BRINGING COUSINS TO USA-Very Difficult

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Here is my story.

I am a Filipina. Married USC in Philippines in September 2012. Applied for CR-1 visa Novermber 2012 and arrived in US in July 2013.

I was born in Mindanao 20 years ago. My mother died when I was 6 months old. My father died when I was 2 or 2 1/2. Before my father died he sent me and my 7 surviving siblings to family members throughout the Philippines.

I was raised by a cousin and her husband in Cebu. (I will refer to this cousin and her husband as mom and dad for the purposes of this explanation) As far as I know I was never legally adopted. After I arrived in Cebu as a small child my "mom" was blessed with three children of her own. I refer to them as my siblings while I know legally they are not. I suppose at best they are my second cousins.

My question is this. Is it possible for me and my husband to bring any of these three "siblings" and/or my "mom" and "dad" to join us in the US? I mean will it ever be possible? My "siblings" are ages 15, 17 and 18.

One more thought: Could my husband and I bring any of my true siblings to US? I mean the ones that were born by my true mom and dad?

Any info would be helpful.

God Bless

Zoila

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Impossible for cousins. Bio siblings, when you are a USC, you can petition them, and it will take over 20 years. People who filed for siblings in 1990 in PI can now get visas. http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_6211.html

[Penguin_ie 5,992]

Harpa is correct, assuming you were never legally adopted.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Here is my story.

I am a Filipina. Married USC in Philippines in September 2012. Applied for CR-1 visa Novermber 2012 and arrived in US in July 2013.

I was born in Mindanao 20 years ago. My mother died when I was 6 months old. My father died when I was 2 or 2 1/2. Before my father died he sent me and my 7 surviving siblings to family members throughout the Philippines.

I was raised by a cousin and her husband in Cebu. (I will refer to this cousin and her husband as mom and dad for the purposes of this explanation) As far as I know I was never legally adopted. After I arrived in Cebu as a small child my "mom" was blessed with three children of her own. I refer to them as my siblings while I know legally they are not. I suppose at best they are my second cousins.

My question is this. Is it possible for me and my husband to bring any of these three "siblings" and/or my "mom" and "dad" to join us in the US? I mean will it ever be possible? My "siblings" are ages 15, 17 and 18.

One more thought: Could my husband and I bring any of my true siblings to US? I mean the ones that were born by my true mom and dad?

Any info would be helpful.

God Bless

Zoila

Since you were never legally adopted by age 16, you cannot petition for your cousins.

Once you get your US citizenship (2015), then you can petition for your blood siblings. Only the ones you share a biological parent with. It will take 20 years. So the quickest for them is around 2035.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

All of the above assumes the proposed eliminiation of the sibling petition is not dropped from the immigration reform proposals

[aaron2020 11,651]

All of the above assumes the proposed eliminiation of the sibling petition is not dropped from the immigration reform proposals

No. It's presuming that US immigration laws will remain the same as it is.

You are the one assuming that immigration reform is a done deal. It's not even close.

You seem to be jumping the gun that immigration reform is imminent. It's not. The US House of Representatives have no intention of bringing up immigration reform anytime soon. The elimination of the F4 category is in a proposed legislation that will never pass with the Republicans. This proposal will never become law.

Edited December 6, 2013 by aaron2020

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

No. It's presuming that US immigration laws will remain the same as it is.

You are the one assuming that immigration reform is a done deal. It's not even close.

You seem to be jumping the gun that immigration reform is imminent. It's not. The US House of Representatives have no intention of bringing up immigration reform anytime soon. The elimination of the F4 category is in a proposed legislation that will never pass with the Republicans. This proposal will never become law.

Sibling, adult child modifications, DV lottery all make good sense and would be needed to free up visas for illegals which is what everyone seems to want.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Sibling, adult child modifications, DV lottery all make good sense and would be needed to free up visas for illegals which is what everyone seems to want.

Once again, you are assuming people want this.

Eliminating those categories is not "what everyone seems to want" when there are hundreds of thousands waiting in those categories for years with plenty of petitioners who want their siblings, nephews, nieces, adult children, grandchildren, etc. to immigrate to the US.

Edited December 7, 2013 by aaron2020

[christeen 966]

As others have said... You cannot petition for cousins or "mom" as you were not legally adopted... Your blood siblings can be petitioned for (under current laws) once you gain citizenship... Wait for Philippines is 20 years for siblings...