Tourist Visa for Parents in the Philippines

[Boiler 45,467]

Permanent Resident is the clue, they can visit elsewhere.

[Bruin85 9]

Oh, ok. That makes sense. Sounds like applying for Permanent Resident for her parents would be better than a tourist visa because it would probably be easier for them to get approved and it would be permanent instead of for a finite amount of time, and they could still act like "tourists", instead of actually moving here.

[Boiler 45,467]

???

They would be resident in the US.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Permanent resident means permanent resident; use it or lose it.

[Bruin85 9]

Permanent resident means permanent resident; use it or lose it.

Do you mean that my wife's parents could visit the Philippines but they would have to actually live in the U.S.? Is there a specific rule that if you live outside the U.S. beyond a certain amount of time your permanent residency becomes invalid? Are you saying that if they don't plan on actually moving to the U.S. permanently, they should apply for a Tourist VISA instead? And just reapply each time they want to visit? Thanks for your help.

[MacUK 983]

Do you mean that my wife's parents could visit the Philippines but they would have to actually live in the U.S.? Is there a specific rule that if you live outside the U.S. beyond a certain amount of time your permanent residency becomes invalid? Are you saying that if they don't plan on actually moving to the U.S. permanently, they should apply for a Tourist VISA instead? And just reapply each time they want to visit? Thanks for your help.

It's a wonderful little quirk of US visa law.

They assume that absolutely everyone in the world wishes to live in the US so they deny people they feel have more reason to stay illegally and advise them to seek a green card.

So even though they only wish to briefly visit they are told they must go for permanent residency which would be lost if they don't spend the majority of their time in the US.

[Bruin85 9]

It's a wonderful little quirk of US visa law.

They assume that absolutely everyone in the world wishes to live in the US so they deny people they feel have more reason to stay illegally and advise them to seek a green card.

So even though they only wish to briefly visit they are told they must go for permanent residency which would be lost if they don't spend the majority of their time in the US.

Oh, ok. Thanks MacUK. After I read your post I did a search and found a thread from 2010 about a couple that was trying to bring their stepson over from Russia and wanted to use a green card instead of tourist visa even though their stepson didn't want to stay in the U.S. Now I understand. My wife's parents are in their 70's and have a farm and a couple houses in Northern Samar, Philippines, so hopefully that will be enough to get them approved for a tourist visa.