Hi Sajha members,

My parents have scheduled VISA interview next week to attend the May graduation. What documents should they take to the interview? (Passport, DS-160, Interview Confirmation and payment Info). The documents states the embassy strongly discourages any financial documents. Also, my international advisor said they don't write any welcome letters unless the consulate explicitly asks for it.

Anyone had their parents appear for VISA interview this season for attending graduation? Please share your experiences. What documents should I send from my end? Thanks.

Nothing to fear about brother. You are going to get graduated and it is essential for you to share your happiness with your family members. Your family members are your sponsors who have paid money to the University for you to get an education. The American Embassy will surely grant visa for graduation provided you really studied and utilized what an american university has to offer.
The Visa officers will ask certain question about financial condition and your parents must be transparent. They should prepare some answers to convince the officer that they are financially well off and show intent to return back to Nepal. If you follow this then they will hopefully get a visa.

The university will not write welcome letter for sure as that is for a different intent. However, your International office should give you some letter stating that you are graduating and inviting them for your graduation. I invited my parents twice for my graduation. I don't know what they did in their end ( the usual take appointment stuff) but I sent a letter from my school stating that I am graduating and inviting them for that event. Also, you don't have to mail them the letter, you can send them the scanned copy if you already haven't done so .

Well the international school said they no longer issue invitation letters, as they used to last year. They have been told by consular officials that these letters are not helpful unless specifically requested by them.

I have grandparents and siblings back home. Hopefully, it'll be enough to convince them that they'll return back.

yeah, this is so strange. How will the consular know that the person is infact graduating. Anyway good luck.

I have an updated I-20 for post-comp. OPT, and the end date is May 2018. This is an indication that I'm completing school.

कन्सुलरको पहिलो प्रश्न:

 छोराले यत्रो वर्ष के गर्यो ? ८, ९ वर्षमा ग्राजुएसन सकाएछ | घण्टा हान्दै बस्यो यत्रो वर्ष ?

Their visa was denied under 124(B), which is issue with Non-Immigrant Intent, I guess.
They didn't ask for any specific documents, they asked a bunch of questions about work, family, properties, and so on, and then gave them a 124(B) denial. They said that almost all, except a rare few (mostly 60+ aged people), were denied Visa. Just giving heads up to people whose relatives are applying.

Nz2000 सारै दुख लाग्यो | यो साला पाखण्डी ट्रंप आएदेखि धेरै denial छ रे सुनेको | कन्सुलर नि सब नयाँ आका छन् रे, अस्ति भर्खर मात्रै महाराजगन्जमा १५ वर्ष देखि काम गरेका एक बुडा नेपाली स्यकुरिती गार्डलाई समेत फ़ाइर गरेछन |

what the fuck is american embassy in nepal doing , they are giving student visas to people who can't even afford an education in the US and rejecting innocent old people who show intent to return. SAD NEWS BRO, TELL THEM TO TRY ONCE AGAIN.

My parent's visa was denied first time. Surprisingly their visa application was accepted second time. I was not expecting that as my graduation ceremony had already been passed by 3 weeks. I had to force my parents for the second interview because they were sure that they weren’t not going to get visa.