My parents legally brought me here at age nine, and my mother is a current US citizen, and she wants to petition for me. How long is the process?

For your mother to petition for you as a married son of a US citizen, it would take approximately 12 years. If you divorced, the waiting time is approximately 7 years. Please note that these estimates are based upon the present visa chart and assumes that you are not born in Mexico or the Philippines, in which case you would have to wait a longer period of time. In addition, as you are probably no longer holding legal status, you would likely be subject to a 10 year bar for having remained in the country illegally for over one year. For such a situation, you would have to file an I-601A waiver-of inadmissibility based on extreme hardship to your mother when your priority date is close to becoming available. You would also not be eligible for adjustment of status would have to consular process your final immigration. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.