How long do I need to wait for the green card for family reunification: data for October

The owner of the green card, along with the opportunity to constantly live and work in the United States, gets the right to reunite with the family that every American citizen has. If he has children, spouse or spouse at home, then he can pick them up in America. However, this process is quite long.

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ForumDaily, based on data from the October 2020 visa bulletin on the website US Consular Service, found out how it goes and how long it lasts for different categories of relatives.

Procedure

A green card holder or citizen of the United States files a petition to begin the reunification procedure. I-130 on the relative who wants to transport.

After approval of the petition will need to provide confirmation of sponsorship - the form I-864 (Affidavit of support). It ensures that a green card holder or a US citizen can financially provide for his relative if necessary.

On the subject: Which of the relatives can be transported to the US by a green card holder

If a relative is in the US at the time of issuing a green card, then the form is submitted to him I-485 - statement of the change of status (Adjustment of status).

For close relatives (husband / wife, parents, unmarried children under 21 years old) of a US citizen there is no limit on the number of immigrant visas - they are issued as the documents are processed on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, such green cards, as a rule, are issued relatively quickly - within a year and a half.

But for relatives of the green card holder or non-close relatives of a US citizen, the procedure is more complicated.

They are divided into different priority categories, which are spelled out in the US Immigration and Nationality Act. Accordingly, the higher the priority, the greater the chance of getting a green card.

There are 4 levels in total, under which the relatives of green card holders or a US citizen fall:

• F1 - unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens;
• F2A - spouses and unmarried children of green card holders under the age of 21;
• F2B - unmarried children of green card holders over 21;
• F3 - married sons and daughters of US citizens;
• F4 are brothers and sisters of adult US citizens.

A certain number of visas are allocated for each category every year. Often there are more applicants than visas. Therefore, there is a snowball effect: those who did not manage to receive this year are transferred to the next.

On the subject: Why USCIS may reject a family reunion petition: reasons and solutions

waiting Period

Track turn can be on the site visa bulletinwhich is updated monthly. Your date of receipt of documents should be compared with the one shown in the newsletter. You will learn that you can get an immigrant visa when they match.

For example, in October In 2020, a queue is suitable for those for whom the petitioners of the F1 category applied before July 22, 2015. That is, for the reunification of a green card holder or a US citizen with unmarried sons and unmarried daughters, it is necessary to wait more than 5 years.

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On average, spouses and unmarried children of green card holders under the age of 21 (category F2A) wait about 2 months; unmarried children of green card holders over 21 years old (category F2B) - over 4 years. The F3 and F4 categories have to wait the longest, that is, married sons and daughters of US citizens, as well as siblings of adult US citizens, their applications are considered for more than 11 years and 13 years, respectively.

You can track the status of applications here.

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