hellohowru

Hi. I was inquiring about moving to Canada, when I was told that the wait times are very long and it would take me 4 years to be approved for residency. My Mum lives in Houston and she says she can sponsor me into America in less than a year. I have never been to America before, but I was wondering how English people find living in America and what they like best and worst about it? I have heard crime is bad there. I dont know about Houston specifically. I know that England is very expensive and life in America is supposed to be cheaper, but making friends is supposed to be harder.

fatbrit

Maybe, maybe not!

Pony

Immigration is really easy here, just ask Bush,
seen here addressing immigration concerns

Manc

it is no cheaper, it is perceived cheaper due to holidayers making out like bandits due to the exchange rate.

Is your mum a US Citizen?

like the UK......crime is bad in bad places.

Duncan Roberts

According to USCIS. If you are unmarried, over 21 and your mum has a greencard, you are looking at about 7 1/2 years. If she is a US citizen and you are over 21, about 5 years. As far as I know the only way to do it in under a year would be if your mum was a US citizen and you are under 21 and unmarried.

Pony

Which, unless he was a child prodigy, he isn't
previous post

Kate2112

Hi and Welcome to BE

As your Mum lives in Houston, wouldn't it be a good idea to ask her all these questionsl?
Try visiting Houston first if thats where you are thinking of living. Of course if you do manage to get into US because of your Mum the US is a huge country, dont limit yourself to Houston. Good luck

hellohowru

I just did some research on the internet and because I am classified as an immediate relative (1st preference) and because she is an US citizen, I can immediately file for my greencard. Checking on the USCIS site, filing the application to change status (I485) which is filing for your greencard, in Houston the current processing date is March 1, 2006. It is currently Aug 9th, 2006. This means that my application would be processed in roughly 4 months. Whoever said 5 years is guilty of mindless scaremongering.

TruBrit

rules/regs change however it's always good to check things out yourself i find...good luck!

TruBrit

truer words were never spoken

Pony

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/child.htm

Pony

I don't know how this part of immigration works, its not my route, https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/js...ceCenter=Texas
says the Texas service centre is processing "U.S. Citizen filing for an unmarried son or daughter over the age of 21" are processing cases date May 7th 2001 !!!

dbj1000

I-485 does not apply in your case. It's I-130 cases you're interested in, and they're processing applications from 2001.

You may not like the 5-year answer, but it's correct.

DollyLlama

DBJ is correct, I became a USC 3 years ago and started the process to get our son who is over 21 and unmarried over here. His I-130 has been in the system nearly 3 years.

fatbrit

So you've gotta 10 year wait!