Bringing parents over/buying a house?

[Collie 122]

Hi everyone,

What sort of process would my United Kingdom parents have to go through in order to gain permanent residency? I know that I have to do my citizenship first (just recently had a baby, so had to put citizenship on hold temporarily ).

My parents have put an offer in on a house here that they like. They seen it when they visited us 2 years ago when it was being built and its still on the market now. How easy is it for them to buy the house (cash offer) and to use it as a vacation home while they are going the permanent residency process? How long would they legally be able to stay in the US on vacation?

If anyone has done this process, I would love to hear your comments.

Thanks!

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi everyone,

What sort of process would my United Kingdom parents have to go through in order to gain permanent residency? I know that I have to do my citizenship first (just recently had a baby, so had to put citizenship on hold temporarily ).

My parents have put an offer in on a house here that they like. They seen it when they visited us 2 years ago when it was being built and its still on the market now. How easy is it for them to buy the house (cash offer) and to use it as a vacation home while they are going the permanent residency process? How long would they legally be able to stay in the US on vacation?

If anyone has done this process, I would love to hear your comments.

Thanks!

To gain permanent residency, you can petition your parents once you become a US citizen. You start by filing form I-130.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...arents-overview

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...gration-parents

Your parents are free to buy the house. The US has no prohibition on foreign nationals owning residential homes.

If your parents are citizens of the U.K., then they are free to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). So long as they meet all the requirements under the VWP, they will not need tourist visas to enter the US. They would be allow to travel up to 90 days within the US on any one visit. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html

Edited July 5, 2009 by aaron2020

[Collie 122]

Thanks Aaron,

I appreciate the quick reply:)

[TayRivers 4]

Just be aware that if they are coming to the US more than 2 visits a year the CBP may refuse them entry on the grounds that they are spending more time in the USA than in the UK.

They should aim to spend the same time outside the USA as they spent in it. So if they come for the full 90 days allowed on the VWP then they should return to the UK and not attempt to come back for at least 90 days.

If your parents are planning to move here once you become a citizen, Make sure you look into the cost of medical insurance here in the USA as it is very expensive for over 65's who do not get medicare. My Parents will be paying $1054 a month for their medical insurance and that is the cheapest I could get for them. They will not be allowed to just go back to the UK for treatment under the NHS, unless they were to move back to the UK permanently.

If you need more info about who things work for UK parents here in the US just let me know and I will try to help.

Edited July 6, 2009 by TayRivers

[Collie 122]

Thank you Tay for your reply but I am not quite sure who you are using for your parents medical care as that is crazy expensive. My parents are in their 50's and in good health but we have already discussed the technicalities and my husband or I could put them on our insurance. Realistically however it will cost them a fraction of your figure to get insurance (already got estimates).

With regards to the NHS, they will remain British citizens (as will I and my daughter) so we can certainly use the NHS, as I have done before on a visit back to the UK whilst living in the US.

I don't believe that they fully want to retire. They are too active to do that!

[TayRivers 4]

Thank you Tay for your reply but I am not quite sure who you are using for your parents medical care as that is crazy expensive. My parents are in their 50's and in good health but we have already discussed the technicalities and my husband or I could put them on our insurance. Realistically however it will cost them a fraction of your figure to get insurance (already got estimates).

With regards to the NHS, they will remain British citizens (as will I and my daughter) so we can certainly use the NHS, as I have done before on a visit back to the UK whilst living in the US.

I don't believe that they fully want to retire. They are too active to do that!

My employer insurance does not allow for parents only spouse and children still in education. The insurance I have arranged for my Parents is with Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA.

Yes you and your parents will remain UK citizens as I and my parents will. As for the NHS you need to check your information out again.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY FOR HOSPITAL TREATMENT WHILST HERE?

Hospital treatment is free to people who live lawfully in the United Kingdom (UK). If you do not normally live here and you do not meet one of the exemptions from charges then you will have to pay for treatment you might need. This is regardless of whether you are a British citizen or have lived or worked here in the past or have been issued with an HC2 certificate.

IF YOU ARE NOT COVERED BY ANY OF THE EXEMPTION CATEGORIES LISTED IN THIS LEAFLET IT IS ADVISABLE TO ENSURE YOU HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH INSURANCE TO COVER THE DURATION OF YOUR STAY IN THE UK.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitle...sable/DH_074379

[Richard-UK 2]

Hi everyone,

What sort of process would my United Kingdom parents have to go through in order to gain permanent residency? I know that I have to do my citizenship first (just recently had a baby, so had to put citizenship on hold temporarily ).

