Hellobee Boards

@wheres_c: I'm sorry to hear about your dad. I am in Canada and am surprised to hear he can't get care here since we have a national health care system that is very similar to the UK from what I understand.

@wheres_c: So sorry to hear about your dad. I sponsored my DH's greencard. It works a bit different for married couples and it was more streamlined because we initiated the process through the U.S. Embassy in his country while we were both living there.

FWIW, here's the highlight:
- It was streamlined for us and still took 6 months. When it's extended family, it could take a solid year from what I've heard.
- Your dad could come for visits/treatment on the 90-day tourist visa (just don't go over!) but he can't take up residence until he has the greencard.
- There are some good forum sites where you can learn a lot from other's experiences and save yourself a ton of headaches.
- If you are living here and would sponsor him, the application would go through USCIS (citizen immigration services?). First you submit a sponsorship form and they evaluate if you are eligible to sponsor. Then you have the longer application process where you show you are financially able to sponsor him. The final step for was the actual greencard application with my DH's info. They invited him to the embassy for an interview and also did a medical exam with bloodwork and the whole nine.
- With the medical screening, I'm not sure if they are trying to just reduce contagious diseases or what. DH is from Western Europe but they screened for things as if he were coming from a developing country. But just know this medical screen is a serious step and try to research how the neurological issues come into play.
- By the time it was over we had all of our docs in a 3-inch binder of paper and paid maybe $1500 in fees, certified mail, copying, travel to embassy... It adds up.
- The biggest documentation challenge was showing that I personally (as the US citizen sponsoring him) had the financial means to support him based on 3 years of US tax returns. I'd been in Europe not working much those years so my dad had to co-sponsor. It wasn't that much of an issue (just extra steps). I've read that the amount of income required isn't huge.

Oh and the whole process would be different and longer if you aren't a U.S. citizen.

Good luck! And may everything with your dad's health turn out for the best!

We did, but it was under the impression we would provide work and housing for them (which we did).

My concern would be the cost of his care in the US. I think Obama care means he can still get private health insurance despite his pre-existing condition, but my guess is that it would be very very expensive.