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US Green Card sponsorship (sibling)

2 replies

Bigideas · 06/12/2025 16:05

I wondered if anyone here could clarify the most up to date rules for me.

From what I've read, I 'think' that my half sibling (US resident) could sponsor my application (F4) and should I be successful (I know it takes years) and obtain my green card, I can then sponsor my child even if I cannot physically move to the US myself?

The reason for all this is that, once upon a time, I had big ideas to apply but then I had our disabled daughter so the idea was abandoned.

It isn't something I can consider now for me but I wondered if my other daughter, nearly an adult herself now, could have the opportunity, one day through this process?

Any thoughts before I dismiss the idea as folly?! TIA

OP posts:
Beekman · 06/12/2025 16:21

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. Your sibling can sponsor you and invite you over but even if successful, you get an immigrant visa, not a Green Card. You enter the US on the visa and convert to a GC when you get there. After 5 years living in the US on a Green Card (you can leave but have to have spent more than 6 months a year in the US) you can then become a US citizen and then start inviting relatives to join the same process. I know you’re aware it takes ages but you’re looking at a minimum of 15 years. I’m honestly not sure if being a half-sibling rather than full will affect things either.

Beekman · 06/12/2025 16:23

Just to add, you can sponsor relatives when in a Green Card but numbers are limited and in practice, they have more or less done away with this.

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