Kapan

Hello Folks,
Hoping to get some help here.
I have been in the US since 2017 and received my green card last year. My elderly parents (76,83) visit me every year for 6 months and slowly planning on moving here since traveling for them will become harder.
I was recently told by someone I met that they (non-citizen parents) who are on a visitor visa may be eligible for benefits. Does any know what those might be?
or can I, as their sole caretaker receive any benefit towards their care?
If you know of any good resources please direct me.
Thank you
Peace

SanDiegogirl

There are certainly some benefits for immigrants (those that enter the US on a residency visa) which are available in California - it is means tested though. Don't know whether other States do.
What will the financial situation be for your parents? Presume they will have some form of State pension from their home country and some savings.
The biggest expense will be health insurance - again, one can get onto Medicaid if low income etc; but I understood that as YOU will be sponsoring them for a residency visa you undertake to support them financially.

There are NO benefits while on a visitor visa

Try your local Social Security office for info....

Kapan

Thanks, yes that's right. If and when they apply for residency in US, I will be sponsoring them.
My concern right now is that they are on a visitor visa and although they both have private health insurance, Due to their age the max a insurer is able to cover is $20,000 (ages 80+) for a fee of $4500. This is insane and I am looking into alternatives to get some support for them whilst they are here on a visitor visa.

SanDiegogirl

As said, there are no benefits for anyone visiting the US - why should tax payers provide benefits for a visitor?
The visitor is expected to have travel insurance to cover accidents/health/travel incidents.
$20K coverage for a 6 month stay !! - hopefully they don't have anything serious happen to them while here.

If you think $4,500 is expensive, wait until you research how much health insurance is going to cost them per month when they are resident.

Kapan

I am not going to entertain any discussion which doesn't concern the question.
As a matter of fact. Most of US economy is run by Immigrants from all over the world and that's where BULK of taxes come from.
I am a tax payer myself!
By benefits I didn't mean SS or Healthcare benefits for my elderly parents. I meant benefits to help me! just as a when one adopts a foreign child, they get benefits for supporting humanity.

Yes, $4,500 for 3 months not 6 months. I have other family members who are citizens and over 65 and they don't pay anywhere near this for their healthcare.

Nutmegger

There are many degrees of difference between visitors, permanent residents, and citizens when it comes to benefits or lack thereof. As already stated, you will not receive any financial assistance to care for visitors.

SanDiegogirl

I presume you are talking about Travel Insurance purchased in the home country.

You can't compare annual health insurance for US citizens, with travel insurance for overseas visitors.

civilservant

You really don't get to determine how someone answers on a public forum.

We also don't need to hear your rhetoric about immigrants, most of us ARE immigrants. This isn't a monthly meeting of the local MAGA crowd.

That said, why would the US provide benefits for you to support a non-citizen? Are your parents independently wealthily? If so, why would you need caring benefits? If not, why on earth would they or you consider moving them to the US when they will not be entitled to Medicare?

PetrifiedExPat

I suspect this to be trolling. Surely?

Pulaski

You realize that you can't sponsor your parents to live in the US until you become a citizen, right?

Your parents' difficulty in traveling is entirely irrelevant to them obtaining any right to live in the US. If they have $1million ($900k + legal fees) to invest they can get a green card under an EB-5 visa, but if they have a spare $1million I presume you wouldn't be asking about benefits?

I suggest you mark your calendar to repost this question in 2026 (I see your spouse is a USC, but it'll take about a year after the third anniversary of you becoming a PR, to apply for and obtain citizenship).

PetrifiedExPat

Ma and Pa should def. be staying at home. I still suspect a troll though.