I-130 for Parents

[E&K 0]

I'm planning on applying for US residency for both my parents, and I was wondering if you could help me find out a few things about the process

1) They are both outside if the US, but have visitor visas that would allow them to come here while their green cards are in process, does anybody know if there is a big difference in processing times between being in or out if the US while their green cards are in process? also, they are from Mexico, would they need to go to Juarez for their Interview? and other than travel expenses are there extra fees they would need to pay by staying outside the US during the process?

2) would they be allowed to use their visas to come by land (they live in the border area with the US) while their cards are in process?

3) Their marriage and my birth certificates are not in English, will I be able to translate them myself?

Thank You!!!

[NorrisSF 16]

Hey there. answers in Bold but just so I don't lose track of what you're asking.

1)they are both outside if the US, but have visitor visas that would allow them to come here while their green cards are in process, does anybody know if there is a big difference in processing times between being in or out if the US while their green cards are in process? also, they are from Mexico, would they need to go to Juarez for their Interview? and other than travel expenses are there extra fees they would need to pay by staying outside the US during the process?

-In the past, consular processing was a quicker way to obtain a green card... now it is basically "the same amount of time" unless u can expedite processing.

-you have to pay USCIS for I-130, after that's been approved. an 88 USD fee has to be paid for "affidavit of support", plus IV billing (name not at the top of my head right now so... don't pay too much attention to that but yes there's 2 more payments after USCIS fee wise). And have to pay for medical examination in one of the designated hospitals in Juarez :s. which varies but I've read that it's about 300USD so... be prepared with that... plus it's the whole going to Juarez for 5 days(depends on how you schedule stuff) because you have to set up appointments with the hospital, biometrics at consulate (specific area at consulate I think it's called ASL),

2) would they be allowed to use their visas to come by land (they live in the border area with the US) while their cards are in process?

Yes they would, but they have to show real ties to Mexico, (pay stubs, rent contract, water bill, etc etc) and convince the officer at the Port of entry that they are only visiting. (hence properly using their B1/B2 visas). I've done it at least 3 times and the last time the officer was a little "jumpy" because I was entering the country "too often" (even though he didn't bother to corelate entries to mexico with entries to the US that would clearly show him that I was only visiting for shorts periods of time and Clearly not living in the US)

3) Their marriage and my birth certificates are not in English, will I be able to translate them myself?

not sure about this one... here's the consulate link... looking up that answer myself... so... if you find it before me... let me know

http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/immigrant_visas.html

Hope it helps!

[matthewmaria 3]

as long as you are a competent translator yes you can translate it your self. there is a certification of translator's competence you can put at the bottom and sign. message me if you can't find the language.

family type visas (k1, k2, ir1 ir2 ) are only held at Juarez. above poster is right - about 5-6 days total. Have the visas sent to juarez lockbox if you can. they can cross over into san antonio if you wanted. call sun city taxi, ask for victor. costs about 60-90 bucks to get them there

IF you wanted to you could do medical and fingerprints 2 days before interview. Day 1, have them in line before 6 am for medical, they will be told to return after 2 pm for their results. You could have fingerprints scheduled for 1 pm ( fingerprints take about 15 minutes), then go back and get results. have a spare day in case something went wrong with medical. day 3 you are doing interview. Once approved, you can oftentimes get visa within 3 days (although they tell you 2 weeks)

asc is the name of where they get their fingerprints. Costs will vary depending on vaccinations.

here's a cool chart that explains which ones you have to take. this same chart is in the medical servicios center. it's confusing at first because they are age dependent. Which means, for example, if they are over 65 there are certain vaccinations they won't get because they are too old and ones they must show proof of or they have to receive before entering.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule.pdf

if they don't have proof of vaccinations, they will have to get them obviously.

IF they have to get vaccinations, here's what they cost

http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Medical/MEP%20-%20Ciudad%20Juarez.pdf

[E&K 0]

Thank you for taking the time to help me out :-)

I did go to Juarez for my K1 Visa interview and did the whole Medical Exam-Interview thing, but they moved the consulate to a new address since I went there, and wasn't sure if the timing and requirements were the same. They did take my fingerprints too, but they did it at the consulate right before my interview so I think that's something they changed since I was there. I do remember there were a few things different for K1s, and I think the vaccination requirements were one of them since I wasn't required to send them in until I applied for my AOS, so thank you for sending me the information on that as well :-)

If you don't mind me asking, do they require police reports for the I-130s? if so, where would they get them? would they need to be translated as well?

Also, any recommendations on were to stay while in Juarez?

Thanks!!!