visitor visa multiple entry

[qmoorthy]

My parents got multiple entry visitor visa to us. They travelled once to usa and stayed for 5 months and went back, and haven't come back for 8 years.

I would like to know if they have a valid multiple entry visitor visa(i can get new multi entry visitor visa, if the old expires) , if they travel for less than 6 months to USA and leave a gap of 6 months and return back to USA for India, will there be any extra scrutiny every other 6 months visit to USA? Or even if there is extra questions at the port of entry to USA  , its easy to entry USA since they kept the ask for visitor visa that they have to be out of USA for 6 months?

[JoeF]

Generally, visitors need to be more at home than in the US. The rule of thumb is that they should stay at least twice the duration at home that they were in the US.

[qmoorthy]

What if they are in some other country(other than US or home country) for 6 months and then in home country for 6 months, before coming to USA? They stayed away from US for twice the amount? Hope they don't care if they spend that time all in home country, as long as its outside US?

[lovely]

Outside the US is fine...doesn't necessarily be home country, check within the forum they had a family with children located in Australia, UK & US, their parents visited US multiple times within limited ~6month stay and were in UK & Australia for remaining time. You need to be able to establish family ties or financial proof that you could stay out of US.