Green card petition for parents

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Hello, 

 

I'm a naturalized US citizen and I'm thinking of filing for GC for my parents who are Russian citizens residing in Russia. I have a few questions: 

• Is there a guide that outlines key steps in the process and required documents at a high level (I reviewed the information on USCIS website and it's rather confusing, sends you between multiple pages, etc.)? 
• What are the current fees for this? 
• What is the current approximate processing time for this, from filing for I-130 through receipt of the visa? 
• Is it possible to do the embassy portion of the process in a third country (Russian embassy currently doesn't process any visas and there is no reopening date in the near future)? 
• What are the physical presence requirements to maintain the GC?  

Thanks! 

[Timona 4,207]

 

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

Thanks for linking the I-130 guide. 

Does anyone have inputs on my other questions? Thanks in advance! 

[ali.cha 18]

Hi. I have been looking for the answers a while but none has concrete answers for them. I filed I-130 for my mother last December and after hitting seventh month no updates so far. I believe there are three stages for the petition - USCIS-->NVC-->Embassy. The first petition will cost you around $490, after USCIS process and send it out to NVC (national visa center) you'll be required to pay a few more fees including green card. From my own calculation it might be aggregate $2500-3000. The process time varies on state residence -- for me, residing in California, my documents are in Nebraska and it is supposed to take averagely 9 months, but if you are somewhere on the East coast - due to higher application it may take longer. 

[Chancy 6,241]

On 6/25/2021 at 12:16 AM, ali.cha said:

The first petition will cost you around $490, after USCIS process and send it out to NVC (national visa center) you'll be required to pay a few more fees including green card.

 

The I-130 filing fee is $535, not $490.  Please check the official USCIS site for accurate info -- https://www.uscis.gov/i-130

 

Also, you will need to pay the immigrant fee for green card printing only AFTER receiving the visa, not at NVC stage.

 

On 6/25/2021 at 12:16 AM, ali.cha said:

The process time varies on state residence -- for me, residing in California, my documents are in Nebraska and it is supposed to take averagely 9 months, but if you are somewhere on the East coast - due to higher application it may take longer. 

 

Also not accurate.  Petition and visa processing times are NOT dependent on state residence.  Assignment of petition processing center is effectively random and the petition may be transferred anytime.

 

[ali.cha 18]

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

Thanks for noting my errors. I submitted the application relatively long enough, so $490 was approximate figure. Possibly they assign cases randomly to balance workflow among 5 offices, yet it would be closer to the state residence.

 

 

2 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

The I-130 filing fee is $535, not $490.  Please check the official USCIS site for accurate info -- https://www.uscis.gov/i-130

 

Also, you will need to pay the immigrant fee for green card printing only AFTER receiving the visa, not at NVC stage.

 

 

Also not accurate.  Petition and visa processing times are NOT dependent on state residence.  Assignment of petition processing center is effectively random and the petition may be transferred anytime.

 

 

[Lil bear 4,214]

On 6/21/2021 at 12:04 PM, Redneck-NOVA said:

Thanks for linking the I-130 guide. 

Does anyone have inputs on my other questions? Thanks in advance! 

Consider carefully the cost of health insurance if your parents are notified working age … and if they cannot achieve 40 Social security quarters earnings before turning 65 .. 

[Lil bear 4,214]

On 6/21/2021 at 12:04 PM, Redneck-NOVA said:

Thanks for linking the I-130 guide. 

Does anyone have inputs on my other questions? Thanks in advance! 

After the I 130 is approved , the NVCguide is invaluable. 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html

[Lil bear 4,214]

On 6/18/2021 at 1:30 PM, Redneck-NOVA said:

Hello, 

 

I'm a naturalized US citizen and I'm thinking of filing for GC for my parents who are Russian citizens residing in Russia. I have a few questions: 

• Is there a guide that outlines key steps in the process and required documents at a high level (I reviewed the information on USCIS website and it's rather confusing, sends you between multiple pages, etc.)? 
• What are the current fees for this? 
• What is the current approximate processing time for this, from filing for I-130 through receipt of the visa? 
• Is it possible to do the embassy portion of the process in a third country (Russian embassy currently doesn't process any visas and there is no reopening date in the near future)? 
• What are the physical presence requirements to maintain the GC?  

Thanks! 

2. 12-18 months assuming the embassy is interviewing .. getting longer as the closures stretch out and the pile of applications waiting for an interview grows 
3.  Only if they have legal residency in that country 

4. Google the USCIS website for this .. easily answered in detail there 

[SalishSea 17,829]

23 hours ago, ali.cha said:

Possibly they assign cases randomly to balance workflow among 5 offices, yet it would be closer to the state residence.

This is not at all the case.  Service center processing of petitions is not related to the petitioner's residence.