Question about sponsoring parents who are illegaly in the US

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venezuelangirl

Registered Users (C)
My parents have been in the US since 2001. I am 5 months away now from applying for my US citizenship and want to sponsor them when I become a citizen.
I have a few questions:
1.) How long does this usually take and when can I apply for them?
2.) Will the US have an issue with them living here illegaly all this time?
3.) If they go back to their home country will there be an issue with them coming back to the US because their I-94 expired in early 2002?

Thank you for any help you can give.
 
venezuelangirl said:
My parents have been in the US since 2001. I am 5 months away now from applying for my US citizenship and want to sponsor them when I become a citizen.

I have a few questions:
1.) How long does this usually take and when can I apply for them?
I will suggest waiting until you actually become a U.S. Citizen before filing for them.

2.) Will the US have an issue with them living here illegaly all this time?
It depends.

3.) If they go back to their home country will there be an issue with them coming back to the US because their I-94 expired in early 2002?
Better that they remain in the U.S. or they may face a 10 year ban since they have exceeded authorized stay by over 180 days.

Thank you for any help you can give.
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I hope this helps.
 
yes, there is. They need to be invisible. IN the meanwhile you can practice filling out forms, and collecting all the necessary documents for them.

www.uscis.gov
 
venezuelangirl said:
My parents have been in the US since 2001. I am 5 months away now from applying for my US citizenship and want to sponsor them when I become a citizen.
I have a few questions:
1.) How long does this usually take and when can I apply for them?
2.) Will the US have an issue with them living here illegaly all this time?
3.) If they go back to their home country will there be an issue with them coming back to the US because their I-94 expired in early 2002?

Thank you for any help you can give.
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Hello Venezuelangirl,

I am also Venezuelan. Sali corriendo de la opresion del gobierno :p

But anyways, did your parents come here on a visitor visa and overstayed? what do you mean they are "illegally"?
 
Now I could be wrong, but I was under the impression overstay was only forgiven for people marrying a US citizen?
 
boatbod said:
Now I could be wrong, but I was under the impression overstay was only forgiven for people marrying a US citizen?
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Overstay may be forgiven if you are classified as an Immediate Relative (parent, spouse, widow, widower or unmarried child under 21 years old) of a U.S. Citizen.
 
asPapi said:
Overstay may be forgiven if you are classified as an Immediate Relative (parent, spouse, widow, widower or unmarried child under 21 years old) of a U.S. Citizen.
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I think that is the case. Venezuelans usually do not cross the desert or river or travel by raft ;)....
 
We entered with a tourist visa and overstayed. Thank you for your help. So basically they need to stay hidden from authorities in the US until I can start their citizenship paperwork?
 
venezuelangirl said:
We entered with a tourist visa and overstayed. Thank you for your help. So basically they need to stay hidden from authorities in the US until I can start their citizenship paperwork?
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Yes, basically. They are not going to get citizenship right away though. They will become permanent residents.

Again, let me know if I can help you. How long ago did you move to the US? I moved from Valencia, Carabobo to Alabama, this year :)
 
I don't know if people from Venezuela need to fill out exit forms when they leave the US. Canadians I know, do not. If they don't then the USCIS has no record of who left the US or when. This means that your parents could leave the US for Venezuela (preferably by land) and return later without any issues. I don't know if, in the current climate your parents could claim ignorance, but it might work. The overstay of IR categories may mean that your parents might not be required to leave the US but how will they get around the I-94 issue? Once you become a citizen, how much longer that is I don't know, then you can bring them back in. If your parents don't need to be in the US, I'd tell them to leave. Quietly if they can would be best. Flying is too carefully checked these days. Maybe they can cross into Mexico or maybe visit us up here in The Great White North and fly to Caracas or wherever they might live from Toronto or Montreal.
 
We moved here in July of 2001. If they leave the country I think they might get penalized by not being able to come back to the US for 10 yrs. Wouldn't they know that they overstayed by their passport stamps? It's getting really ugly here in FL. From what I hear, immigration is going to supermarkets and asking people for their papers. My dad works with a friend, and he's really scared to drive and be here in general. I would just like to know what I can do to give them peace of mind until I can apply for my citizenship and then apply for them which is still a little bit away. Thanks so much for all your help!!
 
Ask around or maybe some who is Venezuelan knows the answer, do Venezuelans need to register their exit from the US? I know that the situation is really crazy. Most people think I'm Mexican but I've been very fortunate not to be hassled when I'm in the US, especially in Texas and New Mexico. When I was on the bus in Albuquerque, USCIS was doing a spot inspection. With my Canadian "accent" I sound more American than some Americans do so I was allowed to continue my journey.
 
This means that your parents could leave the US for Venezuela (preferably by land) and return later without any issues.
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please stop giving bad advise.

the poster has stated that her parents overstayed their tourist visas. they would be subject to an automatic 10 year ban. that is an issue.

If they leave the country I think they might get penalized by not being able to come back to the US for 10 yrs. Wouldn't they know that they overstayed by their passport stamps?
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your parents were subject to a 10 year ban the minute they overstayed a year past the date stamped on their i-94. when they entered the immigration official that stamped their i-94 keyed in the i-94 card number on a computer along with the expiration date. your parents' were entered on a database a year past their i-94 expiration date since it wasn't surrendered upon departure or no extensions were filed.

My dad works with a friend, and he's really scared to drive and be here in general
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you have to cross your fingers that he isn't at the wrong place at the wrong time. there are rules to the game and they are breaking them. just have them lay low for a bit longer until you can petition them.
 
chromedOut said:
please stop giving bad advise.

the poster has stated that her parents overstayed their tourist visas. they would be subject to an automatic 10 year ban. that is an issue.



your parents were subject to a 10 year ban the minute they overstayed a year past the date stamped on their i-94. when they entered the immigration official that stamped their i-94 keyed in the i-94 card number on a computer along with the expiration date. your parents' were entered on a database a year past their i-94 expiration date since it wasn't surrendered upon departure or no extensions were filed.



you have to cross your fingers that he isn't at the wrong place at the wrong time. there are rules to the game and they are breaking them. just have them lay low for a bit longer until you can petition them.
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Hey, please learn to read, then you can post. I asked a question, genius. It's not hard to read just sound out the words. BTW, advice is spelled with an "c" not an "s." The question was whether or not Venezuelans had exit visas or not, that was the question. If they need to register before they leave the US then the reverse onus applies and they cannot just slip out of the country. Not every country has exit visas, many do not so it is important to know these things. Staying out of trouble is not an option as the OP and many of us already know, even routine police stops or accidents can trigger an immigration sweep. Laying low means quitting a job and hiding and living in fear. Of course, if your parents could slip out of the country (quietly) and claim that they forgot to turn in their visas they might escape the ban. They might claim that they sent in their extensions but they were lost in the mail. I have seen both methods done but it is risky. They could always claim that they thought the I-94 was tantamount to immigration. I would try to see if you can talk to an illegal immigrant support group at a local church or maybe a law clinic to see what all your options are. Good luck.
 
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