NavarreMan

I appreciate some of you trying to warn me of the potential consequences of bringing my MIL to the USA. The costs, the emotional investment and such are fully evident to me and I am not only willing but able to handle those issues as they may arise. The alternative to just leaving my wife's mother to die alone is simply not acceptable. That is not what love is, it is not what family is and not what humanity is all about. What I really need to know is what impact her condition has on her eligibility to immigrate and how it may effect her timeline. It appears that since she is not a threat due to her condition then she cannot be discriminated against based on her mental state. She is not yet 80 so I believe she still has to attend an interview at the Embassy. What I need to know is how much time do I need to go and retrieve her, escort her to the Embassy and thence to the USA? That being said if there is someone out there who has been through this situation then your input and experience is vital to my cause. Thank you to those who supplied me with the information above about the guidelines placed on the immigration official with respect to her mental condition. From what I can gather the I-134 only requires me to have sufficient income above the poverty level, no worries there. I see no policy that says they can set an arbitrary minimum income amount based on her condition. She will become my dependent and I can add her to my insurance and include her as a deduction so it is nearly a break even there. Most importantly she will be with her daughter and myself and live in a warm and loving home in her final years v. dying alone and neglected in a cold faraway city.

I see that I-130 is required for naturalized wife to petition for her mother to become an immigrant to the USA. Mother is 74 and is suffering from dementia. I have the following questions:

1. Does her medical condition preclude her from immigration?

2. Does she qualify for any special consideration due to her condition?

3. Does her medical condition have an impact on the I-134?

She has no other relatives to care for her and friends are increasingly worried about her wanderings and getting lost. She was just found after spending the entire day at a bus stop in freezing weather not knowing where she was. I know we are attempting to take on a tremendous load but this is how families work and we are determined to help her in any way possible. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I am long past using this website but was asked for my critique. I really have nothing to say other than thanks to the guides, forms and some expert advice Tanya and I made it through with few problems and she became a US citizen in 2012. I would have liked to continue to track her son's progress in a side-by-side timeline as he just passed his N-400 interview and it would have been nice to have his timeline as well. No crisis, just something to file away in his records. We met a few good friends along our long path and turned a blind eye to the ever increasing drama in the forums. I can say without any reservations that this website provided us with the tools necessary to complete the visa journey without the need of outside or costly help.

Thanks again to VJ and all the good advice we received along the way.

Make sure and include Facebook - he must be exhibiting some social skills by now. Oh and Outlook so he can e-mail all his buddies. And eBay for economics...

Read it, learn it, live it - no need to teach others how to use the English language incorrectly.

Proper usage and definition of the word "Krewe".

When did this intenet site becomes TMZ or National Enquirer ?

3 or 4 years ago... where have you been?

meh...Iv'e told this story on here before, and it's not one of my prouder moments...but by far not my worse.

Here's the short version.

Me and the wife and one of her friends went up to Vitebsk to meet her former college friends and party. It comes up in a convo that Smolensk has a new night club that's supposed to be hot. So after god only knows how much booze...were heading to Smolensk...which by train is close to 8 hours or more...drinking the entire way there. We get to the club and there's a line of peeps waiting to get in. Hot chicks, English language and a few bucks and presto we are standing in side the entrance waiting to check in the bags, coats, etc.. and pay cover charge and then get stamped. In front of us is an Arab dude with what appeared to be a hooker...not sure, but anyways they were speaking English...hers better than his. She was showing him how many Rubles to pay for the cover charge..helping him count his money...and all I said was "It looks like we are all speaking English tonight eh"...and that's when everything went wrong. She turned around and said something sh*tty in Russian to the then fiance and her friends, they said something back and then it got real loud, and he said something towards me and I picked up the words American, assh*le...and then I popped him one. Big mistake...like really big. If I owned a club and had to choose bouncers...it would be from that club. Of course I don't go down easy and without a fight. Hey it's all about representing Alaska ! To make a long story short, cops show up after Iv'e been maced and I'm still zip tied, I get mouthy with them, Kira tells me to stfu and get all the money I have out of my wallet if I want to get back to Belarus. I guess I paid for a police escort seeing how they followed our taxi to the train station..

