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I-130 for parent: Visitor visa travel during pending I-130, any changes under Trump
I am a US citizen. I am planning to file an I-130 in January 2025 for my mom, who is currently residing in India. She plans to visit us in July 2025 (on her visitor visa, valid until Feb 2026). Can she travel to the US while the I-130 has been filed and is pending? What additional preparation/papers would she need if this is an issue? I have heard cases of denied entries in similar cases. I thought of postponing the I-130 until after her US visit next year, but I fear the process may slow down under the new administration. Please advise what would be the right thing to do since we would like for her to visit us in 2025.
If you are filing an I-130 for your parent, they can generally travel to the U.S. on a visitor visa while the petition is pending. Theoretically, they could face issues at entry due to the pending green card application, but in practice, parents of U.S. citizens are rarely stopped for this reason.
To reduce the risk of being denied entry, consider having your parent use an immigration pre-clearance airport, like Abu Dhabi or Dublin, so they can return home easily if denied. While past practices suggest minimal issues, policies could change, especially under unpredictable administrations.
USCIS Forms Update Notice - Form EOIR-29
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form:
Form EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from a Decision of a DHS Officer07/01/2025 11:10 AM EDT
Edition Date: 07/01/25. USCIS will still accept the following editions: July 2019, March 2018, July 2015, January 2015, October 2013, October 2012, and April 2009 editions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.