Following documents need to be sent from the person who is sponsoring his/her relatives to visit the United States.

• You need to show that you can financially support your relatives while they are in US. For that you need to fill a form called "Affidavit of Support form(Form I-134)". You need to get it notarized. Notary can be done at your bank or at AAA, for example. One for should be filled for each applicant. So, even though parents are applying together, you need to send two forms.
  Download I-134 It is a fillable form. You can just type in the form and print it.
  Note: For those of you who are on H1, there is no option on the form to say that you are on H1. So just write in one of the options on the form that you are on H1.

• Statement from your employer, in duplicate, on business stationary, showing

  • Date and nature of employment
  • Salary Paid
  • Whether position is temporary or permanent.
  Sample employment letter



• Letter from your Bank, in duplicate, on their business stationary, giving the following details.

  • Date account opened
  • Total amount deposited for the past year
  • Present balance
  • Average balance last year.
  Also send copies of few recent bank statements.
  
  

• Letter from yourself stating that you will take care of their expenses in USA. This letter should be addressed to the US consulate your relatives will be visiting.
  sample letter.

• A personal letter of invitation (free format, but formal; explain here how you will be able to accommodate them in you house and take them around for tourist purposes).
  One for should be enough for both mother and father. If your relatives don't understand English, it may be helpful to send the translation of the letter in your native language because consular officer may question that your parents might have never read the letter.
  sample letter.

• Copy of latest H1 visa approval notice(I-797 Notice of Action).
  If you are at adjustment of status(I-485 stage), send copies of I-485 receipt, EAD card and Advanced Parole. These may not be required, but does not hurt to send them.
  This proves that the person inviting is legally allowed to work in USA.

• Copy of your passport. It should include all the pages which have something written on it.

• Copies of recent pay stubs.

• Copy of recent income tax returns. Just for last year should be enough. Does not hurt to send for last couple of years.

• If available, you may also send the copy of birth certificate which proves who your parents are. Not required, but if available, just send it.

Your relatives who want to visit the united states need to take the following documents with them to the US consulate.

• Non-immigration visa application form(Form OF-156).
  This form is distributed to the individuals standing the line at the consulate just before they go inside the consulate. They have to fill this form then.
  If you prefer to fill that form in advance so that you don't have to fill that in hurry, you can order it from the Department of State by faxing them.
  The sample letter to fax to Department of State.
  You can also download the PDF form from Department of State.
  Download the form OF-156 from Department of State.
  Please note that in some countries like India, this downloaded form may not be accepted. So it is better to fill the actual form, rather than taking a risk.

• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States.

• Two photographs 1 and 1/2 inches square (37x37 mm) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. Photographs should be signed at the back.

• $45 visa application fee. Demand draft in name of the American consulate. For example, "American Consulate General Mumbai." This should actually be in the currency of the country in which the consulate is located. For example, as of December 1999, the person should make demand draft of Rs. 1980 (@ Rs. 44 as of December 15, 1999)
  
  The demand draft must have its counter foil to prove that you have got it from the bank and not from the road guys. The counter foil is the receipt given by the bank when they issue the demand draft.
  
  The demand draft must be drawn on a bank which has a branch in the consulate you are applying. (In example, Mumbai Consulate).
  
  Mumbai consulate accepts visa fee in cash. Effective April 15, 2000; the visa issuance fee has been changed to $75(Rs. 3300 as of writing this @Rs. 44 = $1) for any duration of visa unlike earlier where the fee was $25, $50 and $100. Some times very old currency notes are not accepted. So please bring new notes. Old Rs. 500 notes (because of fake currency racket going on there) are also noted accepted at consulates in India. So don't carry them. Chennai consulate does not accept cash. This money also should be paid in the local currency, e.g., Indian Rupees.

• The prime criterion of issuance of a visitor visa is whether the applicant convinces the consular officer that the applicant truly intends to return to his/her home country after a temporary stay in the United States. It is impossible to specify the exact form such documentation should take place each applicant's circumstances vary greatly. Each applicant must keep in mind that the interview will focus on his or her credibility and not the documents presented.
  
  Documents showing that they will return to the home country after their temporary stay in the United States. Thus their stay is temporary. For example, job proof, property proof, bank accounts, family ties etc.

  • Proof of property such as House, Shop, Godown etc. Take the original ownership papers.
    Also take the property estimate given by the Chartered Accountant.

