Fiancee wants her family to come to America too....

[JonasMichaels 0]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Edited October 31, 2008 by JonasMichaels

[toma1 10]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Yes, as far as family immigration goes, she has to wait until she becomes a citizen to sponsor her parents. You cannot do so. As far as the sister, same thing but the waiting period is MUCH longer than it is for a parent. 8-10 years. It will be faster for her to marry the other guy.

Edited October 31, 2008 by toma1

[JonasMichaels 0]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Yes, as far as family immigration goes, she has to wait until she becomes a citizen to sponsor her parents. You cannot do so. As far as the sister, same thing but the waiting period is MUCH longer than it is for a parent. 8-10 years. It will be faster for her to marry the other guy.

How long for a parent? Do you know? What about tourist visa, is that possible for mom?

Thanks

Jonas

[pushbrk 12,898]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Yes, as far as family immigration goes, she has to wait until she becomes a citizen to sponsor her parents. You cannot do so. As far as the sister, same thing but the waiting period is MUCH longer than it is for a parent. 8-10 years. It will be faster for her to marry the other guy.

How long for a parent? Do you know? What about tourist visa, is that possible for mom?

Thanks

Jonas

Several years for an immigrant visa for parent. A tourist visa from Vietnam is unlikely. If I were you, I'd set the expectation that the visiting will be done by you and your wife, not the other way around. Many of us are in the same boat.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Yes, as far as family immigration goes, she has to wait until she becomes a citizen to sponsor her parents. You cannot do so. As far as the sister, same thing but the waiting period is MUCH longer than it is for a parent. 8-10 years. It will be faster for her to marry the other guy.

How long for a parent? Do you know? What about tourist visa, is that possible for mom?

Thanks

Jonas

Here's the straight dope from a Vietnamese guy.

Some Vietnamese families encourage their daughters to marry foreign men to get out of poverty. Once the daughter is married, the groom is EXPECTED to take care of the family in Vietnam. Expect to send thousands if not tens of thousands to Vietnam for motorbikes, homes, televisions, etc.

You cannot petition for your sister-in-law or mother-in-law.

Your wife cannot petition for them until she is a US citizen; she can apply for US citizenship after having a green card for 3 years. It will take up to 18 months for her thereafter to get her US citizenship. Then it would be another year for her mom to get a green card. Total time = 5-6 years. Her sister will be over 21 by the time your wife gets her citizenship, so her wait would be an addition 8-9 years; total time = 14 years.

It's possible for your sister-in-law and mother-in-law to get tourist visas. However, you cannot "sponser" them. You can send a letter to them (not to the US consulate) inviting them to visit and stating that you would pay all their costs. If the US consulate deems that they have enough ties to Vietnam and are not risk to overstay in the US or have the intent to circumvent US immigration laws, they may be issued tourist visas. This is at the discretion of the consulate, so you cannot appeal the decision.

If I seem bitter, its not because I have been burned. I've witness my cousin marry off her daughter to a Vietnamese-American. The guy was the son of a family friend. The couple was engaged after two meetings. Married after 4 weeks. The marriage has been full of mental and physical abuse on both sides. The bride is now waiting to get her citizenship before seeking a divorce. Her family in Vietnam have been bugging her for money and when can she petition for the entire to come to the US. It has not been about love at all. After all of this, I have very little respect for my cousin and her family.

Edited October 31, 2008 by aaron2020

[Jasman0717 9]

Take a look at the visa bulletin, that should help: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_4371.html

The petitioner will need to be a U.S. citizen.

Edited October 31, 2008 by jasman0717

[pushbrk 12,898]

Sorry, not sure where this question goes, but my fiancee is stressing about her mom and sister and asking me the options once she arrives here.

What are the options for bringing my soon to be wife's family here? Will they have to wait until she is a legal u.s. citizen? Do I have any power to sponser them? Would they be better off trying to get a tourist visa? What are the options, if any, for her mom and sister who is 17?

Right now, her sister is dating an American, who plans on marrying her when she turns 18 ... but while this will get sis here, we worry alot about mom. She will have no one and be all alone there. Her mom is the most darling woman on earth but I don't think we can find anyone from the u.s. who will marry mom! haha

Thanks

Jonas

Yes, as far as family immigration goes, she has to wait until she becomes a citizen to sponsor her parents. You cannot do so. As far as the sister, same thing but the waiting period is MUCH longer than it is for a parent. 8-10 years. It will be faster for her to marry the other guy.

How long for a parent? Do you know? What about tourist visa, is that possible for mom?

Thanks

Jonas

Here's the straight dope from a Vietnamese guy.

