Such affidavits must be sworn to or affirmed by third parties having personal knowledge of the bona fides of the marital relationship. Each affidavit must contain the full name and address, date and place of birth of the person making the affidavit as well as the following:
1. his or her relationship to the petitioner, if any, and
2. complete information and details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge of the marriage.
The instructions for the I-751 Petition describes the affidavits that must accompany the petition as follows:
"Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by at least two people who have known both of you since your conditional residence was granted and have personal knowledge of your marriage and relationship. (Such persons may be required to testify before an immigration officer as to the information contained in the affidavit.) The original affidavit must be submitted and also contain the following information regarding the person making the affidavit: his or her full name and address; date and place of birth; relationship to you or your spouse, if any; and full information and complete details explaining how the person acquired his or her knowledge."
The I-130 form is used for sponsoring foreign siblings of U.S. citizens or permanent residents to immigrate to the United States. The processing time for the I-130 for sibling petitions can vary depending on different factors. It is essential to understand the different types of processing times associated with the I-130 for siblings. 1. Regular Processing Time: The regular processing time for I-130 petitions for siblings typically varies between 7 and 12 months. This processing time can be extended depending on the complexity of the case, USCIS workload, and various other factors. 2. Expedited Processing Time: In certain exceptional cases, it is possible to expedite the processing of the I-130 petition for siblings. To qualify for expedited processing, the petitioner must provide valid reasons such as severe financial loss, humanitarian reasons, or critical medical conditions. Expedited processing can significantly reduce the processing time. 3. Priority Date: The priority date is the date at which the I-130 petition for siblings is filed. If the petitioner has filed the petition with an earlier priority date, they have higher chances of having their case processed sooner. Priority dates are especially important when there is a backlog or visa quota for siblings from certain countries. 4. Visa Bulletin: The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication that provides information on the availability of visas for family-sponsored categories, including siblings. It provides the dates when individuals with different priority dates can expect their visa petition to be processed. Monitoring the Visa Bulletin can give an estimate of the potential processing time for I-130 for siblings. 5. Administrative Processing: In some cases, the processing time for I-130 sibling petitions can be extended due to administrative processing. This usually happens when USCIS requires additional documentation, conducts background checks, or verifies the authenticity of the information provided. Administrative processing can add several months to the overall processing time. 6. Request for Evidence (RFE): If USCIS finds insufficient or incomplete documentation in the I-130 petition for siblings, they may issue a Request for Evidence. Responding to this request promptly and adequately can help avoid delays in processing time. To conclude, the processing time for I-130 petitions for siblings can range from 7 to 12 months, but it can be longer due to factors like expedited processing, priority dates, visa backlog, administrative processing, and RFCs. It is important to stay up-to-date with current processing times and requirements to ensure a smooth and timely process for sponsoring siblings to immigrate to the United States.