  • Also get the personal affidavit regarding property. Business should show how much they earned last year. Say that you have old parents you need to take care of. And you have one unmarried son and you need to do arrangements for his arranged marriage after your return. Also describing the nature of the trip and details of the itinerary is helpful.
    The sample affidavit for the Father.
    The sample affidavit for the Mother.

  • Latest income tax returns (last 3 years). Should take originals with them.

  • Some bank balance for at least few months before going for visa. Please note that simple bank letters showing simply the bank balance is not acceptable. You have to also take past few months (say 3 months) statements with you, or the pass book.

  • The visitor has a residence outside the U.S. that he does not intend on abandoning. This can be shown via deeds to real estate. These help to persuade the consular officer that the visitor has strong ties to his home country and is likely to return there.

• Purpose of the tour is vacationing, visiting friends/family. Some of you call your parents because your wife is pregnant. Never mention that she is pregnant. They will say all the facilities are available in the United States to take care of that and your relatives don't need to come to the United States just for that reason. They will think your relatives would want to extend the visitor's visa to baby sit the baby and eventually never leave United States.

• If they ask for return air ticket, medical insurance etc, tell them those things will be bought after the visa is issued.

There are four ways to apply for a visa: in person, by drop box, through specially authorized travel agencies, or via the VIP Business Program.

• In person: Indians applying in person should visit the Consular Office of the Embassy or Consulate General closest to their place of residence.

• By drop box: A drop box is located just inside the door to the Consular Office at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Those who travel frequently to North America, Western Europe, Australia or Japan, and those with recent full-validity visas, may use the drop box to apply for visas instead of standing in line. Drop box applications must include a completed application form, a passport-sized color photograph, a passport and demand drafts for all fees. Passports dropped off in the morning will generally be ready by 5 p.m. the same day. Those dropped off later will be ready the following day. Applicants using the drop box may be asked to apply in person, and there can be delays because of problems clearing name checks in our Washington database. Therefore, if you plan to use the drop box, apply earlier than you plan to travel.
  
  Note:For those of you going to American Consulate at Chennai, India; they accept drop box applications for applicants who are older than 55 years old even if they don't qualify otherwise through above conditions.

No bags, briefcases allowed inside the consulate. Just take big plastic carry bag to put everything into. For security reasons, the following items are prohibited in the waiting room: cameras, tape recorders or players, calculators, any device with batteries(flashlights, radios, etc.), cigarettes, lighters, matches, large bags, luggage, weapons, or pocket knives. Applicant must not bring these items to Consulate for their interview.

Stand in the line for non-immigrant visa. There is no advantage to being first in line. Late arrivals have a much shorter wait to enter the waiting room. The Consular Section is closed on American and Indian Holidays.

At 8 AM they allow people to get inside. On entry, you pay the demand drafts for visa application fee. You also submit the visa application form and your passport. They give you a token/receipt and ask you to wait in a hall. They call people randomly for interview. When your number is called or name is called you will go to a booth for interview. Applicants in the waiting room before 11.00 am will be interviewed that same day. An American officer will conduct the interview. Translation in various languages at various consulates is usually available. The consular officer will ask you some basic simple questions about purpose of trip and who is going to pay etc. An interviewing officer will determine visa eligibility and inform the applicant at the time of the interview. If a visa is approved, he will keep your passport and will ask you to pay more fees towards visa issuing and to collect your passport at 4.00 pm by presenting the numbered token.

Come back at 3.30 pm. Join another line for collecting your passport stamped with visa. Collect your passport by showing the receipt/token and leave.

Medical facility in USA is very expensive. It is most advisable to cover risk of sickness and injuries before traveling overseas. Details about overseas medical insurance for visitor from India and from USA.

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into United States. Legally, the visa specifies the period during which the bearer may apply at a port of entry to enter the United State. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service(INS) authorizes the traveler's admission to the United States and determines the period of authorized stay, not the consular officer. At the port of entry, an INS official may deny admission(which is equivalent of cancelling the visa) to the holder of a valid visa if the traveler's activities will not be compatible with the specified visa category, or the INS officer discovers some fraud with the traveler. Legally there are various grounds of exclusion such as certain diseases, previously being out-of-status, criminal history based on which the INS officer can deny the entry into US despite the fact that the person has a valid visa.