Sibling U.S. Petitions: What To Know Before You File
Over 732,000 family members are approved for a family green card each year. And while there isn’t a limit to how many green cards the U.S. government will issue for siblings of U.S. citizens, it often takes up to a year for your sibling to receive their green card after you file a sibling U.S. petition.
As experienced immigration lawyers, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help you file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. By following our tips, you’ll ensure you submit an accurate and complete form which should help improve processing time.
Does Your Sibling Qualify for a Green Card?
In order to petition for a green card for your sibling, the following requirements must be met:
You are currently a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative
You are at least 21 years old
The foreign national relative must be your sibling, spouse, parent, or child.
You have proof of your citizenship or lawful permanent residency status, such as a passport or green card.
You must also provide proof of the relationship to the foreign national relative, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other relevant documentation.
Required Documentation You’ll Need to File for Sibling U.S. Petitions
Before you can file for a sibling U.S. petition, you’ll need the following documentation:
Copy of your birth certificate
Copy of your sibling’s birth certificate proving that you have at least one common parent
At least one piece of evidence of your U.S. citizenship:
Valid U.S. passport
U.S. birth certificate
Consular Report of Birth Abroad
Naturalization certificate
Certificate of citizenship
If submitting the petition online, you’ll need digital copies of the birth certificates and evidence of citizenship.
How Long Does It Take for a U.S. Citizen to Petition for a Sibling?
Once you submit a completed petition for your sibling to get a green card to live in the United States legally, it takes about six to twelve months for your petition to be approved. While there is no limit on immigrant visas for relatives of U.S. citizens, there are a few reasons the processing time takes this long:
Processing backlogs: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a backlog of cases to process, and the wait time can vary depending on the current demand and available resources.
Priority dates: Siblings of U.S. citizens are in a lower priority category for green cards, extending the wait for their priority date to become current before their case can be processed.
The complexity of the petition: The time it takes for USCIS to review and make a decision on an I-130 petition can vary if the petition is more complex.
Additional review and security checks: USCIS may conduct additional review or security checks on some cases, adding more time to the processing time.
A Step-by-Step Guide for How to File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Create a USCIS online account. Click this link to go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Account Sign-Up page. Then click the Sign-Up button and complete the account details by following the prompts. This should only take a few minutes.
Click this link to go to the Online Filing page for Form I-130. Click the File Online button.
Follow the prompts and complete the form.
Pay the Filing Fee. If you apply for a fee waiver, you cannot file online.
The USCIS will send a receipt of the filing to your USCIS online account.
Filing Form I-130 by Mail
If you decide to file Form I-130 by mail, follow this step-by-step guide:
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