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Petitioning parents, visitor visas, and what dual citizenship changes.
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What this column covers
US immigration law
- Petitioning a parent or sibling as a US citizen — timelines and realities
- Visitor visas for a parent, and what gets people refused
- How reacquiring Filipino citizenship interacts with US status
- Bringing a parent to the US for care versus caring for them at home
- Travel and re-entry questions for dual citizens
What it can't
Ask elsewhere — we'll say so rather than guess.
- Philippine law and Philippine property matters
- Case-specific strategy without a full review of your record
- Anything touching a pending case you already have counsel for
Questions readers send
- “I am a US citizen. How long does petitioning my mother actually take right now?”
- “My father was refused a tourist visa twice. Is there any point in trying again?”
- “If I reacquire Filipino citizenship, does that affect my US passport or my petition?”
Recognize yours? Send it in — anonymously if you prefer.
Answers here are general information, not legal advice, and reading them does not create an attorney–client relationship. For a decision about your own situation, retain counsel licensed where the matter sits.