx. It may cost you up to $60 USD.

Below is the checklist of B2 visitor visa stamping documents for parents.

Parents US Visitor Visa(B2) Documents Checklist

Below are the documents that Parents need to carry from their side

DS-160 Form Submission Confirmation letter
US Visa Appointment Confirmation Letter

Below are the documents parents need to carry related to their sponsor(son or daughter) in the US or if they would be staying with them.

Copy of work visa approval notice from USCIS ( H1B/ L1 Approval Notice Form I-797 ).
Copy of Passport, US Visa stamped on passport.
Copy of I-94. (Check How to get I-94 Online )
Current Employment verification letter
Copy of Bank statements from the last six months.
Bank Account verification/ balance letter.
Copies of last three salary statements/ pay slips.
Copies of previous years Tax Returns –W2 forms ( if applicable).
DS forms (if you have filled it and signed the same)
Copy of Green Card ( if you are not working on visa )
Form I-134 ( Optional )

US Visitor Visa(B2) Documents Checklist for in-laws

If you are sponsoring for your in-laws like mother-in-law or father-in-law, in addition to above checklist of documents, you need to include spouse’s details and documents as well along with the package.

Your Spouse’s Passport
Spouse’s approval notice I797
Spouse’s US Visa Copy
Any other supporting documents like marriage certificate to prove the relationship.
Spouse Birth Certificate

Thanks to Rajesh for suggesting the above after his bad experience of missing the documents of in-laws.

Additional Supporting documents by Parents for Visa Interview

Fundamentally, your parents have to prove that they have enough ties in their home country, so that they would return after their trip. Some of the ways that can be done is by good supporting documentation. The below list of documents are intended to prove that they will return to home country:

Notarized documents of land/ sites, buildings ( any kind of property).
Bank Statements with enough balance
Pension / employment benefits letters, if applicable.
Fixed deposits, any financial related documents.
If there are Tax returns, then carry them as well
Any other documents that shows your financially strong and you will come back.

If you do not have all documents or big property back home, it is OK. No big deal. Because, you are the one in the US, who is sponsoring the visitor visa for your parents. So, do not worry. Also, if your parents are older, then they are fine.

You may join our Telegram B2 Visa Community Group to ask questions or share your experiences.

Sample Document Templates for Parents US Visitor Visa

Below are some of the templates that you can use. Make sure you change the content to fit it for your situation.

Parents US Visitor Visa Invite Letter Template: You need to send an invitation letter to your parents saying that you are inviting them and also specify, if you plan to pay for their expenses when in US. We have given a sample letter, but I recommend you edit it with your own flavour and make it unique : Invitation Letter Templates for Visitor (B-2) / Parents Visa
Employment letter Sample Letter Template for US Parents Visa : You should also send an employment letter that tells that you are employed in your company with your designation and salary. It can be any standard employment letter. You may use : Employment letter Template for Parents Visa USA
Cover Letter for Visa Officer at US Consulate: It is a good idea to put in a cover letter to the visa officer listing all the documents you are sending. You may use : Cover Letter for Visa officer – Parents visa USA

These are just standard templates that you can use, no hard fast rule that it has to be in this format. We highly encourage you to use them as guideline only and create your own letters with your own flavour, so that it looks unique.

Step 3: Attend Biometrics & US Visitor Visa Interview Appointments

Once you have all the documents ready, the next step is to attend the Biometrics appointment at a US Visa Application Center(VAC) and give biometrics on that required day. After the biometrics are taken, parents must carry all the documents listed in the above checklist and attend the visa interview on the respective date and time.

Having all the documents is essential, but the most important thing is to give your parents confidence and all the details related to you and what you do in the US so that they can answer the questions. You need to coach your parents to do well in the interview.

You can expect to see questions like the below for your parents in the visa interview.:

Who lives in the US? Son or Daughter?
What does your Son or Daughter do in the US?
Did they study in the US?
Where did they study?
What does your son or daughter do for work?
Which city do they live in?
Do you plan to settle down there or come back?
What is the purpose of your visit?
When do you plan to go?
When do you plan to return to India?
What is your son or daughter’s salary?
How long have your son or daughter lived in the US?
Do you currently work, or are you retired?
Do you get a pension? Have you paid taxes?

