Moving Parent to the US from UK - Health & Step Dad Q

[catfrances 3]

Hi All, ☀️

 

I have had a look at the forums and can't find what I need, if anyone has some advice I would really appreciate it!

 

My brother and I are UK citizens and both live in seperate states of the US, I also became an American citizen 4 years ago and my brother is on a 10 year green card, he has been in the States I believe 20 years and is married to an American, they have a family. I have a daughter who was born in the States.

My questions are:

1) My mum is in the UK, she has been with her partner (who I consider my step dad) for 19 years but they never got married, they are both in their 70's and do not work. Is there any way to bring them both to the States if they are not married? 

2) I would love them to live with me/buy a place together but they are worried about health care, my step dad has some health conditions and they rely on their UK pension and the NHS for dental and healthcare. 

Can they get any healthcare or pension here or would that be on them out of pocket, they wouldn't be able to afford it and loose the pension they have in the UK.

 

Many thanks for any advice! 🙏

[Dashinka 24,512]

Since they are not married, I don't think there is any way to petition for your mother's partner.  If they were legally married prior to your 18th birthday, and you are now over 21 (I assume you are), you could petition for both of them.  Your brother being an LPR,  cannot petition for them at all.

 

Good Luck!

[catfrances 3]

Yes I am over 21 and they are not married, just been together 19 years. 

If they got married, does anyone know the answers to my other questions I had?

 

Thank you so much.

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

1 hour ago, catfrances said:

Hi All, ☀️

 

I have had a look at the forums and can't find what I need, if anyone has some advice I would really appreciate it!

 

My brother and I are UK citizens and both live in seperate states of the US, I also became an American citizen 4 years ago and my brother is on a 10 year green card, he has been in the States I believe 20 years and is married to an American, they have a family. I have a daughter who was born in the States.

My questions are:

1) My mum is in the UK, she has been with her partner (who I consider my step dad) for 19 years but they never got married, they are both in their 70's and do not work. Is there any way to bring them both to the States if they are not married? 

2) I would love them to live with me/buy a place together but they are worried about health care, my step dad has some health conditions and they rely on their UK pension and the NHS for dental and healthcare. 

Can they get any healthcare or pension here or would that be on them out of pocket, they wouldn't be able to afford it and loose the pension they have in the UK.

 

Many thanks for any advice! 🙏

I believe the answers are:

1.  No.  You can petition your Mother only.

2.  She would not immediately qualify for a Social Security pension or Medicare.  She MIGHT qualify for some limited state-sponsored healthcare program. 

[Lil bear 4,219]

1 hour ago, catfrances said:

Hi All, ☀️

 

I have had a look at the forums and can't find what I need, if anyone has some advice I would really appreciate it!

 

My brother and I are UK citizens and both live in seperate states of the US, I also became an American citizen 4 years ago and my brother is on a 10 year green card, he has been in the States I believe 20 years and is married to an American, they have a family. I have a daughter who was born in the States.

My questions are:

1) My mum is in the UK, she has been with her partner (who I consider my step dad) for 19 years but they never got married, they are both in their 70's and do not work. Is there any way to bring them both to the States if they are not married? 

2) I would love them to live with me/buy a place together but they are worried about health care, my step dad has some health conditions and they rely on their UK pension and the NHS for dental and healthcare. 

Can they get any healthcare or pension here or would that be on them out of pocket, they wouldn't be able to afford it and loose the pension they have in the UK.

 

Many thanks for any advice! 🙏

You can petition for your mum IR5.  But not for defacto parent .. as he is. If they marry, then she can petition for him as spouse of LPR once she is here in the US on permanent residency status (GC) That spouse application would take 2 years ...

