Questions about bringing parents to USA

[SkruDe 311]

Hello,

 

My wife is going through her Naturalization process now for Citizenship.  In 5-11 months we anticipate her to have her citizenship, and she would like to bring her parents to the USA.  The information for this process seems kinda of vague to me, so I had some questions:

 

1.) If both my wife's parents live and reside in Colombia, it means we file (2) I-130 forms, one for each parent. When does the I-485 come into play, does it ever come into play? 

 

2.) I read that the I-130 gets the parent a passport stamp allowing them to work in the USA until they receive a greencard, so does that mean the I-485 gets submitted after they arrive in USA? Or does the I-130 take it's place entirely?

 

3.) When does the I-864 come into play? During the I-130 process? Or during a I-485 process for each parent?

 

4.) Can 1 US Citizen (my wife) petition for both parents at the same time?

 

The information on what happens after submitting the I-130 is a little scarce, so I had lots of open questions. 

 

Last thing I'd like to add here is what I believe is the process, and was hoping someone can confirm or tell me what is wrong, or add in what I am missing:

 

1.) File I-130 for each parent ($535 x 2 = $1,070)

2.) Doctors Appt in Colombia for each parent using I-693 (cost up to the approved USCIS doctor)

3.) If I-130 approved, appointment at US Embassy in Colombia for Passport Stamp/Visa to enter USA.

4.) Travel to USA

5.) File I-485 for each parent ($1,225 for each parent = $2,450)

6.) Work in USA permitted with proof of stamp/visa in passport? (Parents can work while I-485 is in processing?)

7.) I-485 Biometrics Appt for each parent

8.) I-485 Interview and Approval for each parent

 

Is that the complete process?  What am I missing?  I'm okay with little details, I want to be as informed as possible.

 

Thank you!!

[Crazy Cat 41,845]

1.  There is no I-485 for consular processing. I-485s are only for adjusting status of people already inside the US.

2.  See #1 above

3.  The I-864s will be submitted at the NVC stage of the process.  

4.  Yes. Two separate I-130s.  Two separate cases.

These will IR-5 cases.  Once they enter the US with a valid IR-5 visa, they will be legal residents.  There will be no I-485s.

Edited March 17, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

23 minutes ago, SkruDe said:

I read that the I-130 gets the parent a passport stamp allowing them to work in the USA until they receive a greencard

You have this slightly confused. The i130 gets them an immigrant visa. When the immigrant visa is stamped on entry, it becomes a temporary green card that they can use for proof of legal permanent residence until their plastic green cards arrive. They are LPRs as soon as they arrive. No i485 at any stage during their process.

 

 

Edited March 17, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

Read this 

 

[SkruDe 311]

Thanks for the replies.  I did not realize how easy and cheap it was to bring her parents over. I was expecting a lot more, and the I-485, etc.  This is good to know.  Thank you

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 hours ago, SkruDe said:

Hello,

 

My wife is going through her Naturalization process now for Citizenship.  In 5-11 months we anticipate her to have her citizenship, and she would like to bring her parents to the USA.  The information for this process seems kinda of vague to me, so I had some questions:

 

1.) If both my wife's parents live and reside in Colombia, it means we file (2) I-130 forms, one for each parent. When does the I-485 come into play, does it ever come into play? 

 

2.) I read that the I-130 gets the parent a passport stamp allowing them to work in the USA until they receive a greencard, so does that mean the I-485 gets submitted after they arrive in USA? Or does the I-130 take it's place entirely?

 

3.) When does the I-864 come into play? During the I-130 process? Or during a I-485 process for each parent?

 

4.) Can 1 US Citizen (my wife) petition for both parents at the same time?

 

The information on what happens after submitting the I-130 is a little scarce, so I had lots of open questions. 

 

Last thing I'd like to add here is what I believe is the process, and was hoping someone can confirm or tell me what is wrong, or add in what I am missing:

 

1.) File I-130 for each parent ($535 x 2 = $1,070)

2.) Doctors Appt in Colombia for each parent using I-693 (cost up to the approved USCIS doctor)

3.) If I-130 approved, appointment at US Embassy in Colombia for Passport Stamp/Visa to enter USA.

4.) Travel to USA

5.) File I-485 for each parent ($1,225 for each parent = $2,450)

6.) Work in USA permitted with proof of stamp/visa in passport? (Parents can work while I-485 is in processing?)

7.) I-485 Biometrics Appt for each parent

8.) I-485 Interview and Approval for each parent

 

Is that the complete process?  What am I missing?  I'm okay with little details, I want to be as informed as possible.

 

Thank you!!

Hi,

 

Her parents will not be adjusting status inside the US with an I-485.  They will go through consular processing requiring a DS-260.

 

1.  Separate I-130 for each parent.  I-485 does not come into play.

2.  The I-130 starts the immigration process.  Once USCIS approves the I-130, it's sent to the NVC.  At the NVC, you pay the DS-260 and I-864 fees, then file more paperwork.  Once immigrant visa interviews are scheduled in Columbia, the parents goes for their medical exams and then their interview.  Then they pay the $220 immigrant fee to receive their plastic green cards after immigrating to the US.  Upon entering the US with their immigrant visas, they automatically become legal permanent residents.

