Greencards for mom and dad from Germany

[Kalispell1986]

Hi all. I was born in Germany and I became a US citizen in 2009 and my sister moved to the states as well. My parents are retiring this spring and want to love closer to their kids and grand kids. We sent off their green card applications in March of 2017. We received the notice of receipt on April 5th, 2017 and haven't heard anything since. It's been 8 months now. I thought they would receive notices of biometric appointments etc by now. I am expecting a baby in July and with my husband working out of town was hoping my parents would be able to get their greencards in time for the birth. I submitted online case inquiries through USCIS.com but all it told me was that we were within normal processing times.
Is there a chance this may not go through with the new political climate? I've heard talks of the current administration wanting to eliminate family based immigration.
What are your experiences with processing turnaround for parents of a US citizen? Everyone in y family is stressed and scared and I'm trying to make my parents feel better. Also does anyone know if my parents have the right to apply for some type of visa so they can come here while their application is being processed?
Thank you for your help!

[miiki]

What forms were actually sent in?

Since they are in Germany, you have not yet applied for the green cards. If a person is not physically in the US when applying, the I-130 (establishing qualifying relationship) is submitted first. Processing can take many months. Once that is approved, THEN they'll apply for an immigrant visa which can also take many months. That's when biometrics and interviews happen.

If they were in the US when you filed for them, they could have filed for an adjustment of status at the same time as the I-130. They could have stayed in the US until they got their green cards.

They could try to get tourist visas, but they'll have to prove that they don't have intent to immigrate. That may be hard since they do.

[Kalispell1986]

What forms were actually sent in?

Since they are in Germany, you have not yet applied for the green cards. If a person is not physically in the US when applying, the I-130 (establishing qualifying relationship) is submitted first. Processing can take many months. Once that is approved, THEN they'll apply for an immigrant visa which can also take many months. That's when biometrics and interviews happen.

If they were in the US when you filed for them, they could have filed for an adjustment of status at the same time as the I-130. They could have stayed in the US until they got their green cards.

They could try to get tourist visas, but they'll have to prove that they don't have intent to immigrate. That may be hard since they do.

We sent the I-130 papers in beginning of March. So their only option is really just wait it out?

[Kalispell1986]

The I-130 papers were sent beginning of March. So there is really not anything we can do to wait? When we started the process we were told that immediate family members of US citizens (parents, spouses, children under 18) do not have wait times.

[miiki]

The I-130 papers were sent beginning of March. So there is really not anything we can do to wait? When we started the process we were told that immediate family members of US citizens (parents, spouses, children under 18) do not have wait times.

They don’t. They do need an approved petition, but they can file immediately after its approved.

Other filing categories have to wait until their priority date to become current even after their petition is approved. Some categories are just becoming current from 1994.