Mil is sick. Chances of a visa?

[viking]

My wife's mother has had Parkinson's for some time but it is getting worse. Today she was stuttering on the phone and is becoming unable to write. My wife is understandably very upset. She has been seeing a doctor and taking some medicine but nothing really seems to be helping. My wife was back there about a month ago and everything was on an even keel, but I guess in the last few eeks, things have gone a bit south.


The question I have is what are her chances of coming here to be with her daughter for awhile ( say a month or so) and getting some medical help. She is in her early seventies, owns her own flat, has some money in the bank and some relatives in another town ( sisters) but her immediate family, my wife and her son, live here. The type of visa is irrelevant, just one that may work.


Any ideas?

[Faux Pas]

Just a thought viking, the tourist visa is probably the way to go if she can make it through the interview. Your wife is not a citizen correct?

[viking]

My wife is a conditional GC holder, not a citizen. I doubt she can make an application/petition herself.

[Faux Pas]

My wife is a conditional GC holder, not a citizen. I doubt she can make an application/petition herself.

I'd hate to speak out of turn but, I do think there is a visa for medical purposes. I forgot what it is but it is likely much less convenient than a tourist visa. Isn't she from Belarus? That may or may not complicate as well given the state of government there. Perhaps in another life I'll come back as an immigration attorney (no chance) 


You probably need to consult with one. It sounds like she would qualify for a tourist given that her daughter is a legal resident and she meets most conditions (you didn't mention her prior travel). The thing to caution, if she is coming for medical treatment they would in all likelihood deny her a tourist visa if they had any wind of it. Can you pull off an interview. travel, treatment and return with her in her condition?

[viking]

I think a tourist/medical visa are the same. a B2. Could be wrong. The woman is in her 70's and I know that the American embassy in Minsk will interview applicants over 70. ( any one else, like my wife, had to go to Warsaw). Thats only a 4 hour train ride versus 25 some odd hours to Poland. She could do the interview, travel, get treatment and return. She is not disabled to that degree. And she has friends to assist her there.

[GQBlues]

Largely because of EMTALA, medical non-immigrant visas are pretty scrutinized from what I understand. There's a case with a couple we used to know, and like yourselves, the FSUW wife had an ailing mother. IINM, what they were told to do was prepare information report that surrounds the 'mumski's situation' i.e. proof of prospective physician, prospective hospital/care facilities, estimate of of cost, YOUR ability to pay, etc...basically general medical screening protocol with the added 'burden' since the person is a non-immigrant. Paperwork was a nightmare according to them..

"...4. IN LIGHT OF EMTALA REQUIREMENTS, VO ASKS CONOFFS TO BE JUDICIOUS IN GRANTING NONIMMIGRANT VISAS FOR U.S. MEDICAL TREATMENT. PLEASE QUESTION APPLICANTS CLOSELY TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN AN OFFICE VISIT. IF SO, CONOFFS SHOULD PURSUE A LINE OF QUESTIONING TO DETERMINE THE TYPE AND PROVIDER OF FOLLOW-ON TREATMENT THAT WOULD BE NEEDED. IDEALLY, THE SPONSOR HOSPITAL WOULD EXPLAIN IN WRITING UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES AND AT WHAT COST IT WILL PROVIDE WHATEVER TREATMENT AND HOSPITALIZATION MAY BE REQUIRED FOLLOWING THE ANTICIPATED DIAGNOSIS....."
 
http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_1533.html
 
I'm with FP, I would suggest you consult with an attorney that specializes in this matter. This is above my paygrade.