End to Green Cards for Brothers and Sisters of US Citizens?

According to an Associate Press article published March 15, 2013, key senators working on comprehensive immigration reform have indicated they may limit green cards to certain family-sponsored immigration applicants. Currently, immediate relatives (spouses, parents, unmarried children under 21) of US citizens are eligible for immediate immigrant visas, meaning there's no wait times. A second large group of intending immigrants are, for instance, brothers and sisters of US citizens who are over 21 years old and spouses/minors/unmarried children over 21 of lawful permanent residents. These applicants face wait times ranging upwards of 24 years for certain immigrants.

Senator Lindsey Graham, R-SC, a key member of the bi-partisan Senate "Gang of Eight" has suggested that perhaps it's now time to revisit how green cards are allocated, saying "Green cards should be reserved for the nuclear family (immediate relatives as discussed above). Green cards are economic engines for the country." He further added "this is not a family court we're dealing with here. We're dealing about an economic need."

Not everyone shares Senator Graham's stance on overhauling the green card process though. Kevin Appleby, Director of Migration Policy at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops criticized the proposal  stating "What the senator's not taking into account is the social costs for not preserving families in the immigration system, which is not as tangible or measurable as an economic benefit, maybe, but immigrant families do strengthen our social fabric."

If certain immigrant visa (green card) preference categories are eliminated as part of the wider comprehensive immigration reform, it would have a monumental impact on immigration trends in the United States. The United States is unique among industrialized nations as it proportionately issues more famiy-sponsored green cards than it does for people seeking employment in the US.

If you are a US citizen and are considering sponsoring a brother or sister for a green card, it might be wise to start the process before changes are made to current immigration laws that may prevent future sponsorship of certain family members. If you would like to sponsor a family member for an immigrant visa, please call this office at 949-440-3240 or visit www.kpimmigrationlaw.com to see how an Orange County immigration attorney can assist you.