How many more years are we waiting for our I-130 application petition to be approved?

Question

Our parents filed it last June 2005. The three of us are left here in the Philippines and unmarried. We are all over 21. I periodically check it over the US' immigration website and the ones being processed at this point are those applied last February 7, 2005.Our parents migrated to the US in January 2004. They will be American citizens by January of 2009. Please help. Thanks.

Answer 1

In about 4-6 months, more or less you will hear the decision.

Once I-130 is approved, you will be given Priority Date (PD) then you have to check Family Based (FB) 2B PD at the Visa Bulletin (VB) of Department of State. Only when your PD is on or before the monthly  VB, you can apply for I-485 the actual green card application.

Once your parents become US Citizen, they can notify the change of sponsor status. Then you check FB 1 if you are unmarried, FB 3 if you are married. For the citizen of Philippines according to VB, you are facing very long wait ahead. People who have PD of these date can apply I-485 in the month of August

FB 2b 3/22/93

FB 1 3/15/93

FB 3 4/1/91

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bullet...

So even if your I-130 is approved now with the PD of 8/6/2008, you are looking at about 15-17 years of wait until you can file green card application.  

Answer 2

Right now you are Family 2B.  Visas are available for Family 2B (from the Philippines) for applicants with a priority date of March 15, 1997.

If your parents become US citizens you'll be Family 1.  Visas are available for Family 1 (from the Philippines) for applicants with a priority date of March 22, 1993.

You can check the monthly Visa Bulletin put out for the US State Department.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bullet...

Right now you've got another 8 years to wait.  If your parents get US citizenship it will lengthen your wait by another 4 years to 12.

If any of you get married your parents will have to refile when they become citizens.  Right now married from the Philippines... Family 3 is processing April 1, 1991... a 17 year wait.

Answer 3

i have a family example with what you're going through...

my family member went through the same situation.  her greencard mom applied the I-130 for my cousin in january 2002 under category 2b (greencard parent sponsoring 21 and over children).  in around 2005, my cousin received her notice that the I130 petition was approved.  in 2006, her mom became a us citizen and the category jumped from 2b to 1 (us citizen parent sponsoring children 21 and over).  in january 2008, my cousin's priority date became current that they sent out adjustment of status paperwork for their greencard.  my cousin's interview date for the greencard is september 19, 2008.

follow the link that yak rider (above answerer) gave you.  the first table you see as you scroll down is what you want to check back monthly for. the gov updates this monthly, but beweare, b/c the dates can stay the same for months, or go backwards... you have to check your categories under Philipines (on right column).

but the difference between you and my cousin is that you're from the philipines, so it'll take a longer time for you.  be patient and you'll get it soon!