Can a naturalized US citizen bring a family member to US?

[A + M 29]

Hi everyone! Question!

My Slovene friend is a naturalized US citizen. She has a sister who would like to immigrate to US. The sister is currently in US on a B2 visa. What are sister's options?

Thank you!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

None. The sister can petition her but the wait time for a visa number to be available is over 10 years. In 10+ years when she has an available number she can move to the US. Good luck.

Edit: If you see here, the sister would be in F4 category, and currently they are processing petitions filed in 2000. http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5640.html

Edited January 17, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Max1gk 68]

Hi everyone! Question!

My Slovene friend is a naturalized US citizen. She has a sister who would like to immigrate to US. The sister is currently in US on a B2 visa. What are sister's options?

Thank you!

She can sponsor the sister but since a brothers or sisters do not fall in the immediate relative category,she will have to wait many many years (10+) before she will be able to legally come here. That's truly her only option regarding a family based sponsored visa. The other options are being sponsored by an employer or winning the diversity visa lottery.

[A + M 29]

None. The sister can petition her but the wait time for a visa number to be available is over 10 years. In 10+ years when she has an available number she can move to the US. Good luck.

Edit: If you see here, the sister would be in F4 category, and currently they are processing petitions filed in 2000. http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5640.html

She can sponsor the sister but since a brothers or sisters do not fall in the immediate relative category,she will have to wait many many years (10+) before she will be able to legally come here. That's truly her only option regarding a family based sponsored visa. The other options are being sponsored by an employer or winning the diversity visa lottery.

Wow! 10+ years is quite a wait!

Thank you for your answers!

[aleful 1,905]

Hi everyone! Question!

My Slovene friend is a naturalized US citizen. She has a sister who would like to immigrate to US. The sister is currently in US on a B2 visa. What are sister's options?

Thank you!

and she cannot stay in the us, she must go back before she overstays. ditto to the siblings petition.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi everyone! Question!

My Slovene friend is a naturalized US citizen. She has a sister who would like to immigrate to US. The sister is currently in US on a B2 visa. What are sister's options?

Thank you!

There is only one option. It takes 10-12 years for a US citizen to petition for a sibling. Your US citizen can file a petition for her sister. The petition does not give your friend's sister any rights to be in the US. In about 10-12 years, her sister will be able to apply for an immigration visa.

Filing the I-130 petition does not affect the sister's B2 visa. She can stay until her I-94 expires. If she remains in the US after her I-94 expires, she will be an overstay - essentially an illegal immigrant.

There is nothing that the US citizen can do that would allow her sister to remain in the US legally. She waits 10-12 years outside the US like every other brother or sister of a US citizen. The sister being in the US right now does not give any advantage.

[A + M 29]

There is only one option. It takes 10-12 years for a US citizen to petition for a sibling. Your US citizen can file a petition for her sister. The petition does not give your friend's sister any rights to be in the US. In about 10-12 years, her sister will be able to apply for an immigration visa.

Filing the I-130 petition does not affect the sister's B2 visa. She can stay until her I-94 expires. If she remains in the US after her I-94 expires, she will be an overstay - essentially an illegal immigrant.

There is nothing that the US citizen can do that would allow her sister to remain in the US legally. She waits 10-12 years outside the US like every other brother or sister of a US citizen. The sister being in the US right now does not give any advantage.

Thank you for your answer!

[skiptex 225]

what about a parent? .. same wait?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

what about a parent? .. same wait?

Nope. Parents are immediate relatives, treated same as spouses.

[skiptex 225]

Nope. Parents are immediate relatives, treated same as spouses.

great!!

we can get Rossana Mom here from Venezuela AFTER we get her sorted

[aaron2020 11,651]

great!!

we can get Rossana Mom here from Venezuela AFTER we get her sorted

Sorted? What do you mean by that? Your post is vague to me.

Do you mean sorted as in after Rossana immigrates to the US and gets her green card? After Rossana gets her US citizenship?

Edited January 17, 2012 by aaron2020

[skiptex 225]

Sorted?

Only US citizens can petition for a parent. An LPR cannot.

I sent off the I-129F today..

I know.. just thinking ahead..

but i assume it won't be 10 yrs yes?

Edited January 17, 2012 by skiptex

[aaron2020 11,651]

I sent off the I-129F today..

I know.. just thinking ahead..

but i assume it won't be 10 yrs yes?

It takes about 6-12 months. The processing is similar to petitioning for a spouse of a US citizen. Parents of US citizens are considered Immediate Relatives. As soon as USCIS approves the I-130, the beneficiary parent can apply for an immigration visa.

You cannot file for your MIL. Only your US citizen wife (in the near future) can petition for her mom.

Edited January 17, 2012 by aaron2020

[skiptex 225]

It takes about 6-12 months. The processing is similar to petitioning for a spouse of a US citizen. Parents of US citizens are considered Immediate Relatives. As soon as USCIS approves the I-130, the beneficiary parent can apply for an immigration visa.

You cannot file for your MIL. Only your US citizen wife (in the near future) can petition for her mom.

yep.. thats what i thought.. thanks

the AOS to become a citizen.. is that 3 yr mark i am seeing on here.. correct?

[aaron2020 11,651]

yep.. thats what i thought.. thanks

the AOS to become a citizen.. is that 3 yr mark i am seeing on here.. correct?

3 years of being and LPR AND 3 years of living with the US spouse in the 3 years before filing the application. Actually, you can file 90 days before the 3 years mark.

Here are the steps for your situation;

1. Fiancee arrives in US on her K-1.

2. Get marry and file to adjust her status.

3. She gets her conditional green card which expires in 2 years.

4. 90 days before her conditional green expires, she files to have the condition remove - she will get a 10 years green card

5. 90 days before the 3rd anniversary, she files for US citizenship based on 3 years of being an LPR AND 3 years of living with her US citizen husband

6. Gets her US citizenship on the day she takes the oath.

7. Same day she gets her US citizenship, she files for her mother.

8. 6-12 months later, mom immigrates to the US as an LPR.

REALLY SUPER IMPORTANT - Immediate Relative beneficiaries cannot bring spouses or children with them. Only the Immediate Relative will get a visa.