RedPepper

@Aluvaboy and @mymarriagejourney You are right about the healthcare and dependents. I don't know why my mind kept thinking otherwise, and confused it with a benefit I had abroad--so many years ago. Duh! Thank you for pointing that out. Definitely something to consider.
 
@mymarriagejourney That is a good idea. I did not know I could petition my brothers and mom at the same time, with my mom petitioning them again later on. That option didn't even cross my mind. THANK YOU!

Thank you for the response, @Aluvaboy, I have thought about the healthcare, too. I have a very good health insurance plan at work, and if I lose that job, could easily find another one doing Cybersecurity. I have no issues putting my mom on as my dependent and taking care of her. Lucky for me, my mom was truly devoted being a mother to us. I will do everything in my capacity to take care of her. 
 
My brothers have no girlfriends. Had relationships in the past that did not work out. At the back of my mind, that too, was a concern because they could potentially find a partner in life in a few months or years--and screw things up. The only fix is for them to not get married for a while until they're eligible to petition their partner. I did the same route with my ex-husband. We were not married for 11 years, until his petition came in. We got married after he became a US citizen. Sad, but true.
 
Other than that, I have not considered the repercussions on my brothers petitions if they ever get married. I will have to plan it out after I have made the decision of which petition route to take.

Hello everyone! I am a conflicted with a decision I have to make, asap. Would appreciate your advice on this case. 
 
I am a US Citizen looking to petition my 63 yo mom and two 30+ yo brothers over.  I know which is the faster petition route, but unsure if I should take it due to my mother's age and declining health. My 2 brothers are still single and over 30 yo. My mother is 63 years old with health fast declining due to diabetes and depression. I am a single-parent of four, sending 1 child to college, and another following suit in a year.
 
Short Route: Petition my 63 yo mother first, and wait for her to petition my two 30+ yo brothers later. If this is the route we take, it will take my mom 1-3 years to complete immigration process and become a permanent resident, and it will take an additional 5-10 years (or even more) for my brothers to get their visas. My apprehension? I am unsure if my mom will live long enough to complete the process. If she lives long enough, that's great! Otherwise, we'll be back to square one--which I cannot afford. Should I take my chances?
 
Long Route: Petition my mom and 30+ yo brothers at the same time. I have no worries about my mom's petition. I can have her here in a year or two. However, it will take my brothers at least 15 years (and in most cases 26 years on average) to wait for their visas. That's a long wait. By the time they get here, they'd be 60+ years old and starting over with their careers, with not enough retirement savings. 
 
My goal is to empower my mom and brothers, so  they can stand on their own two feet.
 
If you were me, which route will you take and why? Thank you in advance!
 

Check out the monthly premium rates for health insurance via the ACA so that you know the financial implications of your mother's declining health situation if she immigrates to the US.  A good plan with low deductibles is very expensive.
 
https://www.healthcare.gov/

Mother is simple but the Brothers even assuming everything goes OK and Mother sponsors them will be close to 50 before they can move.
 
I agree with the everybody sponsors route.

The mother does not have to become a USC to petition her adult sons.  The F2B category for the Philippines is about 11 years, so the OP's estimate 1-3 years to LPR and 10-11 years for F2B is accurate.  In fact it is actually worse in the F3 category which is about 20 years, but if the brothers marry, then the mother will need to naturalize and change to F3.
 
To the OP, there is nothing stopping you from taking both routes.  You can submit I130's for your brothers as F4's right now, and if your mother gets LPR status in a few years, she can also submit I130's.
 
Good Luck! 

Thank you for the response, @Aluvaboy, I have thought about the healthcare, too. I have a very good health insurance plan at work, and if I lose that job, could easily find another one doing Cybersecurity. I have no issues putting my mom on as my dependent and taking care of her. Lucky for me, my mom was truly devoted being a mother to us. I will do everything in my capacity to take care of her. 
 
My brothers have no girlfriends. Had relationships in the past that did not work out. At the back of my mind, that too, was a concern because they could potentially find a partner in life in a few months or years--and screw things up. The only fix is for them to not get married for a while until they're eligible to petition their partner. I did the same route with my ex-husband. We were not married for 11 years, until his petition came in. We got married after he became a US citizen. Sad, but true.
 
Other than that, I have not considered the repercussions on my brothers petitions if they ever get married. I will have to plan it out after I have made the decision of which petition route to take.

You cannot add your mother to your health insurance.  Please talk to your employer to confirm this.  Dependents are limited to your children.

It will take your mom 1-3 years to get her Green Card, 5 years to get her citizenship, and then another 10 - 15 years for your brothers to get their visa, if the category is still available.  So you are still looking at 25 years for either.  

Health care is expensive in USA. Since you are the petitioner for your mom and signing the affidavit of support, you will be responsible for her health care costs (until she becomes a citizen)! So think twice before you commit to this situation! Regarding your brothers, your mom can definitely file for them as unmarried sons over 21 years! But how long are they planning to live unmarried? 

