Getting the Ball Rolling
Alright, so my sibling moved to New Jersey permanently last year, and man, I really missed them. Figured it was time to apply for that family reunion visa to visit properly. Started digging around online, totally overwhelmed by government jargon at first. Found the official immigration website – that’s your golden ticket, forget random blogs.
Step 1: Tackling the DS-260 Form
First thing? I filled out that monster DS-260 application online. Took me three evenings! Grabbed my passport, my sibling’s green card details, even dug out dusty family photos from 2010. Double-checked every single box – spilled coffee once and almost ruined everything. Made backups like my life depended on it.
Step 2: Hunting Down Documents
Then came document hell. Needed:
- My birth certificate (had to request a new copy from my hometown office)
- Sibling’s birth certificate proving same parents (thank god Mom kept it)
- Sibling’s US tax returns (they emailed PDFs)
- My bank statements (printed six months’ worth)
- That awkward notarized invitation letter from them
Stapled everything into color-coded folders like a paranoid squirrel. Worth it though.
Step 3: Medical Stuff & Interview Prep
Booked the medical exam at an approved clinic. They jabbed me with vaccines – arm hurt for days. Then practiced interview questions with my partner pretending to be a stone-faced officer. Questions like:
- “Why do you want to go?” (Uh… to see family?)
- “Will you work there?” (Hell no!)
- “When will you return?” (Showed my job contract)
D-Day at the Embassy
Interview day was nerve-wracking. Arrived two hours early, security confiscated my phone. Waited in sweaty plastic chairs for 90 minutes. Officer only asked three things:
- Relationship to my sibling?
- My job back home?
- Planned trip duration?
Handed over my fat folder. Got a “visa approved” sticky note 48 hours later – actually screamed in my kitchen.
Final Takeaways
What worked:
- Using ONLY official sources
- Triple-checking dates/names
- Showing strong home country ties (job, property)
Messed up my first passport photo – ears weren’t visible. Cost me two weeks. Don’t be like me. If your documents are rock solid and you’re honest? That visa’s totally within reach.
