I have my lady here (finally!) and we are very happy! Thanks to all from VJ who answered questions and helped us along the way. We should show up in the AOS forum shortly.

Yes, one day, I will update my timeline. Consider me spanked. :-)

Does anyone here know the procedure, or could give me a pointer to the procedure to bring a relative here? Is being a relative by marriage enough? Do we need to have AOS complete before we start this?

The deal is this: My ladies sister took over her job (as a housekeeper) in HK when she left to be with me. The sister wants to go back to Thailand soon, but is working in HK at my fiancees old job for the money. My ladies mother died when she was 16, and my lady and her sister are used to depending on each other and are very close.

I would not mind a bit if her sister were to live with us. She is very nice, and very hard-working, and I really like her. None of us are young, so the "romantic interlude requiring privacy" stuff is not a problem. My income can cover four or five people by the current "guarantee" standards so that should not be a problem either.

I want to bring my fiancees sister here, and I have not the first clue how to begin, or how long the process is. Pointers to information are most welcome. A first clue as to how long it will take would be welcome also, because I do not have one.



Best Regards,

Michael and Naphalai

Only an immediate relative can petition for a sibling. Your relationship through marriage is not enough - your wife would have to petition for her. Only a limited number of of people can immigrate in any one preference and from any one country, each year. Currently 4th preference (sibling) petitions are being processed from May, 1996 so she would have at least a 10 year wait.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin...letin_3219.html

Here's another reading/starting source...
USCIS Source

Unfortunately, you cannot file for your future sister in-law no matter how willing you are to provide for her. The only choice would be for you and your fiancée to get married, wait 3 years for her to become a US citizen and only then can she file for her sister. And yes, the wait could be a minimum of 10 years.

Your wife will not need to be a USC in order to petition for her sister:

http://tinyurl.com/yl44e4

Eligibility
In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate to the United States, they must meet the following criteria:

They must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and be able to provide documentation providing that status.

That is not correct kitkat1. If you read the instructions on the I-130 or even the link you provided, it says for whom a US citizen can file, which includes siblings who are at least 21 years-old. And it also says for whom can a lawful permanent resident file and it does not include siblings, only spouse and unmarried children.

Oops - I never noticed that before - sorry for any confusion.

Since we will be living in Thailand in five years or so, we will probably not even try.


Thanks to everyone for the responses.



Besr Regards,

Michael and Naphalai

Here's the site and the exact statement of eligibility of who can bring who to the US.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Eligibility

In order for a relative to sponsor you to immigrate to the United States, they must meet the following criteria:

- They must be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and be able to provide documentation providing that status.
- They must prove that they can support you at 125% above the mandated poverty line, by filling out an Affidavit of Support
- The relatives which may be sponsored as an immigrant vary depending on whether the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

If the sponsor is a U.S. Citizen, they may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the U.S:
- Husband or wife
- Unmarried child under 21 years of age
- Unmarried son or daughter over 21
- Married son or daughter of any age
- Brother or sister, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old, or
- Parent, if the sponsor is at least 21 years old.

If the sponsor is a lawful permanent resident, they may petition for the following foreign national relatives to immigrate to the U.S.:
- Husband or wife, or
- Unmarried son or daughter of any age.

In any case, the sponsor must be able to provide proof of the relationship.


Soooo, until she is a US Citizen, she cannot bring over her sister.

I'm in a similar situation with my wife. We would like for her sister to come here, but my wife isn't a US citizen. Is there any way to get work sponsorship from a company here or something like that? She works in accounting.