Question For KenC or Others Who's Inlaws...

[RickM]

came here to the USA as visitors.
I just returned from Rostov On Don,Russia after meeting and spending about a full month with my wife's parents and family.(My wife's family moved back to Russia from Kyrgyzstan shortly after "perestoryka" but she stayed in Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan (where I met her) to finish school and later decided to stay and live in (Bishkek)the city life as opposed to moving to farm life in Russia.She had not seen her family in over 8 years so when we arrived and with a new grandson for them it was quite an event...)I really want to try and get my mother and father-in-law over here in USA for a visit while they are still young and healthy enough to undergo and enjoy such an oppertunity.
I tried to look through the forum search here at planet-love for some info on this but didn't come up with much.I know you (KenC) and some others have posted in the past some info about bringing over your in-laws for a visit so I'd appreciate any info or websites that could enlighten me to on this process if you don't mind sharing some of your experiences and knowledges about this topic.
Big Thanks,RickM

[KenC]

... in response to Question For KenC or Others Who's Inlaws..., posted by RickM on Jan 21, 2003

Rick,
My mother-in-law visited us about 18 months ago and both of my wife's parents are here right now for a two weeker.  In both cases I wrote a letter of invitation for them to present to the Embassy when they applied for visa's.  I just put in the invitation that they would be our guests and that we would be providing food and shelter for them.  I made sure that I also included that the reason for the trip was to visit their daughter.  They had no problems in getting visa's either time.  My mother-in-law had been out of the country (and returned) a few times before and I don't know how much that influenced the decision.  They both work at good jobs, own a flat and a dacha.  Basically, they applied, paid the fee and were approved with no problems.
KenC

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Question For KenC or Others Who's In..., posted by KenC on Jan 21, 2003

Ken...
No special forms to pick up here in USA from INS for the invitation?I've looked everywhere for info and came up empty!!!
Are you saying just simply type out a letter stating that we are inviting them here to USA for a vacation to see their daughter,son-in-law and new grandson and that we will assume all their expenses including R/T traveling,accomodations with us,meal expenses and any other possible expenses that might arise such as providing medical and safety issues while they are here?
Who should the letter be addressed to ?
I know the parents (in-laws) will need international passport pages to their passports in order to leave Russia.They own their own home and a fairly new machine.Both are retired now and living on a very small pension (and $ we send to them).They have 2 other children with families of their own living near-by so I think it should appear quite clear that they would have every intention of returning home after the vacation.Do the intended dates of the vacation need to be included in the letter?
Hope I'm not being a pain in your arse with soo many ??
P.S.Want to trade temperatures today? -7F here right now with windchill another 15 to 20 lower.Oh how I long for my days back in Point Loma and Spring Valley

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Re: Question For KenC or Others Who'..., posted by RickM on Jan 22, 2003

[This message has been edited by KenC]

Rick,
My letter was to Whom it may concern and was very general without specifics.  I did write two different letters for each of them.  I don't know if your in-laws being retired will have any impact on getting the visas.  I also didn't put in specific dates as the visas now are issued for 12 months and we may have them come back this summer on the same visas.  There are no official forms for this that I know about.  Your questions are a pleasure to answer.  After a nice weekend (74+ degrees) it turned cold here too.  I think it was ONLY 64 yesterday!  brrrrr  LOL.  We took our guests to Cabrillo Park at the tip of Point Loma this weekend for a nice view of the city.
KenC

[RickM]

... in response to No problemo, posted by KenC on Jan 22, 2003

Thanx Ken...I'll just keep all fingers crossed for sucess for them to obtain what they ned to come here.It'd be such a pleasure to entertain then and show them a little about our lives and where we come from.I truthfully don't think that they can imagine something they never saw before.
As for 64o temps I can say only...You poor soul...