Following-to-Join Benefits

[butiki2 0]

as soon as my wife got her citizenship we petitioned he parents. it took about 1 year and they arrived (and got their green cards) this summer. unfortunately they left 3 children behind. i was wondering if they could use Following-to-Join Benefits to petition these children. i dont mind filling a i-824 for them but i would rather not spend the money if this benefit does not apply to her parents (based on their preference) any suggestions?

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

How old are the children?

[aleful 1,905]

as soon as my wife got her citizenship we petitioned he parents. it took about 1 year and they arrived (and got their green cards) this summer. unfortunately they left 3 children behind. i was wondering if they could use Following-to-Join Benefits to petition these children. i dont mind filling a i-824 for them but i would rather not spend the money if this benefit does not apply to her parents (based on their preference) any suggestions?

in this case no because siblings aren't derivatives on parents petition. siblings are filed separatly.

so now her parents have to file a new petitions for their children

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

As LPR, it will take up to 3 to 4 for the children to visa available, if they are all under the age and un-married.

[butiki2 0]

How old are the children?

all three are under 21 (the youngest being seven). in the past i had friends who had brought there parents and the young children (young brothers and sisters) came with the parents. we didnt do that cause it seemed the rules had changed. it sems unfair to leave small children behind but rules are rules they dont have to be logical. anyway when we saw the Following-to-Join Benefits we thought this may be a way for my wife parent to get there other children here quickly

[butiki2 0]

As LPR, it will take up to 3 to 4 for the children to visa available, if they are all under the age and un-married.

3 to 4 years? no way to speed up for the young ones?

[aleful 1,905]

all three are under 21 (the youngest being seven). in the past i had friends who had brought there parents and the young children (young brothers and sisters) came with the parents. we didnt do that cause it seemed the rules had changed. it sems unfair to leave small children behind but rules are rules they dont have to be logical. anyway when we saw the Following-to-Join Benefits we thought this may be a way for my wife parent to get there other children here quickly

you're absolutly right, it's unfair, but immigration doesn't care about separating families.

Edited August 23, 2011 by aleful

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Ironically if you had petitioned for a sibling of yours to come then their spouse & minor children would qualify for derivative status (see link) but since they are your parents and the children are you siblings they don't (see link).

The amount of time it takes for LPR to bring minor children will depend on which country they are from.

[Anh map 2,098]

Not wanting to sound like a smartazz, there is no requirement that both the parents had to come now and the children remain in the home country. I understand that you believed there was follow to join opportunity.

The wait will be shorter for the parents to petition for the children than if your spouse petitioned for the siblings. Perhaps one parent stays in the US and the other stays with the children in the home country while the US based parent petitions for the kids. That may involve petitioning for the other parent again as well.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

you're absolutly right, it's unfair, but immigration doesn't care about separating families.

People make choices when they immigrate to the US. No one forces a family to separate. Some people can be petitioned for and others can not.

The parents did not have to immigrate to the US to be with their adult daughter. They could have chosen to stay with their minor children in their home country. No one force them to leave their children. They choose to immigrate to the US without their children.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Why does this becomes a US doesn't care about separating families argument, the US didn't separate them you and your wife did.

These people were surviving in their country for years without intervention, so where is the urgency.

[butiki2 0]

Why does this becomes a US doesn't care about separating families argument, the US didn't separate them you and your wife did.

These people were surviving in their country for years without intervention, so where is the urgency.

i am not blaming the us or anyone else all that i said is as a rule it doesnt make sense to me that when i have the financial means to support my inlaws and there children why they cant come along. shame on my inlaws for wanting to leave a corrupt third world country and come to a place where hard work is generally rewarded.

anyway i know your answer was just meant to start an argument, how pathetic some people are, they are full of big talk when hiding behind a keyboard but cowards when face to face.....

[butiki2 0]

Ironically if you had petitioned for a sibling of yours to come then their spouse & minor children would qualify for derivative status (see link) but since they are your parents and the children are you siblings they don't (see link).

The amount of time it takes for LPR to bring minor children will depend on which country they are from.

Thank to those of you who posted actual advice, it is truly appreciated!

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

i am not blaming the us or anyone else all that i said is as a rule it doesnt make sense to me that when i have the financial means to support my inlaws and there children why they cant come along. shame on my inlaws for wanting to leave a corrupt third world country and come to a place where hard work is generally rewarded.

anyway i know your answer was just meant to start an argument, how pathetic some people are, they are full of big talk when hiding behind a keyboard but cowards when face to face.....

There is no cowardness in my post, that same money that you say you have to support them financially in the US, can go along way in supporting them in their 3rd world country. If the youth of today strive to make a change in their owncountry, then maybe they can be the ones to change the corrupt within their own country.

It's you who thinks that what you have to offer them iz better than what they could possible achieve in their own country. This is why some many other countries feel that we the people of the US think we are of higher power than others.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

There is no cowardness in my post, that same money that you say you have to support them financially in the US, can go along way in supporting them in their 3rd world country. If the youth of today strive to make a change in their own country, then maybe they can be the ones to change the corrupt within their own country.

It's you who thinks that what you have to offer them is better than what they could possible achieve in their own country. This is why some many other countries feel that we the people of the US think we are of higher power than others.

My orginal statement was "stop blaming the US for decisions that you made". You can choose to support whomever you want, but the US isn't the one who is stopping you.