APPLYING FOR GREEN CARDS/TRAVEL PERMITS FOR IN-LAWS

[theolonious 0]

My wife (who is a recent US Citizen of Peruvian origin) and I are working on getting visas for her parents, who have never been to the U.S. before. US tourist visas are very very hard to get from Peru, so we went to an attorney who told us that it would be easier to get green cards and travel permits (which are sometimes called "white passports," and for which you fill out an I-131 form). They have no desire to move here permanently (yet), but would like the freedom to come and go as they please, ergo the travel permits.

Here are my questions:

1. Is this a good way to go about it?

2. The attorney is charging us $5000, apart from CIS fees, for both parents. Is this a fair price?

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me!

[Boiler 45,940]

My wife (who is a recent US Citizen of Peruvian origin) and I are working on getting visas for her parents, who have never been to the U.S. before. US tourist visas are very very hard to get from Peru, so we went to an attorney who told us that it would be easier to get green cards and travel permits (which are sometimes called "white passports," and for which you fill out an I-131 form). They have no desire to move here permanently (yet), but would like the freedom to come and go as they please, ergo the travel permits.

Here are my questions:

1. Is this a good way to go about it?

2. The attorney is charging us $5000, apart from CIS fees, for both parents. Is this a fair price?

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me!

1. A Permanent Resident has to reside in the US, they can visit Peru.

2. For the Attorney, absolutely. Wy do you not want to do it yourself?

PS What would yo do about Health Insurance?

[theolonious 0]

My wife (who is a recent US Citizen of Peruvian origin) and I are working on getting visas for her parents, who have never been to the U.S. before. US tourist visas are very very hard to get from Peru, so we went to an attorney who told us that it would be easier to get green cards and travel permits (which are sometimes called "white passports," and for which you fill out an I-131 form). They have no desire to move here permanently (yet), but would like the freedom to come and go as they please, ergo the travel permits.

Here are my questions:

1. Is this a good way to go about it?

2. The attorney is charging us $5000, apart from CIS fees, for both parents. Is this a fair price?

Thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me!

1. A Permanent Resident has to reside in the US, they can visit Peru.

2. For the Attorney, absolutely. Wy do you not want to do it yourself?

PS What would yo do about Health Insurance?

Thanks for your response.

As far as our reasons for hiring the attorney, we have heard many nightmare stories about rejected visa applications at all levels of society in Peru. Money doesn't seem to matter in most cases. We don't want to risk a rejection and a 10 year wait, as my in-laws are elderly.

According to the attorney (a reputable one, does all the visa work for USC) residing in US wouldn't matter with a travel permit. Are you saying that staying here only a month or so out of the year, even with a travel permit, would be considered abandonment of residency?

Health insurance I had not thought about, as they are not typically going to be staying for more than a month at a time. What would you suggest?

Also, do you think that I-130 and I-131 for an elderly working class couple from Peru are doable without a lawyer? Or, a 10-year tourist visa, for that matter? I still am not clear on the best course of action in this case.

[Boiler 45,940]

You mention no reason why they could not immigrate, no criminal history, no prior US Immigration violations. Where does the 10 year wait come from?

A Visitors Visa, well its only $100 application fee, that is much more doubtful and not a lot a lawyer can do.

The key is in the name, Pemanent Resident, of the US not Peru.

They may get a way for it for a while, a bit of a guess.

Medical Insurance - lots of money is the only solution I know, apart from excellent health. Prayer has been suggested on a prior thread. They may be able to get Temporary Insurance, depends on age.

[Feliz 0]

parenst usually get 10 year Green Card and technically it can be used as visa to travel in and out of US, nobody cares at borders if GreenCarder was out less then 12 months and has valid GC in hands, or has reentry permit if he was out for more then 12 month less then 2 years, if more then 2 years - embassy should issue "returning resident visa"

yes it is not legal to reside in Peru and have "PERMANENT RESIDENT card of US", but the only way US Govt can find that out - and possibly take away green card (considering it as abandoning residency) - if they ever apply for citizenship or somehow else contact USCIS and get investigated.