You can check out previous US Visitor Visa experiences at below links

Collection of Latest B1/B2 Visitor Visa Stamping Experiences
Parents US Visa Stamping Experience -Telugu
English Stamping Experience US Parents Visa .

Step 4: B2 Visa Approval, Passport with Visa

If the B2 visa interview went well, your parents would be informed that their visa was approved and their passports would be collected. If the passports are collected, then they can expect the actual B2 Visitor Visa foil to be glued in their passport and delivered to their given address within a few days.

If your parents chose to pick up a passport, they could collect the same with the visa stamped in it. The approved B1/B2 or B2 Visitor Visa glued in the passport would look in the screenshot below.

If the visa were not approved, the consular officer would inform your parents and give them a piece of paper indicating the reason for Visa denial. One of the common reasons for visa denial for B2 visitor visa is 214(b). If your parents are unlucky, they can again reapply. You can read more on it at State.gov US Visa Denials reasons .

Hopefully, your parents get their US Visa in the interview. One last thing, before they go to the US, is to look at health insurance for their US Travel.

Health Insurance for Parents: After you get the US Visa and plan to arrive in the US, having visitors health insurance is important for parents to avoid any unforeseen health conditions, when in the USA. It is always a good idea to get Health Insurance from a US vendor, who can support you. We recommend Buying Parents Insurance at Visitors Coverage – Parents Insurance as they have US support and you can compare all insurance plans.

Common FAQs

Yes, US Consulates in India are doing both in-person interviews as well as dropbox appointments for parents B2 visitor visas. There are no restrictions.

All the appointments that are available on USVisaScheduling.com for 2024, 2025 and beyond are all real appointments. They are not placeholder appointments like in the past.

That’s it folks…not so much complex, all you need to do is get all the list of documents and have things rolling as per plan and schedule.

Do you have any other ideas or documents that are important ? Do share your experience and thoughts.

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1,799 comments.

This information is very useful.

For B2 visa for parent in laws do i need to print out everything and sign all the documents and sent to home country ? or only some of the documents like invite letter need to be sign and send to home country?

PRAVEEN, Frankly, there is nothing that says it is mandatory to sign and send. If you can send scan copies also it works. If you can, you can even send the original copies with wet ink signed.

Hi, Applying B1\B2 Visa Renewal Interview Renewal for parents, seen the below details on the US Visa Scheduling portal effective 1st April so seeking the clarification.

“”””Regardless, of the location of the consular post for which the interview waiver appointment is scheduled, applicants can still submit their documents free of cost at any of the five Visa Application Centers in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, or New Delhi””””

As currently only New Delhi VAC is having appointments for B2 Visa Renewal – Interview weaver category, Pls. suggest if the applicants can submit the documents at Chennai VAC at the same time for which appointment is booked at New Delhi.

For example if the applicants book B2 Visa Renewal Interview Waiver case appointment for New Delhi VAC at 29th April 10 AM, can at the same time instead of going to New Delhi VAC can the applicants visit Chennai VAC and provide the documents and finger prints ?

Did any one of you gone through this experience recently, Pls. help.

Thanks in Advance.

Mahi, Technically, there is no fingerprints for renewal, it is usually submitting documents. Yes, you can do that at any location. The only catch is, if you were to be picked for interview, then you would need to go to New Delhi.

My parents are planning for renewal as well, can you please share the list of documents needed for the drop off?

Related question: What option did you selected for this question “Person / Entity paying for your Trip” in a DS-160 as SELF? If other options selected, what additional documents needed for drop off. Please advise.

Sandeep, It will be standard documents that you see above. Check the Appointment letter, it will have the list. They may not take a whole lot of the documents as it is renewal.

If others are paying, the paying person’s salary slips, bank statements, etc.

Hello Mahi,

How did your B1\B2 Visa Renewal for parents did go? Can you please help me with below questions.

1. Please share the list of documents needed for the drop off 2. What option did you selected for this question “Person / Entity paying for your Trip” in a DS-160 as SELF? If other options selected, what additional documents needed for drop off. Please advise.

Note: Both of my parents are retired.

Hi, I am preparing documents for my parent’s upcoming US B2 visitor visa appointment , i have some doubts if you can guide me then that will be the best .

