Could someone help us determine the best route to take with bringing over family members ?

[Cazwik 11]

Hello,

I haven't posted in a little while. I hope everyone is doing well! My wife is close to getting her citizenship ( yay! ) . She wants to bring her parents and sister to the states. We know that it is a bit easier to bring to her parents when she is a citizen, however I heard the time for siblings is quite a wait ( up to 20 years ?!? ) With a upcoming deployment we were hoping to get her parents here to help her with the kids while I am gone. She wants her sister to come because they are so close. However her parents are going through some issues with getting their passports together because of the errors in their paperwork. So we were thinking trying to bring her sister on a tourist visa for a few months, then when she goes back, file her parents for a i- 130. That way her sister still has strong bond that ties her to the Philippines when she goes to the interview.

So my question ....is it best for my wife to file for her sister on a i 130 or wait for her parents to come and have them file for their daughter with an I 130, or is the Philippines just that backed up that it may not matter in the long run ? Her sister is currently unmarried and under 21, but turning 21 this year... I don't know if that matters.

I hope to hear some positive news from others trying to get some family members over to the states,

Very Respectfully

Caz

[xmaricrisx 25]

It is probably best to have your wife file for her parents first, and then have her parents file for her sister. With your wife being a U.S. citizen, she can get her parents here in a year. If she were to petition for her sister, her sister would have to wait for at least 23 yrs for a visa to be available for her; in comparison to if her parents were to petition for her, it would be a 10 year wait. Her sister can of course come on a tourist visa, but she cannot stay longer than 6 months.

[Cazwik 11]

Thanks for the advice. Just to confirm, after the I 130 was processed for her, She wouldn't be able to come anymore on a Tourist Visa correct? I have not heard of many success stories with tourist visas when it comes to the Philippines but i figured it may be worth a shot.

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Thanks for the advice. Just to confirm, after the I 130 was processed for her, She wouldn't be able to come anymore on a Tourist Visa correct? I have not heard of many success stories with tourist visas when it comes to the Philippines but i figured it may be worth a shot.

Technically she could come but the problem comes to the embassy or CBP thinking she might have immigration intention. There is nothing that forbids it, but rather being Filipino and having immigration intent makes it exceedingly unlikely.

[Cazwik 11]

Thats what I figured. That is why i was thinking maybe should could try to get a tourist visa first before her I 130 , so she could at least visit while waiting for her Visa. I have no intentions on trying to play that Immigration system, its just to bad that is the assumption with filipinos :/

[Boiler 45,657]

You said in your other thread that she is a Financial Adviser and looks after her nieces and nephews?

And in this one she is under 21, and can disappear to the US for a few months.

Her Sister can petition to immigrate and so can her parents when they immigrate.

[Cazwik 11]

Not sure why any of it is hard to believe. Or why it really matters. I already got the information I was looking for. Thank you all for your time.

[Boiler 45,657]

For an immigrant visa it does not matter at all, for a Tourist visa it does.