Student visa for sister

[cEzYcHiC 0]

Hi, all! I recently applied for citizenship but I am confused as to what I could do for my sister's application at the mean time while my citizenship is being processed. I read in one of guides that my sister needs to apply to a USCIS approved school before the student visa application should start. My question is, do I need to be a US citizen first to do that? Can I be the one to do the application since I will be the petitioner and that she is a minor? She just turned 16 years old this year. Second, how long does a student visa processing takes? Third, the guide that I read states that my sister could show proof that she has ties to my home country. Does having my youngest sister and mom living in the Philippines considered ties? We have a house there but we don't have the title to the lot yet since we are still paying it off, what other evidences can be considered as ties? I hope you could help me out with my questions. Thanks and God bless you all

[canadian_wife 1,791]

You do not petition her for a student visa. She applies for it herself after she's been given an I-20 by her school.

She's 16 - so what do you want her to do? What school? Public school? Who pays for that?

No, family ties are not considered 'strong ties'

Good lcuk

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

You can fill out the paperwork and act as financial sponsor (as even if she goes to a public school, she will have to pay fees, in case you are not aware- sometimes, a private school is even cheaper!), but she or her legal guardian will need to sign and send it off to USEM. Not sure how long it takes to process in your country, I know in Ireland it takes a couple of months, and the visa can be used 30 days from the start of the school year.

Her ties are weak, but a 16 year old can't have much more. One approach would be to show why a US school would be superior than a cheaper private school in the Philippines, such as if you intend for her to go to a magnet school.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

High school with fees or private will run over 25k a year

[cEzYcHiC 0]

You do not petition her for a student visa. She applies for it herself after she's been given an I-20 by her school.

I will be her financial sponsor because she's 16. So does this mean that she could actually apply for the student visa now? Could it help her case if I become a USC (eventually)? She is currently taking English classes in PI so that she can be eligible for the school.

She's 16 - so what do you want her to do? What school? Public school? Who pays for that?

I'll be her financial sponsor, at the same time she'll be living with me. I am planning to enroll her in a community college for Nursing.

No, family ties are not considered 'strong ties'

What kind of evidence of strong ties can I show?

Good lcuk

[cEzYcHiC 0]

You can fill out the paperwork and act as financial sponsor (as even if she goes to a public school, she will have to pay fees, in case you are not aware- sometimes, a private school is even cheaper!), but she or her legal guardian will need to sign and send it off to USEM. Not sure how long it takes to process in your country, I know in Ireland it takes a couple of months, and the visa can be used 30 days from the start of the school year.

Her ties are weak, but a 16 year old can't have much more. One approach would be to show why a US school would be superior than a cheaper private school in the Philippines, such as if you intend for her to go to a magnet school.

I did some research about it already and the fees I have to pay. Not really fond of having to pay 5K per semester but if it would get her to be in the US with me, I'm willing to take that risk. Private schools here in PA are double the fees that I'll be spending in a local community college. I am also planning to petition my father at the same time once I become a USC. Does this makes her case stronger at all? She just graduated high school this year. The main reason I want her to do the student visa in that way she could eventually work here after graduating because of the OPT. My workplace provides working visas but the employee has to be in the US already from what HR told me. Is there any other type of petition that I could get for a sibling that would work for her and takes less time processing? I really appreciate your time answering my questions.

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

I did some research about it already and the fees I have to pay. Not really fond of having to pay 5K per semester but if it would get her to be in the US with me, I'm willing to take that risk. Private schools here in PA are double the fees that I'll be spending in a local community college. I am also planning to petition my father at the same time once I become a USC. Does this makes her case stronger at all?

No, this makes the case weaker as it shows immigrant intent.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

. Is there any other type of petition that I could get for a sibling that would work for her and takes less time processing? I really appreciate your time answering my questions.[/i][/font]

No, sorry

Your sister is not going to get to the US any faster.

First step is to have her apply for community college and be accepted. Then she must show she can financially support herself (and it's more than 5K a semester you must show, you also must show insurance and boarding). THEN she applies for a student visa

Good luck

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

The local community college looks for 15k as the number to show a student can support themselves.

