What fees will we end up paying?

[titotomas 0]

Hi,

Been quite awhile since we posted, but something new has come up. Riza (and Jan) became a U.S. citizen last year, making her eligible to bring family members such as siblings over. Her sister would be much better off here with us, do we've decided to try for it. I've started preliminary research on how to do this, but am a bit confused. Seeing as we started from ground zero as a brand new K-1/K-2 and got to where we are with our own wits and only the help of this group, we thought we'd start by asking a few questions here.

How exactly is this relative thing done and what does it end up costing? It appears that she (her sister) would become a permanent resident by virtue of having a US citizen sibling (my wife). If I understand correctly, we'll start with the I-130 petition which is $355.00 to submit? Then what? What are the steps here and (importantly for our budget) what kind of fees can we expect to get spanked with to the point where we have Cecilia safe and secure, a brand new PR, installed in her own room here and taking for that job at the McDonald's or whatever down the street?

Thanks in advance for responses.

Tom

[sjr09 155]

Hi,

Been quite awhile since we posted, but something new has come up. Riza (and Jan) became a U.S. citizen last year, making her eligible to bring family members such as siblings over. Her sister would be much better off here with us, do we've decided to try for it. I've started preliminary research on how to do this, but am a bit confused. Seeing as we started from ground zero as a brand new K-1/K-2 and got to where we are with our own wits and only the help of this group, we thought we'd start by asking a few questions here.

How exactly is this relative thing done and what does it end up costing? It appears that she (her sister) would become a permanent resident by virtue of having a US citizen sibling (my wife). If I understand correctly, we'll start with the I-130 petition which is $355.00 to submit? Then what? What are the steps here and (importantly for our budget) what kind of fees can we expect to get spanked with to the point where we have Cecilia safe and secure, a brand new PR, installed in her own room here and taking for that job at the McDonald's or whatever down the street?

Thanks in advance for responses.

Tom

How Do I Bring a Sibling to Live in the United States?

　Overview of the Immigration Process http://www.visajourn...m/content/ussib　

Petitioning Procedures: Bringing a Sibling to Live in the United States http://www.visajourn...ontent/ussibpet

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Hi,

Been quite awhile since we posted, but something new has come up. Riza (and Jan) became a U.S. citizen last year, making her eligible to bring family members such as siblings over. Her sister would be much better off here with us, do we've decided to try for it. I've started preliminary research on how to do this, but am a bit confused. Seeing as we started from ground zero as a brand new K-1/K-2 and got to where we are with our own wits and only the help of this group, we thought we'd start by asking a few questions here.

How exactly is this relative thing done and what does it end up costing? It appears that she (her sister) would become a permanent resident by virtue of having a US citizen sibling (my wife). If I understand correctly, we'll start with the I-130 petition which is $355.00 to submit? Then what? What are the steps here and (importantly for our budget) what kind of fees can we expect to get spanked with to the point where we have Cecilia safe and secure, a brand new PR,

installed in her own room here and taking for that job at the McDonald's or whatever down the street?

Thanks in advance for responses.

Tom

Petioning a sibling from the Phil,is a long process. You need to review the visa availability chart. I think it something like 10 years.

Quote:

Preference dates are assigned upon petition submission...

The I-130 petition processing time in this situation is really irrelevant... it is the wait for an available visa number... so even if petitions were approved by the USCIS in 6 mos., the petitions would still collect dust at the Department of State (NVC) waiting for a visa number (based on the preference date), which is presently 10 years minimum for Family 4th preference category. So the 10 year wait is any combination of USCIS & DOS, but will still be a total of about 10 years minimum.

[milimelo 4,561]

Petioning a sibling from the Phil,is a long process. You need to review the visa availability chart. I think it something like 10 years.

Quote:

Preference dates are assigned upon petition submission...

The I-130 petition processing time in this situation is really irrelevant... it is the wait for an available visa number... so even if petitions were approved by the USCIS in 6 mos., the petitions would still collect dust at the Department of State (NVC) waiting for a visa number (based on the preference date), which is presently 10 years minimum for Family 4th preference category. So the 10 year wait is any combination of USCIS & DOS, but will still be a total of about 10 years minimum.

Not 10 years, more like 20+ years for a sibling from Phillipines. 4th preference category is for siblings of USCs - currently 23 years of wait time.

Numbers are available only for applicants whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below.)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4805.html

Edited April 27, 2010 by milimelo

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Well if it's 23 years, then MCDonald's won't be McDonald then. We will be odering MCDonald on our ipod cell by then. Won't need cashiers....

[IndigoSkies 168]

One of my friend brought his mom over to America after 2 years of becoming a citizen. His siblings are still pending. Been 4 years now. I'm telling you this because the cost spread across that many years shoudln't ruffle your budget. Expect to spend couple of grands. More if you hire a lawyer. Good luck.

[titotomas 0]

Ten years? TWENTY THREE years?? For a beloved family member of a U.S. citizen??? When we accept "political refugees" into this country and waive fees... I should have known....

We were fortunate on our K-1 process with application in Oct 03, arrival in June of 04. I figured maybe double that, it'd take "a couple of years". But this is incomprehensible....for a family member that we are willing to vouch for and sponser... This immigration system really IS broken. There's no point in even trying. I'll probably be retired and ready to go over THERE by then.

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Tom

[milimelo 4,561]

Ten years? TWENTY THREE years?? For a beloved family member of a U.S. citizen??? When we accept "political refugees" into this country and waive fees... I should have known....

We were fortunate on our K-1 process with application in Oct 03, arrival in June of 04. I figured maybe double that, it'd take "a couple of years". But this is incomprehensible....for a family member that we are willing to vouch for and sponser... This immigration system really IS broken. There's no point in even trying. I'll probably be retired and ready to go over THERE by then.

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Tom

You're missing the point as to why such a long wait for someone from Philippines - it's because they already have so many of their countrymen in the US that the wait is so long. The system isn't broken - immediate family of USC (spouse, children under 21) get their visas immediately while family members have to wait longer.