File I-130 Petition (Usa) For My Sister Who Is Not In Thailand

[yamatokh]

Dear all

I had been USA Citizen since 2004 through Naturalization in Los Angeles. I had been reside in Thailand and working here since 2005.

I intended to use my US citizenship to file i-130 Petition for my sister, who is currently resides in Taiwan.

I tried to called US Embassy in Bangkok, they informed me that they do not accept walk in filing, because the visa office only accept case by appointment. They suggest me to write them by email at [email protected]. I have done so, but no reply for many days and I am wandering if they are ever going to reply my email. Now I am stuck - unable to walk in and no reply from email....

Here are my questions, hope some of you have experience can help me:

1. If I do not reside in USA, can I file i-130 for my sister?

2. If I can not do a walk in submission, how do I file i-130?? Do I need to make appointment first? How do I do that?

3. When I file i-130, do I need to also file i-864? But I do not have US residence or address, how do I do it? Or does it matter?

Thank you for your help in advance.

Kevin

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Since you are an AmCit, and have been resident in Thailand for more than six (6) months, I'd expect you could file your form I-130 with the USCIS office here, down on Wireless Road.

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/usgmain/uscis.html

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for the administration of immigration and naturalization adjudication functions and establishing immigration services policies and priorities.

USCIS Bangkok District Office

District Director: Pius Bannis

Deputy District Director: Robert Daum

The Bangkok District Office has administrative jurisdiction over the USCIS Field Offices located in Bangkok, Beijing, Guangzhou, Manila, New Delhi and Seoul.

USCIS Bangkok Field Office

Field Office Director: Sarah Shergill

The Bangkok Field Office has direct jurisdiction over U.S. immigration matters in Australia, Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Key activities include:

Petitions for Alien Relatives (Form I-130)

Forms, instructions and fee information are available on our website at www.uscis.gov.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Address: Sindhorn Building

Tower 2, 15th Floor

130-132 Wireless Road

Bangkok 10330, THAILAND

Tel.: 02-205-5352/5382 (within Thailand)

Tel.: 011-662-205-5352 (from the United States)

Email: [email protected]

The Bangkok Office is located next door to the U.S. Embassy, Tower 2, 15th Floor, Sindhorn Tower Building. Pay parking and access for individuals with special needs is available.

The office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon. We are closed on Thai and American holidays.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/immigrant_visas.html

How to Apply

You cannot begin an application for an immigrant visa at U.S. Embassy Bangkok. The process for all immigrant visas, other than the Diversity Visa Lottery process, begins with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the U.S. or, in limited cases when the petitioner resides in Thailand, with the DHS office in Bangkok.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Note, brothers & sisters of AmCits are "4th Preference" so not very high on the totem pole for an Immigrant Visa.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5640.html

Fourth: (F4) Brothers and Sisters of Adult U.S. Citizens: 65,000, plus any numbers not required by first three preferences.

Looks to me like at least a 12 year wait, if your I-130 was processed today!

Ouch.

Mac

[AlexDorneles]

You have a few problems if you want to sponsor your sister. She will need a financial sponsor either you or someone else that lives in the US. The application for the I-130 if I am not mistaken is almost US$1000 so be sure you will be sucessfull in getting aproved before you apply because if it is denied you will lose the money. The other little thing is that it takes years and years to get aproved, there is only a certain number of visas available each year for family members and since there are many people applying for this kind of visa it creates a huge backlog, not to say it goes by priority. Spouses, underage sons and daughters are the highest on this list, after are the parents. Then over the age single sons and daughters. Sisters and brothers are pretty far down on the priority list. It will take from 8 to 12 years.

If you were to sponsor your parents it would be a whole lot faster, less than 1 yr.

[yamatokh]

Got the answer from US Embassy. So the i130 can be filed in person, but not at the embassy, but in Sindhorn Building. For your information.

Complete reply below:

Thank you for your inquiry to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Office in Bangkok, Thailand. Our office can provide you with the following general information which does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice, please contact an attorney.

