Can I Sponsor My Siblings or Parents for a Green Card?
Whether you can sponsor your brothers, sisters, mother, or father for a green card depends on your status, age, and income level. Only U.S. citizens over the age of 21 have the legal right to petition for the care and custody of their parents and siblings. This right is not extended to permanent residents. Petitioners must also meet specific financial sponsor requirements.
Discuss the immigration options available to your parents and siblings, as well as the financial sponsorship requirements, with the dedicated South Florida family immigration lawyers at Robert M. Bell by calling (954) 241-4209 or connecting with our green card team online.
Eligibility Rules for Sponsoring Parents and Siblings
U.S. citizens over the age of 21 – whether by birth, blood, or naturalization – have the right to request a green card for their mother, father, brothers, or sisters. However, these requests fall into two different categories.
Immediate Relative Petition
Parents are considered ‘immediate relatives’, meaning green cards are immediately available to otherwise qualifying individuals upon approval. There is no additional waiting period after USCIS processes your application for a visa to become available. There are also options for parents of U.S. citizens unlawfully present in the United States to obtain status through an immediate relative petition. Still, you need an experienced family immigration attorney’s assistance and advocacy in such cases.
Family Preference Petition
Unlike parents, your siblings are not considered ‘immediate relatives.’ U.S. citizens can petition for their non-citizen siblings, however, under the ‘family preference’ category. Siblings are defined as those you share one common parent with, meaning you can file for both half and full siblings, and those adopted before they turned 16.
Though this petition works the same as an immediate relative petition, family preference visas are limited. The United States only provides so many visas for siblings each year, and your country of origin further limits them. It can take years, if not decades, to obtain a green card for a sibling.
Financially Sponsoring Parents and Siblings for Green Cards in Florida
In addition to the above requirements, petitioners (U.S. citizens) must also financially sponsor their siblings or parents. This takes the form of an Affidavit of Support (I-864) – a binding contract between you and the government to financially sponsor your family member for approximately 10 years (or until they become a citizen).
Petitioners must show income at 125% above the poverty line for their household size, including the sponsored family members. This requires providing some or all of the following:
- Six months of recent pay stubs
- Employment verification letter
- Proof of assets (bank statements)
- Tax returns (1040s)
- W-2s and 1099s
You may meet the financial requirements with a joint sponsor, such as a spouse or friend, if you do not meet the income requirements on your own.
Florida Family Immigration Attorneys for Siblings and Parents
U.S. citizens can sponsor their parents and siblings for a green card. However, specific waiting periods and financial obligations may apply. Discuss the best immigration option for your family members with the dedicated immigration lawyers at Robert M. Bell today by calling (954) 241-4209 or connecting with us online.