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Q: Am I still eligible for immigration if the original petitioner has died?
Typically, when the visa petitioner dies, the approved I-130 petition originally filed by the visa petitioner is automatically revoked. However, following the passage of the Family Sponsor Immigration Act, P.L. 107-150, beneficiaries of these petitions may file for reinstatement so long as they can provide an I-864 Affidavit of Support filed by a “substitute sponsor”.
The Act allows the substitution of an alternative sponsor if the original sponsor has died and the Attorney General has determined that the petition should not be revoked for humanitarian reasons. The substitute sponsor must be a U.S. citizen or national, or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, at least 18 years of age, and resident in the United States. The substitute sponsor must also be related to you as one of the following: spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sibling, child (if at least 18 years of age), son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild. As in the case of other sponsors, the sponsor must maintain an annual income equal to at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Q: How can I reinstate a visa petition that was revoked by the death of the original petitioner?
In order to seek reinstatement of the visa petition, you must submit a statement to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in the U.S. where the original visa petition was filed formally requesting reinstatement of the visa petition. The statement should list reasons why your case warrants reinstatement, such as your ties to the United States, or hardship that would occur to you if the request for reinstatement were not granted.
You must also include with your reinstatement request a Form I-864 Affidavit of Support completed by a “substitute sponsor”. This substitute sponsor is filing the I-864 in place of the deceased petitioner, and must meet all of the financial requirements of a sponsor pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act 213A.
With your reinstatement request you must provide documentary evidence of the death of the original petitioner, plus documentation of the relationship between you and the substitute sponsor. Finally, include a copy of your approved I-130, if available.
Q: What happens if the beneficiary of an immigrant visa dies?
In the case of the death of the principal applicant prior to admission to the U.S., the petition is no longer valid. This means that the consular officer will not be able to issue a visa to any of the derivatives of the petition and will be required to return the petition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If the principal applicant has already immigrated to the US and is a legal permanent resident (LPR) when the petitioner dies, the derivative applicants (usually the children of the principal applicant) are generally still eligible to apply for an immigrant visa.
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