Bringing her Sister?

[PoloNiks 10]

Hey all my wife is finally getting settled and learning the way of the states and we have been discussing bringing her 10 year old sister here to live with us, bc we want to give her a better opportunity. What steps would we have to take to do this, I cannot seem to find anything on this process.

[Anh map 2,098]

You cannot adopt her if the parents are alive. When your wife becomes a US citizen she can petition for her sister. That wait is currently around 23 years for siblings from PI.

[Bill and Vicky 25]

Hey all my wife is finally getting settled and learning the way of the states and we have been discussing bringing her 10 year old sister here to live with us, bc we want to give her a better opportunity. What steps would we have to take to do this, I cannot seem to find anything on this process.

Your note suggests that your wife is *not* a U.S. Citizen.

Your sister-in-law can't be the beneficiary of a petition by you...she's not your spouse or child.

Your wife, as a legal permanent resident, can't sponsor a family member until she's granted U.S. Citizenship.

Unless you were going to adopt her, I don't see a way to do it under our current system. Maybe someone else does.

Care,

Bill

[PoloNiks 10]

couldnt she be brought over on some other type of visa?

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

You can try a student visa, it probably won't be granted. You'll will have to wait the 3 years for your wife to gain citizenship, then she can file for her sister. Then you'll can wait the 23 years for a visa to become available.

Age of sister = 10

Wife's citizenship 3 years

Visa available= 23 years

Total age of sister to migrate 39 years of age.

[Anh map 2,098]

couldnt she be brought over on some other type of visa?

Look into the student visa. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1270.html

[gretchen_darren 67]

exchange student visa or student visa. But both of those are mainly for college students. You can adopt her providing the parents consent. However, you have to get USCIS approval first before adopting her. You cannot take financial responsibility until USCIS says it is ok. Even with parents living you can adopt, However, the parents must also agree to it.

If her parents, your in-laws agree to you adopting her. then file for USCIS approval. Once approved, you will have to become the legal guardian in philippines. Then she can travel here under a visa as a an Ir-1.

Basically, your wife needs to become a Us citizen to really do much of anything. Most filipino families are against adoption, no matter how much opportunities are offered. This comes from how children are viewed as taking care of parents. Parents are losing their "support" structure when they get old.

[rlogan 2,036]

You can try a student visa, it probably won't be granted. You'll will have to wait the 3 years for your wife to gain citizenship, then she can file for her sister. Then you'll can wait the 23 years for a visa to become available.

Age of sister = 10

Wife's citizenship 3 years

Visa available= 23 years

Total age of sister to migrate 39 years of age.

Sounds like marrying the little sister at age 18 is the way to go.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

couldnt she be brought over on some other type of visa?

There is no other immigration visas that she can qualify for.

If you bring her over on a non-immigrant student visa, you will have to pay tuition to the public school. In addition, she would have to leave the US once she completes her schooling.

To be frank, there is nothing you or your wife can do to bring her to the US permanently anytime soon. It will take around 23 years once your wife becomes a US citizen.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

FWIW, adoption wouldn't work as USCIS expressly forbids adoption for immigration purposes. Even if the sister was an orphan there would be a lot of red tape but then it would be doable.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

exchange student visa or student visa. But both of those are mainly for college students. You can adopt her providing the parents consent. However, you have to get USCIS approval first before adopting her. You cannot take financial responsibility until USCIS says it is ok. Even with parents living you can adopt, However, the parents must also agree to it.

If her parents, your in-laws agree to you adopting her. then file for USCIS approval. Once approved, you will have to become the legal guardian in philippines. Then she can travel here under a visa as a an Ir-1.

Basically, your wife needs to become a Us citizen to really do much of anything. Most filipino families are against adoption, no matter how much opportunities are offered. This comes from how children are viewed as taking care of parents. Parents are losing their "support" structure when they get old.

Adoption will not work. As Bob has pointed out, you cannot adopt for an immigration purpose. If adopting a family member so they can qualify to immigrate was possible, there would be a ton of people adopting their minor siblings.

Who would this child call mom??? Her sister/adopted mother or her real mother??? Seems shady right??? This is why it is not allowed.