why pregnancy/delivery not a good reason for parents visa

[estee]

I have spent hours on this website just to find out why everybody here does not encourage to show daughter's pregnancy as a reason for parents to visit. Is there any law against it or what.

Here is my situation

My mother's visitor visa was rejected first time last year saying she does not have enough ties back home.Her reason at that time was tourism and visitng me. I am her only child in USA.
This time as we are expecting a baby in january 06 so we were thinking about using this as a reason rather than tourism and send all the supporting documents from my doctor but after all these comments from ppl sayin that this reason should not be used for visa I am totally confused and need some suggestions please.

[rfc402]

I believe it is more to do with the American Society and general psycology. Consider this:
a) There are plenty of single parents living here, who also deliver/bring up kids.
b) Most companies provide 6 weeks maternity leave for normal delivery and 8 weeks for C-Section. After that they expect the mother to come back to work.
c) There is hardly few in-laws or even mothers stay with the mother during or after delivery.

So, the attitude would be why is it a big deal for you folks from India. So, that's why if you say 'site seeing' it is safe, besides everything is decided based on how much money you can spend to get the 'economy going'. If you are a tourist, obviously you will spend a lot!

So, bottom line, giving the reason that 'expecting baby or help after delivery' does not bring sympathy. Other than this I don't see any other reason.

Hope this helps.

-R

[nkrishnan]

In addition to the above reasons, there is one more. If your relatives are here to take care of you and the baby, that means you may not hire the service of a doula or you won't be sending your baby to a day care (if you are working), which is a loss for US economy. This reasoning was given by a member of the US consulate officer in Chennai, when my uncle inquired about it sometime back. Like rfc402 said the consulate looks for ways to improve the US economy when people visit.

[vdesi]

One of my friends mother-in-law was denied visa when she mentioned the same reason for her travel. They said one can hire a baby-sitter to help around.

[estee]

Thanks everybody that was really helpful and now I can understand why it is not a valid reason for visa. So i will probably stick back to tourism and sight seeing as reason.
Thanks again

[brindha]

please ask your mum to tell that ..as my daughter is there so i want to go there ....and visit some picinic spots and enjoy...and return bak to india..sure...the visa consultates will procede yr mom visa...no pbm in tht... :cool:

[princeus]

we are expecting baby in Dec this year. My parents can't come before 1st week of Jan next year as my mom is working. We are thinking of calling my mom-in-law but will it be ok to sponsor here visa right now & after 2 months sponsor my parents visa from the point of view of getting the visa. If my mom-in-law gets visa now, could that be a problem/issue for my parents later. How many visa I can sponsor?

[poragoru]

In addition to the above reasons, there is one more. If your relatives are here to take care of you and the baby, that means you may not hire the service of a doula or you won't be sending your baby to a day care (if you are working), which is a loss for US economy. This reasoning was given by a member of the US consulate officer in Chennai, when my uncle inquired about it sometime back. Like rfc402 said the consulate looks for ways to improve the US economy when people visit.

Yes, above reason is true. But there is another important factor which is more serious than the factor of US economy.
In US, baby-siting is considered "a job". Therefore whoever is doing "baby-sitting" is basically "working" - it does not matter whether the person is getting paid or not. If granma-grandpa are baby-sitting, that means they are working for free. Now, tourist visa is for tourism/visiting only. If someone's parents are coming to USA in tourist visa and working for free, that's a violation of immigration law because a person cannot work in tourist visa. And that's the main reason for visitor visa denial.

[ajohn]

i read in the forum that stating ur daughter is pregnant has a good chance of visa rejection..my mother has an interview appointment on march 1st 2006 and iam expecting a baby in april end..what if the interviewer specifically asks my mother if her daughter is pregnant? what she should say? pls help

[rao76]

Maybe best to prepone the date. I am also due in march but my parents have finished the interview.And i strictly told them if they were asked specifically ,to say they are not aware but i think no. It was too early and they could deny comfortably.Hope this helps. They had got online appointment in december but they went personally and they got a date in october.

[ajohn]

thank u so much for the reply

[rao76]

Hi,
just wanted to update that they got the visa for 10 yrs and multiple entry.no pregnancy questions asked.
thanks!!!

[neetu]

Hi,

I'm due on Nov 23rd and my in-laws are here in the US with me right now. And I would like to invite my parents once my in-laws leave (after 6 months). My parents' interview apt is on Jan 5th '2006 (though they will come here only in April) and by that time, I would have delivered. So do I need to mention my baby as a dependent on the I-134 form ? Since my baby will be just a month old, will it make the visa officer think that my parents are coming for baby-sitting ?

OR does it make sense to not mention about my baby at all...even if my parents are asked at the interview if their daughter is pregnant or have kids, should they just say "NO" ?

Please let me know as I'm really very confused and worried that my parents might not get visa if they tell anything about the baby :-(

Thanks in advance!
-Neetu.

[abhibothra]

My In-laws got visa by citing the reason for my wife's "Pregnancy". I now truly believe the consulate officer judges the person based on how honest you are. As long as you face the consulate officer with honesty and cite reasons why you are travelling it should not be a problem.
If Baby sitting is considered a job in US and not in India. The parents should explan to the consulate officer that we are not going to do a job. It may be considered to be job in US but not Indians travelling to US for daughter's pregnancy.

