You may be thrilled that you have successfully undergone the United States immigration process and can now begin your life legally residing in the country. However, it is understandable if you experience feelings of homesickness, especially at the beginning of your stay. Or, you may experience feelings of guilt that your family members cannot have the same opportunities as you now have. This may especially ring true if you have always had a close bond with your sibling. Well, in this case, please read on to discover whether you can obtain a green card for your sibling and how a seasoned green card lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help bring them to reside with you in the United States.
Is it possible to obtain a green card for my sibling?
You may be happy to hear that it is very much possible for you to bring your sibling to the United States as a green card holder. Evidently, restrictions may apply. For starters, you must be a United States citizen, not just a lawful permanent resident. Then, you must be at least 21 years of age.
What’s more, your sibling may fall under the family preference category four. Unfortunately, this is the lowest recognized category, as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may consider them to be a non-immediate relative. This is all to say that it may take exceptionally long for your sibling to receive a green card to enter the country. On average, this waiting period is approximately 14 years. This is also due to the fact that they are subject to the USCIS annual cap. As of 2023, this cap was set at 226,000 green cards.
What is the process for bringing my sibling to the United States?
Even though bringing your sibling to the United States may be an extensive journey with its fair share of obstacles, this does not mean it is not worth the fight. We encourage you to fill out and file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. However, you must be aware of the following things involved in this application process:
- You may be expected to pay a filing fee of $535.
- You may be expected to provide evidence that you are a United States citizen.
- You may be expected to provide evidence that you share at least one common parent with your sibling.
- You may be expected to provide extra proof if your sibling is adopted, is from a step-parent, or is a paternal half-sibling.
- You may expect your sibling to be barred from entering the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa when their application is pending.
At the end of the day, if you have any lingering doubts about the immigration process ahead of you and your sibling, a competent family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI can help relieve them. So whenever you are ready to start, please reach out to Sesini Law Group, S.C.