Kenedy, TX Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Your sister will not be able to file an immigrant petition for you until she is 21. After she files it, you will have to wait for an immigrant visa not less than 11 years (much longer if you are a citizen of Mexico or Philippines). And, if you entered the U.S. illegally, you will not receive a green card on the basis of your sister's petition even when your turn for a visa comes. If you entered the U.S. before you were 15, and if you do not have a criminal record, talk to an immigration attorney about getting the benefits under the program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA (it is often called the Dream Act).

If you were brought into the US illegally, and are 19 years old now, you began accruing unlawful presence starting from your 18th birthday. As you have over one year of unlawful presence, you will trigger a 10-year bar when you leave the US for any reason. Your age at entry is no a defense to the bar. You would need to have your spouse apply for you, and then you apply for the immigrant visa at your home consulate with a waiver to forgive the immigration violations of the illegal entry, unlawful presence and unauthorized employment. Depending on how your parents entered the US and if anything was filed for them prior to April 30, 2001; you may be able to use INA section 245(i) to apply for your adjustment of status here in the US with the payment of a $1000 penalty rather than the IV consular processing and the waiver. Get all the details from your parents and consult with an experienced immigration attorney.