At what point in the immigration process can a beneficiary sponsor family members

[slowlyman 118]

There's talk that the sibling visa may go away, so it may never be possible.

http://www.caasf.org/2013/05/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-senate-immigration-reform-bill/

As it currently stands, it would take 12 years from when she's eligible to file for them (so, like, 15 total).

Wow, that's not even practical.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Wow, that's not even practical.

Yup. She'd be able to petition for them in about 3 years (unless that reform happens), but visas would not become available to them for 12 more. Her siblings should just get on with their own lives in the meantime.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Ok, thanks, that's the number I was looking for.

This all seems premature to me. She is only here two weeks and already she is getting pressure from her siblings to get them Visa's. I just want to give them a number so they stop bugging us for a while.

Seriously?

Unfortunately, some of her family members sees you and her as their meal tickets to US green cards and riches. Tell them to back off since bringing them to the US takes 15 years. Tell them there is no one you can bribe to bring them here quicker.

Unfortunately, I have seen this poor behavior too many time from family members who thinks a green card bride (not being derogatory - just saying how she is perceived) is their tickets to the US.

[slowlyman 118]

Unfortunately, some of her family members sees you and her as their meal tickets to US green cards and riches. Tell them to back off since bringing them to the US takes 15 years. Tell them there is no one you can bribe to bring them here quicker.

Unfortunately, I have seen this poor behavior too many time from family members who thinks a green card bride (not being derogatory - just saying how she is perceived) is their tickets to the US.

That is pretty much what she said to me this morning. She said they have no idea how difficult and expensive it was for her to get here. It's easy for them to sit there and say get us a visa, it's easy when they have no idea what is involved. Of course there is always that friend or relative who knows everything about everything.

I'll go over all this with her. I'm sure she will pass it along, but I doubt the inquires will stop, because Aunt Mable says....................

[aaron2020 11,651]

That is pretty much what she said to me this morning. She said they have no idea how difficult and expensive it was for her to get here. It's easy for them to sit there and say get us a visa, it's easy when they have no idea what is involved. Of course there is always that friend or relative who knows everything about everything.

I'll go over all this with her. I'm sure she will pass it along, but I doubt the inquires will stop, because Aunt Mable says....................

I wish I could tell you this this gets better. But it will not.

They will pressure her. They will make her cry. They will say that she's a bad sister. They will ask for money.

Not all families are like this. But unfortunately many are. It's a pain in the ### but look at the poverty they're living in.

Sorry to be so cynical. But it's better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

My husband sent a petition for one of his sister on 2004 and still waiting! By the way ONLY USC can sponsor parents and siblings. Lpr only children and spouse

[Merrytooth 5,748]

That is pretty much what she said to me this morning. She said they have no idea how difficult and expensive it was for her to get here. It's easy for them to sit there and say get us a visa, it's easy when they have no idea what is involved. Of course there is always that friend or relative who knows everything about everything.

I'll go over all this with her. I'm sure she will pass it along, but I doubt the inquires will stop, because Aunt Mable says....................

Are your wife going to work in USA, getting a job with salary that qualifies her to file the I-864 for her family members?

If not, are you comfortable to file I-864 as co-sponsor for her family members?

It is a huge financial obligation which you and your wife should think about thoroughly.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

With all the respect your new family deserve, they need to back off. Tell them the truth that she can only send the petition once she becomes in an USC in 4 or 5 years (you start to count 3 years ONCE she has her GC). They need to understand she has no privilege right now just to enter to the states, get married and adjust. She shouldn't be worry about that. She needs time and support to make her emotional and psychological adjustment which is NOT easy and she needs to enjoy her new life with you as a husband and wife.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Just ignore them! Bringning them means A LOT of money a somebody needs to tale care of them financially

[Ning 619]

That is pretty much what she said to me this morning. She said they have no idea how difficult and expensive it was for her to get here. It's easy for them to sit there and say get us a visa, it's easy when they have no idea what is involved. Of course there is always that friend or relative who knows everything about everything.

I'll go over all this with her. I'm sure she will pass it along, but I doubt the inquires will stop, because Aunt Mable says....................

Sorry my other post was incorrect.

Its also easy for people here to tell you to insult her family but I suggest you keep in mind her age and that what they are doing is all they know to do. She must placate them as you know. This effort may also be the first sign of home sickness that we all went thru.

Its interesting that everyone driving a Tuk Tuk is an immigration expert in Thailand.

One way to stop Aunt Mable is to tell her you have sold her niece just as they thought you would! Kidding of course.

[slowlyman 118]

Sorry my other post was incorrect.

Its also easy for people here to tell you to insult her family but I suggest you keep in mind her age and that what they are doing is all they know to do. She must placate them as you know. This effort may also be the first sign of home sickness that we all went thru.

Its interesting that everyone driving a Tuk Tuk is an immigration expert in Thailand.

One way to stop Aunt Mable is to tell her you have sold her niece just as they thought you would! Kidding of course.

[Lex Specialis 38]

If you are talking about siblings, you can sponsor only after you become a US citizen, which is about 3.5-4 years after you got your K-1 issued, and after you file the petition, 10+ years later your sibling can get their immigrant visa.... and that's ASSUMING the current reform bill doesn't pass during the decade and a half, which eliminates the sibling category altogether. If you have common parents there is a way to somewhat shortcut the process, but I wouldn't tell your brothers or sisters to start packing just yet.

[loladolly 51]

I just read into that immigration reform. I don't know when it i will pass but if it does, i expect the processing time of petitions for USC and LPR to dramatically increase. We saw what happened with DACA and that was just a small part of it...

[merc0230 28]

She needs to be a USC to petition her parents and siblings.

Once she enters on the K-1, it'll take 6 months to get her a green card after she files.

After having her green card for 3 years and meeting all the other requirements, she can apply for US citizenship. It'll take several months to a year to get US citizenship.

So in 4-5 years when she is a US citizen, she can file for them. It will take 1 year for her parents. It will take 12 years for her siblings (if the sibling category is not eliminated).

Seems to me, it would be quicker to have the parent become a citizen and have the parent bring the siblings over.

Wouldn't that negate the whole "if the siblings visa is discontinued" argument?

Yes, I realize the parent would have to be come a citizen...but that would reduce the wait time from 12 years to 5 plus whatever the wait time is for children, which I am guessing is somewhat shorter than 7 years.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Seems to me, it would be quicker to have the parent become a citizen and have the parent bring the siblings over.

Wouldn't that negate the whole "if the siblings visa is discontinued" argument?

Yes, I realize the parent would have to be come a citizen...but that would reduce the wait time from 12 years to 5 plus whatever the wait time is for children, which I am guessing is somewhat shorter than 7 years.

It's not.

As an LPR, the parent can petition for unmarried children over age 21. That takes 8 years. So, 3-4 for wife to get USC, then 1 year for her parents, and 8 years for an unmarried child which total 12-13 years.

If the child is married, then add 5 years for a parent to get US citizenship and 12 years to petition. That's 23 years total.