[theolonious 0]

Okay, so the I-130/I-131 option is dubious. Is applying for a visitor's visa pointless?

Either way, we're getting desperate, as we have to make a decision soon. My wife's parents are elderly and their health is failing and we won't have much more time before they can't travel at all, so we can't afford to go through a whole application process, be denied and start over. I'm meeting with our lawyer Saturday and I have to decide whether to proceed with the current plan (GC and reentry permit) or scuttle it. Maybe dismiss lawyer too. Please, please, please, if either of you or anyone else can shed some non-cryptic light on this issue for me I would be very thankful. Is it a better option than attempting a tourist visa or no? Is the lawyer yanking our chains on this one?

Many thanks for anything you've got for me!

[Dakine 26]

If your attorney guarentees they can get GCs and AP go for it. Never heard of such a thing. Ask for money back if it doesn't happen!

[Boiler 45,940]

Okay, so the I-130/I-131 option is dubious. Is applying for a visitor's visa pointless?

Either way, we're getting desperate, as we have to make a decision soon. My wife's parents are elderly and their health is failing and we won't have much more time before they can't travel at all, so we can't afford to go through a whole application process, be denied and start over. I'm meeting with our lawyer Saturday and I have to decide whether to proceed with the current plan (GC and reentry permit) or scuttle it. Maybe dismiss lawyer too. Please, please, please, if either of you or anyone else can shed some non-cryptic light on this issue for me I would be very thankful. Is it a better option than attempting a tourist visa or no? Is the lawyer yanking our chains on this one?

Many thanks for anything you've got for me!

What was it about my reply that you did not understand?

You have mentioned no issue that would prevent them obtaining a GC, if they do not want to reside in the US, keeping it would be the issue.

My parents health is failing, for that very reason moving to the US is an impossibility. No health care system.

Edited October 5, 2007 by Boiler

[theolonious 0]

Hi Boiler,

Okay, now I understand why you asked about health care. There's not much health care in Peru either, so it would be the same here or there, we'd have to buy temp insurance here. We're already paying for their medical care down there anyway. But they won't be visiting us here for more than a month at a time.

I understood your reply, that reentry could be an issue after a while. I guess I was hoping for some viable alternative. But it looks as though it's either try for a B-2, or hedge our bets on the reentry thing. No other choice. I just want to figure out which is less risky.

[Boiler 45,940]

Hi Boiler,

Okay, now I understand why you asked about health care. There's not much health care in Peru either, so it would be the same here or there, we'd have to buy temp insurance here. We're already paying for their medical care down there anyway. But they won't be visiting us here for more than a month at a time.

I understood your reply, that reentry could be an issue after a while. I guess I was hoping for some viable alternative. But it looks as though it's either try for a B-2, or hedge our bets on the reentry thing. No other choice. I just want to figure out which is less risky.

I think you need to examine temp insurance first, I have no idea about the Peruvian Insurance market, can not remember ever doing business with them, I think my Mum paid the equivalent of $400 for 2 weeks last time she visited.

I can be pretty sure that whatever treatment given in Peru costs, it would be 10x or more that in the US.

[athena_ny 1]

Hi Boiler,

Okay, now I understand why you asked about health care. There's not much health care in Peru either, so it would be the same here or there, we'd have to buy temp insurance here. We're already paying for their medical care down there anyway. But they won't be visiting us here for more than a month at a time.

I understood your reply, that reentry could be an issue after a while. I guess I was hoping for some viable alternative. But it looks as though it's either try for a B-2, or hedge our bets on the reentry thing. No other choice. I just want to figure out which is less risky.

I think you need to examine temp insurance first, I have no idea about the Peruvian Insurance market, can not remember ever doing business with them, I think my Mum paid the equivalent of $400 for 2 weeks last time she visited.

I can be pretty sure that whatever treatment given in Peru costs, it would be 10x or more that in the US.

Health care is a lot less expensive in Peru - my SIL got her liposuction after having 2 kids for a few hundred dollars, IIRC (not that cosmetic surgery in a necessity but still...)

Edited October 6, 2007 by meow mix