I would petition everyone at once now, and then when your mom is able to petition your brothers, she can petition them at that time.  You can see which comes through first.  But, by petitioning your brothers now, there is no lost time in case your mom is unable to petition your brothers in the future.
 
Make sure you can afford your mom's medical care!

Bring the I-9 to your employer's attention.
The I-551 stamp is your work authorization.
Under US laws, the employer can not refuse to accept the I-551 stamp and demand something else.
The employer is violating the law.

Your employer clearly does not follow the law or disregards it. If they are so bent on checking they can just enroll in the e-verify system and I believe they can prove you are authorized to work. Or even better, call USCIS and check.

Your employer is wrong. They just need to look at the Instructions for the I-9 form which clearly state that the I-551 in your passport is in List A of acceptable documents that establish both identity and employment authorization. Here is the link to it. http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf

Show the employer these sites.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/51744446/List-of-Legal-Work-Papers
http://nevadalawhelp.org/resource/citizenship-and-immigration-status-discrimina?ref=Yl2FD
At the least, tell them to use Google.
Tell your employer that you will contact an attorney from the US State Department to file a discrimination complaint for refusing to accept the stamp. If they continue to discriminate, then call to file a complaint.

Heeeey everyone! What did I miss?!
My 221g was just received at the embassy at 10am today as per 2Go tracking. And so the gruesome waiting begins...
And to those na na-221g din diyan ha...updates naman diyan!
Nilojr--malapit naaaaaa pag-alis niyo...bakit ako naman excited para sa inyo lahat
--and to those who received your visas na! Yeeey! Another journey begins!
Ako naman, still hoping! Brrrrr! Cold feet!

Hahaha! Those were quite long and romantic success stories. I was sighing the whole
Time. Like a high school girl listening to a love story.
I was 17, he was 25. We met on a hiking expedition to Mt Pulag my husband's team organized for our university. Since then, he never let me go. :-P
Now, we have four children! Eldest 14 and youngest 7 years old. 3 girls 1 boy. 5 years married and recently--has been waiting to have my visa after a 221g.
Nevertheless, 16 years of a relationship and 5 years wedded--who can complain? Yes, in love, we put up with anything! A lot, in fact! Including 7 years apart due to his petition from his parents in the US. It makes me cry that soon--soon, we can recreate our Home that we built. Only this time, no more immigration to keep us apart. Getting closer to home!
Success and cheers to everyone here. VJ has become family to me--in a way. Would have been lost without these forums. Big hugs to all! Much love, success and happiness!

Thank you for the good luck wishes everyone. My iPhone does not allow me to do multi-quotes so i can't thank everyone one by one! So thanking everyone for the love and concern here all at the same time.
And good news, I was on a call with the Immigrant Unit at the Embassy just a few min ago due to the status change on the CEAC website this morning from "Admin Processing" to "Ready." It got me worried---only to find out the Consul approved my visa! To be released by tuesday or wednesday next week and sent to me via our local courier! Yehey! I am sooooo happy I can kiss you all!!!! Hahahaha! Not so bad with my 221g--took only a few days--not the 3 weeks I was expecting. Whew! I can breathe now!
Now my turn to share all the overflowing positive energy there is to share to all of you in this thread and all good VJ members! (((((Resonating!))))) Good luck!!! May all odds be forever in your favor! Wink wink!

Hi TimandAna! Congratulations! You know what--i wouldnt bank on what is said in the website regarding security regulations "no bags" and all...i had so much docs with me for the interview too that it was impossible not to bring bags. Good thing i was booked at a hotel across the US embassy before my interview so I went on and went there and asked security. Bottomline, i was able to bring in with me, the next day, 2 big bags with cologne, lotion, make-up...girl stuff along with my docs! Except electronic things and sharp things--scissors and cutters, no weapons, too. LolI suggest, you call your local consulate and ask and confirm what you can bring and should not bring. Who knows you might be surprised and can bring along your bags so you could organize everything. Having everything gives you that confidence in the interview, you know. It's priceless to know you came--fully prepared to make sure you don't get unnecessary delays on your visa.
It also helps to call the consulate before the interview to make sure all your documents are complete and received. This was one thing we didnt do--my AOS got lost in transit from
NVC to my consulate. I relied on the checklist of my P4. :-( Come interview, i only had photocopies of my AOS, surprised to realize they don't have the originals with them--reason why I got a 221g and a very much delayed visa. If only I had back-up original copies with me, I should have my visa right now! Just a heads up.
Good luck to you and to everyone!!! xxx

Have all your stuff in nive folders with tabs for easy findings. I am sure you won't be asked for a thing. Only offer up the money receipts if asked. I am assuming you are the USC/Man and you sent money so CO wouldn't look at it weird. We in Nigeria wouldn't dare show anything whether man or women.

