Bringing wife's son to the USA

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

[payxibka 10,047]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

When was the stepparent/stepson relationship created between you and your stepson? How old was he?

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

When was the stepparent/stepson relationship created between you and your stepson? How old was he?

I married my wife in the fall of 2007 so he would have 17.

[Oksana81 0]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

1. dual citizenship is possible.

2. If he gets a greencard, the expectation is that he should live in the US.

Edited November 9, 2009 by Oksana81

[payxibka 10,047]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

When was the stepparent/stepson relationship created between you and your stepson? How old was he?

I married my wife in the fall of 2007 so he would have 17.

Have you submitted an I-130 petition for him as well?

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

When was the stepparent/stepson relationship created between you and your stepson? How old was he?

I married my wife in the fall of 2007 so he would have 17.

Have you submitted an I-130 petition for him as well?

Not yet.

[payxibka 10,047]

I agree with previous posters that maintaining the residency will be difficult if he does not live here.... I doubt periodic "visits" will not be sufficient. You may wish to google "maintaining permanent residence" and see what the expectations are and possible pitfalls.

Dual citizenship does not even come into play as he needs to be a resident first... before a second citizenship can even be contemplated

Edited November 9, 2009 by payxibka

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

OK, he is a CR-2, sorry. Same basci guidelines, I presume you married his mother before he was age 18? That is an issue for the CR-2, it is issued up to age 21 BUT you have to have been married to his mother before he was age 18.

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

My Russian wife's son will soon finish his one year of service in the Russian Army. He is 19 years old. It is not yet fully clear if he will come to the USA to live with us. One issue is there is only a small window of opportunity to get him here, as I understand once he turns 21 it becomes difficult to get a legal resident visa.

I am wondering if we should go ahead a file for a permanent visa for him regardless of whether he actually decides to live here? Is it possible for him to have the visa yet live the majority of the time in Russia? Dual citizenship?

I am also wondering how long from start to finish to get his visa?

Has anyone dealt with this situation before?

We did this with our son who is a cllege student in Russia. He came as a K-2 to follow, adjusted staus during the summer and gt his green card and returned to Russia for college. He also has an AP. They WILL allow a student to do this and keep their residency. There are certain things you cannot do and keep your residency and Payixbka has given you that link.

He cannot become a citizen for 3 years, after maintaining permanent residency, and YES he can have a dual citizenship with Russia. The US has no opinion on this matter and Russia allows it.

If he really does not intend to live here (our son intends to live here, we just want him to finish his schooling in Moscow) then he may be better applying for a 5 year visitor visa after his mother is an LPR. This allows unlimited (within reason) visits for 90-180 days at a time.

Sorry, missed your last question, the K2 is applied for at the same time as the K-1 or within one year after that. You just make an interview date and go. No petition to file...that is the good thing about the K-2. Very easy, the waiting part is over.

OK, he is a CR-2, sorry. Same basci guidelines, I presume you married his mother before he was age 18? That is an issue for the CR-2, it is issued up to age 21 BUT you have to have been married to his mother before he was age 18.

Thanks fo your helpful reply. My wife's son was 17 when we married so I guess we're OK.

[payxibka 10,047]

Thanks fo your helpful reply. My wife's son was 17 when we married so I guess we're OK.

Yes, you are eligible to petition for him if that is what you mean.....