Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 1

IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR THE

BROTHER OR SISTER OF A U.S. CITIZEN

(WHO IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD)

BEFORE SIBLING APPLIES TO ADJUST STATUS (IN THE

UNITED STATES) OR CONSULAR PROCESS AT A U.S.

CONSULATE (OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES)

Obtain information on our excellent

Do-It-Yourself Immigration iKitsTM

that will allow you to prepare your

own immigration petitions and

applications.

Schedule a low cost telephone

consultation with one of our

immigration attorneys, to discuss

your case and your eligibility for

immigration benefits.

Receive our FREE monthly

newsletter with up to date news and

information on US immigration law,

including hints and tips to file a

successful immigration case.

Welcome to ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc., "Your Immigration Link to the World". The information contained in this

iKitTM is the most accurate, up-to-date information available, and will allow the average person to find out about

new changes in the immigration laws, so that they can prepare and file their own immigration case without the need

of spending hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars on attorneys' fees. *Terms of use and disclaimer.

Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 2

NOTE

THIS PRODUCT PREVIEW FOR THE iKITTM

HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO SHOW SELECTED

PAGES AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE

iKITTM

IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THIS iKITTM

HAS 46 PAGES IN TOTAL, TOGETHER

WITH LINKS TO ALL OF THE REQUIRED

IMMIGRATION FORMS, STATUTES, AND

REGULATIONS, AND CONTAINS LINE-BY-LINE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF ALL OF THE

REQUIRED FORMS.

Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I - IKIT OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................... 5

A. WHO SHOULD FILE / USE THIS IKIT? ........................................................................................................................ 5 B. VISA AVAILABILITY ................................................................................................................................................ 5 C. WHAT IS LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE (GREEN CARD) AND ITS BENEFITS? ................................................................. 5 D. DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 5

SECTION II – PROCESS OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 8

A. PART 1 – USC PETITIONING FOR ALIEN SIBLING ......................................................................................................... 8 1. PRE-REQUISITES FOR USC FILING ........................................................................................................................ 8 2. PREPARING AND SENDING THE I-130 PACKAGE ..................................................................................................... 8 3. WAITING FOR A DECISION ON THE I-130 PETITION ................................................................................................. 8 4. NATIONAL VISA CENTER .................................................................................................................................... 9

B. PART 2 – CONSULAR PROCESSING OR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS .................................................................................. 10 1. CONSULAR PROCESSING .................................................................................................................................. 10 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS ................................................................................................................................. 11

SECTION III – IMMIGRATION FORM, DOCUMENTS & EVIDENCE .......................................................................... 12

A. FORM OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................... 12 B. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE FOR FORMS AND/OR INTERVIEW ...................................................................... 12

1. PROOF OF U.S. CITIZENSHIP OF PETITIONER ........................................................................................................ 12 2. PROOF OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AND IDENTITY DOCUMENTS FOR ALIEN SIBLING(S) ................................................... 13

SECTION IV – IMMIGRATION LAWS...................................................................................................................... 19

A. INA § 101 – DEFINITIONS [8 U.S.C. § 1101] ....................................................................................................... 19 B. INA § 201 – WORLDWIDE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION [8 U.S.C. § 1151] ...................................................................... 22 C. INA § 204 - PROCEDURE FOR GRANTING IMMIGRANT STATUS [8 U.S.C. § 1154] ....................................................... 22 D. INA § 205 - REVOCATION OF APPROVAL OF PETITIONS; EFFECTIVE DATE [8 U.S.C. § 1155] ........................................... 24 E. INA § 245 – ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OF NONIMMIGRANT TO THAT OF PERSON ADMITTED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE [8

U.S.C. § 1255]................................................................................................................................................. 24 F. 9 FAM 40.1 N2.4 – QUALIFICATION OF ADOPTED CHILD UNDER INA 101(B)(1)(E) .................................................... 29 G. 9 FAM 40.1 N6 – BROTHER AND SISTER DEFINED .................................................................................................. 29 H. 9 FAM 42.31 – FAMILY SPONSORED IMMIGRANTS ................................................................................................. 30 I. 9 FAM 42.31 N1 – ENTITLEMENT TO CLASSIFICATION UNDER INA 203(A) ................................................................. 31

SECTION V – FILLING OUT THE I-130 PETITION ..................................................................................................... 32

A. GENERAL TIPS .................................................................................................................................................... 32 B. PETITION FOR THE ALIEN RELATIVE (MANDATORY FORM) .......................................................................................... 34

1. LINE BY LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORM I-130 (TO BE COMPLETED BY THE US CITIZEN PETITIONER) ................................ 34 2. CHECKLIST FOR FORM I–130 ........................................................................................................................... 39

SECTION VI – PREPARING YOUR I-130 PACKAGE .................................................................................................. 40

A. ADMINISTRATIVE ................................................................................................................................................ 40 B. COVER LETTER TO USCIS ..................................................................................................................................... 40 C. ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION OF FILING .................................................................................................................... 41

SECTION VII – AFTER FILING ................................................................................................................................. 42

A. RECEIPT NOTICES AND INQUIRIES .......................................................................................................................... 42 B. INFOPASS INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................... 43

Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 5

SECTION I - iKIT OVERVIEW

A. WHO SHOULD FILE / USE THIS iKIT?

A U.S. Citizen (USC) may use this iKit to petition for his/her alien brother and/or sister

(“sibling” / “sibling beneficiary”). The USC must be at least 21 years of age in order to

petition for his/her sibling. If the USC wishes to petition for more than one sibling,

separate petitions must be submitted. A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) may not

petition for his/her sibling to live permanently in the United States. The USC petitioner

and his/her sibling beneficiary must have at least one parent in common in order to

qualify. A sibling is a brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, or adopted brother or sister.

