Originally Posted by MartinColl

Im in a similar situation. We are in the process of going through an Executive transfer on an L1A visa. We have two sons who will come with us and a 21 year old daugther who will not. She is in full time employment now, engaged and with a 1 year old baby so she wold not want to come even if she had the right.

Shes an adult now anyway and wants and needs to stand on her own two feet and make her own life.

However circumstances can change and at some point she might need/want to come and live with us.

We fully intend to make the move to the US permenant. Once we get there the Green Card application process will start immediately. Question I have is if we get the green card would that improve the chances of a direct relative being able to gain a visa with our support?

Originally Posted by Pollyana

Devil's Advocate time......If your child, currently aged 21 and living independently, had a job offer and the promise of a new life in A N Other country, would you expect them to give that up just in case you wanted to move in with them and have them look after you later in life?


Comes down to whether your life as a family will always be intertwined and interdependent. I was virtually dumped into lodgings aged 16 while still at school doing my O levels. I had to learn to be independent and after that I could never have gone home to live. If I moved back to the UK now I would only live with family for the minimum time necessary. A 16 year old from a very sheltered background can do it at a few days notice. A 21 year old who has been through university certainly should be able to manage without family on the doorstep.
And there are thousands of kids out there who never have the chance to go home. If home isn't there, they have to find another way to cope. Thats life.

You only have one life. live it for you.

Originally Posted by jjmb

What is she studying? I agree with the other posters who say she is more than old enough to find her own way in the world. No doubt you have other family in the UK and she has good friends she can rely on. Once you become citizens, if you go down that route, then you can apply for a visa for her. Of course by then she will be established in her own career and not that interested.

Being a safe haven for your children might seem like a good idea but I have daugther who came back 2 yrs after her degree and she is still here! Admittedly she is studying at night school but she is so comfortable, I am beginning to think she is going down the same route as my cousin who is nearly 60 and living with her elderly father. Great for my cousin's 2 brothers but I suspect she has miss out on a lot as after a certain age it was expected she would look after her aging parents. Once the studying has finished, if not before, DD will be gently pushed out the nest before her siblings come the same conclusion my cousin's brothers did

We are meant to leave home as young adults and most of us achieve that stage on our own 2 feet with a lucky few getting some help from our parents from the sidelines. At least she will have the prospect of a 3 month vacation if she wants.

What about your middle child? As they are at Uni they are at least 18, have the lawyers discussed with you the likelihood they age out before you can submit your gc application. Getting a gc with a L1b is not as easy as getting one on a L1a. Is there any chance you can come over on an A rather a B visa?

Originally Posted by petitefrancaise

I've been surprised at the number of my friends kids who moved back to home after their studies whilst they get jobs and get some savings under their belts.

It is different now from when we all left uni... rents are high and mortgages difficult to get without a hefty deposit so it makes sense to move home if you can.

However, the kids I've seen haven't moved back home because they needed emotional support - it's been a financial decision. So, can the OP afford to keep the family home there for them if needed?

I have some friends here from Glasgow and they were in the OPs position with 2 kids who were young adults but hadn't flown the nest. They moved to the US anyway and have kept the house in Scotland. It meant they had to wait a few years before buying a house here but it has worked out v well. Their eldest now lives in the house with his family and helps out with the costs - a win/win situation for everyone in the end.

Originally Posted by sir_eccles

F1 is a student visa. I was thinking she might want to do a masters degree.

Maybe also look at a J1 for some sort of graduate internship?

Originally Posted by jeepster

Best solution.

Originally Posted by md95065

Doesn't that rather depend on what the OP's daughter wants to do ...

Originally Posted by md95065

Doesn't that rather depend on what the OP's daughter wants to do ...

Originally Posted by Stratts

I've always thought the role of a parent is to make sure their kids, once they reach 18, are mentally and emotionally prepared for world outside the family home. Our son is approaching his 18th birthday, and we haven't even given him the choice of coming with us when we move out to the US permanently.

Not wishing to be harsh, and I do appreciate we all have different approaches to this. Not every family is as dysfunctional as mine.

Originally Posted by MartinColl

..... Question I have is if we get the green card would that improve the chances of a direct relative being able to gain a visa with our support?

Originally Posted by Bob

It'll be a shit long wait if she's over 21 and especially if she gets married, but once you have US citizenship, it would be better.

Originally Posted by usawi

As a citizen of UK, was it easy to get employment based green card? Is that what you did?

Originally Posted by jeepster

Best solution.

Originally Posted by LotusEater33

Just to clarify, you're leaving him at home then?

18 is still young you know.