All health and medical coverage would be out of pocket unless you gave one of the very very uncommon work provided insurance that allows dependent parents to be added to your insurance. 
After 5 years as GC holders they can buy into the Medicare Part A and B..  currrently that would be around $750 per person per month and going up every year   They gave no access to US based pension etc as they  have no employment history with the US SSA system. They are likely to be able to retain their UK pension if they get one .. we could get the Australian aged pension if we met the income and asset tests. 
I’ll be really honest with you .. we moved to the US for the second time  in our early 60s. Like your parents we have 2 adult children and 7 grandchildren here. But we already had 36 out of 40 SSA quarters from last time we lived here ..we emptied everything out of assets etc before we left and cashed everything in .. we’ve worked full time the first 3 + years of being  here (in our 5th year now) to enable us to be covered by Medicare and get SS income in retirement. We have to be able to find our life on our own as our kids have their families to care for.  Health insurance if  you have to buy for seniors on ACA Marketplace  is$$$$$$. We paid $750 per month premium for each of us .. $10000 annual deductible .. 4 years ago for the 2 months while we were waiting for employer to start. I budgeted $25000 needed to be in “kitty” fir each year we needed to cover our own health insurance and costs. As hard as it is living across the continents ... bringing parents over is a big big cost unless you’re blessed with very high income. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

37 minutes ago, catfrances said:

Yes I am over 21 and they are not married, just been together 19 years. 

If they got married, does anyone know the answers to my other questions I had?

 

Thank you so much.

If they get married now, you can petition your mother, then once she has a green card, she can petition her husband under the spouse of a permanent resident category (approx 2 years process for this). 
 

The issues you raise with healthcare etc are exactly why many people choose to not have their parents immigrate to the US. Given their ages, they will never qualify for full Medicare, only part at a cost and that only after 5 years. It could end up being very expensive indeed for you.

[catfrances 3]

Thank you all, I really appreciate your time and answers. It seems to be pointing to no, especially due to their age, not working, not married etc. Living away from family is so hard, but at least I know the cost, time and struggle it would take to go down this route that I won't take now.

Thank you all. 

[Lil bear 4,219]

6 minutes ago, catfrances said:

Thank you all, I really appreciate your time and answers. It seems to be pointing to no, especially due to their age, not working, not married etc. Living away from family is so hard, but at least I know the cost, time and struggle it would take to go down this route that I won't take now.

Thank you all. 

I hurt for you and your mum. Yep, it is a really hard space. No “ winning” either way. Hugs   

[Wuozopo 4,293]

On 3/17/2021 at 12:51 PM, catfrances said:

Can they get any healthcare or pension here or would that be on them out of pocket, they wouldn't be able to afford it and loose the pension they have in the UK.

Just to add something that wasn’t answered—They can receive their UK pension in the US. 

[Boiler 45,527]

Unclear as to what their financial situation is, it is mainly a financial issue.

 

Some States, New York and California allow new immigrants to get Medicaid from Day 1.

[catfrances 3]

Thank you both.

Yes the issue is them being in their 70's, one with a medical condition and not having much in savings to support themselves in Washington state. They do not work and would need medical care, which I assume would be very $$$ here, they rely on their pension in the UK for help. 

Thank you.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

35 minutes ago, catfrances said:

Thank you both.

Yes the issue is them being in their 70's, one with a medical condition and not having much in savings to support themselves in Washington state. They do not work and would need medical care, which I assume would be very $$$ here, they rely on their pension in the UK for help. 

Thank you.

To be brutally honest, it’s probably not a good idea at all then. And their health is only going to deteriorate as they age. Let them stay in the UK and use NHS, and come visit you for a couple of long holidays a year on VWP.
 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Boiler 45,527]

9 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

To be brutally honest, it’s probably not a good idea at all then. And their health is only going to deteriorate as they age. Let them stay in the UK and use NHS, and come visit you for a couple of long holidays a year on VWP.
 

Cost of travel insurance if it is not an issue maybe become one.

[SalishSea 17,837]

50 minutes ago, catfrances said:

Thank you both.

Yes the issue is them being in their 70's, one with a medical condition and not having much in savings to support themselves in Washington state. They do not work and would need medical care, which I assume would be very $$$ here, they rely on their pension in the UK for help. 

Thank you.

Washington state is amongst the United States' most expensive places to live.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

15 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Cost of travel insurance if it is not an issue maybe become one.

If the cost of travel insurance and airfare is a problem, then the cost of paying for year round chronic medical care in the US is definitely going to be a much bigger issue. 

Edited March 21, 2021 by SusieQQQ