Separate filings for parents?

sbkim

Registered Users (C)
Hello all. Well, everything was going perfect until my mother tested positive for TB. SOunds like she will need at least 2months to go through additional tests before civil surgeon signs off.

SO my question is, do I petition my father first and then petition my mother? What are the pros and cons of filing separately and filing jointly?

BTW, I am a US Citizen.

Thank you!
 
sbkim said:
Hello all. Well, everything was going perfect until my mother tested positive for TB. SOunds like she will need at least 2months to go through additional tests before civil surgeon signs off.

SO my question is, do I petition my father first and then petition my mother? What are the pros and cons of filing separately and filing jointly?

BTW, I am a US Citizen.

Thank you!
There is no option to file jointly for parents!
You must file separately.
 
considering that it takes a couple of months for I-130 to get approved, then another couple of months to get to the embassy, then another couple of months to get an appointment for a visa interview scheduled, I think your mom will have ample time to get treatment before she gets to the medical exam step. It's always better to file early, you never know what could happen. An approved I-130 is good for a long as the relationship exists (and parental relationships usually do last until somebody dies)
 
LucyMO said:
considering that it takes a couple of months for I-130 to get approved, then another couple of months to get to the embassy, then another couple of months to get an appointment for a visa interview scheduled, I think your mom will have ample time to get treatment before she gets to the medical exam step. It's always better to file early, you never know what could happen. An approved I-130 is good for a long as the relationship exists (and parental relationships usually do last until somebody dies)
Actually, sbkim's parents are here, in US, on F1/F2 visas. So, he can file I-130/I-485 for them concurrently. Having said that, he can file for his father now, and wait for his mom's recovery to file for her.
 
Anahit said:
Actually, sbkim's parents are here, in US, on F1/F2 visas. So, he can file I-130/I-485 for them concurrently. Having said that, he can file for his father now, and wait for his mom's recovery to file for her.

Anahit - thank you - that's exactly right. I know I will need to file separate forms for each one of them but wasn't sure if it was "easier" for them to do this at the same time vs. dad first, mom second. I would have thought may be they could be interviewed together or avoid questions from USCIS as to whereabouts of my mother etc.
 
You have no choice but to file separately. There is no joint sponsorship of one's parents. You might be confusing the process with that of Canada, where you can do that. When I used to live there, I sponsored my father as a "principal applicant". My mother and 22 year old brother immigrated as "dependents of the principl applicant".
sbkim said:
SO my question is, do I petition my father first and then petition my mother? What are the pros and cons of filing separately and filing jointly?


You had to be one in order to sponsor your parents.
sbkim said:
BTW, I am a US Citizen.
 
sbkim said:
Anahit - thank you - that's exactly right. I know I will need to file separate forms for each one of them but wasn't sure if it was "easier" for them to do this at the same time vs. dad first, mom second. I would have thought may be they could be interviewed together or avoid questions from USCIS as to whereabouts of my mother etc.
Yes, the chances are they will be interviewed together if you file for them at the same time (but not "jointly"). If that's the case, you would save a trip to the district office. That's all. About avoiding the questions... Why do you want to avoid them? It should not create a problem for your father.
It's up to you to apply for your father now or later. The process will be the same.
Good luck!
 
Anahit said:
Yes, the chances are they will be interviewed together if you file for them at the same time (but not "jointly"). If that's the case, you would save a trip to the district office. That's all. About avoiding the questions... Why do you want to avoid them? It should not create a problem for your father.
It's up to you to apply for your father now or later. The process will be the same.
Good luck!

Anahit - as always you bring up another good point. As a sponsor, am I required to go to district office during their interview? Given that they are 1500 miles away from me, I wasn't sure how that would be handled. I guess I heard that interviews are sometime even waived...
 
sbkim said:
Anahit - as always you bring up another good point. As a sponsor, am I required to go to district office during their interview? Given that they are 1500 miles away from me, I wasn't sure how that would be handled. I guess I heard that interviews are sometime even waived...
That's true. In parent's cases interviews are waived often.
The interview notice I got for my parents specifically mentioned that the sponsor doesn't have to be at the interview, but he/she needs to be reachable if needed.
 
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