<p>I posted this thread in the wrong area earlier…I think Cafe is a better place for this topic than Forum. Sorry for double posting but here goes.</p>
<p>I am in the process of filling up a financial support form (I-134) so that my sis can visit me for 2 months during the next Summer.</p>
<p>The problem with this form is that I have to disclose ALL my financial information (salary, savings, stocks, bonds etc)… it wouldn’t be much of a problem disclosing all this information if I had to hand it over to US Consulate in India directly. The problem is that I have to provide this form to the applicant who has to submit the form together with her tourist visa application to the consulate.</p>
<p>Knowing how things work in India, I am really afraid that once she gets this form, all my financial details are as good as ‘public knowledge’ in the entire close-knit community.</p>
<p>As much as I value my privacy, I do want my Sis to visit me (this will be her first visit to US!) Any of you have advice on how to resolve this predicament?</p>
<p>My understanding is that it has to be delivered by the applicant to the US Consulate. I posted a response on the other thread that may be helpful.</p>
<p>Could the documents be sent in a sealed envelope, signed across the flap, to be opened only by the consular officers? Or does the sib needs to fill out the forms using information contained in the documents?</p>
<p>Pharmagal, wow. What kind of visa is she applying for? Just a tourist visa? Things must have changed dramatically, because I have not heard that someone had to provide such a detailed info. Our friends frequently invite their Eastern European relatives and friends, and all they had to do in the past was to write a simple letter to a US Consulate saying that they would support the visitor here in the US. No financial forms were needed.</p>
<p>I like marite’s suggestion of a sealed envelope. Tell your sister that it is a requirement to have it sealed.</p>
<p>Thanks so much to all of you for your responses.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner, The forms are for tourist visa from India. US consulate does not give an option for on line submission, unfortunately. I have to divulge my salary, ALL my savings, stocks, bonds, how much my property is worth today, and a letter of employment from my company reiterating my salary numbers. </p>
<p>Again, I don’t mind doing the above provided it’s for the benefit of the visa officer only.</p>
<p>I like Marite’s idea of sealing the envelope. I am going to try it. I am required to get these papers notarized before mailing. So, today I asked a local notary Public. She informed me that she can seal the envelope and stamp it “To be opened by US Consulate General only” right on the flap. This way, I have some chance that the forms may remain enclosed…although it depends on the recepient (my sis) honoring my wish to keep them sealed. US Consulate doesn’t require that these documents to be submitted in a sealed fashion. So, if she opened up the envelope before applying, I have no way of knowing whether she honored my wish or not.</p>
<p>The worst part of them knowing our salary, I am afraid, is that it gives rise to unnecessary envy from many who have no clue of our cost of living and will likely give rise to a slew of spontaneous requests from a dozen or so relatives for financial support for their kids… I just have to brace myself up for this I guess.</p>
<p>Living in a close knit community in India is exactly like what’s depicted in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” IMO… I see that movie and it reminds me of Bangalore! </p>
<p>I wish US Immigration gave the option of submitting these applications on line. That would have been ideal. This option does exist for some visas but not for Travel visas from India unfortunately.</p>
<p>Pharmagal, a quick scan of the INS (or whatever they are called now :rolleyes:) website tells me that I-134 is not required for a non-immigrant visitor visa application. Did your lawyer suggest it? It is usually needed when someone is going to sponsor an immigrant visa applicant. A short letter from my friends addressed to the US Consulate saying that they were both employed full time, owned a house, never helped anyone defect to the US and would love to see their relatives was enough. If your sister needs proof of financial support here in the US, may be you can get a letter from your employer stating that you are employed as such and such and include that instead of the massive FAFSA-like document?</p>
<p>I agree, I’d be scared to divulge my full personal financial info to my or my H’s relatives. There are good reasons for such things to be kept private.</p>
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