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Just a little update, based on a quick search: The US and Australia have a social security agreement, meaning my MIL can retain all or at least partial pension should she become a resident here. So that's good news. Unsure if that extends to Medicare but it's at least something supplemental to use towards healthcare.

Lots of great feedback here, and I appreciate the thoughtful concern from all. We are going to have to research the logistics of her pensioner's plan, which begins in Australia next year as she will have been a resident for ten years at that point. Being a Rhodesian is a unique circumstance because the home you're tied to, doesn't really exist anymore. My MIL escaped to South Africa, married and had a son there, and ultimately ended up relocating again when she remarried. The family she keeps in touch with is almost entirely in other countries already. We definitely have her best interests at heart and leaving her in Australia without loved ones, is a concern great enough to warrant a financial plan to get her here. Perhaps she will even be able to maintain her pensioner's abroad, I'm unsure of the stipulations of that, but rest assured I will be looking into it. We aren't millionaires but we want to include this in our 5 and 10 year plan if we can. Understanding end of life care and its demands as I just lost my father to an eleven year battle with cancer, I absolutely want to remain pragmatic about this. So, seeing as most of this advice is well-meaning yet anecdotal, I guess I'll have to take some time to delve into law specific to Iowa, as well as Australia. My husband is her only child, and I know she will want to be with us. She confirmed it again last night. Just need to work out how to make it happen, realistically.

Hi Ally, welcome to the thread and thanks for the update! The most I've seen is people getting their interview dates now: not much in the way of approvals. I think we are getting close though! Interviews scheduled surpassed approvals for our month and according to your report, it sounds like they're actively working their way towards October. Sending well wishes, keep us posted! <3

Today's stats: March 21, 2025 5:45pm CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2292 • Denied: 189 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 190 • Interview Cancelled: 254 • Interview Scheduled: 2363 • Processing: 34,876 • Received: 534 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 394 • Terminated: 124 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 23

She's naturalized, has an Australian passport. We've talked about it, even if it's a sensitive issue given we're talking in terms of her husband passing. She does want to join us, she won't have any support from his family and her end of life will be extremely isolating. None of us, including her, will have community tied to Australia. She's not an invalid or anything, going into independent living will be a bit of overkill in terms of cost and logistics. But she does have diabetes, which is a preexisting we'll have to navigate with health costs.

Just MIL, which is why we're looking ahead. My step-DIL has his family there, and we hope he lives a good long while but we're attempting to prepare for when he leaves us. All super useful info, thanks! We'll do some digging into our state (Iowa). Yeah we're on ACA already, my husband and I. Might have private/through employment by the time she joins us but I don't think most plans allow you to add parents, so ACA will likely be the way to go. Not sure how far we can get on the marketplace with just a quote search, esp when we have 5+ years til this scenario comes into play, but I'll poke around.

Just opening this topic as I'm getting the gist, based on some research, that we will need to make significant financial planning happen in anticipation of the future here. My mother in law is a Rhodesian expat in Australia, who is remarried to a lovely man, but his family are not exactly supportive of her. We are likely going to petition for her to join us in the inevitability that he passes (and my husband has naturalized). They are already in their 70s so the question of how this will logistically and financially work is stumping us. Has anyone here taken steps to bring over an elderly parent? My understanding is that healthcare is the biggest hit, since they of course will not be eligible for Medicare with no US employment history. Are they eligible for programs from their country of origin, while here on a green card? We just want to give her the support and love she needs in her golden years. She definitely has health issues though, and of course as one ages that continues to progress. Just not sure how to prepare. Any advice would be appreciated.

I love that you're so excited for your future! For Jon and I, it was a lot of change and although 2024 was an amazing year, we had so much going on that it was hard not to feel completely anxious all the time. For him, he had to completely upend his life and move halfway around the world: a feat I can't possibly fathom. And for me, I actually changed states as well, trying to set up a living situation the two of us could foster together. Seems like now that we're in the holding pattern for a green card interview, I actually have a moment to look around and enjoy how far we've come. I'm wishing these "good life" feelings for you as well, down the line. Never lose that spirit of hope and joy. <3

To say the least I'm guessing say goodbye to wife, kids, and community as well. Grand Rapids isn't exactly a bustling metropolis. Just effed his whole life.

US judge blocks Trump’s ban on trans people serving in the military A federal judge blocked Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender people from military service on Tuesday. US district judge Ana Reyes in Washington DC ruled that the president’s order to exclude transgender troops from military service likely violates their constitutional rights. She delayed her order by three days to give the administration time to appeal. “The court knows that this opinion will lead to heated public debate and appeals. In a healthy democracy, both are positive outcomes,” Reyes wrote. “We should all agree, however, that every person who has answered the call to serve deserves our gratitude and respect.” Reyes said she did not take lightly her decision to issue an injunction blocking Trump’s order, noting: “Judicial overreach is no less pernicious than executive overreach.” But, she said, it was also the responsibility of each branch of government to provide checks and balances for the others, and the court “therefore must act to uphold the equal protection rights that the military defends every day”. Just going to say the quiet part out loud: since when are judges supposed to be encouraging debate, instead of deciphering the law as it stands? This is politician rhetoric. The judicial's credibility is being decimated from the inside out. Judge Reyes claiming "all means all" and that this is a matter of equality, is preposterous. Enlistment is by nature discriminatory, and the DOJ determining those who have mental illnesses and/or supposed necessary application of therapies, medications, and surgeries as disqualifying, is not unreasonable. What IS unreasonable, is expecting medics to stock HRT overseas, taxpayers to cover cosmetic surgeries, and fellow service members to risk sharing a unit with someone who is not completely mentally and physically sound while putting their life on the line for this country. Sorry, I'm beyond incensed. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/18/judge-blocks-trump-executive-order-trans-military-ban

