Sponsoring Siblings for a Green Card
A guide to the process
One of the perks of being a United States citizen is that you can sponsor your sibling for a Green Card! Here's how:
File an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative & Supporting Documentation
To start the process, you first file the I-130 online through your MyUSCIS account. You do not need to file a separate Form I-130 for your sibling’s spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age.
Along with the I-130, you will need to submit a copy of your birth certificate and a copy of your sibling's birth certificate showing that you have at least one common parent. You will also need to show proof that you are a U.S. citizen. Acceptable evidence to prove your citizenship includes:
A copy of your valid U.S. passport, OR
A copy of your U.S. birth certificate, OR
A copy of Consular Report of Birth Abroad, OR
A copy of your naturalization certificate, OR
A copy of your certificate of citizenship
Adopted Siblings:
If you and your sibling are related through adoption, you will need to submit a copy of the adoption decree showing that the adoption took place before the adopted sibling turned 16 years old.
Step-Siblings:
If you and your sibling are related through a step-parent, you should also submit:
Copies of documents showing that any prior marriage(s) of the natural parent and/or step-parent were legally terminated, AND
A copy of the marriage certificate of the step-parent to the natural parent (age restrictions for meeting definition of step-child apply)
Paternal Half-Siblings:
If you and your sibling have a common (biological) father but different mothers (i.e. you are paternal half-siblings), you will need to submit:
Copies of the marriage certificates of the father to each mother, AND
Copies of documents showing that any prior marriages of either your father or mothers were legally terminated
Note: If your name or your sibling’s name has changed, you should include proof of the legal name change (such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, adoption decree, court judgment of name change, etc.)
2. Receive a Decision on your I-130
You can check this page to see an estimate of how long it will take to get an I-130 decision.
3. Wait for a Visa to Become Available
Even after the I-130 is approved, your sibling will need to wait until a visa is available for them before they can move to the United States. You can check the Visa Bulletin to get an idea of how long you may need to wait. In the following excerpt of the February 2024 visa bulletin, you will see that aside from people from India, Mexico, and the Philippines applicants that have a priority date of March 1, 2008 or earlier may now apply for their green card to come to the US.
4. National Visa Center will Contact You
The National Visa Center will contact both the petitioner (US citizen) and beneficiary (citizen’s sibling) when a visa is about to become available. They will instruct you to submit processing fees and supporting documentation.
5. Interview Appointment
The consular office will schedule the beneficiary for an interview and decide if they are eligible for an immigrant visa.
6. Travel to the United States
If the beneficiary is granted an immigrant visa, the consular officer will give them a packet of information called the "visa packet." Do not open this packet. After you receive the packet, don't forget to pay the immigrant fee online. Once you arrive in the US, give your visa packet to the U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry. The CBP officer will inspect you and determine whether to admit you into the United States as a lawful permanent resident. If the CBP officer admits you, you will then have lawful permanent resident status and be able to live and work in the United States.
7. Receive Your Green Card
If you have paid the USCIS Immigrant Fee, you will receive your Green Card in the mail after you arrive in the United States. If you do not receive your Green Card within 90 days of your arrival, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 or visit the e-Request-Non-Delivery of Card page to create an inquiry.
If you did not pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee before you arrived in the United States, you will need to pay the fee before USCIS will send you a Green Card.