Those living in the United States sometimes have family members in other countries. Many immigrants and the children of immigrants have siblings who are citizens of another country.
They may very rarely get to see one another, and the citizen may dream of reconnecting with their loved ones who currently live abroad. In some scenarios, people can sponsor their brothers or sisters for family preference visas that allow them to live in the United States with a green card.
What is a family preference visa?
The family preference visa program is a special visa program designed to help those with family members in other countries bring them to live in the United States. There are multiple different categories of preference, and siblings have an opportunity through the lowest preference category.
The brothers and sisters of United States citizens may be eligible for a family preference visa. They must undergo a background check like any other prospective immigrant. However, provided that they qualify, they can enter the country with a green card that allows them to remain in the country indefinitely if they follow certain rules.
Family preference visas for siblings are only options for the family members of citizens, not those related to lawful permanent residents. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has to issue at least 226,000 family preference visas each year. The maximum number of family preference visas is more than twice that. The USCIS can approve up to 480,000 family preference visas in years with many applicants.
Learning about the most accessible immigration programs may benefit those who still have family members living in other countries.