Maison Law Immigration Lawyers helps unite families in Bakersfield. When your sibling is outside of the U.S., it can be incredibly difficult to keep tabs on them from inside the country. Even with full citizenship, not having your family with you can leave you feeling empty. Thankfully, the immigration process gives you certain options for bringing them here with you. Our team can make the process work for you and your whole family. Contact us today to set up a consultation.
Should You Get a Lawyer?
You don’t have to hire a lawyer to sponsor your sibling, but the process can be confusing. Getting a lawyer can make things easier and allows everything to go smoothly. Here’s how our team can help:
- Explain the process – We’ll walk you through every step of the sponsorship.
- Help with documents – A big part of our support comes from gathering and organizing all the required paperwork.
- Guide your application – With our experience, we can make sure your application is filled out correctly and on time.
- Confirming eligibility – Our team checks that you and your sibling meet all requirements to avoid delays.
Sponsoring a sibling can take time and patience. With our help, you can rest easy knowing everything is in good hands. But it’s also important to understand what your options are.
What’s the Quickest Option For Bringing My Sibling to the United States?
Generally speaking, the fastest way to bring your sibling to the United States from another country is through a Family-Based visa (F4). While this can mean your sibling can come to the U.S. and eventually gain full citizenship, there’s still a process to go through that can sometimes take years. Here’s how the process works:
- File Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) – The process usually starts by filing the Form I-130 to sponsor your sibling. You’ll need to provide proof of your relationship, like birth certificates showing a shared parent.
- Wait for visa availability – After I-130 approval, your sibling will be placed in the F4 Family Preference Category. Visa availability can take many years due to annual limits, with some countries like Mexico and the Philippines facing longer waits.
- Processing – Once a visa becomes available, your sibling must complete consular processing, including submitting forms, attending an interview, and passing a medical exam.
- Enter the U.S. – If approved, your sibling will receive an immigrant visa and can enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident.
To streamline the process of sponsoring your sibling, make sure your I-130 and supporting documents are accurate. From there, keep an eye on the Visa Bulletin for updates on their priority date, and consider working with our team to avoid mistakes and manage any challenges along the way.
Are There Any Other Options For Bringing My Sibling to the United States?
Obviously, it can take a long time to sponsor your sibling and bring them to live with you in Bakersfield (or somewhere else in the U.S.) While sponsorship provides a path to full citizenship, you do have other options for bringing your sibling to the country:
- Temporary visas -Your sibling may enter the U.S. with a temporary visa, such as a B-2 visitor visa, F-1 student visa, or H-1B work visa. These visas are short-term and don’t lead to permanent residency but can allow your sibling to stay in the U.S. while waiting for their green card.
- Humanitarian parole – If your sibling is facing an emergency or dangerous situation, they can apply for humanitarian parole. This allows them to enter the U.S. temporarily while their immigration process is ongoing, though it doesn’t lead to permanent residency.
- Special programs – There are special programs, like Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) for abused minors, refugee or asylum status for those facing danger, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from specific countries. These programs may provide faster or alternative ways for your sibling to enter the U.S. based on their situation.
Sponsorship is just one of the ways you can bring your sibling to the United States to be with you. The question, then, isn’t what the quickest way is, but the most efficient. Everything depends on your particular situation, but our team will be there to support and guide you in whatever decision you make.
Contact Maison Law Immigration Lawyers For Sponsorship Support
When you’re trying to bring your siblings or other family members to live with you in Bakersfield, having legal guidance and support can make all the difference. At Maison Law Immigration Lawyers, we’ll be there to help you through the entire application process, making sure your family has what it needs to come together. Contact us today to set up a consultation and talk about your best options.
