eu citizen joining wife's sister in us ?

[bow]

First. I am am a citizen of an eu country.

One of my wife's many sisters married a us citizen more that 20 year ago.

I don't know her visa status, but she seems to be able to travel freely between us and thailand and to stay for years in the us if she feels like it.

So,.... can my wife join her sister in the us and then bring her farang husband and our child ?

[thaihome]

Most EU citizens qualify for visa waiver entry to US. Unclear on status of your wife. If she has permanent residence status in your EU country she likely will be given a tourist visa for the US but will have to go through the process of application and interview. Best not mention sister already there, just say it is a vacation you and her are taking.

TH

Edited March 9, 2016 by thaihome

[Donutz]

So your wife lives in Europe and wants to go to the US (to visit family)? She would also like to take you (the farang husband) and your child to there.

If she needs a visa for the US depends on her nationality. If your wife is only a Thai citizen she needs a US visa. If your wife is (also) a EU national then she would obviously be entering the US on her European passport and not need a visa.

Same for the child: a Thai needs a visa so traveling on a Thai passport needs a visa. If the child has a European nationality (also) and travels on the EU passport, no visa is needed.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Bow

Reason for going to the U.S.?

Tourist?

Immigration?

BIG difference on the process and the possibilities.

Mac

[bow]

First, I find it interesting to look at what options I have.

Maybe the US is one possible option.

I would like to compare the rules in my country, in north-west europe, and the us. Basically, and to simplify the rules, if you live legally in my country, your relatives can legally join you - brothers, sisters, children, parents, grand-parents. I don't know were the list ends. If one person manages to get a residence permit - the whole clan can come too. It's like winning the lottery.

In my case, I have an american brother in law and a thai sister in law, with some sort of forever visa, the question is if I can use this to get my own forever visa and work permit in the us ?

I and my daughter have eu passports, we can just hop on the plane and we will get a 3 months tourist visa at the airport in the us. But I don't really want to spend the rest of my life being an illegal alien .

[khwaibah]

First, I find it interesting to look at what options I have.

Maybe the US is one possible option.

I would like to compare the rules in my country, in north-west europe, and the us. Basically, and to simplify the rules, if you live legally in my country, your relatives can legally join you - brothers, sisters, children, parents, grand-parents. I don't know were the list ends. If one person manages to get a residence permit - the whole clan can come too. It's like winning the lottery.

In my case, I have an american brother in law and a thai sister in law, with some sort of forever visa, the question is if I can use this to get my own forever visa and work permit in the us ?

I and my daughter have eu passports, we can just hop on the plane and we will get a 3 months tourist visa at the airport in the us. But I don't really want to spend the rest of my life being an illegal alien .

Your last statement. Not quite true but if you meet the requirements you can pre apply. https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

[7by7]

I would like to compare the rules in my country, in north-west europe, and the us. Basically, and to simplify the rules, if you live legally in my country, your relatives can legally join you - brothers, sisters, children, parents, grand-parents. I don't know were the list ends. If one person manages to get a residence permit - the whole clan can come too. It's like winning the lottery.

I'd be interested in which country that is.

As far as I am aware, most EEA countries have similar rules for non EEA national relatives to those of the UK:

• spouse or partner, yes;
• dependent children under 18, yes;
• any other adult relatives, only if you can prove they are totally dependent upon you for their day to day care and that care is not available in their own country.

I have no idea about the USA rules; but would expect them to be similar.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Bow

"In my case, I have an american brother in law and a thai sister in law, with some sort of forever visa, the question is if I can use this to get my own forever visa and work permit in the us ?"

There is no "forever visa" for the U.S. Your sister-in-law has either a Green Card, for a Permanent Resident Alien (PRA), or is now an American Citizen. Either one allows her to reside and work in the U.S.

If she is a PRA, she cannot bring your wife, you, and your child to the U.S. to live.

If she is an American Citizen, she can file a petition for her sister, you, and the child to come to the U.S. but it looks like there is almost a 15 year queue for this type of immigration, an "F4" priority, which is pretty low.

I think you'd better look for other options rather than the U.S.

FYI, there's lots of information at this www site, although it takes a bunch of searching to dig it out:

www.visajourney.com

Mac

[bow]

Bow

"In my case, I have an american brother in law and a thai sister in law, with some sort of forever visa, the question is if I can use this to get my own forever visa and work permit in the us ?"

There is no "forever visa" for the U.S. Your sister-in-law has either a Green Card, for a Permanent Resident Alien (PRA), or is now an American Citizen. Either one allows her to reside and work in the U.S.

If she is a PRA, she cannot bring your wife, you, and your child to the U.S. to live.

