Bringing someone to the USA?

[DreamingWolf]

Okay everybody, this one's going to be a tough run. I currently have a situation that, to me, seems impossible.... but maybe you all can shed some light on it.


I currently reside in the United States. I'm 19, on SSA and SSI for disability, and unemployed.

I've fallen in love with someone in the UK and we have plans for marriage in the future. He also wants to study in the USA as a student alongside me in college. The catch here? We're both guys and he's 17.

I've been through every law I could possibly peruse to find an answer, and so far it seems as though a Student Visa may be the key. I doubt the USA would consider a Fiance Visa given our genders.

Then again, I could be wrong. Any ideas?

 

[dafortycal]

Short answer, forget about it.

He can come and study, and you two can blow each other and play hide the submarine in his *** all you want but you better wait till he turns 18, but the fact remains gay marriage will not give his status or a visa. BTW.. That is a real answer to your phony question.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

Much silliness removed. To summarize - federal law does not recognize same-sex marriages, and even if it did your lack of income or assets would preclude sponsorship.

Seriously, you should focus on improving your own situation. If you don't mind my asking, what is your disability?

 

[DreamingWolf]

Much silliness removed. To summarize - federal law does not recognize same-sex marriages, and even if it did your lack of income or assets would preclude sponsorship.

Seriously, you should focus on improving your own situation. If you don't mind my asking, what is your disability?

First off, thank you for the answer, Canadian.

My disability is cancer, Hodgekin's Disease Lymphoma. I can't do a lot of strenuous work and much of my treatments require me to be in or around my house most of the day.
My main issue is that I can't actually get a job (or rather, it would make no sense to) unless that job pays more than my SSA and SSI. Any income from a job would simply be deducted from my monthly checks.

As for improving my situation, I've been attempting to do so for the past year. It's difficult when most of my cash goes towards healthy eating and supplements/medication. Finding a livable, cheap apartment is nearly impossible, and I can't get loans because my credit is at 0 (no credit card companies have accepted my application either, so I can't build credit).

In any case, I'm sure there's a solution to all this turmoil somewhere. This is the USA, right?

 

[TheRealCanadian]

My disability is cancer, Hodgekin's Disease Lymphoma. I can't do a lot of strenuous work and much of my treatments require me to be in or around my house most of the day. My main issue is that I can't actually get a job (or rather, it would make no sense to) unless that job pays more than my SSA and SSI. Any income from a job would simply be deducted from my monthly checks.

Is this a short-term issue? My only understanding of Hodgkin's is that the cure rate is around 90% - so if this is a short-term thing, you should really focus on beating it and once you're in remission you can work on getting your income up and getting you to be in a position where you're better suited to deal with someone special in your life.

Finding a livable, cheap apartment is nearly impossible, and I can't get loans because my credit is at 0 (no credit card companies have accepted my application either, so I can't build credit).

You probably don't want loans in such a situation anyways. Are you getting any family support?

In any case, I'm sure there's a solution to all this turmoil somewhere. This is the USA, right?

There is, but you really shouldn't be sponsoring a minor at this stage in your life. It seems a little harsh at this point, but you have two bigger challenges right now: your health and getting yourself into a position where you can be a financially and emotionally independent adult. You may also find that your romantic options at that point are more likely to take care of themselves, and maybe the law will be changed by then.

 

[DreamingWolf]

Is this a short-term issue? My only understanding of Hodgkin's is that the cure rate is around 90% - so if this is a short-term thing, you should really focus on beating it and once you're in remission you can work on getting your income up and getting you to be in a position where you're better suited to deal with someone special in your life.

Mine is aggressive, I've been fighting it since I was 15 (2005). However as you can tell from my money issues, most of my life is based around beating it. Chemo doesn't work for me, I've been working with it alternatively since sometime around 2006.

You probably don't want loans in such a situation anyways. Are you getting any family support?

Unfortunately one of the reason I'm attempting to move out is my family is under significant financial distress at the moment as well. My two brothers are autistic, so they also get checks... which covers some food issues and care for them, but certainly doesn't do much for bills. My very presence in the household, since I'm over 18, means they get lower check payments and neither of us (my single parent and I) can get food stamps.

So, again we come to the conclusion that I have to move out and become independent, both for my family and myself. Yet, I don't have the money for that. I estimate that if I did manage a loan ($2500), and fork out the $90 monthly fee to pay it off, I would be able to afford a small apartment for roughly 3 years. This would be more than enough time to get my life straightened out.

Even without the loan, a credit card would be nice for financial backup.

There is, but you really shouldn't be sponsoring a minor at this stage in your life. It seems a little harsh at this point, but you have two bigger challenges right now: your health and getting yourself into a position where you can be a financially and emotionally independent adult. You may also find that your romantic options at that point are more likely to take care of themselves, and maybe the law will be changed by then.

I understand the sense in what you're saying, and if anything I could always afford to have this person at least visit the states once in a while, however it's very difficult to be away from someone you love so much. I know most of my queries here are just me hoping beyond hope, but holding onto that is what gets me through each day.

Anyway, I suppose at this point it's safe to say that there isn't much I can do. But for the sake of knowing, when the time's right, what would I need to do? I know very little about immigration laws and only a handful about the Visas, but since we're both considering study in the USA I figure there are at least some options.