Mom is ph citizen with a green card

[Pauie18 56]

I need advice on what my first step should be. 
 

I am US citizen, my mom has a green card but she has been in the ph for 7 years without coming back to CA. She refused to before and now she’s sick and finally willing to come back. Her green card expires next year and she has her ph passport. She was married to my dad for 20 years and living in CA  for that whole time, but after he passed she decided to stay in the ph. Now I’m not sure what to do to get her here. Is it as easy as just buying a ticket? Or will she be turned away at the airport immigration? Does she need to go to DFA OR US EMBASSY in the ph? I live paycheck to paycheck and I don’t have money to throw around.  Any advice would be super helpful. 
 

thank you!!

[Dashinka 24,478]

There are a lot of stories of LPRs coming back after extended absences.  She has a valid GC so she should be able to board a flight to the U.S. She may face scrutiny at CBP, but a CBP officer cannot take away her LPR status.  If you are concerned about getting in, I would plan to accompany her at least on the flight that enters the U.S., but otherwise, buy a ticket and have her come back.

 

Good Luck!

[nastra30 2,284]

5 hours ago, Pauie18 said:

Is it as easy as just buying a ticket? Or will she be turned away at the airport immigration?

The general advice is, she should get on a plane and get back ASAP. And refuse to sign any I-407 at entry if pushed. Also, there is a chance she could be sent to secondary but she'll be let in. Good luck.

[appleblossom 2,437]

6 hours ago, Pauie18 said:

I need advice on what my first step should be. 
 

I am US citizen, my mom has a green card but she has been in the ph for 7 years without coming back to CA. She refused to before and now she’s sick and finally willing to come back. Her green card expires next year and she has her ph passport. She was married to my dad for 20 years and living in CA  for that whole time, but after he passed she decided to stay in the ph. Now I’m not sure what to do to get her here. Is it as easy as just buying a ticket? Or will she be turned away at the airport immigration? Does she need to go to DFA OR US EMBASSY in the ph? I live paycheck to paycheck and I don’t have money to throw around.  Any advice would be super helpful. 
 

thank you!!

 

Another vote for get on a plane asap. She can't be refused entry. She should take proof of any ties she has to the US (i.e. if she has a property there etc), and proof of her tax returns being filed - basically anything to show she didn't abandon her residency.

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,806]

6 hours ago, Pauie18 said:

Any advice would be super helpful.

Return to the US as soon as possible.  She needs to get inside the US.  

[Ontarkie 14,214]

~~Moved to Working and Traveling, form Bringing Family of USC- the OP's mother is already a PR~~

[Pauie18 56]

16 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

~~Moved to Working and Traveling, form Bringing Family of USC- the OP's mother is already a PR~~

I’m sorry, what does this mean? 

[Ontarkie 14,214]

2 minutes ago, Pauie18 said:

I’m sorry, what does this mean? 

It just means I moved your thread/question  to the right forum. 

[Pauie18 56]

Just now, Ontarkie said:

It just means I moved your thread/question  to the right forum. 

Oh! Sorry about that.  I wasn’t sure where to ask this. Thanks!

[SalishSea 17,801]

16 hours ago, Pauie18 said:

I need advice on what my first step should be. 
 

I am US citizen, my mom has a green card but she has been in the ph for 7 years without coming back to CA. She refused to before and now she’s sick and finally willing to come back. Her green card expires next year and she has her ph passport. She was married to my dad for 20 years and living in CA  for that whole time, but after he passed she decided to stay in the ph. Now I’m not sure what to do to get her here. Is it as easy as just buying a ticket? Or will she be turned away at the airport immigration? Does she need to go to DFA OR US EMBASSY in the ph? I live paycheck to paycheck and I don’t have money to throw around.  Any advice would be super helpful. 
 

thank you!!

Since you say she’s already sick and you’re living  paycheck to paycheck, you will want to thoroughly research what it will cost for her to have health insurance coverage here in the US, and whether you/she can afford it.   Even if she’s eligible for Medicare or state Medicaid, the premiums and treatment co-pays can be hundreds or thousands $$ per month.

[Pauie18 56]

11 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Since you say she’s already sick and you’re living  paycheck to paycheck, you will want to thoroughly research what it will cost for her to have health insurance coverage here in the US, and whether you/she can afford it.   Even if she’s eligible for Medicare or state Medicaid, the premiums and treatment co-pays can be hundreds or thousands $$ per month.

Thanks for the input, but I’m not sure it matters. She doesn’t have anyone to care for her over there. We’re just gonna have to figure it out I guess. What I’m trying to figure out here is if I should chance it and just buy her a ticket here without doing the whole reentry thing. 
 

[Dashinka 24,478]

10 hours ago, Pauie18 said:

Thanks for the input, but I’m not sure it matters. She doesn’t have anyone to care for her over there. We’re just gonna have to figure it out I guess. What I’m trying to figure out here is if I should chance it and just buy her a ticket here without doing the whole reentry thing. 
 

Yes, just get a ticket and have her come back.  Again, as others have said, she should not agree to sign an I407 or give up her GC.  If you are quite worried, maybe look at coming across a land border.

 

Good Luck!

Edited May 7 by Dashinka