HARD COPIES of these forms are NO LONGER being reviewed since September 1, 2013
--except for the Affidavit of Support, everything else DS260 and DS261, you should fill out online,
even payments at the CEAC website payment portal is preferred.
I had the same problem before, called NVC and they told me to just fill-out the online form.
DS230's still sent out to us, for no apparent reason, BUT if you send it back to them, they will give you an RFE for not submitting online and will just delay your case. Only AOS's are reviewed on hard copies, other else DS230, DS3032, etc--goes straight to the paper shredder.
Also, i suggest you email NVC right this instant. Once you email them, they will no longer send you communications via snail mail.
They will send in all documents, notices, packets, instructions, through your email from then on. And it will make your case much faster to process than through the old snail mail that they used to do.

In order to ensure a prompt response:
Enter your NVC Case Number or USCIS Receipt Number IN THE SUBJECT LINE of the email.
Provide the applicant’s name and date of birth and the petitioner’s name and date of birth.
The NVC’s email address is NVCINQUIRY@state.gov.

Before your message, type in your case's basic information, and give them your email addresses--petitioner and beneficiaries'

Example:

NVC Case Number: MNL19********
Principal Applicant Full Name And Birthdate:
o Maria ******** / 06-05-1968
Petitioner's Full Name And Birthdate:
o Esteban *********/ 02-03-1962
Names And E-Mail Addresses To Receive Correspondence From The NVC:
o Maria *********, Email Add: maria@yahoo.com
o Esteban *********, Email Add: esteban@yahoo.com
Request By: Maria *****

....AND THEN YOUR MESSAGE

Good Luck!!!

Thanks so much for adding me. I updated my profile as you suggested.
I didn't know Italy Consulate is pretty quick! Hopefully I get the appointment in december.
Thanks

Let's face it, immigration involves endless paperwork and requires a lot of patience. As you dig through piles of documents, it is only necessary to be organize and clutter-free. I would like to share some useful tips as to how I kept my sanity through proper filing and arrangement of important documents.
1. Always keep a file of all the forms you submitted, and the email notifications from NVC and/or USCIS. I print out 3 copies every time and arrange them neatly on separate folders. (One copy for me, one for my husband and a back-up copy). I also created a personal timeline in order to track down our case's progress.
2. Before my visa interview, I neatly arranged my documents using color-coded folders and clear plastic separates. I also placed labels on every folder and printed a cover page for each.
Folder A - Affidavit of Support Packet contains husband's employment certificate, tax records and W2's
Folder B - Proof of Relationship Packet contains billing statements, receipts, email correspondence, money transfers, housing arrangements, contract of lease etc.
Folder C - Wedding photos, proof of travels, family celebrations etc

Plastic Separate 1 - Appointment Letter
Plastic Separate 2 - Ds-230 & I-864 (original and photo copies)
Plastic Separate 3 - NSo Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Police Clearance

Please note that in most US Embassies where interviews are held, the applicant and the consul are separated by a glass window with a narrow, 2-inch sloped slot - this is where you slip the documents they request to view. It is advisable to use FLEXIBLE folders instead of hard or spiral binds because they wouldn't fit.
3. If you are married to an expat whose been working outside the States, you also need to produce Proof of Domicile.
[Domicile. Place where a person has his or her principal residence. The person must intend to keep that residence for the foreseeable future. The sponsor of an immigrant must have domicile in the U.S. before the visa can be issued. This generally means that the sponsor must be living in the U.S. In certain circumstances, however one can be considered to have a domicile while temporarily living overseas.]
We requested my husband's company to issue him with an employment certificate explaining the projects he's handling in Asia and the length of his assignment. On top of my husband's Income Tax Forms and W2s, I also included Form 2555 - Foreign Earned Income. All these documents I inserted in the Affidavit of Support Folder.
4. On the day of your interview, it's always better to come in prepared and memorize important details mentioned in your forms. It's ridiculous if you would have to dig thru your documents every time you need to answer simple questions such as:
- Petitioner's full name (emphasis on the middle name)
- Place of residence in the States
- Your petitioner's employment background
- Wedding date, or the day you and your spouse first met
- If you are constantly travelling, dates when you left and arrived in diff. country, and length of stay.
It creates a positive impression if you remember these things by heart.
5. You have to remember that NOT every consul would like to view ALL your documents. In our case, the consul just asked for the wedding photos but she complimented us for coming in "extra-prepared." So yeah, it's a major plus to carry excessive amount of proof, documents and forms - than lacking.
To everyone who's scheduled for an interview, keep smiling and be charming! I hope you find this post useful and best of luck!

Just so you know, your case complete e-mail will look like this:
Dear Sir or Madam:

The National Visa Center has received all documentation necessary to complete pre-processing
of your case. As soon as an interview date has been scheduled, the applicant, petitioner
and attorney (if applicable) will be notified.

The applicant should NOT make any travel arrangements, sell property, or give up employment
until the US Embassy or Consulate General has issued a visa.

The US Embassy or Consulate General may require additional documentation at the time of
the interview. Additional documentation requirements if applicable can be referenced at
the following URL: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3742.html

Sincerely,

Director
National Visa Center
BE HAPPY as this e-mail is just a few days away!

Don't worry, you're not the only one to not know this secret
Yup, federal holidays are fun. Too bad I wasn't paid time and a half for working today though
I'll see ya in the October threads!