[Delta5 9]

There's a few problematic issues that you ...... especially your sister have to resolve first before she can even apply for a student visa for college of which you intended for her to acquire. First, as was stated above, you cannot petition your sister for an F-1 student visa. In your case, you can only petition your family in the Philippines through immediate family petition like your parents and family based petition like your sisters. However, you can be part of the financial sponsor for her education under the F-1 visa. Your being a USC or not has no correlation from your sister applying an F-1 student visa.

Your sister's educational level is only considered still in high school here. As I understand your educational system in the Philippines ( correct me if I am wrong ) I think its only up to tenth grade level. I believe 6 years in elementary and four years in high school. As you are probably aware that the US educational system, most western countries and others are up to twelve grade. She is basically missing two years from the US standard level of education, which make her ineligible for college. Her high school credits also has to be evaluated first before she can even be considered on a certain grade level in high school. An F-1 visa holder in high school are only limited on a 12 month stay w/ some exemption. In order to go to college of nursing, especially if your looking at a RN degree for her ...... she has to pass the standardize test required by the educational institution such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, ect.. let alone be accepted by any educational institution.

Again, in your case ..... proving strong ties of your sister on an F-1 visa to your country is also problematic. Why? For one thing, she will create an immigration intent through your own narrative alone in your statements on your previous posting above. If I can see it... then the CO at the embassy will more than likely be able to conclude the immigration intent. Believe me, I understand your need for your sister to come here and probably permanently stay but, unfortunately, the F-1 student visa are not meant for immigration purposes, although some have stayed in the US w/ that route. Also having your plan to petition your father at the same time once you become a USC will be more of a minus than a plus on proving your sister's strong ties in Philippines, because now she will have two immediate family instead of just one, Again, correct me if I am wrong, but there's a huge possibility that your father will also petition your mother and youngest sister once he has acquired a Green Card ..... right? If I can see the future scenario that might happen ..... the CO at the embassy that will interview your sister for a possible F-1 will also see these as clear as day. There is also the problem of justifying to the CO at the embassy that your sister is going to study nursing, since I believe you have plenty of nursing schools in the PI and an excess of graduate nurses which are looking for work and tens of thousands w/ pending PD waiting for a visa in the US. Being a graduate nurse from the PI yourself your probably aware of these since you know the long wait for nurses in the Philippines to come to the US. Don't get me wrong petitioning your family here in the normal legal course of immigration process is legal and proper, but on your 16 year old sister case it will be probably an issue of qualifications, strong ties to her country and immigration intent.

However, there's a way which your sister can come here permanently w/ your mother and youngest sister, although it might take three to four years but there will be no issue on immigration intent or strong ties to the home country, since its by family based petition. Your 16 old sister is still qualified to be petition under the the F2-A category once you become a USC and once you have petitioned your father. He can then petition your mother and both of your sisters under the F2-A category, since they are still under 21 years of age and are more than age qualified for the said category. She can meanwhile continue her studies in college (nursing) in the PI and just continue it here by the time they all get approved for a visa.

[Noah Lot 387]

There's a few problematic issues that you ...... especially your sister have to resolve first before she can even apply for a student visa for college of which you intended for her to acquire. First, as was stated above, you cannot petition your sister for an F-1 student visa. In your case, you can only petition your family in the Philippines through immediate family petition like your parents and family based petition like your sisters. However, you can be part of the financial sponsor for her education under the F-1 visa. Your being a USC or not has no correlation from your sister applying an F-1 student visa.

Your sister's educational level is only considered still in high school here. As I understand your educational system in the Philippines ( correct me if I am wrong ) I think its only up to tenth grade level. I believe 6 years in elementary and four years in high school. As you are probably aware that the US educational system, most western countries and others are up to twelve grade. She is basically missing two years from the US standard level of education, which make her ineligible for college. Her high school credits also has to be evaluated first before she can even be considered on a certain grade level in high school. An F-1 visa holder in high school are only limited on a 12 month stay w/ some exemption. In order to go to college of nursing, especially if your looking at a RN degree for her ...... she has to pass the standardize test required by the educational institution such as TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, ect.. let alone be accepted by any educational institution.

