QUESTION
How long will it take to process an I-130 for my sister?
Asked on Nov 20th, 2012 on Immigration - California
More details to this question:
I am a US citizen, I live in the state of Maryland, I would like to open a I-130 petition for my sister who is 38 years old, single, and lives in Trinidad and Tobago, how long does the process take before she comes to the U.S.A.?
8 ANSWERS
IT will take about 10-12 years so it is probably not the most practical way for your sister to immigrate to the US.
Answered on Apr 30th, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Immigration Law Attorney serving Staten Island, NY
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Law Office of Jeffrey Lisnow
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A long time. You may want to use an attorney for if there is a mistake it will not come to light until many years later and that time may be wasted.
Answered on Nov 22nd, 2012 at 5:56 AM
Thomas J. Rosser
The current priority date for F-4 (Brothers and Sisters of Adult US Citizens) Immigrant Visa availability is 22 March 2001. This means that once you have properly filed for her and gotten a priority date she will be looking at a significant wait of approximately 12 years under the current system and allocation. However, it is important that you go ahead and file for her so that she has a specified place in line on the basis of her priority date. Should Congress increase the availability of visas in family-based visa categories (which they may do in the second Obama term) then the wait could be reduced significantly.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Rebecca T White
You should review the Department of State Visa Bulletin to review the past wait times for available priority dates. It may be that there will be other immigration options open to her in the years waiting for a current priority date.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Real Estate Attorney serving Frisco, CO
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The Law Office of Eric A. Fisher, LLC
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The I-130 may get processed in less than a year, but your sister will have to wait 10 to 12 years before she can apply for an immigrant visa.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
The I-130 takes about 5 months to adjudicate. Once approved the current wait time based on the Visa Bulletin is about 11 years before your sister can apply for her green card. You can see the visa bulletin here, http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html, your sister would be in the F4 category for All Charge-ability Areas Except Those Listed. Feel free to contact me or another immigration attorney of your choice to set up a phone consultation for more information.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
It will take about 11 to 12 years.? She can be married. Single does not matter.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Deportation Defense Attorney serving Riverside, CA
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The Law Offices of Nassim Arzani
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It may take longer than ten years. You apply for the I-130 now, but then you have to wait until her "priority date" is current. This would be the day that USCIS receives your application. So, if USCIS receives your application today, your priority date would be November 20, 2012. However, USCIS is still processing brother-sister applications for your country from March 2001. (see: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1770.html) If comprehensive immigration reform actually goes through at the congressional level, it is possible (but far from guaranteed) that you would not have to wait so long. I hope this helps.
Answered on Nov 20th, 2012 at 11:45 AM