How Can You Sponsor Your Siblings For A Green Card?

Every U.S. citizen has the ability to sponsor their siblings for a green card. By sponsoring their siblings, they can help their siblings obtain a green card and, then, live in the United States.

What Are The Requirements For Sponsoring Your Siblings? 

In order to sponsor their siblings for a green card, every U.S. citizen must satisfy certain requirements. These sponsorship requirements are as follows:

• The sponsor must be at least 21 years old.
• The sponsor must be a U.S. citizen; permanent residents cannot sponsor their siblings.
• The sibling being sponsored must be legally recognized as that sponsor’s sibling.

The legally recognized siblings are as follows:

• A brother or sister.
• A half-brother or half-sister.
• A step-brother or step-sister.
• A brother or sister adopted by the sponsor’s family.

To sponsor a half-sibling, the following documentation is necessary:

• A copy of the marriage record showing that any prior marriages between the father or mother were legally terminated.
• A copy of the marriage certificate demonstrating the legal marriage between the father and mother.

To sponsor a step-sibling, the following documentation is necessary:

• A copy of the marriage record showing that any prior marriage between the natural parent and/or step-parent was legally terminated.
• A copy of the marriage certificate demonstrating the legal marriage between the natural parent and step-parent.

To sponsor an adopted sibling, the following documentation is necessary:

• A copy of the adoption decree showing that the sibling was adopted before they, or their sponsor, turned 16 years old.

A sponsor who fails to meet the requirements outlined above, or cannot provide the necessary documentation, will be unable to sponsor their siblings for a green card.

How Can You Sponsor Your Siblings For A Green Card? 

Right before a U.S. citizen can begin sponsoring their siblings, they must fill out a Form I-130. Once this form has been filled out, the sponsor must gather a copy of their birth certificate and a copy of each siblings’ birth certificate.

The sponsor must prove that they are a U.S. citizen, before submitting their Form I-130. To accomplish this, the sponsor must provide one of the following documents:

• A U.S. passport
• A U.S. birth certificate
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• A U.S. naturalization certificate
• A U.S certificate of citizenship

Right after these documents have been put together, they must be sent to the USCIS. When the petition has been approved, the sponsors’ siblings will be given a priority date. This priority date determines when those siblings can apply for a green card.

Once the priority date becomes current, visas are available. Once visas are available, those siblings can apply for a green card.

To acquire a green card, each sibling will need to attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Assuming these interviews go well, the siblings will be given a green card. With this green card, they can enter and, then, live in the United States.

Speak With A Houston Immigration Lawyer 

Sponsoring your siblings for a green card can be tricky. Speak with an effective Houston immigration lawyer today. We will assist you in filling out the right forms and providing the necessary documentation.

Sources: 

uscis.gov/i-130

uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/bringing-siblings-to-live-in-the-united-states-as-permanent-residents

travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html