1. My parents does not have birth certificate but they do have school leaving certificate in which DOB is mentioned & as per my research you can submit that as proof if DOB certificate is not available ? (Am i correct ?) 2. I already fill DS-160 form 1 year ago , earlier the reason was my sister’s baby shower function but due to interview slots unavailability it dragged , so should need to fill DS-160 form again with the new reason or that will be ok ? 3. I want local translator (Gujarati) for my parents , should i have to do any process before interview or can i request for the translator at a time of interview ? Or if no one is available that moment then can i be the translator for my parents ?

Thanks in advance.

Me and my wife have submitted DS160 and got confirmation. Can U explain how to pay visa fee and what step next? Thanx.

Om Dutta, You need to register an account on USVisaScheduling.com and pay fee. Check How to create account at USVisaScheduling.com

Hi, Firstly, thank you so much for this post, it is really helpful! I am working on OPT and I have my grad walk in May this year, I am applying for B2 visa for my parents and younger brother right now. My younger brother is giving his 10th Standard Board exams right now, and the results will be announced in May end. I have below questions – 1. I am putting him as a student, with the school details as his current school, is that alright? 2. Also my brother’s case makes him a candidate for rejection? And will this affect my parent’s visa too? My father works as an employee at a Logistics Company and my mom is a homemaker and we don’t have any property to our name. Thank you for the help!

I have applied B1/B2 visa for my parents i am currently on H4 Visa and we have applied my Parents visa based on my sister F1 visa . so in this case do i need to send my documents and my husband documents along with Sister Documents? if yes what all documents should we send?

Note : I have added my Info in DS160 but my husband info was not given in DS160

Hi i have b1/b2 as visa class on appointment letter instead of b2 for my parents. WIll this be fine if the visa class is correct on DS160?

Shilpa, Well, it is good to keep them consistent. Ideally, all of them should be B2. Try to call the customer service and see, if anything can be done. You can also create a new DS-160.

I may sound stupid but i am not aware how long is the wait time to get b1/b2 visa interview scheduled for delhi in person? I have applied b2 visa for my parents and its the first time visa for them so in person interview is required. Will they be releasing visa slots like they do for h1b or are all visa slots already booked for nexy 1-1.5 yr?

Need some help. My parents have a B2 visiting visa interview next month and I am gathering all the required documents. I felt inviting using the graduation invitation letter is easier than direct invitation. I got my degree in 2016 but I never did the graduation walk, my college has confirmed that I am eligible to do the graduation walk in December so I got the required invitation letter but I am checking with the community if this is the best path forward for the visa interview considering it has been so long since I got my degree?

Thanks, Sagar

Sagar, Frankly, it does not matter. Having said that, Graduation Walk is a big deal for many and it can be a nice way to invite your parents. It could be a good reason to share with VO as well, if asked.

Thanks for your reply, Kumar.

Is the bank statement, account verification, and other financial documents required if I am inviting with the graduation walk invitation letter?

Sagar, Not really, if they are going to be sponsoring the trip. Usually, if you are sponsoring the trip, it helps to carry them. Again, these are supporting documents and not mandated by them to show.

I’m so thankful for this comprehensive guide on the US visitor visa for parents. It’s not easy to find such detailed information in one place. Your blog post addresses common concerns and provides practical advice. Keep up the excellent work! check -t.ly/NaxHX for more details related to this blog

Hi can you help out I have apply US visa for my parents, my graduation and grad walk completed I am on OPT, if interviewer ask my parents, what is your son doing? What answers should they have to reply? Please reply

Deepthi, You should exactly answer what you are doing on OPT. Never cook up answers.

Please show me the step-by-step process of requesting my mother’s US Visitor Visa(B2). I am a US-born and raised citizen and would like to request my mother to visit the US. What documents would I need? Where would I apply? Please help me with a step-by-step process.

Erica, The process is exactly same as what is outlined above. Re-read the article.

My father is 80 above and he has only drop box appointment, can my mom drop off his documents along with her documents ? I guess he doesn’t need to go to OFC right ? Please advise.

Naveen, Yes, he does not need to go. Yes, your Mom can drop off documents. Carry an authorization letter from your dad to make life easier during submission and pickup.

