Sponsoring My Sister and her family

[still_thinking 0]

Background:

So all of our family got green cards in the lottery system back in 1996, including my sister. She visited US only once for 3 months then went back to Pakistan and got married. My sister and her husband decided to stay in Pakistan, so she didn't visit and so the green card expired.

Than in 2007 she applied for a visitor visa, with her 2 kids, and was denied saying that she wont come back given all her brothers are here.

Question:

Now she wants to immigrate here for which I will be co-sponsoring her with my brother. Is it going to be a problem once they find out she already had a green card which she didn't use? Is there something we can do to "reactivate" the old one?

[belgrade09 0]

Someone with more background in this will be more helpful. But, I don't see why would the old card not being used be a problem for them. People's circuimstances change, and as long as you are willing to pay for the new application, I don't see a problem.

I don't think there is a way to "reactivate" the old card, wouldn't make much sense. Than again, this is HS we are talking about, so...

[Penguin_ie 5,987]

She cannot re-activate the old greencard, but there won't be a problem due to the old green card- they will probably ask her a question or two about it at the interview, but it's no big deal, it happens fairly often. She's in for quite a wait for her new visa interview though!

[SuperDuper! 230]

my friend petitioned his brother to come live in the US from Phils. That was 18 years ago, and brother just now got approved. Long time coming....

[riz 0]

Old expired green card should not be a problem. But to sponsoring siblings going to take long waiting time. It used to be 10 11 years waiting time but not sure what is the current waiting time.

[still_thinking 0]

thanks for the reply guys, really appreciate it. So looks like old card should not be a problem, thats a relief.

If we want to speed things up is it better that my dad sponsor her? He does not work, so will that be a problem when the time comes to show AOS?

[aaron2020 11,651]

thanks for the reply guys, really appreciate it. So looks like old card should not be a problem, thats a relief.

If we want to speed things up is it better that my dad sponsor her? He does not work, so will that be a problem when the time comes to show AOS?

You dad can sponsor her if he is a USC. It would take about 9 years for her to get a visa. If dad dies before the petition is approved, then the petition is automatically withdrawn. Google "petitioner dies before I-130 approved" to learn more.

My advice is tho have your dad and you to file two separate I-130 for her. If one petitioner dies, the other petition would still be good. Not bad insurance for $355.