In-Law Visa?

An American citizen can sponsor their own parents or step parents for a US immigrant visa, but not their in-laws.  LPRs cannot sponsor their parents (only spouses and children).

If the spouse moves to the US, they can be US citizens within 4 years, and can then sponsor their parents who would expect to wait a further year for their visa.

It is possible for people of independent means, including retired people, to live in the US on the visa waiver program.  They can buy property, but can only stay in it for three months at a time.

There are plenty of details on the embassy website.

Very interesting thread.

Just to pick up on the 2nd part of the initial question--what about health care for the in-law? I know of some very expensive options of purchasing Expat healthcare from here in the UK.

Any other ideas?

It may be possible that the MIL will qualify as a DEPENDENT and thus enable the US and / or LPR to petition for the dependant parent to join them in the UK. Id consult an immigration lawyer who deals with family immgration. I dont have any first hand experience in this but I seem to recall reading about the ability to sponsor dependent parents / parents-in-law.

As mentioned by JaqChic - it IS possible for full retired people to live in the US but they will be completely unable to work and living in the US MAY affect their ability to draw a UK state pension (I dont know this for sure but its totally worth checking out).

Also as Jenninberks mentioned - health care plans for a disabled person in the US who is unable to qualify for federally subsidized care might find it expensive. Unfortunatly the MIL in this case may find better and more reasonally priced care (even private) in the UK.

Just a few things to think about I guess Best of luck and keep us posted!

living in the US MAY affect their ability to draw a UK state pension (I dont know this for sure but its totally worth checking out).

Those UK expats living in the US can continue to receive their UK state pensions. There is some disparity over expats and pensions because if you emigrate to certain countries like Canada, your pension is forever 'frozen' at the level it was when you first got it, whereas expats in the US and EU still get their inflationary rises. Rather unfair.

I'd say allow 6 years max to get a mother or father of a UK spouse to the US. 6 months to get the spousal visa (assuming no DCF which would usually be quicker), 3 years US residency, 1 year to get US citizenship, and 1 year to get the immediate relative visa for the parent. That's 5.5 years, and I think it's better to allow more time rather than not enough and be disappointed.

 

thanks for the pension clarification