My father is a widower

[bommareddi]

Hello path2USA,

I am planning to bring my father on a visitor visa.
He is scheduled to appear for an interview on May 12.

In form DS156 item 17 asks about the marital status. I checked "Widower".
My mother expired in 1992.

In the discussion forums I have seen that rejection rate is more for widowers.

I am thinking whether I should check "Married" and mention in the interview that his wife is not willing to travel as she has to take care of the grand children.

In case he has to say the truth that he is a "Widower" how to improve the chances of getting a visitor visa?

Please advice.

[soormabhopali]

May be u r correct ur father not get visa if u say truth .
But I understand u r a human being and ur father too , would he like this "lie".
Or u r ready to do any thing for a US visa . Better u decide .

[bommareddi]

Please post more responses

[sukesh]

Hi,
My father is a widower and so I send papers for my father and brother.They both got visa for 10 years on April 11.
I do not know whether we have to lie about mother.And my father is 82.
All the best
sukesh

[bommareddi]

My father will turn 65 on May 8th.

In USA 65 is considered as a senior citizen.

So I hope they will grant visa for my 65 year old father.

[menajar]

I myself is a widower. I lost my wife in 1997 and first time I went for visa in 2000 and got 6 month visa that too it was sponsored my nephew then.

Subsequently, I was sponsored my daughter in 2001 and I got 10 year multi entry visa and visited number of times and stayed within the legal time allowed by INS.

U need not worry about the martial status of ur father,but ensure u give correct documents both from sponsor as well from applicant.

Ur father should remember that the visa officer has only one or two min to assess each applicant and he should answer the questions objectively and corretly

Note. This is not legal advise