visa's for family members of greencard holder

[Martiniolive 0]

my husband is wondering if after he gets his greencard to come to the USA, his family can get greencards? He heard that it will be easy for them to get 10 year greencards for the USA based on his becoming a citizen, is this true? Also will I the US citizen be responsible for them under my affidavit of support issued on behalf of my husband? Or will my husband have to sign one for them? Or do other rules apply? How does this work with relatives and theyre greencards? I love them and would like to have them here in the US but I am perplezed by how it may be so easy for them to get a greencard after how hard it is for me to get thru all of the legalities for my husbands greeencard

[Henia 11]

Getting visas for your LPR SO's immediate family is easy! There are some rules thou, depending on their country. Older parents and married siblings have the easiest time. But except hassles with unmarried siblings under 30. Reason for this is, that the consulate figures they are more likely to overstay the visa. But they are allowed to come for 6 months at a time. Some countries even 1 year. Once in the US, you are able to extent the visa!

And as far as getting residency status for them ... the SO would have to have gained US citizen status. Then apply for the visa! Parents/siblings are second to Spouses/children! LPR applying for family residency is too long of a wait!!! So best to wait! Good luck!

[YuAndDan 153]

Getting visas for your LPR SO's immediate family is easy! There are some rules thou, depending on their country. Older parents and married siblings have the easiest time. But except hassles with unmarried siblings under 30. Reason for this is, that the consulate figures they are more likely to overstay the visa. But they are allowed to come for 6 months at a time. Some countries even 1 year. Once in the US, you are able to extent the visa!

And as far as getting residency status for them ... the SO would have to have gained US citizen status. Then apply for the visa! Parents/siblings are second to Spouses/children! LPR applying for family residency is too long of a wait!!! So best to wait! Good luck!

Not quite so. Immigrant petitions for realities of a green-card holder are quite limited.

US citizenship is a requirement for most family immigrations. An LPR can only apply for un-married children, and a spouse.

You may want to read form I-130 directions, and look at current visa bulletin.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf (Page 1 explains who CAN and who CAN-NOT apply for and get immigrant visas)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_1360.html

US Citizen-Spouse CAN-NOT file for IN-Laws, or Step children if marriage making children step children took place after child's 18th birthday.

SEE duplicate post. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=132639

[Nutty 2]

Family based sponsorship takes years longer for parents and siblings compared to married couples.

If your husband files a petition along with Affidavit of Support for one of his relatives, he will be the primary sponsor.

Your Affidavit of Support for him is just that. FOR HIM and only him. It can't be modified to include other people wanting to immigrate to USA.

my husband is wondering if after he gets his greencard to come to the USA, his family can get greencards? He heard that it will be easy for them to get 10 year greencards for the USA based on his becoming a citizen, is this true? Also will I the US citizen be responsible for them under my affidavit of support issued on behalf of my husband? Or will my husband have to sign one for them? Or do other rules apply? How does this work with relatives and theyre greencards? I love them and would like to have them here in the US but I am perplezed by how it may be so easy for them to get a greencard after how hard it is for me to get thru all of the legalities for my husbands greeencard

[YuAndDan 153]

Family based sponsorship takes years longer for parents and siblings compared to married couples.

If your husband files a petition along with Affidavit of Support for one of his relatives, he will be the primary sponsor.

Your Affidavit of Support for him is just that. FOR HIM and only him. It can't be modified to include other people wanting to immigrate to USA.

my husband is wondering if after he gets his greencard to come to the USA, his family can get greencards? He heard that it will be easy for them to get 10 year greencards for the USA based on his becoming a citizen, is this true? Also will I the US citizen be responsible for them under my affidavit of support issued on behalf of my husband? Or will my husband have to sign one for them? Or do other rules apply? How does this work with relatives and theyre greencards? I love them and would like to have them here in the US but I am perplezed by how it may be so easy for them to get a greencard after how hard it is for me to get thru all of the legalities for my husbands greeencard

If Green-card holder becomes a US citizen through naturalization, then Parents and unmarried children under age 21 fall under the Un-limited class, which takes the same time as spouse of a US citizen (CR-1/IR-1)

Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): The spouse, widow(er) and unmarried children under 21 of a U.S. citizen, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1306.html

Again who an LPR can file for is quite limited as compared to who a US citizen can file for.

[Martiniolive 0]

Nutty, My husband is not here in the usa yet and we are doing the I-130. When is my husband able to petition for his relatives greencards? If I am responsible for him under the affidavit of support for 10 years, than how can he petition for other people and be responsible for them? It seems like he will not be able to be legally responsible for them if someone else (me) is still legally responsible for him. Any info on this?