If your an American in Belarus you need what's called a "Transit Visa" to leave Belarus and come back to Belarus. We knew this, but we also knew nobody cares about that visa...unless your a dirty fck*ng Russian cop who knows about that visa.

That was just one of many adventures with the wifey. There's the time I ended up on stage at Westworld club and she went ape sh*t and had me drug off stage ...even when everyone was cool about it..but her. Now that I think about it...she threw my bags out twice during my visits, and tried to have my trip back home changed and then found out only the purchaser can do that, so she told me to get a hotel room until it was time for me to go back...and then retracted that when she remembered the hotels in Minsk are full of hookers...etc, etc..

All remaining questions I had as to your character are now answered.

$36k car with $15 Walmart floor mats! Class act.

car hasn't even been ordered yet.

Oh - it's been ordered you just haven't gotten on board yet.

and now you have a garmin with that annoying woman's voice on it....

Princess Narina? Narnia? Whatever she called herself???

and it should also be noted she has a 6 month old top of the line garmin.

Just bought a Nuvi 1300 yesterday w/lifetime maps and have Sirius Sat Radio. Everything I need to listen to my classic rock at a respectible 8 watts per channel x4.p.s. Oh yes... all in my fuel guzzling 98 Ford Ranger!

No - cars are for driving. Most Many people have trouble concentrating on that fact. Your primary responsibility is to safely pilot the vehicle, not be jammin' to the tunes and distracting other driver's. I know - stick in the mud, but you asked for my opinion.

Here's my $0.02 worth...

So far all the info you have been given seems accurate and should prove helpful. One thing I have not heard mention of so far is the cost of the process. I am not fully up on the current fees but my wife immigrated 3 years ago and we are just now getting to the point of her gaining citizenship. All-in I'd say the process has cost around $8,000.00. Some have spent more, some less. This includes airfare, fees and other related costs. If you do not qualify for sponsorship, these expenses should be very carefully considered prior to starting this endeavor. Mistakes are usually costly and time-consuming. The guides here on VJ are a wealth of consolidated knowledge and experience and are invaluable to couples such as yourself trying to find your happiness. Trust the guides more so than the advice of individuals. I've seen many people given bad advice on here, not always intentionally but bad none the less. The guides are the bare essentials and easy to follow.

Good luck and best wishes!

Addendum to my post - the cost I mentioned was for my wife & her son. Maybe knock off 2k or so for fees + airfare. Still, $6k is a good deal of money and it was over 3 years ago. Airfare has gone up dramatically since then and the fees have increased quite a bit.

Here's my $0.02 worth...

So far all the info you have been given seems accurate and should prove helpful. One thing I have not heard mention of so far is the cost of the process. I am not fully up on the current fees but my wife immigrated 3 years ago and we are just now getting to the point of her gaining citizenship. All-in I'd say the process has cost around $8,000.00. Some have spent more, some less. This includes airfare, fees and other related costs. If you do not qualify for sponsorship, these expenses should be very carefully considered prior to starting this endeavor. Mistakes are usually costly and time-consuming. The guides here on VJ are a wealth of consolidated knowledge and experience and are invaluable to couples such as yourself trying to find your happiness. Trust the guides more so than the advice of individuals. I've seen many people given bad advice on here, not always intentionally but bad none the less. The guides are the bare essentials and easy to follow.

Good luck and best wishes!

About what I expected...

Just to clarify before the flamewar begins, the part about getting stopped by the police only happened in the more rural areas I visited, not in the cities.(edited for spelling)

One never has a second chance at making a first impression. New poster (at least for the last three years) doesn't know my history. I'm sorry he has had so many problems; I really do hope it gets better for them.

