Semi-urgent Suggestions Needed

[Newcitizen 8]

Hello everyone,

 

I have a situation with my family and I am looking for some insight and/or suggestions:

 

My spouse and I are LPR's. We filed I-130 for our son (under 21) and it was approved last year and case at NVC. PD is few years away.

 

My wife and I were in Lebanon visiting our son and then the war started. We couldn't find any available seats on departing flights. The U.S. embassy posted on their website that they are assisting US nationals to evacuate on flights that they are arranging. We contacted them and they assisted us to evacuate on one of these flights. The took us to Turkey. My wife, my son and myself. They said that's where their role ends. We have to make our own accommodations to whether stay in Turkey or go the U.S. or anywhere in the world.

 

What are our options? We are unable to leave to the US and leave our son alone in Turkey for many reasons. One of them is the financial burden. We can't pay rent and bills in the US and another rent and bills in Turkey. Going back to Lebanon is not an option for a while since the war is intensifying.

 

Is there any kind of program or visa that allows our son to join us in the US for a period of time? We are trying to figure this out and not sure what to do. We extended our vacation from work as unpaid leave. We are currently staying in a hotel that is costing us a lot of money on daily basis.

 

Thank you

 

[appleblossom 2,466]

14 minutes ago, Newcitizen said:

Hello everyone,

 

I have a situation with my family and I am looking for some insight and/or suggestions:

 

My spouse and I are LPR's. We filed I-130 for our son (under 21) and it was approved last year and case at NVC. PD is few years away.

 

My wife and I were in Lebanon visiting our son and then the war started. We couldn't find any available seats on departing flights. The U.S. embassy posted on their website that they are assisting US nationals to evacuate on flights that they are arranging. We contacted them and they assisted us to evacuate on one of these flights. The took us to Turkey. My wife, my son and myself. They said that's where their role ends. We have to make our own accommodations to whether stay in Turkey or go the U.S. or anywhere in the world.

 

What are our options? We are unable to leave to the US and leave our son alone in Turkey for many reasons. One of them is the financial burden. We can't pay rent and bills in the US and another rent and bills in Turkey. Going back to Lebanon is not an option for a while since the war is intensifying.

 

Is there any kind of program or visa that allows our son to join us in the US for a period of time? We are trying to figure this out and not sure what to do. We extended our vacation from work as unpaid leave. We are currently staying in a hotel that is costing us a lot of money on daily basis.

 

Thank you

 

 

There isn't any way for him to move to the US unless he qualifies for another visa. The most obvious would be a student visa, but if you can't afford to pay for two households then I assume you can't afford for him to study in the US either. 

 

How old is your son and why was he not included on your original application, how did you get your green cards?

Edited October 14 by appleblossom

[Newcitizen 8]

3 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

There isn't any way unless he qualifies for another visa. The most obvious would be a student visa, but if you can't afford to pay for two households then I assume you can't afford for him to study in the US either. 

 

How old is your son and why was he not included on your original application?

He is turning 19. Our other son in the US who is a US citizen filed for my wife and I (as his parents). When we moved to the US and got jobs and settled, we filed for our son. Things were going smooth until now. We were paying for 2 house holds (one in the US and one in Lebanon for our son). but now being in Turkey is going to add another layer of new costs.

 

The ideal solution is for our son to join us in the US. But even aside from qualifying for a different visa, the wait time in US embassy in Turkey are so long to get an appointment (over 1 year).

[appleblossom 2,466]

9 minutes ago, Newcitizen said:

He is turning 19. Our other son in the US who is a US citizen filed for my wife and I (as his parents). When we moved to the US and got jobs and settled, we filed for our son. Things were going smooth until now. We were paying for 2 house holds (one in the US and one in Lebanon for our son). but now being in Turkey is going to add another layer of new costs.

 

The ideal solution is for our son to join us in the US. But even aside from qualifying for a different visa, the wait time in US embassy in Turkey are so long to get an appointment (over 1 year).

 

Ah, I see. 

