Siblings of US Citizen

[Parwana 0]

Dear smart Friends,

Here is an updated story about a friend of mine who filed for her 2 sisters and 1 brother EXACTLY 5 years 11 months ago and last week both her sisters got a date for their visa interview at their local US embassy. These sisters are married and have kids (over 21). Now I hear from people around also here that siblings of USC have to wait 10 to 11 years, at least before they can get their visa (specially people from India - Pakistan - Afghanistan - Iraq - Iran - Tajikistan although people from China - Philippine and Vietnam will take up to 20 years) , based on which information people are saying this, sure there is a fact sheet on USCIS web page that they are working on cases filed 10 years ago....... This is true story, then how this is possible?

Please add your thoughts ....

[Boiler 46,132]

Simple, you have been given incorrect information.

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

I agree with Boiler- unless USCIS made a mistake, and they will be told at interview they have to wait.

[Parwana 0]

I agree with Boiler- unless USCIS made a mistake, and they will be told at interview they have to wait.

My apologize Boiler and Penguin! It was 8 years and 9 months and its not an interview letter they are asked to provide documents needed at their local embassy.

Guys can you like realistically describe why it takes 10 years for US government to read a 10 page document and approve it? Sure they say there are backlogs - Lists from people around the world, I mean come on today is technology world, 10gb file can be transferred from east cost to west within an hour or less.... why ? what is the foundation of this delay?

They know if someone files for her/his siblings they will come to US no matter how, they will come, it said on their policies or call it law that any USC can bring their family members/siblings to US, mean YES they will come, but why they have to wait 10 years ? Okay maybe max 5 years, makes sense. I think in most occasions its for the benefits of US to bring these people LEGALLY here, why? say I have a brother who has 5 kinds and they are of 4 to 16 years old if they come within 5 years, they will join school get out there pay taxes and HELP The United States! what if in those 10 years waiting things changed and they decided not to come since those kinds grow up in their country and found good jobs and help their own country, do I make sense?

[Waleed39 10]

there are limited number of visas.

[Parwana 0]

there are limited number of visas.

Visa is a paper and numbers are set by the US government (who are humans) they can change the number - time is something can not be stopped - rewinded or forwarded ... By them making people waiting 10 years to get a paper makes people say, You know what peace you ... I know a family ''a us citizen'' left US because their family members were delayed years....

[Boiler 46,132]

There is a solution that should form part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform if it is ever passed.

[Parwana 0]

There is a solution that should form part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform if it is ever passed.

Boiler,

Do you think the agenda about this specific matter F4 (10 Years waiting) is on the table inside immigration ? I heard there was a time 40 years ago visa for US sibling was available in 2 years...

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Everyone gets in line for the visas available. Each year the line has gotten longer mostly because the number of visas stays the same. It is kind of like rides at Disney , used to cost $13 and the wait was 20 minutes, now you pay over $100 for the privilege of waiting over an hour ( unless you have to jump the line and get to the front )

[Boiler 46,132]

Boiler,

Do you think the agenda about this specific matter F4 (10 Years waiting) is on the table inside immigration ? I heard there was a time 40 years ago visa for US sibling was available in 2 years...

A lot of things have changed in 40 years.

[Waleed39 10]

Visa is a paper and numbers are set by the US government (who are humans) they can change the number - time is something can not be stopped - rewinded or forwarded ... By them making people waiting 10 years to get a paper makes people say, You know what peace you ... I know a family ''a us citizen'' left US because their family members were delayed years.

US is the only modern country that gives citizens the right to call their siblings to their country for permanent residency, atleast give it that. Now I'm not defending the US immigration policy, who wouldn't love getting a visa right away, but an open door for everyone does not go well with the economic needs nor does it with the political strength of the party incharge. When a citizen loses a job to a new immigrant, that makes him say 'peace you' to the government. Just like a dollar bill is a paper and printed by the US government(who are humans), visas have to be regulated and managed.

A US citizen does not have to wait in line for calling their spouses, young children and parents, which is very fair and logical. But if they so eagerly wish to be reunited with their whole family tree right away, then moving back to the home country shouldn't cause problems.

[Parwana 0]

US is the only modern country that gives citizens the right to call their siblings to their country for permanent residency, atleast give it that. Now I'm not defending the US immigration policy, who wouldn't love getting a visa right away, but an open door for everyone does not go well with the economic needs nor does it with the political strength of the party incharge. When a citizen loses a job to a new immigrant, that makes him say 'peace you' to the government. Just like a dollar bill is a paper and printed by the US government(who are humans), visas have to be regulated and managed.

A US citizen does not have to wait in line for calling their spouses, young children and parents, which is very fair and logical. But if they so eagerly wish to be reunited with their whole family tree right away, then moving back to the home country shouldn't cause problems.

Waleed,

Is 10 or 11 years is a set time for siblings of USC or it goes over that time- like when you look at the immediate family members of USC time frame, it says ''visa process can take up to 6 months or in some cases AP is required which could be longer than that. Is there a statement on USCIS or Dep-State website that says it will take 10 to 11 years ( in some cases for Philippines its 20 years) OR these are just statments from people who went through the process?

Thank you

[Asia 2,499]

There: http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5993.html you can see how many visas are there in each category:

FAMILY-SPONSORED PREFERENCES

First: (F1) Unmarried Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400 plus any numbers not required for fourth preference.

Second: Spouses and Children, and Unmarried Sons and Daughters of Permanent Residents: 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which the worldwide family preference level exceeds 226,000, plus any unused first preference numbers:

A. (F2A) Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents: 77% of the overall second preference limitation, of which 75% are exempt from the per-country limit;

B. (F2B) Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Permanent Residents: 23% of the overall second preference limitation.

Third: (F3) Married Sons and Daughters of U.S. Citizens: 23,400, plus any numbers not required by first and second preferences.

Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

And there's also a chart where you can see what priority dates for each category are currently (since it's a visa bulletin for July) being proceeded.

[Waleed39 10]

The Department of State CANNOT issue more than 65000 visas to siblings of US citizens all around the world in one fiscal year, that is the law. But the number of people waiting to get that visa is unimaginably bigger than that. The people waiting for the visas are considered on first come first serve basis. Therefore it takes around 10 years for siblings from most areas of the world and it takes longer for some countries like Philippines and Mexico because only 7% of the 65,000 can be issued to people from a one country, not more. But Filipinos and Mexicans have a very much longer line than the rest of the world. Therefore, their waiting times are longer.

[Parwana 0]

The Department of State CANNOT issue more than 65000 visas to siblings of US citizens all around the world in one fiscal year, that is the law. But the number of people waiting to get that visa is unimaginably bigger than that. The people waiting for the visas are considered on first come first serve basis. Therefore it takes around 10 years for siblings from most areas of the world and it takes longer for some countries like Philippines and Mexico because only 7% of the 65,000 can be issued to people from a one country, not more. But Filipinos and Mexicans have a very much longer line than the rest of the world. Therefore, their waiting times are longer.

Thank you Waleed and all.. Hope the best for everyone in this journey!!