And you failed miserably. I don't care about your history, only went by what you wrote. It is entirely possible that you are a great guy but your post was condescending, arrogant, elitist and obnoxious. The little that you do know about USCIS is made apparent when you say there is no connection between USCIS and NC DMV. The common thread is called S.A.V.E. (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) and it is the data base used to verify Alien Immigrant status in the US. When USCIS screws up their data entry, it filters down though various entities that utilize that system, namely the NC DMV (Social Security, entry/exit visas, etc). Perhaps you are not familiar with this because you were fortunate enough not to encounter any problems, but for some of us, and not necessarily by our own hand, we were forced to become intimately familiar with it. Now, unless you feel that our government is incapable of making mistakes, I submit to you that there is a chance that the rosy picture you paint of USCIS may fall somewhere short of reality.

New poster – that’s a good one! My last posts were back in February 2011 – but I guess you missed that little detail.

Just so you understand what it is that I am hearing from your posts:

Yep, breezed right through.....and no fee increase. Guess you just have poor timing. May not be your fault.

You guess I have poor timing and it may not be my fault? Condescending, arrogant, elitist

NC DMV and USCIS are two totally different entities. Save your woes for another forum, please?

Where’s the question? Your statement, while accurate, failed to address what it was responding to. Obnoxious

Most do. You are an exception. Most folks that have problems are usually partially to blame. Not blaming you.

Most do, most folks? Back it up with facts buddy boy. Obnoxious

Well well, the USCIS is my friend. They have provided the mechanism to me to bring my young blond Russian hottie MOB and young adopted son to me so we all can have a happy family together. And....we are very happy. Sri you are not. Maybe it will get better for you?

Ah yes, true love, nice to see where your priorities are. I can only guess the “Sri” is lazy for sorry. If so, this is yet another inaccurate guess on your part. We are happy; we are through the process shy of citizenship. Don’t count your chickens until they hatch. You still have biometrics and interviews to wade through. Arrogant, elitist and obnoxious

But if you really want to see a system at work....like I said....go after any Russian system. That will leave you crying. Not for the faint at heart.

The assumption is that I have not been to Russia, again wrong. In the US, if a government office decides that you are wrong, that’s it, you are wrong until you can get someone with more authority to see it from your side. In Russia, while you may encounter similar bureaucracy, you can get most anything you want for money. It is a way of life there. Getting pulled over by the police every couple of miles because you are an American (or most any other tourist) and shaken down for roubles is not unusual. Getting documents and other governmental matters taken care of in a timely manner usually means shelling out some cash here and there. You are free to correct me if your experience was different but I am not stating this as fact for all, only my reality during my time in Russia, my personal experience. Unlike you I do not claim that my experience is the way it is for everyone. Too many variations to even begin to claim there is a “norm”. It is far more likely that the reverse is true – the “norm” is that there is no “norm”.

I like to believe that with hard work comes luck. Some are luckier than others and others are not so much. I don't compare but do have a problem with some obtruding their experiences.

Do I even need to point out the irony of this statement? Your opinion is that because it went well in your case, those of us that have had problems have had them because of our shortcomings; there can be no other answer. The very idea that our government could possibly make mistakes seems to be foreign to you. Yes, you do compare and you are just as guilty of obtruding your experiences as the next guy. The difference is that you claim you don’t.

Read what you write…

My heart bleeds for all those trodden upon by USCIS......sheesh. USCIS is very consitent and we knew what the wait would be and it was and now it is over. We don't even think back to those times; a mere drop in the bucket. And if all your documents are in order and you send in the correct fee, it is almost a slam dunk.

NOW......you want bureaucracy that DOES INTENTIONALLY discourage those.....try being a single woman and try to go through the Russian Adoption process. After all the red tape and hoops, it all came down to one individual's subjective decision (successful only after three continuances).