USCIS Fact Sheet: How Do I Help My Relative Become a U.S. Permanent Resident?

Please see the USCIS website for information regarding new filing locations for Form I-130. U.S. citizen petitioners who reside in Thailand may either file Form I-130 by mail to the Chicago Lockbox or file the form in person at the Bangkok Field Office. This improved process for petitioners abroad will increase efficiency and flexibility. If you choose to file by mail to the Chicago Lockbox, the form and instructions are available on our website.

The USCIS Bangkok Field Office only has jurisdiction to accept petitions filed by U.S. citizens who are residents of Thailand. To demonstrate residency, petitioners must be able to demonstrate that they have permission to reside in the consular district. Individuals who are in the country on a temporary status, such as student or tourist, would not meet the residency requirement.

The USCIS Bangkok Field Office is located in the Sindhorn Building, Tower 2, 15th Floor, 130-132 Wireless Road. Pay parking and access for individuals with special needs is available. The office is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 12:00pm. We are closed on all American holidays and some Thai holidays. Please call our office at 02-205-5352 before you appear in person to avoid disappointment due to an office closure. No appointment is necessary.

Once we accept a petition, the petitioner must pay the filing fee in person at the embassy. The embassy is conveniently located a very short walk from our office. The fee may be paid in cash (USD or Thai Baht equivalent) or by credit card.

The USCIS Bangkok Field Office does not issue immigrant visas. The Department of State website provides general information about visa processing. You may also contact the consular office in Bangkok directly at [email protected]or visit the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok website.

Sincerely,

Duty Officer EQ

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

Bangkok Field Office

[yamatokh]

The application for the I-130 if I am not mistaken is almost US$1000 ...

1000 USD..... God! Are you serious?

We knew it's going to take a long time. This is mainly for my 3 year old nephew. As long as my sister can get it before her son becomes 18 years of age, we are ok. This will give us 15 years.....

This is her plan.... however I do have doubt in mind though..... If my sister gets the green card, does my nephew gets green card automatically as well? Or she needs to apply for him once she get it? Does anyone know? Tks.

[AlexDorneles]

Sorry I made a mistake, the filling fee for the I-130 is US$420. I had to pay more than $1000 but my case was different. The age out is 21 not 18 (for her son). I think she would have to include her son in the app now but this is unknown terriroty to me. Here is the link for the USCIS petition:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c67c7f9ded54d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

There is a good forum for immigration related questions:

http://forums.immigration.com/

[ericthai]

The application for the I-130 if I am not mistaken is almost US$1000 ...

1000 USD..... God! Are you serious?

We knew it's going to take a long time. This is mainly for my 3 year old nephew. As long as my sister can get it before her son becomes 18 years of age, we are ok. This will give us 15 years.....

This is her plan.... however I do have doubt in mind though..... If my sister gets the green card, does my nephew gets green card automatically as well? Or she needs to apply for him once she get it? Does anyone know? Tks.

The fee is not $1000, i cant recall what i paid i think it was more like $550 for homeland security. Don't recall the fee in Bangkok as my wife paid that. It can be less than 1 year, I think ours took about 9 months from start to finish. It all depends on how fast you provide the requested documents. Homeland takes about 1-2 months, Bangkok about 3 months.

Good Luck!!

Good luck,

[AlexDorneles]

Yours was for your spouse. That's very quick. The OP is sponsoring her sister. I had to pay more than 1k because there was a visa overstay.

[yamatokh]

Sorry I made a mistake, the filling fee for the I-130 is US$420. I had to pay more than $1000 but my case was different. The age out is 21 not 18 (for her son). I think she would have to include her son in the app now but this is unknown terriroty to me. Here is the link for the USCIS petition:

http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

There is a good forum for immigration related questions:

http://forums.immigration.com/

Dear Alex

You are a great help. Really appreciate it. I will do more research and call USCIS to find out more.

Tks.

Kevin