This Holiday Season we want to spend time with my Mom in Philippines, however due to our busy schedule – we don’t think it can be possible. So we decided our Mom to go here in US, since she already have a valid passport. However, there’s only one challenge – To pass the Visa Interview!

My Mom never traveled outside Philippines, so she have no idea what it feels like being interviewed at the US Embassy. She is worried and nervous as I could imagine.

[Related Post: My B1/B2 US Tourist Visa Interview]

STEPS: (I assisted her all through out her application coz my Mom is not a Tech savvy)
1. I sent her the link for the Deposit Slip.
2. She paid the Visa Fee at BPI Bank together with the Deposit Slip.
3. I filled-up her DS-160 while we are on skype video call.
4. I scheduled her Tourist Visa Interview Appointment on line using my e-mail address.

REQUIREMENTS:
Aside from the valid Passport, I prepared all the documents that I think she needs in order to show something to the consul like;
1. Invitation Letter
2. Our Immigration Status (Green Card Photocopy, etc.)
3. My husband’s Certificate of Employment.
4. Then she added to the document – my little sister’s college enrollment receipt as a proof of strong ties to the Philippines that she will go back after visiting the United States, coz she still looks after her.

She felt so overwhelmed after gathering all the documents! – “Geeeez! How can I present all of these?!”, she said.. Well, here how it goes.

Passport arrived 1 week after the Interview with B1/B2 Visa 10 Yr. Multiple Entry!

Sep. 8, 2017 at the US Embassy Philippines
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

American Consul: What do you want to do in US?
Mom: I want to visit my daughter. (She said her voice “swerved” coz she’s so nervous!)

American Consul: “Ilan ang anak mo?” (How many children do you have?)
Mom: “Lima po.” (Five)
(She said she was so surprised when the Consul spoke Tagalog that made her voice totally gone out of control, LOL!)

American Consul: Ilan ang apo mo? (How many grandchildren do you have?)
Mom: “Anim po.” (Six)

American Consul: “Anim ang nasa US?” (All 6 in US?)
Mom: “Ay hindi, sa lahat na yun.” (No, that’s all in all from my children)

American Consul: Put my Mom’s passport on the side and said – “Your visa is Granted!”
Mom could not thank him enough and left the US Embassy happy!

As per conversation to my Mom — They just took the Passport, they didn’t ask for the Invitation Letter or any of the documents we prepared. Interview took only about 2 minutes.

Yey! she will gonna be our regular visitor!

My Mom’s B1/B2 Visa Application Timeline:

Aug. 28, 2017 – Printed US Visa Fee Deposit Slip and paid the fee amount at BPI Bank.
Aug. 29, 2017 – Filled-up DS-160 and scheduled an Interview via on line.
Sep. 08, 2017 – B1/B2 Visa Interview at the US Embassy. VISA GRANTED!
Sep. 14, 2017 – Passport arrived at her house with B1/B2 Visa 10 Yr. Multiple Entry!
Sep. 18, 2017 – Reserved Two-way Ticket via expedia.com
Dec. 11, 2017 – Flight to US
Jan. 8, 2018 – Flew back to Philippines

SOME PIECE OF ADVICE:
It is true that USEM are more lenient to parents of GC holders and US Citizens coz they have the lesser possibility of staying illegally in US, however I still witness some parents of GC holders got denied for some reason. So my advise is always be honest to tell your purpose of travel during the interview with the consul and always follow the right visa for specific purposes: If it’s a petition with intention to stay permanently or longer than 6 months – file a petition, if it’s for Tourist purposes with intention to go back from your home country within 6 months- Tourist Visa works! Good luck!

Disclaimer: I am not connected to US Embassy and have no affiliation with Philippine or US Government. This post is based on my own experience on how I applied Tourist Visa for my Mom. My case will probably be different than your case and situation. Please adjust and re-organize accordingly. Thank you.