So I take it they didn't lose your paperwork and the fees didn't double on you 1/2 way through the process, and due to the increase in fees and ensuing rush to file, delays of many months were incurred. You're right, what am I complaining about? Oh and then the S.A.V.E. system wasn't properly documented and stepsons driver's license was suspended. That fiasco only took a Congressman, a Senator and the Bureau Chief of the North Carolina Dept of Motor Vehicles to sort out. Oh heavens forbid, what was I thinking posting here? This thread must be for the precious few that breezed through the process with nary a problem.

Bleeding heart my ####! Nice pedestal you put yourself on buddy. I guess you have been through this process enough times to state that as long as you pay the fees and have your docs in order, a "slam dunk" is virtually assured. Maybe you didn't have any problems but I can guarantee you that the USCIS has dealt out it's share of heartache, even to those who had their docs in order. Don't pretend to know what everyone else here has been through. As I stated I can only speak for my experience, as ridiculous as I felt the OP was, it took your snotty, egotistical and untoward comment to bring me down to this level.

What do you mean the USCIS will do everything to discourage us? Fill out the forms, wait forever, move to NVC... Seems like for the most part they only show real interest in cases that show extreme red flags in thier opinoin....

In our case, it was making pointless trips to New Orleans for fingerprints that could be done locally and then driving 700 miles roundtrip to Jacksonville for interview. As I said, I cannot speak for every case, only ours, but I think most will admit that the USCIS is a monstrous bureaucracy that may unintentionally discourage those who try to gain legal immigration status the proper way. Many were the times I wanted to fly Tanya to Mexico and meet her at the border with a ladder. Additionally, if you do not find the waiting discouraging then you are a better person than I Gunga Din.

Keeping the romance alive! Got me 1 very happy RUB (hate that term, like calling me a NAM, North American Male) woman and no family begging to move here. Life is dandy! Wasn't looking for love, wasn't looking for a Russian bride but admittedly was driving through the neighborhood. Love found me and happened to come in a 5'-2" Russian body. IMHO - if you go looking for a wife, concubine or whatever, you get may not necessarily be what you seek. Not that it is bad, but will it stand the test of time, USICS, economic crisis, etc. Can't speak for everyone, only myself and what my experience is, and it is good.

If you think it is easy, it's not. USCIS will do everything to discourage those who are not ready for the long-haul. Communication, or at least the determination with which you both seek communication will be very important. What makes sense to you may be an insult to her or visa-versa. It will take lots of patience to clear up misunderstandings and even more to get past the differences of culture (no whistling in the house!).

As for the OP – sounds like someone fishing for reactions rather than someone who genuinely seeks advice and counsel.

Today I needed to file some Pleadings with the State Superior Court but could not be in 2 places at 1 time. My wife, in the US now for 3 years, picked up the ball and headed down to the Courthouse, in-stamped the Pleadings, went to the Trial Court Administrators Office to coordinate the trial date, went back to the Clerk of Courts Office to drop off the Pleadings and is now on her way to mail copies of the documents to the Defendant in the case. She is awesome!!!

Just had to share this. She's the greatest!

Bet you didn't see that one coming! LOL Nagi

Nagi!

congratulations, you have a one year extension,you should have a new case number thats on that letter that the number you use to check your case status,online,from start to finish it should take around 4 to 4 an half months,good luck

Close - this was the approval of the I-751 application. 1 year extension came back in Sept.

On February 11, 2011, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this CRI89 PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED.

Should receive notice by next Monday/Tuesday and will see what it says to do next!

Son just lost wallet with all his ID inside. Did the normal things like canceling his credit cards. I have softcopy scanned copies of all the missing ID's. Here's the kicker - I have just filed for removal of conditions and received the receipt effectively extending the expiration date of the card for 1 year. We expect to be receiving the appt letter sometime in the next month or two. Will he be required to show the original I-551 at the interview or can we skate by with a copy and just wait for the 10 year card? Even if we file for a replacement he won't have it in time for the interview.

Gonna get the kid one of them biker wallets with the chain dangling off of it...