By Debbie McGoldrick

“I AM 32, unmarried, and I received my U.S. citizenship last year. I would like to bring my mother, who is widowed, out here for an extended stay, possibly permanent. She would not have to work here, as I have a great job. I understand that I can sponsor her for a green card. Is that true? How do I go about it? And in a totally unrelated topic, my fiancé has applied for citizenship and is expecting to get it before the end of the year. Can he register to vote now by showing that he has applied for citizenship, and that he’s paid his taxes year after year?”

YOUR fiancé cannot register to vote until he has been sworn-in as a U.S. citizen. Though he’s well on his way to doing so and has a good tax paying history, he won’t be a signed and sealed American until he takes that oath. Hopefully that will happen before Election Day.

About your mom. You are definitely entitled, as a U.S. citizen, to act as her sponsor for a green card. And it seems you’ll have no problem fulfilling the affidavit of financial support paperwork that will have to accompany the application.

You should know that it’s taking at least a year for immediate relative green cards to be processed abroad. The paperwork can be filed from this end, and her file will be transferred to the U.S. consular post nearest to where she lives so that an interview can be arranged. 

You should visit the USCIS (formerly INS) website at www.uscis.gov for instruction on how to start the ball rolling. Consulting with a qualified immigration professional for assistance would also be a good idea.

Obtaining a green card is quite an involved process. If your mother is not sure if she’ll be staying long-term, perhaps a short visit here would help her make up her mind one way or the other.