 

The only possible option I can see is for you to return to the US, file for a re-entry permit and then that will give you more time when you can be out of the US with your son. Or look to see if perhaps community college may be an option that would be cheaper than paying for two households? Not sure of his chance of getting a F-1 visa if he has a US citizen sibling and both parents living there, but could be worth a try. 

 

But if he's 19 then I'm guessing he may well age out in to F2B which will add another chunk of time to the process. What's the Priority Date of his application?

 

Can he work in Turkey or is he not allowed to?

Edited October 14 by appleblossom

[Newcitizen 8]

10 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Ah, I see. 

 

The only possible option I can see is for you to return to the US, file for a re-entry permit and then that will give you more time when you can be out of the US with your son. Or look to see if perhaps community college may be an option for him? Not sure of his chance of getting a F-1 visa if he has a US citizen sibling and both parents living there, but could be worth a try. 

 

But if he's 19 then I'm guessing he may well age out in to F2B which will add another chunk of time to the process. When is the Priority Date of his application?

 

We thought about filing re-entry permit. The issue is my wife and I both need to work to have enough income to support our lives.

We were paying for his college in Lebanon as long as housing and everything else. With 1 income it will be tough.

 

Our other son in the US is helping us financially during these times and by supporting our stay here, but I know it is not sustainable long term, so we were looking for suggestions on what to do.

 

His PD is September 2023. He is not allowed to work in Turkey. We looked into this. Turkey allows Lebanese citizens to enter without visa and to stay 90 days only.

Edited October 14 by Newcitizen

[appleblossom 2,466]

6 minutes ago, Newcitizen said:

 

We thought about filing re-entry permit. The issue is my wife and I both need to work to have enough income to support our lives.

We were paying for his college in Lebanon as long as housing and everything else. With 1 income it will be tough.

 

Our other son in the US is helping us financially during these times and by supporting our stay here, but I know it is not sustainable long term, so we were looking for suggestions on what to do.

 

His PD is September 2023.

 

When was his I-130 approved, you said last year so must have been super quick if you only submitted in September? It's going to be tight for him to get a visa before he ages out in to F2B if so. 

 

I don't see any other option other than you getting re-entry permits, or him trying for a study visa (long shot but possibly worth a go), but maybe somebody else will come up with with a brilliant idea. 

 

I'd also watch to see what happens in the election, if Harris gets in she may expand the TPS program or something similar (Uniting for Ukraine etc) to include those from the ME. 

 

Good luck to all of you. 

Edited October 14 by appleblossom

[Newcitizen 8]

1 minute ago, appleblossom said:

 

When was his I-130 approved, you said last year so must have been super quick if you only submitted in September? It's going to be tight for him to get a visa before he ages out in to F2B if so. 

 

Could he stop college and work to support himself in Turkey maybe? Not ideal of course, but he could then continue his education once he's in the US. 

 

I don't see any other option I'm afraid, but maybe somebody else will come up with with a brilliant idea. 

His I-130 was approved in 3 months.

 

His college closed in Lebanon. He is unable to attend even online, no classes. His life, and ours, has hit a big obstacle now. We are unable to work in Turkey. Turkey allows Lebanese citizens to enter without visa and to stay 90 days only. Unless Turkish government will extended this 90 days period to allow Lebanese stuck there to be safe.

[appleblossom 2,466]

Just now, Newcitizen said:

His I-130 was approved in 3 months.

 

His college closed in Lebanon. He is unable to attend even online, no classes. His life, and ours, has hit a big obstacle now. We are unable to work in Turkey. Turkey allows Lebanese citizens to enter without visa and to stay 90 days only. Unless Turkish government will extended this 90 days period to allow Lebanese stuck there to be safe.

 

Yes, I saw your edit, and edited my post in response! What a pain that his I-130 was approved so quickly. 

[Bunninuts 27]

I don't know any of the details of this option but thought I would offer it up. Is there any way he can come as a refugee?

