Being involved in each other’s lives is something that many families look forward to, but it can be challenging when family members live far away!
A sponsor can be someone who wants to bring their sibling to the US. If you’re a US citizen wishing to get your loved ones to the country, rest assured—there are several options to explore!
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The most obvious choice could be a family-based visa, but there might be a long wait, given the demand. However, siblings who wish to settle down here permanently have further choices.
In this article, we’ll provide all the details you need to know about bringing your sibling to the US.
What are the Relevant Visas to Bring a Brother/Sister to the US?
US citizens wishing to bring their siblings to the country to live as legal permanent residents must sponsor them for an F4 visa. However, the Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations have imposed an annual cap on this family-based visa.
With a maximum of 65,000, it is a fourth preference category of family-based visas. As a result, the waiting lists may be extremely lengthy, and it can take years before your siblings receive green card approval.
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Meanwhile, other ways that your siblings might qualify for a US visa don’t require a petition from a direct relative. If your brother/sister is a skilled worker, they may be able to get permanent residency in the United States through employment-based visas such as:
- The H-1B Visa (Specialty Workers) is for foreign workers with advanced degrees. It is a temporary work visa for skilled workers; nevertheless, once entering the country, visa holders may petition to become citizens of the United States legally.
- O-1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability Individuals): With the help of this dual-purpose permit, you can become a permanent resident of the US by converting your O-1 visa to a Green Card.
- EB1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability Green Card).
- EB2 Visa (Second Preference Employment-based Visa).
- EB3 Visa (Worker’s Green Card for International skilled workers and professionals).
- EB-4 Visa (Special Immigrant Visa).
- EB5 Visa (Investor Green Card Program).
You can also apply for the Green Card Lottery with your siblings.
The program grants visas to foreign nationals whose immigration rates to the US are low; the likelihood of obtaining a Green Card is contingent upon the residence of one’s siblings.
How to Apply for a F4 visa
To apply for a F4 visa, a US citizen must file a visa petition on behalf of their sibling. To be a sponsor, the petitioner must be:
- At least 21 years of age
- Residing in the US
- They can demonstrate their relationship to siblings residing abroad; documentation such as birth certificates or adoption decrees is needed. In addition, documentation such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree must be supplied if the sibling relationship is through a joint parent.
If these conditions are satisfied, the USCIS will process the visa petition, and if it is approved, the case will be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC).
The overseas sibling will then receive an information packet from the NVC. This package includes documents and instructions regarding the following phases in the application procedure.
The applicant must wait for their priority date to become current in the visa bulletin before processing their application. Depending on the country, years may pass during the waiting period.
- The applicant must complete Form DS-260 (Online Application for an Immigrant Visa) to start the F4 application whenever a slot becomes available and the priority date becomes current.
- After that, the visa applicant gets the required immunizations and undergoes medical examinations.
- The petitioner obtains the supporting records, including marriage and birth certificates, needed to submit a visa application.
- The candidate shows up for a visa interview at the closest US Embassy or Consulate in their country of origin.
- Following the visa interview, the applicant will hear back regarding their application for permanent residence. If accepted, they will receive an F4 visa and be able to enter the US.
Applicants should check up-to-date information on the USCIS website to guarantee they apply appropriately and avoid further delays.
Siblings and Employment-based Visas
If a sibling is a skilled worker or has experience in a particular sector, they may consider applying for an employment-based immigrant visa. This is because it provides a quicker path to obtaining lawful permanent residence in the US.
Numerous visas for immigrants based on employment allow their holders to become permanent residents. For additional information on the most effective path to obtaining a green card, consult the USCIS website.
It is important to remember that the application procedure differs depending on the type of employment-based immigrant visa being applied for.
Certain US work visas enable the applicant to petition for the visa independently, while others require a US-based firm to sponsor the applicant.
Generally, the steps involved are as follows:
- Obtain a valid job offer in the US.
- Either the visa applicant (if self-petitioning) or their employer (petitioning on their behalf) will file the necessary employment-based petition form with the Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Once the petition is accepted, the application passes to the National Visa Center.
- Waiting for a priority date allows their employer and the visa applicant to stay current in the visa bulletin.
- After the priority date becomes current, the applicant can start the immigration visa application process by filling out Form DS-260 (Online Application for an Immigrant Visa).
- The candidate is then given the required immunizations and has a medical examination.
- The applicant obtains the necessary paperwork, which may include birth certificates or other supporting documents, to submit their visa application.
- During a visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate closest to the applicant’s home country, the applicant answers questions about their identification, family, past immigration history, and future travel plans.
- After the visa interview, the applicant will receive a decision on their application. They will be issued a visa and can travel to the United States if approved.
What is the Cost of Bringing a Sibling to the US
The following are the standard current fees for each immigrant visa:
- F4 Sibling Visa: $1,200
- H-1B Visa (Specialty Workers): $190 (employee paid), $5,720-$6,470 (Employer paid)
- O-1 Visa (Individuals with Extraordinary Ability): $460
- EB1 Visa (Extraordinary Ability Green Card): $1,145
- EB2 Visa (Second Preference Employment-based Visa): $665-$1,365 (if self-petitioning)
- EB3 Visa (Worker’s Green Card for International skilled workers and professionals): $1,130
- EB-4 Visa (Special Immigrant Visa): $740
- EB5 Visa (Investor Green Card Program): $8,975
- Diversity Visa: $330
Additional expenses must be considered when applying for a US visa. These extra charges may include the cost of a medical examination, interview travel, and document translations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What extra documentation do I need to sponsor a sibling who is not a blood relative?
You can sponsor siblings by adoption, step-parents, or paternal half-siblings to obtain permanent residence. However, there are some additional requirements that you must fulfill.
Siblings by adoption will require you to provide a copy of the adoption decree. This must show that the adoption occurred before you were 16 years old.
Step siblings require two documents. Firstly, they need documents proving that their birth parents’ previous marriage had been terminated. This includes a divorce decree.
They also need a copy of the marriage certificate of the step-parent to the birth parent. Finally, paternal half-siblings require copies of marriage certificates from your father to each mother.
In this case, you will also need documentation proving that any previous marriages between the fathers and mothers were legally terminated.
How will the documentation change if there has been a name change?
You can submit all your documentation as usual if you or your sibling has changed their name. However, you must provide evidence that the legal name change has occurred.
If you do this, your application will not be slowed down. However, there will be delays if you don’t, and the name discrepancy causes the application to be rejected.
Why are waiting times so long for family-based green cards?
For many people trying to relocate to the USA, it is shocking and dissatisfying that they may have to wait decades for their application to be processed.
This long waiting time can be perplexing, especially considering that over 226,000 Family-Based Green Cards are issued yearly. However, of all these Green Cards, just 65,000 are issued to siblings of US citizens in the lowest preference category.
This low number of Green Cards and the incredibly high number of applicants guarantee a long waiting time.
What happens after USCIS approves the petition?
You and your sibling will have to wait for USCIS to provide you with an available visa number before beginning the approval procedure; US citizens do not need to apply for a visa ahead of time.
If you feel this number is taking too long, contact the US consulate and inform them that you are an American citizen awaiting the appropriate visa number.
If USCIS does not currently possess one, you must keep waiting until your sibling may obtain one.