My parents have put an offer in on a house here that they like. They seen it when they visited us 2 years ago when it was being built and its still on the market now. How easy is it for them to buy the house (cash offer) and to use it as a vacation home while they are going the permanent residency process? How long would they legally be able to stay in the US on vacation?

If anyone has done this process, I would love to hear your comments.

Thanks!

Hey Collie

We made the decision to move to the US last August following the birth of our Grandson. My daughter applied (in September 2008) for citizenship and this was completed in April 2009. She sent in our I-130 the same day and we are now about 9 weeks or so into the process.

We purchased our house in October 2008. It was extrememly easy compared to the trauma of house purchase in the UK.

As we were sending documents backwards and forwards the whole thing took 3 weeks, which I was told was a week longer than usual!

We appointed our daughter with Power of Attorney which enabled her to sign and pay for most things (using MY bank account!) and collect our keys.

The utility companies asked first for Social Security number but settled for email scans of UK Passport and Driving Licence. The power company insisted of a $200 deposit, refundable after 12 months. The way things are going we will be able to use that for our arrival party!

We transferred the money from our UK account to the US account through the banking system. It was there within 12 hours.

If there is any other info I can give you please do not hesitate to ask. It's not often I have relevant information to help on this forum so I am pleased to assist!

Best wishes

Richard

Edited July 8, 2009 by Richard-UK

[Syena 0]

Hi

I have been reading this board and the information here has helped a lot. I'm glad a friend told me about this site.

With regards to insurance, that is the one area I am having issues for my Mum who I am in the process of sponsoring over (I will fill in the other info shortly). Because she is older than 65 I can't get any regular insurance for her as most companies don't seem to insure people over 65 because they generally go on to medicare. My husband and I can not add her to our insurance either.

I did find some immigrant insurance that will cover her for the 5 years she needs before going on to Medicare and the cost doesn't seem too bad, but once she is eligible for Medicare the cost is almost $1000 a month which is just crazy but that is the way it works.

If anyone has any info that may help out in this area it would be greatly appreciated. Here is the link to the insurance I found just incase anyone needs it:

http://www.buyamericaninsurance.com/piu/th...an/brochure.jsp

[TayRivers 4]

Hi

I have been reading this board and the information here has helped a lot. I'm glad a friend told me about this site.

With regards to insurance, that is the one area I am having issues for my Mum who I am in the process of sponsoring over (I will fill in the other info shortly). Because she is older than 65 I can't get any regular insurance for her as most companies don't seem to insure people over 65 because they generally go on to medicare. My husband and I can not add her to our insurance either.

I did find some immigrant insurance that will cover her for the 5 years she needs before going on to Medicare and the cost doesn't seem too bad, but once she is eligible for Medicare the cost is almost $1000 a month which is just crazy but that is the way it works.

If anyone has any info that may help out in this area it would be greatly appreciated. Here is the link to the insurance I found just incase anyone needs it:

http://www.buyamericaninsurance.com/piu/th...an/brochure.jsp

She wont get medicare unless she has enough SS credits to cover it, she would need 40 quarters or 10 years of work to get the required credits. She can buy into medicare for part A it is $443.00 per month and she would then need Part B coverage (Medicare Suplimental Insurance) or she can take out individual insurance. Try Blue Cross Blue Sheild thay will insure over 65's that do not qualify for medicare. Be very careful with immigrant health insurance as there are lots of loopholes for them to get out of paying and not all doctors or hospitals will take that insurance, some of these immigrant insurance companies make you pay the bill first then claim it back after the fact.

[Syena 0]

Thanks for the reply Tay.

I did research the whole medicare process which is why it will cost her around $1000 a month as she will have to buy part A and B but she can't do that until she has lived here for 5 years.

I also called around all the main insurance companies and for some reason Texas insurance companies don't seem to insure people over 65 and noone seems to know of anyone that does. For some reason Texas seems to have a lot of stipulations.

[TayRivers 4]

Thanks for the reply Tay.

I did research the whole medicare process which is why it will cost her around $1000 a month as she will have to buy part A and B but she can't do that until she has lived here for 5 years.

I also called around all the main insurance companies and for some reason Texas insurance companies don't seem to insure people over 65 and noone seems to know of anyone that does. For some reason Texas seems to have a lot of stipulations.

Wow I am sure glad we dont live in Texas, You need to move to Massachusetts, medical insurance is mandatory so all the insurance companies have to offer Health Insurance to all, they cant exclude pre-existing conditions or over 65's, Its not cheap but it is available.