Hi, I filled the application for parents in 2021 and they have visa interview in October 2023. In DS-160, we filled the intend travel dates back in 2021. But because of COVID, there were no interview slots. Do we need to fill a new DS-160 now to change the intend travel dates? or the older version is still fine?

How do we satisfy this “Your travel itinerary and/or other explanation about your planned trip.” Do we need to book tickets beforehand? or is it not necessary?

Thanks for your post. Very informative!

1) How imp. is form I-134 if parent is 80+ pension holder and have sufficient amt. In his bank in india. 2) if not filling I134 should we(GC holder) still submit our pay check, bank statements etc. 3) if son in law filled Ds160 cover letter for supporting documents should be signex by him only

My sister graduated from BTech in August 2022 and has been preparing for CAT exam by attending coaching center since then. In the primary occupation section of ds160, should I mention UNEMPLOYED(with above explanation) or STUDENT(with coaching center details)?

Eshwar, Coaching Center is not really an institution that gives degree like University. You should mention unemployed.

I am working on OPT.In DS160 of my parents, i have mentioned that they will be sponsoring their trip. Is it better to provide my sponsorship or is it ok if they themselves sponsor..what are the documents required

403 Permission Denied You do not have permission for this request /wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/2018/10/US-Parents-Visa-Cover-letter-for-Consulate-for-B2-Visa.pdf

Sample Document Templates for Parents US Visitor Visa link is not working , Says permission Denied , Please help

Yeah, says Permission denied. Have downloaded

Thanks for the detailed writeup

Can you please confirm if – 1. Photo will be taken at the VAC or parents need to take photos themselves to the appointment

2. Also we suddenly got the appointment rescheduled for next week( it was originally end of 2023) . There is not enough time to get letter from bank and send originals via post.

Are copies of my US Bank statements enough , or will it cause any problem from any previous experience. Should I postpone the appointment.

Hi, I scheduled appointment for my parents B1/B2 in AUG 2021, the interview is on APRIL 2023. I saw a rule that DS 160 is only valid for 1 year which means it’s almost 1.5years since I booked the appointment.my only doubt is do my parents need to file new DS 160 and take it to the interview or does the old one is fine? Please help !

You need to update their existing DS160 with the recent information applicable.

I have a similar situation. Does updating the DS 160 form with recent information mean i’ll need to apply for new interview dates? Or the original appointment dates still stand.

Hi, in my fathers application DA-160 I have selected visa category as B1/B2 instead of B2. He has already taken appointment too. Will there be any issue because of visa category? Should I fill out a new DS-160 with visa type as B2 before the interview or is it okay to select visa type as B1/B2.

Hello, in my fathers visa application DS-160 I have selected visa category as B1/B2 instead of only B2. Will there be any issue in the interview because of this? Should I fill out a new DS-160 with B2 as category. He has already take the appointment date with B1/B2 category selected.

Hi, My current H1B visa validity is up to September 1st, 2023. My company will be soon filing for extension. I am sponsoring my parents B2 visa. They have got the interviewed scheduled later in this month (March 2023). I have got all the documents ready. My question is will my current visa validity be an issue during their interview?

I am on similar boat. My i-94 is valid till July 2nd 2023. I am still looking for appointment. Should I wait till I get my i797 approved and new i-94 or can I book an appointment if I get one soon. Can you let us know what the experience of your parents was. TIA

Hi, I am on H1b. My mother already has a valid B1/B2 visa and she is visiting to USA this month. Because of my i94 expiring sooner(due to passport expiry), I plan my aunt (mother’s sister) who is US citizen to send her invitation letter for immigration purpose at point of entry. Can you please provide some guidance on what documents of Aunt will be required to be carried in this case?

Currently I got my H1B stamping done in January 2023 and I’m still in India.

I want to apply B1/B2 for my mother and travel with her to US(my first time travel to US)

Can I book slot with her without myself going there atleast once ? Will they ask any additional questions? What are the chances of rejection

Hi, My parents have B2 visa interview slot mid march. I am sponsoring for there visit. The last name in there passport and my passport is different ( there is a spelling mistake). Would it be a reason for rejecting visa. And also are there any other documents that I can provide to support this situation. Please help me.

I am having the same issue. But my husband is sponsoring for my parents. Did your parents get the visa now?

