Urgent advice needed

[Mehmet&Elena 20]

Hello,

My mother-in-law has a tourist visa. She came to visit us last summer. Now she has stage 4 cancer and my wife would like to bring her the United States so we take care of her in our home. Her doctor in Ukraine said all you can do now is keep her comfortable. So my question is will they let her into the country at the port of entry? My wife will be traveling with her. What should they say at the port of entry?

My wife is the only one who can take care of her. We are also in the middle of lifting conditions on her green card. So she needs to return within 6 months, or perhaps sooner.

Thank you in advance

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

Mother can come for a visit, but she cannot stay here, she would need to return to the Ukraine when her 6 months on the tourist visa (or however long she is being given) is up. Additionally, if she looks seriously sick/ needs special accomodation during the flight, immigration may not let her in for fear that she will stay and/ or accrue large medical bills.

Keep in mind that she would need to pay for any medical bills, hospital stay etc while in the USA, and those costs will build up very very quickly, even if it is just visits to get more pain killers or hospice/ palliative care. A better option may be to get her good medical care in the Ukraine and visit often.

[Boiler 45,979]

Agreed, US is not a good place to be if you are ill and do not have serious savings.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

A month in just hospital bed will set you back close to 100000 and it will be on YOU to cover these bill because your MIL is not the responsibility of the taxpayers. Most likely she will be denied entry for fear that she will run up bills. It would be best if your wife travels so your MIL can pass in the company of her life long friends.

[aaron2020 11,651]

It's extremely unlikely that your MIL will be allowed into the US. The simple reason is that US taxpayers do not want to pay her medical bills. A person with stage 4 cancer will need some medical care. If she can show that she can pay for her potential medical care, then that shouldn't be a problem.

[Boiler 45,979]

She has a visa and its not as if they are going to ask about her Medical history at the POE.

Travel Insurance would be a major ask.

[aaron2020 11,651]

She has a visa and its not as if they are going to ask about her Medical history at the POE.

Travel Insurance would be a major ask.

And what is her reason for traveling to the US? How would you suggest she answer that? With a vague "visiting" my daughter?

So, CBP is not aware that people try to "immigrate" their elderly relatives to the US?

By the way, do you know that Emergency Medicaid would probably pay for her hospital visits and we would all be on the hook for it?

Don't you think that CBP has encountered this type of situation before?

[Boiler 45,979]

They let my Mum in without a second question, she had to come off the plane in a wheelchair.

[Boggy1974 124]

They let my Mum in without a second question, she had to come off the plane in a wheelchair.

Same with my MIL - CBP let her in with no more that two (2) questions asked!