3. The I-864 comes into play at the NVC and at their interview.

4.  Yes, your wife can file for both parents at the same time.

[SkruDe 311]

Just now, aaron2020 said:

Hi,

 

Her parents will not be adjusting status inside the US with an I-485.  They will go through consular processing requiring a DS-260.

 

1.  Separate I-130 for each parent.  I-485 does not come into play.

2.  The I-130 starts the immigration process.  Once USCIS approves the I-130, it's sent to the NVC.  At the NVC, you pay the DS-260 and I-864 fees, then file more paperwork.  Once immigrant visa interviews are scheduled in Columbia, the parents goes for their medical exams and then their interview.  Then they pay the $220 immigrant fee to receive their plastic green cards after immigrating to the US.  Upon entering the US with their immigrant visas, they automatically become legal permanent residents.

3. The I-864 comes into play at the NVC and at their interview.

4.  Yes, your wife can file for both parents at the same time.

Thank you very much. Very detailed, question specific response.  I appreciate it greatly.

[SkruDe 311]

7 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Hi,

 

Her parents will not be adjusting status inside the US with an I-485.  They will go through consular processing requiring a DS-260.

 

1.  Separate I-130 for each parent.  I-485 does not come into play.

2.  The I-130 starts the immigration process.  Once USCIS approves the I-130, it's sent to the NVC.  At the NVC, you pay the DS-260 and I-864 fees, then file more paperwork.  Once immigrant visa interviews are scheduled in Columbia, the parents goes for their medical exams and then their interview.  Then they pay the $220 immigrant fee to receive their plastic green cards after immigrating to the US.  Upon entering the US with their immigrant visas, they automatically become legal permanent residents.

3. The I-864 comes into play at the NVC and at their interview.

4.  Yes, your wife can file for both parents at the same time.

 

Last question, that DS-260 Fee and I-864 Fee is a combined fee of $445 I've found.  So, I'm assuming that is PER parent? Not both parents together?

[jskibo 588]

48 minutes ago, SkruDe said:

 

Last question, that DS-260 Fee and I-864 Fee is a combined fee of $445 I've found.  So, I'm assuming that is PER parent? Not both parents together?

If you're filing both at the same time then one I-864 fee will cover both, but two DS260 fees.

 

Expect quite a wait as the category has ben banned for a year and just recently opened so large backlog of cases.  Wife's parents Priority date is July 2019 and not even DQ'd yet

Edited March 17, 2021 by jskibo

[SkruDe 311]

11 minutes ago, jskibo said:

If you're filing both at the same time then one I-864 fee will cover both, but two DS260 fees.

 

Expect quite a wait as the category has ben banned for a year and just recently opened so large backlog of cases.  Wife's parents Priority date is July 2019 and not even DQ'd yet

Thank you for the insight.

 

My wife is still in the N-400 process for citizenship, so this isn't something we'll be doing this year.  It's a next year thing, but I wanted to get a head start with arming myself with knowledge. A lot can happen in a year, so we'll see how this all sits a year from now.  But thank you very much for your insight

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

2 hours ago, SkruDe said:

Thanks for the replies.  I did not realize how easy and cheap it was to bring her parents over. I was expecting a lot more, and the I-485, etc.  This is good to know.  Thank you

Cheap to get them here, sure. Cheap once they are here, maybe, hopefully they are still of working age and have enough time to be able to contribute for full Medicare down the line.

[Lil bear 4,200]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

Cheap to get them here, sure. Cheap once they are here, maybe, hopefully they are still of working age and have enough time to be able to contribute for full Medicare down the line.

Well said. They need to be able to work for 10 years and get Ss and Medicare .. unless you plan on covering their health costs and self insuring  them out of your pockets

[SkruDe 311]

5 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Cheap to get them here, sure. Cheap once they are here, maybe, hopefully they are still of working age and have enough time to be able to contribute for full Medicare down the line.

Great thoughts here!  Something many people I am sure don't even give a thought to (medicare/SS).  Luckily in my case, yes, each parent has over 10+ years of working years left.  But gosh, yes, I can see how that could really be financially impactful to sponsors/petitioners if they don't.  Great point!!!

[Illiria 980]

3 hours ago, SkruDe said:

Great thoughts here!  Something many people I am sure don't even give a thought to (medicare/SS).  Luckily in my case, yes, each parent has over 10+ years of working years left.  But gosh, yes, I can see how that could really be financially impactful to sponsors/petitioners if they don't.  Great point!!!

It’s good they will be of an age where continuing to work isn’t an issue, plus you are planning ahead not just finding this insurance stuff after they have their visas in hand. 
 

Do they speak/read/write English well? If not (or if a bit rusty) they could use the time from now until they immigrate for them to brush up on it and plus any work skills they will need here (accreditation/computer/anything that will give them a boost in the job market) to give them the best chance at jobs with benefits that will see them through to having enough credits to retire. 
 

Best of luck to them and your wife. 

[Boiler 45,482]

The other factor will be Retirement, hopefully they have enough savings and will not need to rely on you as unless they have high wage earning potential they will not have enough time working in the US to build up such savings.