[chaishai 1]

Nutty, My husband is not here in the usa yet and we are doing the I-130. When is my husband able to petition for his relatives greencards? If I am responsible for him under the affidavit of support for 10 years, than how can he petition for other people and be responsible for them? It seems like he will not be able to be legally responsible for them if someone else (me) is still legally responsible for him. Any info on this?

we petitioned for my BIL (actually info on that is why i joined VJ). anyway it hadnt quite yet been 10 years for us at the time when we applied, and my husband was a citizen when we applied. also they say they are now processing cases from like 1998 or something like this. i dont see him getting a residency visa for at least 10 years with that wait.

[~~~water~~~ 0]

do you mean to visit or live... I think getting a travel visa would not be hard fro the parents, but for him to bring them here to immigrate from my understanding its a lengthy process.

[YuAndDan 153]

Nutty, My husband is not here in the usa yet and we are doing the I-130. When is my husband able to petition for his relatives greencards? If I am responsible for him under the affidavit of support for 10 years, than how can he petition for other people and be responsible for them? It seems like he will not be able to be legally responsible for them if someone else (me) is still legally responsible for him. Any info on this?

Again, the only people he will be able to sponsor are:

2. If you are a lawful permanent resident of United States, you may file this form for:

A. Your husband or wife;

B. Your unmarried child under age 21;

C. Your unmarried son or daughter age 21 or older.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf

Also YES if the relative is listed above, the later when it comes time for I-864, he can file form I-864 for the sponsored immigrant.

Who Completes and Signs Form I-864?

The U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who filed a Form I-130 for a family member, Form I-129F for afiance(e), or Form I-600 or I-600A for an orphan.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864.pdf

do you mean to visit or live... I think getting a travel visa would not be hard fro the parents, but for him to bring them here to immigrate from my understanding its a lengthy process.

The OP said:

When is my husband able to petition for his relatives greencards?

This implies to LIVE, as in immigrant visas.

[Zee Bee 61]

Nutty, My husband is not here in the usa yet and we are doing the I-130. When is my husband able to petition for his relatives greencards? If I am responsible for him under the affidavit of support for 10 years, than how can he petition for other people and be responsible for them? It seems like he will not be able to be legally responsible for them if someone else (me) is still legally responsible for him. Any info on this?

Once your husband becomes a citizen the affidavit of support is voided.

[Martiniolive 0]

Water, My husband just said his family can easily get the "10 year greencard" I am not sure where he is getting his info from but I am wondering how it can be possible.

[morocco4ever 63]

I read up on this a few years ago. If I remember correctly he can petition them once he has his green card, but the wait is horrible if you are not a citizen. But when he gets his citizenship he can adjust the wait time according to his new status. Hopefully I am giving you correct answers, but if you are diligent enough you can find it all on their website.

I would assume that the process will be easy, but it won't be quck. And he will either have to do the AOS or he will need a co sponsor. But you will not be liable for anyone other than who was included on yours originally.

[YuAndDan 153]

For everyone's clarification how are the relatives related to husband? Parents, Children, or Siblings? Answers vary depending on how they are related, and if LPR or Citizen is filing the I-130.

Edited June 10, 2008 by YuAndDan

[Martiniolive 0]

Yuanddan, in my husbands case I am assuming that he is talking about his (unmarried)brothers only. Do not know about his (unmarried) sisters. My husband has no children. His parents might want to come visit us sometime but it would be "a visit" only. I am not sure what my husband is referring to when he told me they can easily get a 10 year greencard. I thought 10 year greencards were for people who want to live perminantly in the USA and that they also had to marry a US citizen to get it. Can they get a 10 year greencard by being petitioned by a permenent US citizen which its what my husband would be concidered when he has been in the states for a few years?

[YuAndDan 153]

Yuanddan, in my husbands case I am assuming that he is talking about his (unmarried)brothers only. Do not know about his (unmarried) sisters. My husband has no children. His parents might want to come visit us sometime but it would be "a visit" only. I am not sure what my husband is referring to when he told me they can easily get a 10 year greencard. I thought 10 year greencards were for people who want to live perminantly in the USA and that they also had to marry a US citizen to get it. Can they get a 10 year greencard by being petitioned by a permenent US citizen which its what my husband would be concidered when he has been in the states for a few years?

NO, Green-card holders are not automatically considered to be CITIZENS of the USA just by living in the USA for a few years.

I have a friend that has lived in the USA for more than 20 years, that still is a Lawful Permanent Resident (Gren-Card Holder), and is NOT a US citizen.

In order to become a US citizen, the green-card holder needs to apply for naturalization by filing form N-400 after residing in the USA as a LPR for ate least 3 years hen continuously married to a US citizen, and after 5 years if not married to a US citizen.

Information on Citizenship: http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/M-476.pdf

And only after becoming a US citizen can they file an I-130 for their siblings.