Permanent Resident wants to bring NZ born 16 yr old to USA

[gatoradenz 0]

I am a 10 year residency card holder, I"ve been here 6.5 years. My 16 year old NZ born daughter wants to move here with me. Where do I start? I've tried looking thru the immigration site, but its impossible to make sense of. From what I gather I need to petition for her to come here using I-130? Anybody have a timeline on how long they normally take?

Any tips or advice is appreciated! :-)

[aleful 1,905]

I am a 10 year residency card holder, I"ve been here 6.5 years. My 16 year old NZ born daughter wants to move here with me. Where do I start? I've tried looking thru the immigration site, but its impossible to make sense of. From what I gather I need to petition for her to come here using I-130? Anybody have a timeline on how long they normally take?

Any tips or advice is appreciated! :-)

yes, a family petition always starts with the i130. Since you are only a LPR, it will take more than 4 years. The only way to shorten the time length is becoming a USC, so as soon as you can, file for citizenship.

[pianojangee 0]

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=51ea3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=51ea3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4805.html

[pianojangee 0]

I couldn't edit to add more information to my first reply.

First, you file I-130 with required documents. Once it is approved after some months or years, your daughter's petition will be given Priority Date(PR). Your daugther can only apply immigrant visa outside of US or apply Adjustment of Status if she is inside of US with valid visa, when her PR is on or before the cut-off date by Visa Bulletin, updated each months by US Department of State. Since your dauther's case will be Family Based 2A Preference Spouse and Children (Unmarried under 21 years of age), as of May 2010 Visa Bulettin 2A is acceptiong people with PR date of Dec 01, 2006 or earlier. From that you can see it will be about 4-5 years of wait.

If your daugher ages out, meaning she becomes over 21 while waiting for I-130 get approved, her case become 2B Preference which has 8-9 years of wait.

After you file I-130 and you become US Citizen, you write letter to USCIS to notify your change of status. Then USCIS will upgrade your dauther's case as US Citizen's minor child which is unlimited visa case, which she can apply as soon as you get I-130 approval notice.

Here are websites you can get information.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=51ea3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=51ea3e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/New%20Structure/3rd%20Level%20(Left%20Nav%20Children)/Resources-3rd%20level/How%20Do%20I%20Guides/B1en.pdf

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_4805.html

[gatoradenz 0]

What if my husband who is an american citizen applied to bring her here as his step daughter, would that make the process faster?

[Visa Pro 1]

What if my husband who is an american citizen applied to bring her here as his step daughter, would that make the process faster?

This way is much faster then just filing as Permanent resdient.

[gatoradenz 0]

This way is much faster then just filing as Permanent resdient.

where do I start, do i file K4 first? she is in a bad situation and needs to come asap.

[NArocks 13]

Have your USC Husband file the I-130 be sure to include the marriage certificate of you and him as this establishes the step parent relationship child will hopefully be here 9-12 months baring any RFE's