But because so many people have already applied under this category in past years, the wait is extraordinarily long. It is typically at least ten years for people from most countries. Also, because U. And even after the wait is over, getting the actual immigrant visa and green card can take several weeks or months. This is part of proving that the immigrant will not become a " public charge " in the United States.
You will hopefully be able to do so by filling out an Affidavit of Support on Form I , which is essentially a contract with the U. If your sibling does end up claiming need-based government assistance, your having signed this affidavit allows the government to come to you for reimbursement of these amounts. To start the immigration sponsorship process, you'll need to file a petition on USCIS Form I , and accompany this with a fee payment, proof of your U. That last requirement ordinarily involves making copies of both your birth certificate and that of your sibling, showing at least one parent in common.
If you or your sibling has made a name change, you will also need a document that proves it, such as a marriage certificate.
If the document isn't in English, you should also provide a complete translation and the same goes for any other non-English documents, such as those described next. If you and your sibling are related only through your father, you will also need your father's marriage certificate from his marriage to your mother, as well as the one from his marriage to your sibling's mother. You will also need an annulment or divorce decree, or a death certificate so that it is obvious that the first marriage ended legally.
If the parents were never married, you or your sibling will need evidence of legitimation, or proof that a financial or emotional relationship was established with the father at some point before age Then the long wait begins.
Advise your brother or sister to warn their children that, if they want to come along on this visa, they must not get married before entering the United States.
Turning 21 can also make them ineligible, but they have no control over that. There are limits on the number of people who can come to the United States every year in all of the family-based green card categories except the spouses, parents, and minor children of U. Everyone else has to wait in line for a green card to become available. For more information about how this system works and how to check your spot in the line, read this resource page about the Visa Bulletin. Sometimes, USCIS has to ask for more information before processing an application — which always adds additional time to the process.
In all cases, though, the sooner you submit the initial application the sooner you or your family member will get a green card. Citizenship Processing Time. Immigration Lawyers Vs Boundless. Looks like you were working on a application just now.
Applicants typically only require one service at a time. Because your friend referred you, your application with Boundless is discounted. Need help finding the right family visa for you? Start by browsing our services. Check out services. Find the right visa for you. Citizens Start-to-finish timeline: months to obtain green card If your spouse is a U. Spouses of Green Card Holders Start-to-finish timeline: months Spouses of green card holders will have to wait for a green card to become available after their sponsor files form I and before they can apply for a green card from either within the United States or at a U.
If the form asks for information that you can't possibly have, you can answer "none," such as when the form asks for a middle name and you don't have one. When the form asks a question that does not apply to you, this will probably be obvious to USCIS based on other answers on the form , but sometimes not. Question 2 - 4: These questions concern whether you and your brother or sister are related by adoption.
You are allowed to petition for an adopted sibling if certain conditions are met, most importantly that your sibling was adopted by your parent s before turning 16 years of age. See an immigration lawyer with any questions. Question 1: A U. If you don't, just leave this blank. Question 4: Enter your last name surname in 4. If you are married, use your current married name even if it is different from your sibling's last name.
Question 5: There's no need to mention personal nicknames, but do include any first or last names by which you have been commonly known, and which therefore might have made it onto your birth certificate and other paperwork that you will, now or later, be submitting to the immigration decision-makers. Question The address at which you receive mail. If this changes, be sure to advise USCIS, because you're going to be receiving some important documents by mail.
Questions If your mailing address is different from the address where you live, check "no," and fill in Questions 12 and If your current address is less than five years old, fill in Questions 14 and Question Enter the number of times you have been married, counting your current marriage if any. These questions are mostly important for petitioning spouses, but you, too, need to answer them.
Question This refers to your most recent marital status, so if you are married, check that box even if there was a previous divorce. Questions You can leave these blank if you're unmarried. If married, e nter the date and place that you and your spouse were legally married. If, for example, you had an official at city hall perform the actual wedding and then went to a church for a later ceremony, you would enter the date that occurred, and the city hall location.
Questions Add names of any current or prior husbands and wives, for example where the relationship ended in annulment, divorce, or death.
Questions Questions about your parents. If you really don't know the answer to something, say "Unknown. Question As a U. If you were born in the U.
If you are a naturalized U. For place of issuance, use the city and state where your oath ceremony took place, not the city and state of the USCIS field office where your application was filed, or your residence at the time. If you have a certificate of citizenship after gaining U. The date of issuance is expressly stated on the certificate—don't use the date you became a citizen.
The place of issuance will be the only city and state on the certificate, which is your residence at the time the certificate was issued. Questions You can leave these blank, because you are a U. Questions Your work history. Mostly self-explanatory. If you aren't working, leave the employer entries blank, but under "Occupation" Question 44 enter whatever is appropriate, such as "student," "stay-at-home parent," "self-employed," "disabled," or "unemployed," and enter the applicable dates.
If you've worked within the past five years, fill out the other "employer" entries. These questions are still about you, the U. They are largely self-explanatory.
Part 4. Information About Be neficiary. Of course, if that previous application was denied because the immigrant was inadmissible or lied on that application, call a lawyer before going any further. Question 2: It's entirely possible that your immigrating sibling has no USCIS online account number, in which case you can leave this blank.
Question 3: The immigrant won't have a Social Security number until he or she has lived in the United States and had a work permit, a visa allowing work, or U. If the immigrant has no Social Security number, leave this blank.
Question 5: This is for other names that might be found on the immigrant's paperwork, including maiden name. Question 10 : This question is partly because USCIS is on the lookout for visa fraud, and is asking about prior visa petitions so it can check the immigrant's files on this.
But it's not a problem if someone has filed a visa petition for the same sibling for instance, a child, or another U. Question Count up the number of times your immigrating sibling has been married, including the current marriage if any. Question Enter your sibling's marital status as of right now. Questions Enter information about your sibling's legal marriage s if any. Questions Enter all your immigrating sibling's children.
Providing a complete list of children is important, in case the immigrant wishes to petition for them at any time in the future. Question Answer "yes" even if the immigrant is not currently in the U. Certain types of negative immigration history may affect eligibility for a green card or indeed any type of admission to the U.
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