Citing Tourism does not gurantee you a Visa also citing Pregnany does not gurantee of you not getting Visa.
Be sure what you say to the consulate officer is correct and you being honest.

[anandtd]

You may far fetch it to say the reason is loss of local economy. But the actual reason mentioned else where is according to the statistics, people allowed on this kind of assistance would prolong their stay with various justifications to support their children with raising(taking care of) their kids. And also they think one wouldn't really need any external assistance as all the facilities are available locally to take care of issues.

[sas2us]

When I was filling in the form for my mother-in-law, I said the reason for her travel is daughter's pregnancy, I went ahead and submitted the form and got a appointment date too. It was only after that I read in this forum that that's not a good reason to give. I have downloaded forms 156 and 157 can I just have these filled in again with the reason changed and have my mil carry these to the counslate? Would it cause a problem because the initial form may be with them? Please advice.

[sreejaya]

When I was filling in the form for my mother-in-law, I said the reason for her travel is daughter's pregnancy, I went ahead and submitted the form and got a appointment date too. It was only after that I read in this forum that that's not a good reason to give. I have downloaded forms 156 and 157 can I just have these filled in again with the reason changed and have my mil carry these to the counslate? Would it cause a problem because the initial form may be with them? Please advice.

Hello SAS2US,
You need to fill the forms online and u canot fill the forms manually and send them with ur mil to consulate. What u can do is try to update the documents that are aleady saved online. U can go online into visa site and try to modify them.

Also make sure u make ur mindset of ur mil not to talk about her daughters pregnancy etc for 1 week b4 interview. GO thru all the question in Visitor Visa Tracker. It helped both of my parents.
Good Luck
Sreedhar

[robin]

hi gys n gls..i'm married and we r expectin a baby by early jan..the prob is that we havent decided where to have the delivery..either wth parents back home in india..or to have it in america! incase if we liek to have it in america, parents have to be there..but as far as from the inputs in here it seesm to pretty diffcult to get them there..! if to have it in india, there seesm to be contrastin news sayin teh mother wont be able to take back the baby with her as she is ust a green card holder..but also saying liek there is not much a prob wit takin the baby back along..:confused: ! i hope some one with news regarding this would shed some light for me..:) ! laso abut teh average time taken aftre getin an interview apointment to get a trip to states for the parents? hopin to hear from u all..:cool: ..

[tsganapathie]

My wife is due next month and my in-laws have appointment this month.
what if the consulate officer specifically asks if my wife is pregnant.
What should they reply?

[kloodin]

the truth.

[neeldabhi]

Dear Xyz,
I read your mail. I think that you have many knowledge about visitor visa procedure. sir My brother stay in usa and he want to invite me on visitor visa. but i donot know firstofall how to apply for visitor visa. sir I have all document and my brother give me any help for comming usa. so sir please if you send me your contact number then i will call you otherwise call me on my mobile number 9879361512 and my resident number is 0261-6574581. or mail me on my personal email id neeldabhi@yahoo.com.
My name is Nil Dabhi and i am from surat.gujarat.india.
I am waiting for your reply. Please god say help me.
From
Nil Dabhi

[hipka]

Yes, above reason is true. But there is another important factor which is more serious than the factor of US economy.
In US, baby-siting is considered "a job". Therefore whoever is doing "baby-sitting" is basically "working" - it does not matter whether the person is getting paid or not. If granma-grandpa are baby-sitting, that means they are working for free. Now, tourist visa is for tourism/visiting only. If someone's parents are coming to USA in tourist visa and working for free, that's a violation of immigration law because a person cannot work in tourist visa. And that's the main reason for visitor visa denial.

The reason given above is not valid. It has never been against law to help out a relative in need. So a statement like 'I would like to visit my grandchild' should not have any negative impact. It really does not matter whether the grandparent baby sits or not. According to your logic visitors should not be allowed to cook or clean the house as it hampers employment of someone. The employment rule is only for commercial establishments.

[poragoru]

The reason given above is not valid. It has never been against law to help out a relative in need. So a statement like 'I would like to visit my grandchild' should not have any negative impact. It really does not matter whether the grandparent baby sits or not. According to your logic visitors should not be allowed to cook or clean the house as it hampers employment of someone.

"Visting" is fine, but not baby sitting. So, your argument "it really does not matter whether the grandparent baby sits or not" is not going to work. If a visitor visits someone for social/tourism purpose and cooks for a few days during his stay, that's fine. But if someone wants to visit USA for the sole purpose of cooking, that's not ok. I guess you understand the difference.

Basically, while applying for visa, VO wants to know the primary intent of US visit. Is the primary intent of US visit is just visiting and enjoying some time with newborn grandchild? Then it's fine. Is the primary intent of US visit is babysitting and helping pregnant mother? If the answer is yes and VO knows about it, then tough luck for getting visa.

