Dondo

Slightly odd question I know.
I'm in the US on a visa, just thought it would make life easier if I had a US passport. Does anyone know about passport applications for siblings of US citizens?

Ray

Far more details required ..how did you Bro become a citizen etc....

Dondo

Sorry - he was born in the US but is living in the UK, I was born in the UK but am working in the US and tied to my E2 visa through my employer. A passport would give me greater independence to move around

ian-mstm

Having a US citizen brother does not give you any entitlement to US citizenship or a US passport. He could possibly sponsor you for an immigrant visa, but you're still looking at 8 - 10 years before you get the visa, and then another 5 years before becoming a US citizen.

Ian

Ray

And I think he has to be living here ..

Folinskyinla

Hi:

FWIW, my late brother was a US Citizen and I was able to obtain US passports six times [they used to be valid for only 5 years]. The sixth passport was obtained after my brother died. However, I was not here in a visa having been born in the US.

My point is that you have to independently qualify for a US passport. And sometimes, foreign born people are US citizens and don't even know it. [And there is one class of US born persons who are NOT US citizens and mistakenly think they are -- however, they are born with green cards].

If you are not a US citizen, and your brother is over 21, he can file an "FB-4" I-130 for you. However, this category is extremely backlogged -- currently visas are being granted to people whose I-130's were filed before September 1, 1997 [Mexico, China, India & Philipines].

Given the long wait, the I-130 should be filed ASAP -- there are things involved with "non-immigrant intent" with this -- but they are generally solveable.

hobbes79

Just as a sanity check, what nationality are your parents?

Dondo

Scottish. It sounds as if the I-130 is the route but I'll b e better off going for green card sponsorship through the company.
Thanks for th ereplies - very helpful