Form I-730 is a document that a refugee granted asylum can use. It is filed by refugees or people who have been granted asylum in the US. It allows their family members to come to the country as derivative asylum seekers or as refugees too.
Refugees have been coming to the US for many years, they are seeking a new place to live and sometimes safety. Because of this, families split up throughout the states to find work and accommodation that can help them fund this new life, which does mean that over the years relatives will move all over and can be lost. Luckily there are resources such as Genealogy Bank that can go far back into the 1900s to help distant families find where their relatives ended up and if they can reconnect again. It is a long road for refugees to find where they belong but something like this, as well as document support, can help them.
There are restrictions to who can qualify to fill up a Form I-730, including an unmarried child. They have to maintain their available status until their application’s approval, or else officials may cancel it.
The refugee children must be under 21 years old when they received their first asylum application to be qualified to use I-730 for them. Adopted children also qualify as long as they were adopted before turning 16 years old or below 18 years old on the date of your marriage.
Spouses also qualify as long as the refugees are married to them on the date of the application.
Requirements
You need to show the following at the same time you submit form I-730.
- The most recent photo of the person or group of people you’re applying for
- Proof of the refugee’s status in the US
- Birth certificate of the child you’re applying for
- Marriage certificate of the spouse
- Adoption decree and evidence that the child has been with the refugee for at least two years
- For stepchildren, the refugee must submit the marriage certificate of the natural parent and their birth certificate.
What to Expect Upon Filing an I-730
The applicant will be asked about your status, whether you’re an asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent citizen. They have to make sure to answer as truthfully as possible. They also need to disclose the number of relatives they are applying for.
Officials may also ask the applicant for basic information like name, birth date, birth country, nationality, Social Security Number, and alien registration number. There is also other information needed, but you don’t need to worry about them if they aren’t applicable. They will also ask about the applicant’s family members, so it’s best to have their basic information.
Filing for I-730 is entirely free, and you can send the form by mail. Depending on your application’s situation or complexity and completion of documents, an application process may run for about five months.
The filing deadline for I-730 is two years after the granting of the refugee or asylum status. Ensure the officials know if you are submitting the form after the term of two years has passed. You may need to provide them with an explanation of why you missed the deadline.
Conclusion
Having a proper understanding of Form I-730 is helpful to anyone who is currently a refugee or an asylee in the US who wants to bring their family members to the USA. Completing the requirements may take some time and coordination with the relatives abroad, but it is worth it as immigration law favors those with a bid to reunite with their family. For more information, ask an immigration lawyer in Houston or anywhere near you.