[Boiler 45,461]

1 hour ago, Bunninuts said:

I don't know any of the details of this option but thought I would offer it up. Is there any way he can come as a refugee?

Well those are handled by UNHCR and he seems to be safe. Seems unlikely he would be a priority.

[SalishSea 17,818]

10 hours ago, Newcitizen said:

Hello everyone,

 

I have a situation with my family and I am looking for some insight and/or suggestions:

 

My spouse and I are LPR's. We filed I-130 for our son (under 21) and it was approved last year and case at NVC. PD is few years away.

 

My wife and I were in Lebanon visiting our son and then the war started. We couldn't find any available seats on departing flights. The U.S. embassy posted on their website that they are assisting US nationals to evacuate on flights that they are arranging. We contacted them and they assisted us to evacuate on one of these flights. The took us to Turkey. My wife, my son and myself. They said that's where their role ends. We have to make our own accommodations to whether stay in Turkey or go the U.S. or anywhere in the world.

 

What are our options? We are unable to leave to the US and leave our son alone in Turkey for many reasons. One of them is the financial burden. We can't pay rent and bills in the US and another rent and bills in Turkey. Going back to Lebanon is not an option for a while since the war is intensifying.

 

Is there any kind of program or visa that allows our son to join us in the US for a period of time? We are trying to figure this out and not sure what to do. We extended our vacation from work as unpaid leave. We are currently staying in a hotel that is costing us a lot of money on daily basis.

 

Thank you

 

How is you supporting him in Turkey any different than supporting him in Lebanon was?

 

There is no immediate path for him to come to the US right now.  Can you look into whether an EU country would take him?  Generally for refugees, the idea is to resettle in nearby safe countries.  

5 hours ago, Bunninuts said:

I don't know any of the details of this option but thought I would offer it up. Is there any way he can come as a refugee?

He would need to look at neighboring countries.

[Boiler 45,461]

EU faces migration rebellion as Poland vows to block asylum-seekers
More and more member countries are clashing with Brussels over how to treat incoming migrants.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-migration-rebellion-poland-vow-block-asylum-seeker/

[Nous Eb 125]

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

EU faces migration rebellion as Poland vows to block asylum-seekers
More and more member countries are clashing with Brussels over how to treat incoming migrants.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-migration-rebellion-poland-vow-block-asylum-seeker/

 

Europe is not a smart move. In the Netherlands it's bad, so much crime due to the immigrants who claim to be refugees (many coming from countries which are safe but they get lots of money and housing so they come anyway and just sit out their procedure) so real refugees will get the same treatment from most of the public since no one knows who's genuine and who's faking it. I would stay in Turkey honestly (even if it's just for the food and the weather LOL).

[Newcitizen 8]

9 hours ago, SalishSea said:

How is you supporting him in Turkey any different than supporting him in Lebanon was?

 

There is no immediate path for him to come to the US right now.  Can you look into whether an EU country would take him?  Generally for refugees, the idea is to resettle in nearby safe countries.

 

He would need to look at neighboring countries.

 

To answer your first question, the cost of life in Lebanon is cheaper than Turkey. That's in general. On a personal level, I am a retired governmental employee. I get free healthcare for myself and family, including my son. My son also gets up to 40% discount from his college since he is family of retired government employee. We also have some things paid for in Lebanon such as car and other things we invested in that is lowering our bills (solar panels for example).

 

Us staying in Turkey will, or even him, will come with a higher cost of living.

[Boiler 45,461]

14 minutes ago, Newcitizen said:

 

To answer your first question, the cost of life in Lebanon is cheaper than Turkey. That's in general. On a personal level, I am a retired governmental employee. I get free healthcare for myself and family, including my son. My son also gets up to 40% discount from his college since he is family of retired government employee. We also have some things paid for in Lebanon such as car and other things we invested in that is lowering our bills (solar panels for example).

 

Us staying in Turkey will, or even him, will come with a higher cost of living.

 

OK so Lebanon is cheaper than Turkey and both are significantly cheaper than the US.

 

So what is the plan?