Q: Hi! How do I help my orphaned brother (17 y.o.) immigrate to the US now that I've been granted asylum status? Thanks!
I was just granted asylum and will be applying for a green card next year. However, I worry about my younger brother who is still in my country of origin. He is 17 and he is the only immediate relative that I have there. Since we lost our parents at a young age, I assume that role for him, even though legally, he is not my child. So my question is whether there is any way that I could sponsor him to come here and live with me? Thanks!
A: Unfortunately, after being granted asylum, you cannot sponsor or petition siblings, only spouses and children. So you would not be able to sponsor your brother directly. You would have to wait until you are a U.S. citizen to directly petition him. Or, he might have another way to come into the United States. He might be able to qualify for his own asylum case, or he might have some options through working or studying in the United States. You could talk with me or another immigration attorney in a consultation to learn more about those options. Contact my office and schedule a free consultation, and we could try to come up with a plan for your brother.
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