We booked visa interview for both mom and dad, but my dad is not in a position to go for the interview. can my mom go for the interview and able to get visa for both ??

purni, No, I highly doubt it for normal cases. If you are going to the US for medical treatment, you may try to explain the same to US embassy and ask for exception, I have not seen anyone get stamping without going to interview for normal cases. Do update how it goes.

Hi im married to a citizen in usa ( married for three years now) , my paper work is still in process. is there going to be any problem if my husband sponsers my mother for tourist visa to usa from India ? Will there be any issue since my papers are still in process?

Ana, It should not be as long as the person is able to support with relevant documentation on how he will pay for the trip.

Hi, My husband is a H1 visa holder and i got H4 recently and my mother will be giving her B2 visa interview in march. So i had a query regarding her B2 related documents. My husband is going to sponsor her trip completely also i am going to travel with her to US. But the thing is my mother is not together with my father like in 2020 due to conflicts my mother left the house along with me and now she is living in a rented apartment. So for showing proof of funds she has got her mutual funds and the money she invested after her retirement also she has some problem with the pension as the pension application is under process not sure when it will get resolved.But for property she dosnt have those papers as they are with my father and the house is under boths name but the papers are difficult to obtain as my father wont give them. So what documents can be shared in this case. Can someone help me out?

vedanti, If your husband is going to sponsor, all the documents of your mother related to finances are irrelevant. Frankly, all of these documents are just supporting ones and not required. Tell her to be confident. Carry the bank statement from your husband, and whatever documents she has and be honest and say the reason for visit. Try to keep it simple and answer confidently.

What to reply in case if they ask her why im still here and not in us. What should be the reason in that case for visiting. Only son in law is present in US. So what can be better? That visiting son in law or both and tourism?

Vedanti, You should tell the truth. Do not make up anything and answer, they will identify false answers easily. Tell the truth!

I am on H1b Visa I have applied B1/B2 visa for my parents. Do I need to fill I-134 form as well. They have sufficient amount in their accounts and they are running business in India. Still do I need to fill I-134?

Ram, It is optional and not needed.

Hi Kumar, I am currently on H1B and I want my parents to come visit me on B2 visa. Is it fine for my parents to sponsor their trip on their own instead of me and what are the disadvantages of doing that?

MM, Yes, they can. There are no disadvantages to that. As long as they have the financials to support them for the trip, they should be fine.

I am in the usa on a h1b, also i have my aunt living here and she is a citizen. My mother wishes to come to states to meet her on a b2 visa.

would it be okay if my aunt provides the invitation letter instead of me? will there be uncomfortable questions asked in the interview and can this cause complications.

Mohsin, As said, both works. yes, there could some tricky questions as well, why sister, when you have son, etc. So, best to go with your letter.

I am on a h1b visa and I have an aunt(moms sister) who is a US citizen. Is it advisable to have my aunt send the invitation for the B2 visa for my mom and dad, instead of me sending it. Will this create trouble during the interview.

Mohsin, It does not matter. Either works. It is best for you to send as you will be the main person sponsoring her and she would mainly stay with you. Again, it is a choice, both works.

Hello, I am an H1 B holder and having B2 visa interview for my mother next month. Does cover letter/ Invitation letter or any documents needs my signature OR just send soft copy and print out would do. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Vishal, There is no official rule that tells you need a wet signature. It is just suggested. Personally, I sent it. As long as there is an invite, it should work as well. It is your discretion.

My father is 74 year old and is suffering from depression and now having some memory loss too. Can I accompany him for b2 visa interview

Nidhi, Sorry to hear. You can request consulate for the same. You need to write to them indicating the same. You can accompany as a translator as well. Need to plan ahead.

For a B2 visa if VISA officer requires further documents or details will they notify us what is required or they reject the visa, does anyone know or has any experience, please share.

Sandeep, They will tell immediately if they want more documents. If not, they can issued 214b and ask to reapply, which does not require any documents.

Hi, 1. Should I choose B1/B2 category in DS-160 or only B2 when applying for visa for my parents? 2. I’m applying for tourist visa for my parents as well as 28 year old brother(unmarried) – can all 3 of them attend the same appointment slot?

Hitesh, 1. It would be B2 2. Well, as he is 28 years old, not sure. You can check with customer service. If under 21, can add for sure under dependent.