Bringing Family Members

[C4Racer 0]

My wife recently became a US Citizen. We are now going to file for her Mom, Dad and Sister.

Two questions.

1. Her sister is married and of course her husband, son and daughter will come with her. Do we need to submit her marriage certificate? It does not show this in the instructions so is this done later at the consulate?

2. We are waiting for her Mom and Dad's marriage certificate. Since it takes such a long time for sister's processing, is there any benefit to filing all applications together, or should we just go ahead and submit sister's app. I am inclined to submit hers now, but then I see the all questions at the end about filing for other family members.

[aaron2020 11,651]

The sister will be in the F4 family preference category, USC petitioning for a sibling. The current priority date for China is Nov. 15, 1997. So the wait is about 12 years for a visa. You might as well file and get the ball rolling. Only the sister's husband and unmarried kids under 21 years old at the time the visa is available around 2021 will be able to immigrate with her unless the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) gives her children additional protection.

The parents will be Immediate Relatives who will likely get visas within a year. There cases will be process independently from the sister.

[aaron2020 11,651]

[if you are a U.S. citizen seeking permanent resident status for your brother or sister, and you have the same mother, you must file the following items with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services:

* Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

* A copy of your birth certificate showing your name and your mother’s name

* If you were not born in the United States, a copy of either

o your Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship or

o your U.S. passport

* A copy of your brother’s or sister’s birth certificate showing his or her name and your mother’s name

* If anyone’s name has been legally changed (differs from the name on his or her birth certificate), evidence of the name change must be submitted

(English translation of documents are required)

This is an excerpt from the How-To-Petition-For-A-Sibling Guide which you can access under the "Guides" button located above this page.

You do not need the sister's marriage certificate. The I-130 for her is simply to establish that there is a legitimate sibling relationship between your wife and her sister and that your wife is eligible to petition for her sister. The sister's family is listed on the I-130 but official paperwork will not be required at the submission of the I-130.

Edited February 21, 2009 by aaron2020

[C4Racer 0]

Thanks for the help