Tourist Visa valid and thinking of Petitioning

[ezzy 3]

15 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

Leaving family behind is the choice we all make when we immigrate.

 

And it’s not always the case that everyone wants to immigrate with us even when we reach the stage that we can sponsor family members. Especially parents - some parents are very eager to rejoin their child and do so as soon as they can , others find the thought of being uprooted from what they’ve known their entire lives to be put in an alien culture with an alien language where they may not know anyone other than their child, a highly disruptive and traumatic experience.

 

incidentally, immigration is a privilege, not a right.

 

I had forgotten about that phrase.  

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Oh also, back to part of the original question re: your siblings. I was previously in one of those long-term petitions (F3 beneficiary in my case), traveled fairly regularly for both business and vacation to the US and got B1/B2 renewed while waiting too. As long as your siblings can satisfy CBP /the embassy that they would be returning home after any short term trips, they should be ok visiting and renewing visas while they wait the two-plus decades for their F4 priority date to become current. Obviously the key factor here is showing strong ties to home.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

13 hours ago, ezzy said:

Lol. This seems like an attack. But rather than be triggered, I would agree. This was a choice. And, to be honest, saying that it's lonely to not have family around is a normal feeling. And I also share this feeling with his family.

 

That being said, I do have a choice and a right to reunite myself and my husband with all the family I could get. Thanks for your input, though.

 

No one on VJ attacks.. we all advise.. based on information in your posts. 

 

And as noted above, immigration is a privilege and not a right. We all chose to immigrate and should accept the burdens that come along with migration, ie leaving some family behind. The US does have some of the most liberal immigration laws of any in the world. 

[James D 39]

20 hours ago, ezzy said:

I am also curious if anyone has had experience with being the petitioner/recipient of IR visa while also holding a valid tourist visa and was able to visit the US with active petition. Thanks for your input!!

I might be looking at this situation come November. I have petitioned for a new green card for my wife of 30+ years. If her resident visa is not received before then, we want to visit the USA and will be looking for a tourist visa for her.I have read that we will need proof of economic obligations here - plus a clean police record and financial situation - and I remember the Immigration form requires an agreement that she will not be seeking permanent residency (I assume during the short visit). On paper, everything looks okay for a visit on a tourist visa while the I-130 is in progress. The reality depends on the POE officers.

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

On 2/18/2019 at 1:57 PM, ezzy said:

That's a long time....🤮

I had thought it was around 15~

 

On 2/18/2019 at 2:00 PM, Boiler said:

Those getting to their visa's now have waited over 20 years and the line gets longer.

I had a coworker at my last job who brought all 3 of her sisters here from Pinas and it took over 18-19 years for each of them. 15 years is wishful thinking at best for bringing sister/brothers from the Philippines. 

 

Edit. It was funny because when she brought the last sister over here in 2016, the sister brought her 17 year old son as well. They got a letter in the mail about signing up for Selective Service and pretty much freaked out over it. So my coworker brought it to my attention the next day and asking about it. She didn't know anything about it because she had a daughter, so I had to explain it all to them. 

Edited February 22, 2019 by Cyberfx1024

[dwheels76 5,461]

17 hours ago, ezzy said:

I had forgotten about that phrase.  

 

 

Hey Ezzy one thing to consider if you haven't I know you say it's no big rush you are more incline to see each other annually. But I would do this petition your parents they will be here in 2 to 3 months You could start now and upgrade once you are citizen at least get it filed. Once they are here then the parents can petition your sister. As green card holders it will take about 2 to 3 years. Sure beats the 20 to 30 years by far.

[geowrian 22,335]

12 minutes ago, dwheels76 said:

Hey Ezzy one thing to consider if you haven't I know you say it's no big rush you are more incline to see each other annually. But I would do this petition your parents they will be here in 2 to 3 months You could start now and upgrade once you are citizen at least get it filed. Once they are here then the parents can petition your sister. As green card holders it will take about 2 to 3 years. Sure beats the 20 to 30 years by far.

Huh?

1) Where does 2-3 months come from? It's taking a year or longer for any IR-based petition to interview.

2) If the sister is age 21 or over, then it's at least another 12 years on top of that for F2B from PI....likely longer. Even if the parents became USCs, F1 from PI is just about as long of a wait as F2B there. Also the sister would need to remain unmarried (or wait just about as long as F4 is then marry, but it would have to be only after the parents naturalize).

3) One can only file the I-130 for a parent once they are a citizen..you cannot "upgrade' later because there is no basis to petition a parent prior to being a USC (nothing to upgrade from).

Edited February 19, 2019 by geowrian

[Boiler 43,433]

You beat me to it!

 

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Huh?

1) Where does 2-3 months come from? It's taking a year or longer for any IR-based petition to interview.

2) If the sister is age 21 or over, then it's at least another 12 years on top of that for F2B from PI....likely longer. Even if the parents became USCs, F1 from PI is just about as long of a wait as F2B there. Also the sister would need to remain unmarried (or wait just about as long as F4 is they marry, but it would have to be only after the parents naturalize).

3) One can only file the I-130 for a parent once they are a citizen..you cannot "upgrade' later because there is no basis to petition a parent prior to being a USC (nothing to upgrade from).

 

[CEE53147 559]

+

People should understand the immigration journey before they begin it.  They generally do and undertake the challenges eagerly, but then some start to whine because it is not to their liking even though they knew the limitations from the start.  I am tired of complaints and whines when there is nothing unusual or unexpected.  I have far more reason to complain than most of you, but I accept the process and limitations and go on.

 

So either smile and approach the process with anticipation knowing there will be bumps in the road or don't waste the time of immigration official;s and take visa slots from people who want to come so much that they will endure and deal with the unexpected. QYB

[Just Paul 4,591]

3 hours ago, James D said:

we want to visit the USA and will be looking for a tourist visa for her

If she already has a tourist visa then it is not an issue.  But for a non VWP country it is extremely hard to get a B1/B2 once a I-130 is filed.  For $160 you can find out. 

[James D 39]

5 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

If she already has a tourist visa then it is not an issue.  But for a non VWP country it is extremely hard to get a B1/B2 once a I-130 is filed.  For $160 you can find out. 

We are pretty much expecting the resident visa interview to happen before November (I-130 filed in October, 2018) but if it doesn't happen $160 (visa fee) will be less than the air fare to visit the nearest consulate.

[Ate 180]

3 hours ago, James D said:

We are pretty much expecting the resident visa interview to happen before November (I-130 filed in October, 2018) but if it doesn't happen $160 (visa fee) will be less than the air fare to visit the nearest consulate.

 

I'm confused.  You need to pay the $160 fee AND visit the consulate for the tourist visa interview, right?

 

[James D 39]

14 hours ago, Ate said:

 

I'm confused.  You need to pay the $160 fee AND visit the consulate for the tourist visa interview, right?

 

$160 is the fee  that you must pay before the interview for a tourist visa - applies also to student visa, business visa, exchange students.

[SalishSea 16,770]

On 2/19/2019 at 9:55 AM, dwheels76 said:

But I would do this petition your parents they will be here in 2 to 3 months

This is incorrect.

[Ate 180]

2 hours ago, James D said:

$160 is the fee  that you must pay before the interview for a tourist visa - applies also to student visa, business visa, exchange students.

 

Yes, I understand that.  But you still have to go to the consulate for the interview.  So, you wouldn't really save on airfare, right?

 

20 hours ago, James D said:

We are pretty much expecting the resident visa interview to happen before November (I-130 filed in October, 2018) but if it doesn't happen $160 (visa fee) will be less than the air fare to visit the nearest consulate.