Some Vietnamese families encourage their daughters to marry foreign men to get out of poverty. Once the daughter is married, the groom is EXPECTED to take care of the family in Vietnam. Expect to send thousands if not tens of thousands to Vietnam for motorbikes, homes, televisions, etc.

You cannot petition for your sister-in-law or mother-in-law.

Your wife cannot petition for them until she is a US citizen; she can apply for US citizenship after having a green card for 3 years. It will take up to 18 months for her thereafter to get her US citizenship. Then it would be another year for her mom to get a green card. Total time = 5-6 years. Her sister will be over 21 by the time your wife gets her citizenship, so her wait would be an addition 8-9 years; total time = 14 years.

It's possible for your sister-in-law and mother-in-law to get tourist visas. However, you cannot "sponser" them. You can send a letter to them (not to the US consulate) inviting them to visit and stating that you would pay all their costs. If the US consulate deems that they have enough ties to Vietnam and are not risk to overstay in the US or have the intent to circumvent US immigration laws, they may be issued tourist visas. This is at the discretion of the consulate, so you cannot appeal the decision.

If I seem bitter, its not because I have been burned. I've witness my cousin marry off her daughter to a Vietnamese-American. The guy was the son of a family friend. The couple was engaged after two meetings. Married after 4 weeks. The marriage has been full of mental and physical abuse on both sides. The bride is now waiting to get her citizenship before seeking a divorce. Her family in Vietnam have been bugging her for money and when can she petition for the entire to come to the US. It has not been about love at all. After all of this, I have very little respect for my cousin and her family.

Unfortunately, the OP's story does seem to match the scenario you presented. If the relationship is about getting her family to America instead of about a bona fide marriage, I'd cut my losses now. Time to have a heart to heart talk about priorities.

[Donna A 4]

sounds like the mom should find herself a american guy too. that way they all can come.

[Cham 3]

sounds like the mom should find herself a American guy too. that way they all can come.

Ya no doubt.

It makes me sad that People will use other people to get to the states. We have other ways to do that.

I do hope they will find out it is not bona fide IF this is the case. That is one reason why they changed the laws, But made it difficult for those who do have a bona fide relationship.

I agree with one poster that it does sound like the case and priorities need to be discussed.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Is the relationship about you and her being together to start a family of your own, or for you to support and bring her family to the US?

She's your fiancee and she is laying out her expectations for your relationship. You're in love and may not have thought about all the unintended baggage that you are getting yourself into.

[JonasMichaels 0]

Is the relationship about you and her being together to start a family of your own, or for you to support and bring her family to the US?

She's your fiancee and she is laying out her expectations for your relationship. You're in love and may not have thought about all the unintended baggage that you are getting yourself into.

I appreciate what you are saying but I love her mom as much as my own mom. Never met a woman this caring in my lifetime. To leave her in Vietnam alone just won't do as far as I am concerned. My fiancee knows my feelings on this, this is coming from me more than even her.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Is the relationship about you and her being together to start a family of your own, or for you to support and bring her family to the US?

She's your fiancee and she is laying out her expectations for your relationship. You're in love and may not have thought about all the unintended baggage that you are getting yourself into.

I appreciate what you are saying but I love her mom as much as my own mom. Never met a woman this caring in my lifetime. To leave her in Vietnam alone just won't do as far as I am concerned. My fiancee knows my feelings on this, this is coming from me more than even her.

That is not something USCIS cares about or has any bearing in the case at all.

People gave you accurate responses. You cannot petition for either. Your soon-to-be-wife has to become a citizen before sponsoring them; and those processes take way more than 1 year.

[TayRivers 4]

No one is saying you dont love your fiancee, but have you stopped to think is it you she is in love with or is she in love with the chance to get her whole family out of the country they live in. Have you thought about the costs involved with having an elderly relative who is financialy dependant on you? The cost of health care of a start is very expensive, the mother would have no entitlement to Medicare so you are looking at a personal medical insurance for people over 65 you are talking $600+ a month. Your joint income is going to have to be enough to sponsor her and in the 4 - 5 years it is going to take for your fiancee to become a citizen to be able to do this you could have 2 + kids so the amount you are going to need to sponsor mother is going to go up.

Of course you may well find that as soon as your fiancee has her greencard she move to love with sister who is also married to a USC. but remember that Divorce does not revoke the Affidavit of Support.

Just pointing they way things could be.

[bratikicks 0]

i agree to aaron2020 and pushbrk...

and the other one who said pity those those people who are just using other people just to go to states....

u're going to get married because of LOVE and start new life togther not taking all her family in states....

[Boiler 45,535]

The obvious solution would be for you to move to Vietnam.

Then everybody is happy.