In many cases, when POE officer learned about newborn grandchild, visitors were given very short period stay in I-94. I personally aware of a case where parent-in-laws were given only one month in I-94, even though their air-tickets were for four months stay. POE officer politely told them "please change your return ticket date". They got the underlying message - "visit your grandchild for one month, but don't try to babysit for four or six months".

Lastly, it's very easy to misguide other people and make them victims. When your parents visit you, ask your parents to tell visa officer "we want to visit and babysit out grandchild". Don't miss that "babysitting" part to validate your argument "it really does not matter whether the grandparent baby sits or not". Don't forget to post your success story here. :)


The employment rule is only for commercial establishments.

First, nobody is talking about "employment" here. Here, we are talking about "work". I hope you understand the difference. These are not same. You "employ" for the purpose of "work". But a person can work without employment.

I used to do volunteer work in our local public library in weekends. Is it a work? Definitely. Is it an employment? Nope.

Secondly (this is not related to current topic), employment/labor rule applies to whoever employs. It's not limited to "commercial establishments". For example, minimum wage. If you want to hire/employ someone for cooking or babysitting, still you need to pay minimum wage - even though you are not a "commercial establishments".

[mougli]

Can't we just say that they want to be with me when I deliver my baby and share the joy with them?

[poragoru]

Can't we just say that they want to be with me when I deliver my baby and share the joy with them?

Of course you can say. However, you have to keep in mind that it's always your parents responsibility to show that they are coming for the only purpose you mentioned above and therefore the basic purpose of visit is purely social. If officer is not satified, your parent won't get visa. That's the bottomline.

I don't have any information if anybody got visa this way, but I can imagine that there are ways it can work. For example, if I was pregnant (hypothetically, because I am male) and this was my first pregnancy probably I would be little bit nervous and scared. Hence I would expect someone in my side who has emotional bond with me (apart from my husband). Mother could be an ideal person for that. For that reason, I would not expect my mother to cook for me everyday or do household work for me, but to provide only emotional support at the time of delivery. This is a valid reason for mother visiting at the time of pregnancy, provided it can be presented to visa officer this way. Of course, if I am inviting my mother for long duration and inviting long before the due date, visa officer knows that the reason my mother is citing is not the only purpose of visit (hence, ground for visa denial).

[Kurella]

DS-156 address question: My parents house number has been changed from 5/69 to 4/37 but they have been living in the same house for last 25 years and my dad's passport has the old house number. SO I am wondering whether I should be using the new house no. or old no. in the form DS 156? I think my dad has the proof of change of address in the (electricity) utility bill. Please advice how to proceed and what he needs to show as the proof of change in address.

Form DS 157 question: My parents are exactly 55 years of age. When I applied the application in VFS website they didn't ask for the form DS-157, but I am still telling my folks to fill in and take DS-157 form just in case.

In form DS-157, question 18, Have you made specific travel arrangements? Need to know what is the safest answer for this. We haven't blocked any tickets yet but planning to mention in the interview that my son has blocked the tickets on behalf of us. So not sure whether to say yes or no for this question.

Advance thanks for your reply.
Kurella.

[poragoru]

DS-156 address question: My parents house number has been changed from 5/69 to 4/37 but they have been living in the same house for last 25 years and my dad's passport has the old house number. SO I am wondering whether I should be using the new house no. or old no. in the form DS 156? I think my dad has the proof of change of address in the (electricity) utility bill. Please advice how to proceed and what he needs to show as the proof of change in address.

Of course you need to give the new number due to the fact that the old number is no longer valid. Showing change of address is not a requirement in visa application process. You always need to provide current address.



In form DS-157, question 18, Have you made specific travel arrangements? Need to know what is the safest answer for this. We haven't blocked any tickets yet but planning to mention in the interview that my son has blocked the tickets on behalf of us. So not sure whether to say yes or no for this question.

Safest answer is telling the truth. If you have not made travel arrangements, say "no". If you made already, say "yes".

What's the point of telling visa officer that your son blocked the ticket when he did not do? Do you think visa officer is going to think "this people blocked the tickets already, therefore I have no other option than granting them visa". :rolleyes: Visa officers don't work that way. If you are eligible for getting visa, you are going to get it irrespective of the fact whether your son blocked your ticket or not.

[man1977]

My inlaws are going for interview in May end. And i am due on september. So after reading this forum i came to a conclusion that we should not tell anything about pregnancy. What should be the answer if VO asks my inlaws if i am pregnant? Is there anyway they know about it through some online medical records or so?

Please advice me on this.

thanks

[cncd1]

Do not lie to VO. It can result in permanent ban! How will they explain coming to see their grandchild in the future if they deny you are pregnant now?

If they can demonstrate their ties to their home and sufficient resources, they will get the visa whether you are pregnant or not.

Lying for a visa is not a good example to set for your child!

[tchennakesh]

One of my friend.. mentioned in the DS-156 for the purpose of trip as "Pregnancy". His parents got the VISA.

Infacat the consulate asked the same question at the interview.. they told "YES". So, there is no problem in showing Pregnancy as the reason..

Again remember.. it depends on the officer interviewing at that time.. and the LUCK.

All the best.