If she is an American Citizen, she can file a petition for her sister, you, and the child to come to the U.S. but it looks like there is almost a 15 year queue for this type of immigration, an "F4" priority, which is pretty low.

I think you'd better look for other options rather than the U.S.

FYI, there's lots of information at this www site, although it takes a bunch of searching to dig it out:

www.visajourney.com

Mac

Thank you, lots of useful information. My sister in law is still a Thai citizen. That would make her a "PRA" and we - mum, dad and child - cannot join her and live forever in the US.

This is bad news for me personally, but, generally speaking, these rules make more sense than the rules in my country.

Edited March 11, 2016 by bow

[Donutz]

I'm curious which country that would be as most north western European countries restrict familymigration to the spouse (or partner if there is a durable and exclusive relationship) and children below 18. Grandparents are often not able to join the family. Some may allow grandparents to join but this seems for the most part to be restricted to cases were it would be inhuman to leave them behind. I don't know the rules of all EU countries but the "family migration is restricted to immidiate family only" is very much the standard.

[thaihome]

...My sister in law is still a Thai citizen. That would make her a "PRA" and we - mum, dad and child - cannot join her and live forever in the US.

...

If your sister in law has had permanent residence (green card) for over 5 years there is a very high likely hood she has become a naturalized us citizen. This does not impact her Thai citizenship in any way, which may be different then your EU country.

TH

[beano2274]

As said no family members can join you in Europe, they need to provide evidence of you supplying them with money and this money being used for their everyday needs and requirements, just done this for my MIL, we failed as she has a Government pension.

[bow]

As said no family members can join you in Europe, they need to provide evidence of you supplying them with money and this money being used for their everyday needs and requirements, just done this for my MIL, we failed as she has a Government pension.

Now you are being absurd. Of course my wife and daughter can live with me in Sweden.

My daughter, having a Swedish father, automatically became a Swedish citizen at birth. (Since both Thailand and Sweden allow dual citizenship she is also a Thai citizen.) No Swedish citizen can be denied the right to live in Sweden. It is in (the equivalent of) the constitution.

My wife actually has to go through an application process, but since we have been married for many years and have a child together, it is just a formality.

There is absolutely no need for "evidence of you supplying them with money". Are you saying that you must do that in the UK ? I don't believe you. It is not possible.

[bow]

...My sister in law is still a Thai citizen. That would make her a "PRA" and we - mum, dad and child - cannot join her and live forever in the US.

...

If your sister in law has had permanent residence (green card) for over 5 years there is a very high likely hood she has become a naturalized us citizen. This does not impact her Thai citizenship in any way, which may be different then your EU country.

TH

Very interesting.

[bow]

I'm curious which country that would be as most north western European countries restrict familymigration to the spouse (or partner if there is a durable and exclusive relationship) and children below 18. Grandparents are often not able to join the family. Some may allow grandparents to join but this seems for the most part to be restricted to cases were it would be inhuman to leave them behind. I don't know the rules of all EU countries but the "family migration is restricted to immidiate family only" is very much the standard.

Well, you have reminded me of the fact that those rules were changed just a couple of weeks ago, because of the middle east refugee thing. Before, you could certainly bring children, brothers and sisters and parents.

Edited March 12, 2016 by bow

[beano2274]

As said no family members can join you in Europe, they need to provide evidence of you supplying them with money and this money being used for their everyday needs and requirements, just done this for my MIL, we failed as she has a Government pension.

Now you are being absurd. Of course my wife and daughter can live with me in Sweden.

My daughter, having a Swedish father, automatically became a Swedish citizen at birth. (Since both Thailand and Sweden allow dual citizenship she is also a Thai citizen.) No Swedish citizen can be denied the right to live in Sweden. It is in (the equivalent of) the constitution.

My wife actually has to go through an application process, but since we have been married for many years and have a child together, it is just a formality.

There is absolutely no need for "evidence of you supplying them with money". Are you saying that you must do that in the UK ? I don't believe you. It is not possible.

am talking about other family members as per your second post, your MIL and all your wifes relatives cannot just come sooooo easily.

Edited March 12, 2016 by beano2274

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Bow

"If your sister in law has had permanent residence (green card) for over 5 years there is a very high likely hood she has become a naturalized us citizen. This does not impact her Thai citizenship in any way, which may be different then your EU country.

TH"

"Very interesting."

Many Green Card PRA holders do not become AmCits, it's a personal choice, not a requirement, but, yes, they become eligible to apply after five years, or just three years if married to an AmCit.

www.visajourney.com has a guide for citizenship: http://www.visajourney.com/content/naturalization_guide

Remember, however, that an AmCit petitioning for immigration of a sibling will still run into a long wait, almost 15 years it seems to be now. Not a fast process.

Mac