Are you someone who is living abroad away from a family? If so, then there is a chance to be reunited with them. All you need to follow are a few steps to apply as a family sponsor and wait for the approval. However, you need to be a US citizen for this.
Before getting into details, we want to clear that filing for a family sponsorship application doesn’t guarantee anything. You need to be prepared thoroughly and wish for the best. Anyways, let’s cover 3 steps from where you have to begin.
1. Understanding Form I-130
The form I-30 is used to validate your relationship with your relative. It acts as a proof in front of authorities that your relative has the right to come and get citizenship in the US. You must fill out this form carefully and submit it to US Citizenship and immigration services.
This form presents the evidence that you will be the financial sponsor for your family if the form gets approved. This form is fundamental if you are getting a marriage-based green card. It proved your marriage is real, not fraudulent.
2. Fulfilling the Form’s Criteria
You need to prepare many documents to support your application as a family petition sponsor. All these documents will prove that you have a real relationship with the person for whom you are becoming a sponsor. The basic documents that you must have before applying are;
- Proof of your US citizenship or green card holder
- Proof that your relationship is real, not fraudulent.
- Legally valid proof of your relationship such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.
- In case of name change, the proof of the process
- Nationality proof of the person seeking a green card
3. Preparing Alternative Documents
In case you don’t have any of the primary documents required for the application, give an application to the relative authority to submit you a letter that the particular document doesn’t exist. Consult the relative authorities such as USCIS for further details or secondary documents they may need.
In case you don’t have all the documents attached to the form, the chances of your application cancellation increase. In certain cases, USCIS issues the request for evidence but that takes so much time, so your overall process will be delayed considerably. The only way to get it right from the beginning is to gather all the required primary and secondary documents before applying.
Processing Time
How long the process takes depends on two main factors.
- Your availability in the US
- Your relationship with the person
If you are applying while you are living in the US then it may take around 10 to 23 months. But if you are living abroad it can take a longer time. Moreover, if you have an immediate relationship with your relative and your documentation is complete, it will also prevent the delay.
It is better to consult immigration consultancy firms. Their guidance about the process can greatly help in reducing the time and the hassle of the procedure.