Question:

I am a U.S. citizen, can I apply for U.S. immigration for my step-brothers or step-sisters?

Answer:

The legal definition of sibling includes step-brothers and step-sisters, if you were both 18 or under when your parents married, and your parents remained married. It also includes adopted siblings, if you both were under age 16 when adopted and meet other legal conditions for a valid adoption.

Your brother or sister will not receive the right to immigrate to the U.S. immediately, your siblings may wait a long time for the right to apply for U.S. permanent residence. In many instances, depending on the country they are from, it may take 10 years.

The first step in getting permanent residence in the U.S. for your sibling is to file a visa petition on Form I-130. If your sibling is living abroad, he or she will have to wait until the I-130 is approved, and his or her “priority date” becomes current before starting the green card application.