Green card Questions

[strongworth]

Hello

Just joined this forum to ask questions regarding he green card process. My daughter is a US citizen and will be 21 soon. She wants to sponsor me for my green card. I have been divorced from her mother for several years and have remarried and have 3 children all under 21 years of age. The process for my green card seems fairly straightforward, However I am unsure about the process for obtaining green cards for my wife and children. Do I apply for green cards for them once I arrive in the US or can I start the process before this. Additionally can I file one I 130 form for my wife and 3 children or do I need to file individual forms.

Can anyone shed any light on the timescale involved. It appears that processing times seem to be improving.

Many Thanks for any input.

[rayb]

After you arrive in the U.S., as the result of being petitioned by your U.S. citizen daughter, you can petition your wife with form I-130. Your children, under age 21, will all be eligible for derivative visas from your wife's visa application, since your wife's visa will be a "quota-based" visa, allowing derivative visas for minor children.

--Ray B

Hello

Just joined this forum to ask questions regarding he green card process. My daughter is a US citizen and will be 21 soon. She wants to sponsor me for my green card. I have been divorced from her mother for several years and have remarried and have 3 children all under 21 years of age. The process for my green card seems fairly straightforward, However I am unsure about the process for obtaining green cards for my wife and children. Do I apply for green cards for them once I arrive in the US or can I start the process before this. Additionally can I file one I 130 form for my wife and 3 children or do I need to file individual forms.

Can anyone shed any light on the timescale involved. It appears that processing times seem to be improving.

Many Thanks for any input.

[strongworth]

Many Thanks Ray B. I know it is impossible to give a timeframe but because my eldest daughter here will be 21 approx. 18 months after I begin the green card process do you think I will complete both in the 18 month window.

Regards

[rayb]

It has been recommended by the National Visa Center to include a request for expediting if children are close to aging out.

Your timing is very tight, but it is possible, considering recent faster movement of I-130 petitions, for your goal to be met.

--Ray B

Many Thanks Ray B. I know it is impossible to give a timeframe but because my eldest daughter here will be 21 approx. 18 months after I begin the green card process do you think I will complete both in the 18 month window.

Regards

[strongworth]

Thanks again RayB for your response. The timeframe is 20 months which is a bit longer than previously indicated. When you say to request the application to the NVC to be expedited is this done as a letter from me explaining the situation or is there a form to be sent.

Additionally I have looked at the visa bulletin regarding priority dates for F2A, it has not changed for 6 months and the date at the moment is still 08/Sep/13. How often does this date update. I realise my green card is unaffected by this but my application for my family when I arrive in the US will be.

Kind Regards

[rayb]

There is no particular form to request expedited processing to avoid aging out. An email to the NVC, meeting the recommended email message requirements ( see:
http://travel.state.gov/contenthttps...formation.html ) is the best option.

--Ray B

Thanks again RayB for your response. The timeframe is 20 months which is a bit longer than previously indicated. When you say to request the application to the NVC to be expedited is this done as a letter from me explaining the situation or is there a form to be sent.

Additionally I have looked at the visa bulletin regarding priority dates for F2A, it has not changed for 6 months and the date at the moment is still 08/Sep/13. How often does this date update. I realise my green card is unaffected by this but my application for my family when I arrive in the US will be.

Kind Regards

[strongworth]

Many Thanks again Ray B. After your response regarding sponsoring my wife and children when I get my green card I understand that I must file form I 130, but my question concerns filing the affidavit of support form. After I start working in the US I would have only been working 3-6 months when I go to file the affidavit of support, will working for only a few months be ok or will I have to find a co sponsor.

Kind Regards

[rayb]

Your proof of sustained income which will annualize to meet or exceed the sponsorship requirements must be credible. If you are only bringing 3 months of employment "to the table," a co-sponsor as a backup would be a good idea.

--Ray B

Many Thanks again Ray B. After your response regarding sponsoring my wife and children when I get my green card I understand that I must file form I 130, but my question concerns filing the affidavit of support form. After I start working in the US I would have only been working 3-6 months when I go to file the affidavit of support, will working for only a few months be ok or will I have to find a co sponsor.

Kind Regards

[strongworth]

Thanks for your reply RayB. A close friend of my wife is a green card holder and would be happy to sponsor my family. What would be the best way to complete the aos forms. Do I still put myself down as the main sponsor and send job verification and recent pay stubs for the 3-6 months I have been working in the US and also include my wife's friend as a joint sponsor. Also if I go down this route does a separate aos form need to be completed by my wife's friend. I have read the instructions on how to complete the aos form and it is as clear as mud about how to proceed.

Regards

[rayb]

Strongworth,

From the information already provided, it seems that you are anticipating later sponsorship requirements which won't come up until after your wife's I-130 petition is approved and goes to the National Visa Center. Since you are a "Green Card" petitioner, you can expect the normal processing for your wife (and derivative children) to extend to 12 or 14 months for an available visa slot(s). At that time you will have to submit the sponsorship documents to the National Visa Center (NVC).

When that time comes, you must still be the primary sponsor, and it is possible that your proof of employment and estimated annualized income might satisfy the sponsorship requirements. You will need to complete I-864, with copy of your most recent Federal income tax return, W2 forms and employment verification letter or paystubs.

If your estimated annual income is still short of the sponsorship requriements, your friend can be a joint sponsor with his own I-864, the same supporting documents as described above, and copy of his Green Card.

---Ray B

Thanks for your reply RayB. A close friend of my wife is a green card holder and would be happy to sponsor my family. What would be the best way to complete the aos forms. Do I still put myself down as the main sponsor and send job verification and recent pay stubs for the 3-6 months I have been working in the US and also include my wife's friend as a joint sponsor. Also if I go down this route does a separate aos form need to be completed by my wife's friend. I have read the instructions on how to complete the aos form and it is as clear as mud about how to proceed.

Regards