I did a preliminary k1 timeline search to see if there was an uptick of recorded interview dates, and I ordered it by decision date. This only displays those who have been approved, but I can see that there's at least one or two interviews per page (10-20%), whereas there's a dearth of interviews in the months before. Keep in mind these are only recorded approvals, consider how much we've heard in the past couple weeks that people are having interviews booked for April. Also, I'm looking at the metrics from my stats location and you can see the uptick in the "interview scheduled" status during the first week of February. Considering Sec. Noem was confirmed and sworn in the last week of January, changing leadership at DHS, and Rubio as Sec. of State even earlier that week, we're potentially seeing changes in immigration vetting being enacted through that change in status. Seems like the timing's spot on.

Today's stats: March 20, 2025 9:48am CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2238 • Denied: 189 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 200 • Interview Cancelled: 147 • Interview Scheduled: 1977 • Processing: 35,398 • Received: 538 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 404 • Terminated: 125 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 23

Lots more than finances to consider. You had a newborn, does she have insurance under the same plan as you? Any kind of regular mail that comes to the same address as you? Was she added to the lease? Did she get a driver's license with your address on it? These are all useful in terms of validating a marriage, over pics. Thank you for creating your timeline! It helps those of us awaiting our interview/approval a great deal.

Today's stats: March 19, 2025 2:27pm CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2198 • Denied: 188 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 206 • Interview Cancelled: 145 • Interview Scheduled: 1751 • Processing: 35,651 • Received: 543 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 413 • Terminated: 122 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 23 25 more approvals from yesterday, vs 250 more interviews scheduled. They're definitely interviewing again.

Congratulations! Hopefully we're not too far off ourselves. Let us know how it goes!

Congratulations! keep us posted.

Yeah I noticed that as well! I'm okay with it, vetting is important, but it looks like the starting curve is Sep-Nov apps. If anyone gets an interview, please be sure to share!

Today's stats: March 18, 2025 12:05pm CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2172 • Denied: 188 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 211 • Interview Cancelled: 142 • Interview Scheduled: 1498 • Processing: 35,917 • Received: 544 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 423 • Terminated: 121 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 23 Definitely an uptick in scheduled interviews. Are they making a comeback?

As a lifelong Minnesotan, I approve. TBH at first I thought this was another Babylon Bee article. I am deceased. 🤣

Anyone who knows the nightmare which is the South African Department of Home Affairs, should see failing to return the birth certificate as a crime against humanity. Thankfully, my now-husband received his original back in the mail with his visa-updated passport. Same with the police clearance. This was August 2024. Can't speak to what they are currently or will do on future cases though, Godspeed to those still in the grinders with everything going on re: the US embassies in SA.

Today's stats: March 17, 2025 12:53pm CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2142 • Denied: 186 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 215 • Interview Cancelled: 142 • Interview Scheduled: 1333 • Processing: 36,090 • Received: 550 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 441 • Terminated: 118 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 23

We were thinking of our overseas parents as well when applying for the AOS. Ultimately, we took the risk and went without AP. Everyone above is correct, this is a very personal decision. If you think you have to return in a measure of months, I personally would do AP. If the measure is in years, go without. If you want a second opinion, there you go.

Today's stats: March 16, 2025 1:51pm CST October 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 2117 • Denied: 186 • Fingerprint Scheduled: 214 • Interview Cancelled: 140 • Interview Scheduled: 1216 • Processing: 36,219 • Received: 551 • Rejected: 95 • RFE: 456 • Terminated: 118 • Withdrawal: 15 • Others: 23

His dad's in his eighties now, remarried and with many stepchildren and step grandchildren. He's not going anywhere. Same is true of Jon's sister and her husband. They live in relative comfort for Saffers, not really gauging how precarious it seems from the outside, to have to live behind high walls and ignore the daily blackouts. His mom (originally Rhodesian) will be our focus after Jon gains citizenship. She's remarried and in Australia currently, but the circle of support is a bit limited. She's fine for now. Hopefully we will be in the right financial position to bring her our way when the time comes.

The very idea of South Africa getting its act together, is pretty damn laughable. The country is truly run by morons. I think you're right though, Nairobi might be the selection, and that is a haul for people. I think it's like a 5 hour flight from Jo-berg, obviously longer from the Western Cape. If the embassy poofs, I already told Jon I will not be paying SA a visit until it's reinstated, which may not be in our lifetime. His dad isn't getting any younger, either. Really heartbreaking to think that it may be in our best interests to leave it all behind, not even to visit again.