The siblings do not need to share the same biological parents as long as both became

“children” at the relevant time (age 16 for adopted children, and age 18 for stepchildren).

B. VISA AVAILABILITY

Unlike the “Immediate Relatives” category (husband, wife, parent or unmarried minor

child under 21), brothers and sisters of US Citizens are classified in the “F4” Family

Preference category. Only 65,000 visas per year (plus any unused visas from the first

three preference categories) are available worldwide in this visa category (which includes

derivative applicants such as spouses and unmarried children less than 21 years of age).

The brother or sister must have an approved immigrant petition (I-130) and wait for a

visa number to become available before applying to adjust status in the United States

(Adjustment of Status) or to obtain an immigrant visa abroad at a U.S. Consulate (known

as Consular Processing). There is usually a long waiting list in this category and,

depending on the sibling’s country of chargeability, s/he may have to wait several years

before having the opportunity to become a Lawful Permanent Resident. To check the

current waiting list in this preference category, click here.

C. WHAT IS LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENCE (GREEN CARD) AND ITS BENEFITS?

Lawful Permanent Residence, commonly referred to as having a Green Card, gives the

foreign national / alien sibling the status of being a LPR of the United States and allows

the LPR to legally live and work in the United States. Possession of a Green Card does

not affect the foreign national’s / alien sibling’s current citizenship. If the LPR were to

travel abroad, the LPR must travel with his / her country’s passport when entering and

leaving the United States. An LPR may travel to and from the United States without any

limitations for up to 6 months, but some exceptions may apply.

D. DEFINITIONS

1. Adjustment of Status – This is the procedure that allows a foreign national to apply

for US permanent residence (i.e., a “green card”) and is available only to certain

foreign nationals. First, the applicant has to be eligible for a green card, and second,

the alien must be in the United States legally (received a visa, entered on a visa

waiver, etc.). Some exceptions may apply. The foreign national submits an

Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 8

SECTION II – PROCESS OVERVIEW

The following process generally applies to most cases when filing for a sibling of a USC;

however, it can vary based upon your personal situation. Consult an immigration lawyer if you

have any questions about your unique situation.

Although this iKit describes the overall process from the Petition to receiving the LPR

card, this iKit only focuses on “Part 1” in detail. Depending on whether the sibling beneficiary

was admitted or paroled into the United States, or resides overseas, you would purchase “Part 2”

the Family Adjustment iKit or the Consular Processing iKit after receiving NVC’s notification

from Step 4c (of Part 1) below.

A. PART 1 – USC PETITIONING FOR ALIEN SIBLING

1. PRE-REQUISITES FOR USC FILING

Before a USC petitioner considers filing for his/her alien sibling beneficiary, the

following two (2) pre-requisites must be met:

a. 21 years old – USC must be 21 years old or older; and

b. Common Parent – USC and sibling beneficiary must have at least 1 parent

(adopted, natural or step) in common.

2. PREPARING AND SENDING THE I-130 PACKAGE

a. Completing the I-130 Petition

Utilize Sections III and V of this Kit when completing Form I-130. The line-by-

line instructions within section V prevent commonly made mistakes when

completing this form. The USC has only one chance to efficiently and correctly

complete his/her petition on behalf of each alien sibling.

b. Preparation of the Package

After the USC completes and signs each petition for each sibling, s/he will have

to submit copies of all relevant documents proving the sibling relationship and

appropriate filing fees. Make sure to follow the instructions and

recommendations as explained in Section V.

3. WAITING FOR A DECISION ON THE I-130 PETITION

The mere filing of an I-130 petition does not give the beneficiary the right to remain

in the United States while the petition is pending, or while waiting for the priority

date to become current. If a sibling beneficiary is legally in the United States at the

time that the I-130 petition is filed, he/she can only remain in the U.S. by maintaining

a valid non-immigrant status. If the alien remains unlawfully in the United States,

he/she may later be ineligible to adjust status or consular process because of the three

or ten year bars. The alien sibling should never overstay or otherwise violate his/her

Immigrant Petition for the Brother(s) or Sister(s) of a US Citizen (at least 21 years old)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 47

SECTION IX – CONCLUSION

If you have followed all of the instructions in this iKit, you are well on your way to

obtaining an approved petition so that your sibling beneficiary may either adjust status in the

United States or apply abroad at a U.S. Consulate. You have been able to prepare your entire

application for permanent residence at a fraction of the cost that you would have paid to an

immigration law attorney. In addition, you have been prepared far better than you would have

been if you were doing the case yourself, without the aid of this iKit.

It has been our pleasure to assist you with your case. If at any time you feel that you

need to speak with one of the immigration law attorneys from this office, you can call us at (407)

833-8951 or make an appointment online. Furthermore, we hope that you will continue to visit

our website at www.ImmigrationLinks.com for any information you need regarding US

Immigration Law.