Bringing mom to United States

[anella 0]

Hi,

I apologize in advance since this question might have been asked before, however, the info is scattered all over the place. I'd appreciate any input from people with experience when it comes to bringing parents to the US.

I am a US citizen and would like to file for my mom to come over.

From my understanding, it might take about a year for her to get her visa which she will use to enter the US.

From the point of getting her visa, she will have 6 months to enter. Once she touches the American soil, she will be given a temporary green card which will be valid for 1 year.

Here are my questions:

Will she need to go through the interview process at the US embassy in Croatia - her home country?

How long does it usually take to get her permanent card in the mail? How long will the permanent card be valid for?

Also, how long after receiving her temporary card will she be able to start the naturalization process? And how long will this process take?

Thank you!

Edited July 23, 2016 by anella

[aleful 1,905]

hi

part of your information is incorrect

She won't be given a temporary green card, at the port of entry where she does customs, they will take her to an office and review her paperwork that she will be bringing in a yellow sealed envelope

her passport will be stamped and will have a i551 stamp or annotation stating that is serves as temporary valid for 1 year. It can take from weeks to months to actually get the GC. You do know that she has to pay to get the physical green card in the mail. The cost is $165. The sooner she pays, the sooner her GC will arrive

The card is for 10 years and she has to wait 5 years to apply for citizenship

[cookfayII 12]

--Will she need to go through the interview process at the US embassy in Croatia - her home country?

Yes she does need to go through the interview at the US embassy located n your mom's home country.

--How long does it usually take to get her permanent card in the mail? How long will the permanent card be valid for?

It will take 4-8 weeks to get her PR card after she touches the American soil. But it depends on case by case, you can track the Green Card procedure by your IOE number.

PR card has 10 years valid period.

---Also, how long after receiving her temporary card will she be able to start the naturalization process? And how long will this process take?

She can start her naturalization process after 5 years she gets her PR, as well as during this 5 years she needs to stay inside of the US border enough time to make her eligible to apply citizenship and she also needs to pass naturalization test. ( check up USCIS main website to ensure that, I forget the exactly time sorry dude)

[EmilyW 1,358]

https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/citizenship-through-naturalization

She must continuously reside in the US for five years prior to naturalization as a citizen.

[Unshakable Faith 493]

Also, the "6 months to enter" begins counting on the date of the medical, not the date of the visa issuance.

Example: She did her medical June 1st, her visa is approved and issued on September 1st, the visa validity will only be until December 1st to enter the US.

[anella 0]

Some great info! Thank you so much guys!

[anella 0]

I have an additional question.  Would she be able to travel to the US after applying for the green card - while waiting for her medical?  

[Unlockable 7,314]

If she already has a visitor visa she can certainly visit the US during her Immigrant Visa (IV) process. If not, she will need to apply for one. Keep in mind that it is often difficult to acquire a visitor visa while having a petition for a IV visa active.

[anella 0]

5 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

If she already has a visitor visa she can certainly visit the US during her Immigrant Visa (IV) process. If not, she will need to apply for one. Keep in mind that it is often difficult to acquire a visitor visa while having a petition for a IV visa active.

Perfect! She already has one valid for another 9 years.  Thanks for chiming in.  

 

Edited March 27, 2017 by anella