Again, in your case ..... proving strong ties of your sister on an F-1 visa to your country is also problematic. Why? For one thing, she will create an immigration intent through your own narrative alone in your statements on your previous posting above. If I can see it... then the CO at the embassy will more than likely be able to conclude the immigration intent. Believe me, I understand your need for your sister to come here and probably permanently stay but, unfortunately, the F-1 student visa are not meant for immigration purposes, although some have stayed in the US w/ that route. Also having your plan to petition your father at the same time once you become a USC will be more of a minus than a plus on proving your sister's strong ties in Philippines, because now she will have two immediate family instead of just one, Again, correct me if I am wrong, but there's a huge possibility that your father will also petition your mother and youngest sister once he has acquired a Green Card ..... right? If I can see the future scenario that might happen ..... the CO at the embassy that will interview your sister for a possible F-1 will also see these as clear as day. There is also the problem of justifying to the CO at the embassy that your sister is going to study nursing, since I believe you have plenty of nursing schools in the PI and an excess of graduate nurses which are looking for work and tens of thousands w/ pending PD waiting for a visa in the US. Being a graduate nurse from the PI yourself your probably aware of these since you know the long wait for nurses in the Philippines to come to the US. Don't get me wrong petitioning your family here in the normal legal course of immigration process is legal and proper, but on your 16 year old sister case it will be probably an issue of qualifications, strong ties to her country and immigration intent.

However, there's a way which your sister can come here permanently w/ your mother and youngest sister, although it might take three to four years but there will be no issue on immigration intent or strong ties to the home country, since its by family based petition. Your 16 old sister is still qualified to be petition under the the F2-A category once you become a USC and once you have petitioned your father. He can then petition your mother and both of your sisters under the F2-A category, since they are still under 21 years of age and are more than age qualified for the said category. She can meanwhile continue her studies in college (nursing) in the PI and just continue it here by the time they all get approved for a visa.

The OP's sister must also convince the VO that she will return to the PI after studying....which will likely be quite challenging...and getting an F1 to attend a public high school will cost somebody a lot of money because the sister (or somebody) will have to pay the UNSUBSIDIZED COSTS OF THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION...since the taxpayers are not supposed to foot the bill.

[Boiler 43,595]

Nursing Retrogression anyone?

[cEzYcHiC 0]

Thank you so much for the honest responses! Not the answer I was really hoping for. I wish immigration processes could've been easier for all of us. I find it upsetting but oh well, this is life.. Complicated things happen.. Again, thank you so much..

[cerebus407 16]

No CO in the Philippines is going to find a nursing major at a community college in the US credible because for the same cost you could send your sister to some of the nicest schools in the Philippines and get a much better education. This whole plans just screams immigrant intent.

That said, it never hurts to apply. She might get lucky and get the incompetent CO that day.

[aaron2020 11,651]

US citizen brother. Father who is immigrating. Young sister applying for a student visa because her father is immigrating and her brother lives there. Her chances of getting a non-immigrant student visa will be extremely low since she will have stronger family ties in the US than in the Philippines.

A student must be accepted to a US school before the student can apply for a student visa. The school will issue an I-20 when it accepts a foreign student. The I-20 is required to file for the student visa. So, your sister's first step is to get accepted to a US school.

Most public high schools will not issue I-20s because their classrooms are already overcrowded. Student exchange programs where a high schooler comes over for a single year are the exceptions.

To be accepted, the student must show sufficient funds to cover the course of study. This is not $5k per semester. It is a least a year of expenses; tuition, food, apartment, medical, etc. Having someone in the US pay does not show strong ties to the foreign home country. Having someone in the US pay under the family circumstances listed above (US brother and immigrating father) shows strong ties to the US and weak ties to the home country which makes it harder to get a student visa.

In my opinion, you would be wasting money chasing after a student visa for your sister when the evidence is strong that she has more family ties to the US than her home country.

---------------

The quickest way for your sister to immigrate to the US is through an LPR parent. If you get your father over here quickly, he can file for her once he gets his green card. It would be an F2a case and your sister would most likely be here by the time she is 21 years old. She is 16, so it will be unlikely that she will age out into the F2b category which has a much longer wait.