If you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may wonder whether you can sponsor your sibling for immigration to the U.S. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recognizes the importance of family bonds. Therefore, USCIS offers legal pathways to help certain relatives of U.S. citizens who meet specific eligibility criteria to obtain a family-based visa. Nevertheless, sponsoring a sibling for immigration to the U.S. can be a complex and lengthy process. That said, it’s in your best interest to enlist the help of a proficient Middlesex County, New Jersey, Family Immigration Lawyer to learn about the different routes for family immigration to the U.S. and how our legal team can help keep your family ties intact.
What is the fastest way to bring a sibling to the U.S. for immigration?
There are numerous ways for U.S. citizens and permanent residents to bring their relatives to the U.S. for immigration purposes. However, by far, the fastest way to do so is through the Immediate Relative Category, which includes:
- Spouses of U.S. citizens
- Parents of U.S. citizens
- Unmarried children under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen
As you can see, siblings unfortunately do not fall under the visa category. Instead, siblings can only immigrate to the U.S. through the Family Preferences Category. There are unlimited visas for immediate relatives, meaning they don’t have to wait for any priority date. Those under the F4 category face limited visas made available each year. Therefore, there is no fast way to bring a sibling to the U.S. for immigration. The best way to proceed is to enlist the help of an experienced immigration lawyer to help you navigate this process and begin as early as possible.
How long will it take to get an I-130 Petition approved?
If you wish to sponsor your sibling for immigration to the U.S., to initiate the process, you must file form I-130, “Petition for Alien Relative.” On average, it takes around six to 12 months for USCIS to approve a sibling I-130 petition. However, this varies by case and can sometimes take years, depending on the circumstances. For instance, timing can be affected if you provide an incomplete application or inaccurate information on the petition. It’s crucial to note that the number of pending petitions can also impact how long it takes for your petitions to get approved for your siblings.
Furthermore, the country of origin and the number of visas available in the Family-Based Preference Category will also affect the wait time. Once USCIS has approved the petition, your sibling will have to wait for an immigrant visa to become available based on the priority date before they can enter the U.S. It’s a good idea to check the current processing time as they can change over time. The wait time can
For more information concerning family immigration, please don’t hesitate to contact an adept lawyer from the Law Offices of Aditya Surti, LLC. We are prepared to help you with your family reunification.
