This information is for a United States (U.S.) citizen, who is at least 21 years of age, who wishes to petition for his or her brother or sister to live permanently in the U.S.. Lawful permanent residents are not eligible to petition for a brother or sister.
Eligibility
To petition to bring your sibling (brother or sister) to live in the United States as a green card holder, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years of age. Permanent residents may not petition to bring siblings to live permanently in the United States.
Required Documentation
To successfully complete the process, the U.S. citizen petitioner (i.e. the sponsor) must submit:
- A completed Form I-130. (Note: You do not need to file a separate Form I-130 for your sibling’s spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age.)
- A copy of your birth certificate and a copy of your sibling's birth certificate showing that you have at least one common parent.
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Evidence that you are a U.S. citizen, such as:
- A copy of your valid U.S. passport, OR
- A copy of your U.S. birth certificate, OR
- A copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad, OR
- A copy of your naturalization certificate, OR
- A copy of your certificate of citizenship
Additional Documentation for Siblings through Adoption, Step Parents or Paternal Half-Siblings
If you and your sibling are related through adoption, please also submit:
- A copy of the adoption decree(s) showing that the adoption took place before you or your sibling (the adopted child) became 16 years old.
If you and your sibling are related through a step-parent, please also submit:
- Copies of documents showing that any prior marriage(s) of the natural parent and/or step-parent were legally terminated, AND
- A copy of the marriage certificate of the step-parent to the natural parent (age restrictions for meeting definition of step-child apply)
If you and your sibling have a common (biological) father but different mothers (i.e. you are paternal half-siblings), please also submit:
- Copies of the marriage certificates of the father to each mother, AND
- Copies of documents showing that any prior marriages of either your father or mothers were legally terminated.
Note: If your name or your sibling’s name has changed, please include proof of the legal name change (may include marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, court judgment of name change, etc.)
Case Status
To check the status of your visa petition, see the My Case Status page.
Can my sibling come to the United States to live while the visa petition is pending?
There is no avenue for your sibling to enter the United States prior to immigration on the basis of a pending Form I-130. In most instances, the beneficiary of a pending or approved immigrant visa will not be eligible for a nonimmigrant visa, although certain exceptions may apply.
For more information, see the Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing pages.
My Petition was Denied: Can I Appeal?
If the visa petition you filed is denied, the denial letter will tell you how to appeal and when you must file the appeal. After your appeal form and the required fee are processed, the appeal will be referred to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Following-to-Join Benefits
This section is for beneficiaries who became permanent residents through a preference classification.
If you were married and/or had children who did not obtain permanent residence at the same time you did, they may be eligible for follow-to-join benefits. This means that you do not have to submit a separate Form I-130 for your spouse and/or children. In addition, your spouse and/or children will not have to wait any extra time for a visa number to become available. In this case, you may simply notify a U.S. consulate that you are a permanent resident so that your spouse and/or children can apply for an immigrant visa.
Your spouse and/or children may be eligible for following-to-join benefits if:
- The relationship existed at the time you became a permanent resident and still exists, AND
- You received an immigrant visa or adjusted status in a preference category
If your family member falls into this category and you adjusted to permanent residency in the United States, you may submit the following:
- A completed Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition
- A copy of the original application or petition that you used to apply for immigrant status
- A copy of Form I-797, Notice of Action, for the original application or petition
- A copy of your Form I-551 (green card)
If you are in the United States and have not yet filed to adjust your status to permanent resident, you can file Form I-824 for your spouse and/or child overseas with your Form I-485. When concurrently filing Form I-824, it does not require any supporting documentation.
If you received the immigrant visa overseas, you may contact the National Visa Center (NVC) for follow-to-join information. Send your inquiry by e-mail to NVCInquiry@state.gov or by writing to:
National Visa Center, ATTN: WC
32 Rochester Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801-2909
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NOTE: The above information does not address the specific requirements for any given case and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
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