I am planning to apply for a B2 visa for my mother who resides in Kerala, India. My mother had a B1/B2 Visa issued to her on 5/7/2014, and it expired last year 5/5/2024. We were unaware of the dates, if not we would have applied for a renewal (possibly avoiding an in person visa interview at a consulate and utilizing the lock box/drop box/VFS). She is 74 and turning 75by the end of November.
My father, sister and I are all naturalized US Citizens, we did not apply for a PR/Green Card for my mother as any of us could have done as my parents (father a USC with OCI) were residing in India and had no plans to stay in America indefinitely or to travel every year to maintain the Green Card.
Circumstances changed earlier this month when my mom was diagnosed with a tumor on a kidney, after which the kidney and the tumor was surgically removed. We would like to bring our parents to the country (both my mother and father have active health coverage for which they pay dues every month). Once they reach America we can do an adjustment of status and she can become a permanent resident, as she would qualify as she is an immediate relative to my father/me. As further treatment/medical care would be better in America and my sis and are here for everything and emotional support.
I have researched as much as possible on the options for bringing my mother on a B2 as early as possible, however I am not sure of how reliable and accurate it is. I was expecting that my mother will get a visa interview waiver, but my research turns up that Visa interview waivers are available for applicants who are under 13 or over 80 years in age. I also read somewhere that if the B2 has expired within the past 24 months a visa waiver can be obtained and dropbox/lockbox/vfs can be used. I also read ifs 12 months. if that's the case the 12 months from the visa expiry completed on 5/5/25.
What are the options to bring my mom at the earliest? can a visa interview waiver be obtained? Is there a way to expedite it?
